Chapter 767: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 767: Compatibility (4)
The young maid behind Liu Qingqing realized she had made a mistake and immediately became wary again, watching Mo Yan closely, afraid she might cause harm to her young lady.
Mo Yan feigned indifference and said, "Miss Liu, there is no need to be so polite. If it’s convenient, may I come in and speak?"
"If Miss Mo doesn’t mind the humble abode, it would be an honor for Qingqing!" Liu Qingqing’s expression didn’t change, and she maintained her politeness.
Mo Yan nodded slightly and didn’t wait for Liu Qingqing to formally invite her inside, walking in with an air of quiet pride.
Liu Qingqing furrowed her brows, stopping the maid, who looked ready to make a scene. She instructed her to go to the kitchen and prepare some tea.
The courtyard Liu Qingqing rented was small, consisting of a little hall, two rooms, and a kitchen. The door was closed, so the inside was hidden from view, but the hall itself was cozy and elegant, giving off a comfortable vibe.
After a quick glance around, Mo Yan felt a little more favorably towards Liu Qingqing.
Noticing that Mo Yan was studying the room in silence, Liu Qingqing couldn’t read her intentions and wisely refrained from speaking first.
Mo Yan had no intention of being direct, either. After surveying the hall, she asked a few unrelated questions.
Liu Qingqing responded carefully, though nothing she said revealed anything of substance, showing that she was a thoughtful and intelligent woman.
When Mo Yan realized she wouldn’t get any more information, she stopped beating around the bush and directly stated her purpose: "Tie Tou is my cousin. He’s honest and easily deceived, and Aunt Wu has always wanted to find him a decent and capable wife. Not long ago, someone who knew them saw the two of you together in the street. When Aunt Wu found out, she was against him marrying you. Now they’re at an impasse, neither side willing to compromise. All of this is because of you... What are your thoughts on this?"
More than a month ago, Aunt Wu had opened a new food stall in the East Market, and the middle-aged woman running it had been someone Aunt Wu had bought previously. This woman was the one who had seen Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing together on the street.
When Aunt Wu learned that her son had finally fallen for someone, she was overjoyed. She had tried asking him several times when he returned from the rice shop, but Tie Tou was hesitant and refused to speak plainly. This aroused Aunt Wu’s suspicions, and she pressured him into revealing the truth by suggesting an arranged engagement. This led to the intense confrontation between mother and son.
Hearing Mo Yan’s words, Liu Qingqing tightly clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and her expression grew bleak.
Seeing this, Mo Yan couldn’t quite explain how she felt. If one day she and Xiao Ruiyuan faced opposition, she wasn’t sure they would stay together. Just thinking about it made her heart ache. Moreover, the future for Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing seemed full of obstacles, and it was possible that neither would end up happy.
Liu Qingqing remained silent for a long time. Just as Mo Yan thought she would refuse to answer, she finally spoke, though her words came through her tears: "I... I’ve already expected this day. I should be thankful that Tie Tou’s family hasn’t come to make things difficult for me! Though I come from the brothel, my feelings for Tie Tou are genuine. If his family firmly opposes us, I... I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it..."
She had fallen into the world of pleasure for many years, but she had always remained true to herself. Finally free from it, she had hoped to live the rest of her life peacefully, only to meet that naive, simple man who had made her heart stir for the first time.
That man didn’t care about her past, and though he was clumsy with words, he truly cared for her, making her heart fall for his sincere smile. Even she couldn’t explain why, in just a few months, she couldn’t let go of this younger man who had shown her so much kindness.
She had once naïvely thought that perhaps Heaven had taken pity on her, offering her a bit of happiness to compensate for her difficult life. But fantasies were just that—fantasies. Who would want to accept a woman like her, who had come from the brothel?
She couldn’t accept it. How could she?
Mo Yan had never doubted Liu Qingqing’s sincerity. Hearing her despairing cry, Mo Yan’s heart also sank. She put aside the pride she had feigned earlier, gently patting Liu Qingqing’s trembling shoulder and offering comfort. "As long as you and Tie Tou are unwavering, you will find a way."
Most women faced hardships. If they were lucky enough to have loving parents, they might enjoy at least a decade of comfort. If they found a good in-laws family, life wouldn’t be too difficult. But for someone like Liu Qingqing, whose father never cared for her and whose mother had passed, her best hope was to become a concubine or marry a widower or an old bachelor who couldn’t find a wife. Otherwise, she might end up lonely for life.
Though Mo Yan hadn’t known Liu Qingqing for long, she could tell from her speech and demeanor that she was a capable, calm, and dignified woman. She was an excellent person.
Without a maternal family to rely on, Liu Qingqing would likely be entirely devoted to Tie Tou and his family. If she and Tie Tou could be together, she wouldn’t need to worry about the Wu family being taken advantage of.
But no matter how much Mo Yan wanted to help, Liu Qingqing’s past was a huge obstacle. The hardest part was how to get Aunt Wu to accept her. Mo Yan truly didn’t feel confident about it.
Mo Yan’s words were like a lifeline, filling Liu Qingqing with hope. She looked up, eyes filled with emotion, and asked, "Miss Mo, you... you don’t oppose us?"
Mo Yan smiled bitterly, "Whether I oppose or not doesn’t matter. What matters is whether Aunt Wu will accept you and the Wu family accept you."
Liu Qingqing calmed down and, to Mo Yan’s surprise, suddenly knelt before her: "Miss Mo, I, Liu Qingqing, am not a bad person. If I can marry Tie Tou, I will treat his mother like my own, and his sisters like my own. I hope you can help me."
Mo Yan’s expression changed, and she hurried to help her up. "What are you doing? Quickly, get up!"
Liu Qingqing, not wanting Mo Yan to think she was threatening her, obediently stood and pleaded, "Miss Mo, if you’re willing to help, I will be forever grateful and repay your kindness."
Mo Yan shook her head. "I will help you and Tie Tou. You don’t need to repay me. If Aunt Wu can accept you and allow you to be with Tie Tou, just be sure to be good to her in the future."
"Yes!" Liu Qingqing grasped Mo Yan’s hand tightly, nodding earnestly.
(End of Chapter)
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