Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 699 How am I?
Qi Renli listened to Meng Changqing's words.

That very evening, Qi Ren stood not far from Shu Erhua's shop for a long time, and only walked towards her when Shu Erhua was about to close the shop.

When Shu Erhua saw who it was, she could pretty much guess why he had come.

Qi Renli forced a smile. "Manager Shu, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Shu Erhua put down what she was holding. "Please speak."

If you ask him to speak, he really doesn't know what to say.

"I..." The Qi man stood up for me several times, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Shu Erhua understood what he was going to say, but she didn't want to answer him, because any answer would be wrong. "Lord Qi, just tell me what you need."

Qi Renli took a deep breath and, without hesitation, asked, "What do you think of me?"

Shu Erhua thought to herself, "Just as I thought."

Qi Renli then asked, "How do I compare to Xiao Wuzi?"

Shu Erhua frowned, "Why do you want to compare yourself to Xiao Wuzi?"

"Lord Meng said I should be honest with you about my feelings. So, to be frank, I want to marry you. Would you be willing to marry me?"

“We’re not a good match,” Shu Erhua said without any hesitation.

"What's wrong with it?" Qi Renli asked.

"You are an official, and I am just an ordinary citizen. How could this be appropriate for you?"

Seeing the other party's serious expression, Qi Renli felt a little guilty. He racked his brains and joked, "That reason won't work. Officials can't marry each other, can they? According to you, in Beishan County, I can only marry Lord Meng?" Shu Erhua chuckled.

“Lord Qi, there is a huge difference in our social status and we are not a good match.”

Qi Renli pressed on, "Then, setting aside social class and status, look at me as a person. Is there anything wrong with me?"

Shu Erhua looked at the man in front of her. He was perfect in every way—handsome, polite, and well-mannered—but she and this man were simply from different worlds. "To live in this world, one cannot let go of one's status, one's family background, or even one's past."

"Manager Shu, I have already been impolite, so I won't hold it against you. Do you think you are not good enough for me?" Qi Renli asked cautiously.

Shu Erhua's gaze fell to the ground. "Yes."

"Really?" Qi Renli became anxious. "Do you really think so, or are you belittling yourself because you don't want to offend me?"

“Why would I need to belittle you?” Shu Erhua said with a wry smile. “If I had truly married you without knowing the consequences, then in everyone’s eyes, I would have been marrying way above my station.”

After thinking for a moment, Shu Erhua added, "Not to mention others, even Qi Xiang and Qi Rui, who are right next to you, would never agree."

You are kind, but I don't want to trade a lifetime of peace for you.

“If you’re willing, I’ll persuade them, and you won’t have any peace.” Seeing that Shu Erhua was about to argue, Qi Renli quickly said, “Does that mean my words are completely unbelievable?”

Shu Erhua remained silent for a long time before saying, "This isn't about believing or not believing. You're asking me to gamble my whole life on this, but I don't know what I'd get if I won."

Qi Renli understood; he wasn't someone the other person was worth betting his whole life on.

He should have given up, but think about the future. If he can't spend the rest of his life with someone he admires, what fun is there in life?
It would have been better if such a person had never appeared before, but she had already appeared, right in front of him.

Qi Renli said hesitantly, "If you marry me, your children will become officials. Just think of it for the sake of the children."