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: The Way of Favors Chapter 21\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 23\n
The water was rippling, and a faint fishy breeze blew through the curtain, but it could not blow through the Fu Wanâs reddening face.\n
âWhat exactly do you want to say?â\n
He lowered his head and waited for a moment. The man who had something to tell her did not open his mouth for a long time. Fu Wan became more embarrassed, afraid that this feverish silence would continue, and also afraid that her brother and sisters would misunderstand them if they wasted too much time, so she could not help but hurry him in a quiet voice. Because she was nervous, she didnât have the time to think why her older brother and younger sisters did not stop him.\n
This was the first time that the two of them were in a room together, the first time that they actually were having a conversation. Liang Tong was extremely nervous, and all his pride disappeared after he saw her shy look, and he only wanted to look at her in this way.\n
He was silent for a long time, but his eyes were passionate and unscrupulous. Fu Wan was a little annoyed, and seeing that the man was blocking the back door, she raised her foot to walk forward. He suddenly burst in. She thought that he had an anxious matter, and if she had known that he would be so sudden, she would have left earlier.\n
Liang Tong shouted in a low voice. The wind quickly stopped in front of Fu Wan, and the tall and strong body suddenly blocked most of the incoming sunlight.\n
He was so close to her, like a tall mountain in front of her. Fu Wan could not help but retreat back, but Liang Tong pulled her into his arms. Her face hit the tough chest, and it was a little painful.\n
But how was it a time to worry about pain?\n
Fu Wan struggled silently.\n
Liang Tong hugged her tightly, with a force so strong that he seemed to be about to push her into his body, but he did not lower his head to look at her. He only placed his chin on the top of her head and whispered as she continued to struggle, âSecond Younger Sister, donât be afraid. I wonât be a person on the sidelines anymore. Iâll leave after I tell you two things. Iâm hugging you just because Iâm afraid that I will not have any more opportunities to hug you. I absolutely do not want to bully you.â\n
Fu Wan was completely stuck to his body. The manâs low voice made this closeness feel like the farewell words of two lovers. Fu Wan heard his panic and worry, and for reason, trusted him. She stopped struggling and lowered her head, waiting for him to continue.\n
Instinctively, she felt that he was not a bad person.\n
She was calm!\n
Liang Tong was very excited, and took advantage of his joy to apologize, âSecond Younger Sister, I, you, I didnât mean to always look at you secretly. I liked you the minute I saw you. I could not help but look over when I saw you. I am so abrupt, are you angry?â\n
This was the first time someone had confessed to her face-to-face. Fu Wanâs face was so hot that she felt like it was being baked. Nodding or shaking her head both felt unsuitable, and she hurriedly changed the topic, âThe second matter?â\n
She didnât respond, and Liang Tongâs heart fell again. The arms around her could not help but tighten up, and only loosened after she had called softly from the pain, âSecond Younger Sister, this is my first timeâŠliking a person. I am a rather coarse man and do not know how to make you happy. I only know that I am unable to sleep if I do not look at you. When I look at you, I am satisfied and delighted even if you wear a weimao. So I want to marry you. I know that I cannot compare to you, and Iâm here today for your answer. If you do not want to marry me at all, I will give up the thought completely and only continue to practice my martial arts. If you think that I have some hope, you do not need to say anything. When I go back, I will go to your family to propose and have your parents test me. As long as I can marry you, I am willing to do anything you guys want me to do!â\n
Fu Wan did not know what to say.\n
Marriage was an important matter, and it originally was the final result after parents had discussed it. Since he wanted to propose, why did he ask her first?\n
âSecond Younger Sister, youâre not talking. Does this mean that I can go propose?â Liang Tong finally lowered his head to look at her, his palms full of sweat.\n
How should she respond?\n
Fu Wan was so anxious that she was about to cry, and she turned her head, about to leave. It was because she was too beautiful. Liang Tong was not a cowardly person, and he pulled her back into his arms from his reluctance, gasping into her ears, âSecond Younger Sister, good sister, do not torment me. Do you allow me to propose or not, give me a direct reply, or else I am afraid that I can not help but go to your house for the answer at night!â\n
His breathing was anxious and hot. The two words, âyounger sisterâ were created into a different feeling by him, and from hearing this, Fu Wanâs entire body felt weak. A strange feeling in her heart emerged, so unfamiliar that it made her frightened. She could not resist, so she could only beg him in a low voice, âLet me go, or else Iâm calling my brother!â\n
âTell me if you allow or not!â Liang Tong clutched her shoulder and looked into her eyes, âTell me, and Iâll immediately let go!â\n
A fire burned in the manâs eyes, and Fu Wan suddenly felt that she was just a grass, who could be swallowed by the other party at any time.\n
Allow or not?\n
The scene of the man smiling at her in the water reappeared. Fu Wan accepted her fate and closed her eyes, and nodded her head as she bit her lip.\n
Liang Tong was stunned and stared at her blushing face, âGood, good, Iâll go back today to tell that old man, Second YoungerâŠWan Wan, wait for me, wait for me!â\n
Fu Wan could not hold it in anymore and run out after pushing him to the side. Knowing that her brother and sisters were behind her, Fu Wan hid behind the bamboo basket with the lotus flowers at the bow of the boat and buried her head in her knees to hide the redness on her face.\n
Liang Tong was pulled back by Fu Chen for rigorous questioning. Fu Rong had her younger sister keep an eye on Liang Yingfang, and she walked over to her older sisterâs side with quiet steps and sat down. Seeing that her sisterâs exposed ear and side of her face were red, she thought of the whispering she heard earlier and sighed at the lake.\n
Like the previous life, her older sister had fallen into the river of love easily.\n
What exactly is that kind of feeling?\n
Fu Rong did not understand.\n
When she met Xu Yan, she learned that Xu Yan was a prince. He was the noblest young master in all of Xindu City. He was knowledgeable and talented, gentle and elegant, and very handsome. He fell in love with her at first sight. With this kind of man liking her, Fu Rong could not find a reason not to be happy, and she married happily.\n
Then she had found a husband who doted on her more than her father and elder brother. Xu Yan agreed to everything she wanted. He smiled and listened to the most unreasonable requests. He would do them with a smile. He would smile as he called her Nong Nong, and would coax her lovingly.\n
That short time was too happy. So happy that she felt like she was the happiest woman in the world.\n
Then, her mother-in-law, the consort, came back from the capital with her cousin-in-law. It didnât take long for her mother-in-law to set up rules for her. She had her save her morning and evening hours to serve her during every meal. Her cousin-in-law was jealous that her cousin had given his love to her cousin-in-law and tried every possible excuse to get Xu Yan to go over and accompany her.\n
At home, Fu Rong grew up spoiled, so when had she ever been bullied like this? But she was her mother-in-law, the noble consort of the manor. Her mother-in-law did not like her, and all her concessions failed to please her. All her careful thoughts could not be compared to the other personâs single sentence. As long as her mother-in-law was the consort of the manor, everyone would have to listen to her.\n
Fu Rong was unhappy. Xu Yan knew that she was unhappy and he helped her. He was scolded by her mother-in-law for being an unfilial son, and her cousin-in-law lamented that he had forgotten about his cousin after he took a wife.\n
Sandwiched between her and his two relatives, Xu Yan was busy left and right and lost weight at an astonishing speed.\n
Her father-in-law couldnât bear this anymore and scolded her mother-in-law. They had a large argument, but instead of making things easiest, things got worse.\n
Fu Rong could not take this anymore. She held in until the third year, and because she still had not gotten pregnant, her mother-in-law started to force Xu Yan to take in concubines. Although Xu Yan refused, Fu Rong was still tired, and she even had thought about divorce. At the time, she had some hesitation, but after learning from her older brother that her father was very likely to be transferred to the capital next year, Fu Rong made her decision.\n
She did not want to stay in Xindu to be a bullied and wronged consort of a prince. She would rather be a divorced woman with a bad reputation who was doted on by her parents and elder brother. Besides, she was beautiful, and she might have another encounter in the capital.\n
Fu Rong cried as she begged Xu Yan. She knew that Xu Yan would comply. It wasnât because he was also tired, but because he couldnât bear for her to cry.\n
That night, Xu Yan held her in his arms, pleading for her to not go, saying that he would take her and leave. But he was the only offspring of the prince mansion, and he could not leave.\n
After staying in his office for three days, Xu Yan went to look for her father-in-law. It wasnât good for the prince mansion for people to learn that the young prince was getting divorced. Fu Rong and her family were also afraid of being hindered by her father-in-law, and her father even told her to be prepared to be abandoned. But they did not know what Xu Yan said for her father-in-law to allow them to divorce. [2]\n
On the day that Xu Yan sent her home, Fu Rong had been crying. She was pretending. Deep inside her heart, she only felt relieved. So at that moment after she had stepped out of the carriage and was pulled into Xu Yanâs arms, feeling that he had fallen into the tears on her neck, Fu Rong knew that she owed this man. She did not feel sorry for him, but she owed him a sincere heart.\n
She liked the identity of the consort of a prince, liked how all the girls of the same age in Xindu would look at her with envious eyes, liked the good and love Xu Yan gave her, but no one truly liked Xu Yan. At least, there would not be anyone willing to go through all of that suffering for him. There perhaps was not a man in the world who was worth her suffering so much just to stay at his side.\n
Later, she took interest in Prince An. She liked his graceful demeanor and his uncontroversial status as the brother of the emperor. That was not love either, because Xu Jin had separated them when she was halfway there. She only felt a little annoyed, and the next moment started to figure out how she would spend her days in Prince Su Mansion.\n
As for Xu Jin, she could not talk about affection. To her, Xu Jin was only a backer, a cold-faced prince who tossed and turned often during the night, a short-lived bastard who liked to bully people.\n
Fu Rong was also clear that she was not a good woman. She was not as gentle and virtuous as her older sister, and she was not as noble and talented as her younger sister. She only wanted herself to live well. When she had the opportunity to leave the sea of miseries, she would grasp it, just like she had divorced Xu Yan, and just like she did not know that she would become a widow for Xu Jin.\n
âOlder sister, you like Older Brother Liang Tong (Liang Tong Gege) [3], am I right?â Waking up from her memories, Fu Rong grasped her older sisterâs hand gently and asked confidently.\n
âDonât talk nonsense.â Fu Wan turned her head to deny.\n
Fu Rong really could not understand, âBrother Liang looks pretty good, but his skin is so dark and soâŠburly, and he is also a rough person and does not have much education. Older sister, what do you like about him?â\n
At any rate, Qi Ce had a skin that was capable of deceiving the world. She could understand why her older sister loved him in the previous life, but why did her older sister fall in love with Liang Tong, who was rough and did not know what gentleness was?\n
The marriage was not settled yet, and Fu Wan did not want to discuss this matter with her younger sister, but she could not help but argue for Liang Tong, âIf you think like this, then are those illiterate villagers in the countryside not worthy of a girlâs love? Nong Nong, it is not his appearance or knowledge that is worth liking about someone, but his sincere heart towards youâŠâ\n
She said a lot, but Fu Rong did not take it to heart.\n
In her eyes, a manâs sincere heart was not that important. Xu Yan treated her sincerely, but did he let her live her days in peace? The point was what the person could give you. If the exclusive room and love were not compatible with the freedom she wanted, then Fu Rong would rather choose the latter.\n
Then what kind of man did she want to marry?\n
Fu Rong raised her head and looked at the sparkling lake in the distance.\n
In the previous life, a good husband must be talented, handsome, privileged, and powerful. He had to be competent in both talent and appearance to attract her attention, and only if he was powerful could he give her a good life. As for doting and love, Fu Rong was able to bring it out from any man, so she married Xu Yan, who matched her every standard.\n
Now, Fu Rongâs standards for a husband have not changed. She just needed to add one more, which was whether his family members were easy to interact with.\n
As for Liang Tong, with Fu Rongâs understanding of the Liang family, after her older sister married over, she would not have to serve her mother-in-law, and she would definitely have a lot of freedom as the madam of the house. And Liang Tong had skills, so it was only a matter of time before he would give her older sister a good life. As a younger sister, the only thing Fu Rong was unsatisfied with was Liang Tongâs appearance. He was dark and burly, and did not seem to match her older sister no matter how she lookedâŠ\n
But her sister had fallen in love, so what was the use of this dissatisfaction? Besides, he was Liang Tong, who was like an older brother to her.\n
Fu Rong only hoped that Liang Tong would give her older sister a good life and give her older sister what she wanted most.\n