Abandoning literature for martial arts, starting by unleashing the beauty's bow.

The red-faced man was Qiu Qingbai's father, Qiu Mingzhu.

The Qiu family father and daughter were clearly taken aback when they saw Lu Fengnian's appearance.

"Scholar Lu, are you out chopping firewood?"

Qiu Mingzhu looked Lu Fengnian up and down, then looked at the hunting bow hanging on the bundle of firewood, his face full of doubt.

Lu Fengnian nodded perfunctorily and looked at Qiu Qingbai.

Today, Qiu Qingbai no longer wore her dirty old clothes, but instead wore a festive red cloth dress, her jet-black hair was neatly combed, and she also wore a butterfly-shaped hairpin.

Seeing her dressed like this, Lu Fengnian understood that Qiu Qingbai was going to the county to become a concubine for a wealthy family.

Feeling Lu Fengnian's gaze, Qiu Qingbai couldn't help but blush.

Lu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Isn't it a bit late to go to the county at this time? I'm afraid it's not safe on the road."

Qiu Qingbai cleared her throat. "After walking along the path in front of the village, I reached the main road, where a carriage was waiting for me."

At this point, she turned slightly and asked with a smile, "Lu Fengnian, do I look good today?"

Lu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It looks good."

Qiu Mingzhu was a little puzzled. Why did Lu Fengnian and his daughter seem to be so familiar with each other?

Moreover, there seemed to be something strange about their conversation.

So he coughed lightly, "Qingbai, I'm leaving. Don't keep them waiting."

Qiu Qingbai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Father, wait for me at the front. I have a few words to say to Lu Fengnian."

Without hesitation, Qiu Mingzhu retorted, "He's just a bookworm who's gone mad from reading too much. What's the point of talking to him? Just leave..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Qingbai raised her beautiful eyebrows and said, "It's not like you're the one being sold to the county. What's the rush? Hurry up and go wait at the front, or I won't go."

Qiu Mingzhu's face showed anger, but he managed to restrain himself and forced a smile. "Don't waste too much time."

After saying that, he lifted his foot and walked forward, turned the corner of the pond, and disappeared from sight.

Qiu Qingbai took two steps closer to Lu Fengnian. "Why are you carrying a bow when you're just chopping firewood?"

Lu Feng chuckled, "While we're on the way, let's see if we can catch a few sparrows or mountain jutsu."

Qiu Qingbai curled her lip. "You? You can't even draw a bow, let alone shoot sparrows?"

Stop pretending. Where did you get that bow? Return it right now. If you break it, I'm afraid you won't be able to afford to pay for it.

Lu Fengnian didn't want to dwell on the issue and asked, "Which family in the county do you want to marry into?"

Qiu Qing rolled her eyes. "Why do you keep asking this question? Are you planning to go to the county to see me?"

Lu Fengnian added, "If I have the chance, I will definitely go see it."

Qiu Qingbai's eyes flickered, she paused slightly, and then the corners of her mouth curled up. "You'd better not go. If you're mistaken for my lover, you might get your legs broken."

Just as Lu Fengnian was about to speak, Qiu Qingbai took out a pair of white jade bracelets from her bosom. "I went to your house twice today, but you weren't home either time."

Fortunately, I met you here just before I left.

As she spoke, she handed the jade bracelet to Lu Fengnian. "This is a betrothal gift from the county. Keep it safe. The poll tax is due soon. Pawn it and you can get some money. After paying the tax, you should be quite well off, enough for you to study for another year."

"Try again next year, and I believe you'll definitely pass the imperial examination and become a scholar."

Lu Fengnian looked at the woman in front of him with complicated emotions, feeling a mix of feelings, and hesitated to take the bracelet.

Qiu Qingbai shoved the bracelet into Lu Fengnian's hand. "What are you standing there for? Everyone says you've become stupid from studying too much, and you really are a bit stupid."

After saying that, she brushed past Lu Fengnian and quickly walked forward without looking back.

Lu Fengnian turned around and said in a deep voice, "Qiu Qingbai, could you postpone your trip to the county for a few days?"

Qiu Qingbai stopped and remained silent for three breaths before turning his back to Lu Fengnian and saying, "We've already taken their money, and the carriage is on the official road. We can't be late for even half a day."

Otherwise, if the wealthy people in the county were to discover their ruthlessness, they would face a lawsuit that could ruin their families.

Besides, even if it could be delayed by a few days, so what?

Alright, we've run out of time, I have to go.

Lu Fengnian paused for a moment, then raised his voice, "Qiu Qingbai, the wedding should be tomorrow at noon, right?"

"You still want to go to the wedding? You're such a fool!"

Qiu Qingbai still didn't turn around. "You should live well first. We definitely won't see each other again."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned the corner of the muddy pond and disappeared from sight.

Lu Fengnian stood there, silently watching the direction where Qiu Qingbai had disappeared. After a full ten breaths, he turned around and slowly walked home.

…………

From the moment she woke up until now, Liu Yunjuan's heart has been constantly in suspense.

Starting from Shenshi (3-5 PM), she would run to the door every now and then to look around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her eldest son's familiar figure.

However, each time I watch it, I'm disappointed.

As the sun completely set, she finally lost control of her emotions and said urgently, "Xiaoyu, your brother hasn't come back yet. Maybe something happened to him."

Go quickly and find the hunters in the village, and ask them to help you find your older brother.

Lu Xiaoyu was equally anxious. She hummed in agreement and hurried toward the door.

Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open, and Lu Fengnian, carrying a load of thatch, walked in.

"Fengnian, you're finally back!" Liu Yunjuan exclaimed with delight, tears welling up in her cloudy eyes.

Lu Xiaoyu hurried to greet him, saying happily, "Big brother, if you had come back any later, I would have had to ask the villagers to help me look for you."

The mother and daughter saw Lu Fengnian return carrying a load of thatch, but they didn't see any prey. They were neither surprised nor disappointed.

In their view, the best outcome would be for Lu Fengnian to return safely.

Moreover, fearing that Lu Fengnian would be frustrated or ashamed, Liu Yunjuan said with a smile, "Fengnian, it's okay if you didn't catch any prey. These days, even the old hunters in the village often return empty-handed when they go into the mountains."

"This is your first time in the mountains, it's normal that you haven't caught any prey."

"Brother, you must be exhausted after a long day. Go wash your face. The food is ready; just heat it up and you can eat."

As Lu Xiaoyu spoke, she reached out to take the bundle of straw from Lu Fengnian's back.

Lu Fengnian shook his head. "Xiaoyu, hurry up and go bolt the door."

Lu Xiaoyu blinked. "Big brother, it's still early. Go wash your face first."

"Girl, listen to me, hurry up and bolt the door." Lu Fengnian put the bundle of straw on the ground.

Lu Xiaoyu said "Oh," and ran to the door to bolt it.

When he returned, Lu Fengnian had already untied the straw vines binding the firewood.

The thatch was parted, revealing tightly bound branches inside.

Liu Yunjuan and Lu Xiaoyu both looked puzzled, wondering what Lu Fengnian was up to.

They removed the vines and parted the branches to reveal layers of broad leaves.

Lu Fengnian stood up, smiled at Lu Xiaoyu, and said, "Girl, peel back these leaves."

Lu Xiaoyu was puzzled, but she quickly squatted down and carefully opened the layers of broad leaves.

When the last leaf was lifted and the civet cat was seen inside, Lu Xiaoyu was first stunned, then jumped up and hugged Liu Yunjuan tightly, exclaiming in surprise and incoherently:

"Mother, am I dreaming?... My brother went into the mountains for the first time... and he actually caught some game?"