Warm medicine emits fragrance

"What? Sister Liu'er's husband?" Siqing's eyes widened. "But didn't she say her husband drowned?"

Feng Ji corrected her, "She said she must have drowned. She didn't see the body, nor did she see anyone come looking for her, so she assumed she drowned. What if her husband hadn't died?"

Siqing thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, no, Sister Liu said her husband is just an ordinary person, but from what you've said, he's not a simple character. He even dared to provoke Second Master."

Feng Ji: "But judging from Master Li's reaction, this is most likely true. Madam Fan probably doesn't know that person's identity yet, and Master Li seems very afraid of letting Madam Fan find out."

Siqing was now unsure whether she should be shocked or worried first.

After a long pause, she finally spoke: "Then... what do you think we should do if Sister Liu finds out?"

Before she could ponder Fan Liuer's choice, there was a knock on the shop door. "Siqing, it's me, Li Qiuping."

Siqing and Feng Ji exchanged a glance, and they immediately understood Li Qiuping's purpose.

"Second Master really wants to keep it from Sister Liu'er," Siqing muttered softly.

Feng Ji gestured for her to be quiet, then walked to the door and opened it.

Feng Ji had met Li Qiuping when he was in Xingzhou City. As Li Chenbi's most capable assistant, others had more opportunities to see him than Li Chenbi.

"Manager Li," he greeted.

Li Qiuping was never one to smile in front of outsiders. After giving a curt reply, he looked past him and towards Siqing behind him.

"I've come to you to deliver a message from my master."

Siqing immediately stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "Manager Li, please speak."

Li Qiuping glanced at Feng Ji and said to Si Qing, "There are some things that shouldn't be said, so don't say them, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Siqing had already guessed his purpose, so she wasn't surprised. She nodded quickly, "I know, I know, Manager Li, don't worry, we don't know anything."

Li Qiuping continued, "Siqing, you've been by Madam Fan's side the longest, and you know best how I treat her. In this world, only I can protect Madam Fan."

Siqing nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Manager Li, you're right. Apart from the Second Master, there's no other man in this world who can treat Liu'er...Madam Fan so well."

Li Qiuping was fairly satisfied with Siqing's answer. "Alright, it's getting late. I won't disturb your rest any longer."

As he turned to leave, he glanced at Feng Ji and said, "You're quite good. I'm considering having you work by his side. Think it over."

After saying that, he left.

After the person had completely disappeared, Siqing spoke up, "Does this mean... Second Master has taken a liking to you?"

Feng Ji looked down at her without saying a word.

Siqing continued, "What do you think? If you follow Second Master, with your abilities you will definitely achieve something in the future, but that will be by risking your life, unlike the peaceful and uneventful life you have now."

"What do you want me to choose?" Feng Ji asked her.

A glint of light flickered in Siqing's eyes. "You're going to choose whatever I tell you to choose?"

Feng Ji turned his face away, his ears turning red, "Of course, you...you and I are going to get married."

Siqing pursed her lips, suppressing the smile on her face. "Then I hope you choose according to your own thoughts. I've always followed you. If you're in Xingzhou, I'll go to Xingzhou; if you come to Guanshan Town, I'll come to Guanshan Town."

Feng Ji laughed, turned to look at Si Qing, and said, "This time, it's my turn to chase after you."

Siqing's heart was bursting with joy at that moment.

She knew that Feng Ji had feelings for her, but she could never quite understand how much of those feelings were. He was too reserved and thought too much, keeping everything buried in his heart.

This was the first time he had expressed his love so directly.

Siqing rushed over and hugged him. "No! I don't want you to chase after me. I want to chase after you. Wherever you go, I'll go."

She knew that Feng Ji had his own ideas and ambitions; he was never willing to spend his whole life as a blacksmith in a remote and backward town.

Feng Ji hugged her, gently resting his head on her shoulder. After a while, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

The two hugged for a while, then Feng Jicai suddenly remembered something and let go of Siqing.

"If I choose to follow Master Li, wouldn't we be betraying Madam Fan?"

Siqing waved her hand, "You're overthinking it. Sister Liu'er wouldn't think that way."

"We didn't hide it from her on purpose; we were forced to. If my role and Sister Liu'er's role were reversed, she would have kept it a secret too."

"In Sister Liu'er's eyes, she should only take care of her own safety first before worrying about others. Otherwise, if something really happens, she will feel guilty."

Upon hearing this, Feng Ji nodded, "That makes sense."

"Now I understand why Master Li is so fixated on Madam Fan."

"She has a natural ease that is not bound by rules. She never makes things difficult for herself, nor does she use morality to judge others."

Fan Liuer, who is not bound by rules, is very troubled now, so troubled that she can't even sleep.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Chenbi's voice came from the bamboo bed.

Before Fan Liuer went to bed, Li Chenbi said that those people were very likely to sneak up from the river at night, and it would be unsafe for her to be alone. She needed someone to stay with her.

This person could only be Li Chenbi.

Fan Liuer was indeed scared, so she agreed, but not to sleep with him. Li Chenbi slept on the bamboo bed, and she slept on the bed.

"I'm thinking about what you just told me," Fan Liuer admitted.

"Is it hard to choose? Staying here won't be safer than staying by my side. Even without that person, you, as a woman, will encounter other people with ill intentions in the future."

Fan Liuer knew that Li Chenbi was right, but if she went with Li Chenbi, it would mean that she accepted his feelings.

She hadn't decided whether or not to entrust the rest of her life to Li Chenbi.

Li Chenbi sighed in the dark room, "If you can't figure it out right away, don't think about it. I can stay here for another half month, so you can think about it slowly. Go to sleep for now."

Upon hearing that there were still half a month to consider, Fan Liuer immediately stopped being anxious.

Nothing is more important than eating and sleeping. If you don't sleep well, your mind won't be clear, and how can you think things through?

She needs to sleep now; she can continue thinking about it tomorrow.

Fan Liuer had been on tenterhooks all day and was really tired. She fell asleep quickly as soon as she relaxed.

Li Chenbi listened to the even breathing sounds every now and then and cursed under his breath.

"How heartless."

The next morning, after breakfast, Fan Liuer started thinking about this problem again.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't make a decision.

This is no small matter; it's a major issue concerning the rest of her life, and she has to think it through carefully.

Li Chenbi will not give her a second chance to escape.

When she couldn't make up her mind, she wanted to talk to someone.

"Can I go see Siqing?" she asked Li Chenbi.