“We’ve only known each other for a few days…..” Xiang Qing’s voice was very tense.
I moved closer to him, “It does not matter.”
Xiang Qing retreated a little bit further away, his head full of cold sweat, “We are not familiar enough with each other.”
I moved even closer to him this time, “It does not matter.”
Xiang Qing continued his retreat, “This progress is too fast.”
I inched closer to him, closing off the gap, “Not fast, not fast at all! In fact, it’s too slow!”
In the end, Xiang Qing, his entire person stumbled from his seat from the stone. I hastened to lend him a helping hand and continue to investigate him on the topic of marriage and having children.
“Marriage, it’s not something that can be decided just because you like someone.” Xiang Qing’s response was puzzling.
“Then what else do we need?” I didn’t understand.
“Miss Miao Miao, you are very beautiful and you have a lovable personality, any man would want to marry you,” Xiang Qing was somewhat melancholic, “I have nothing, compare me to anyone else and you’ll find that every single one will be better than me in multiple aspects.”
“That stuff, I don’t care about them.” I still didn’t understand.
Xiang Qing gave me a bitter smile, “I’m honored that Miao Miao has such deep sentiments towards me, but marriage is not small matter. Please carefully reconsider your thoughts and don’t make such casual decisions.”
I wanted to ask him what deep sentiments were? But he had already hastened to flee.
As I stared at the departure of his figure, my heart felt like it was being constricted. Then is this feeling because I’ve expressed my proposal wrongly? Or should I have been even more direct? Or perhaps I should’ve emphasized more on the part of about having many children? Maybe I should just take off all my clothes and wait in bed for him to come?
Too troublesome, too troublesome. The Shifu who has forgotten about Miao Miao is really too difficult to handle, understanding the human mind is really annoying. You see, cats are much simpler. If a cat happens to like another, then they only need to go claim it directly, simple is it not? So troublesome!
As I returned to the residence, Yin Zi who upon seeing me, walked forward and viciously knocked my head a couple of times. Miao Miao’s head wasn’t made of diamonds. If hit repeatedly, even it will start hurting. Thus when he wasn’t paying attention, I secretly crept away.
Seeing me come out, Seventh Senior Brother hurriedly took a step forward and asked, “Miss Yin Zi hasn’t left her room for several days now. Cooping up inside for too long isn’t goo for her health, so I brought her some candied fruit. I ask that Miss Miao Miao help me deliver these.”
I gave a disdainful glance at the candied fruit, and informed, “All the gifts you send, Yin Zi doesn’t like them.”
“Then…..what kind of gifts does Miss Yin Zi like?” Seventh Senior Brother’s face was full of expectation.
“He likes roasted chicken,” I moistened my lips, “If you deliver one every day, he will definitely be very happy.”
Seventh Senior Brother hurried away with an excited expression.
I paced back and forth several times thinking about the headache with Xiang Qing. Is this feeling what they call a single day of longing will feel like three autumns have passed?
Taking advantage of the fact that Yin Zi was busying himself with embroidery and not myself, I covertly slipped away. When no one was looking, I transformed back into a cat and headed for Xiang Qing’s room.
He had some silver and coins scattered around the table, but upon setting his eyes on me, his expression became joyful. He quickly went to the kitchen and brought back a large dish of roasted fish. Afterwards, he went back to counting the number of silvers and coins, sighing.
I didn’t know what he was counting money for, and just hopped onto his thighs. I rubbed my head against his chest and refused to leave. A slender man in noble attire walked in from the outside, he looked to Xiang Qing and laughed, “Hmm? You’ve finally started caring about the importance of money? Did the sun rise from the west today?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Xiang Qing neatly put away the scattered pieces of silver, and then very respectfully said, “How come Fourth Senior Brother has returned? After getting married you’ve rarely come back for a visit. Is Eldest Senior Sister well?”
“En, I should occasionally come back to visit the junior brothers. Moreover, my Xiao Lan is about to give birth, so you guys should quickly prepare some gifts to send to my residence.” The man called Fourth Senior Brother sat down next to Xiang Qing with a sly smile, “Now let’s talk about you, weren’t you always indifferent and uninterested in worldly matters? What do you need money for?”
“It’s nothing.” Xiang Qing appeared to be a bit flustered.
“Let me guess,” Fourth Senior Brother touched his chin. His eyes were narrow like that of a mischievous fox, “Your mother at home is sick?”
“Don’t speak nonsense.” Xiang Qing was unhappy with his reply.
“You’ve broken something so now you’ve got to compensate?” Fourth Senior Brother continued to speculate.
“I didn’t.”
“Then you need money to help some unfortunate people?”
“No.”
“Aiya, aiya. What in the world is it then?” Fourth Senior Brother’s face was tormented by suspense.
“Stop guessing, you’re too bothersome.”
Fourth Senior Brother suddenly bent over and gave him a good glance, “Could it be…..that you’ve taken fancy to a girl?”
“No, it’s not like that.” Xiang Qing’s face turned red, “Stop speaking rubbish.”
“Haha, I’ve guessed correctly.” Fourth Senior Brother merrily clapped his hands, completely disregarding Xiang Qing’s unpleasant expression, “Which family’s miss is so lucky? To even be able to move your stone heart?”
“I can’t marry her.” Xiang Qing let out a sigh.
Fourth Senior Brother asked in confusion, “Why not?”
“She was born in a wealthy home, and is extremely pure and innocent. Presumably from childhood, she has probably not known any hardship or suffering. How could I marry her knowing that she’d have to experience grief and misfortune with me?”
“Maybe she doesn’t mind.” Fourth Senior Brother shook his head, “Aren’t you thinking too much?”
“People born from family will naturally not understand hardships of the poor. How could you allow a woman you love to suffer? That miss probably has never eaten any bitterness or did any housework and chores. Her hands were very tender and beautiful, I don’t want to ruin them because of household chores. Even if she doesn’t mind, I don’t want her to experience any pain.”
What in the world is Xiang Qing saying? I didn’t understand, what did household chores have with liking a person? Why would doing housework be harmful? I could not come up with answers for any of these questions, so I continued to listen.
Feeling the tense atmosphere, Fourth Senior Brother changed the topic, “What kind of woman is she?”
“From the first sight, I had already liked her. She is very cute, very calm, and appears very carefree. Although her family has suffered a tragedy, she maintains her optimistic attitude. It’s just that sometimes when she looks into my eyes, there would be a hint of sadness.”
That woman…..should be me, right? My mind was thrown into confusion by his words. All I could think about was the bastards who dare to steal my things.
The two men in conversation didn’t consider my present opinion at all, completely ignoring me. Xiang Qing would sometimes casually stroke my fur, “Fourth Senior Brother you’ve always been kind and understanding, so about the matters today, please don’t let them into the ears of the others.”
“What do you intend to do in the future? Just give up like this?” Fourth Senior Brother asked.
Xiang Qing glanced to the bamboo box where he placed his money, and firmly said, “I’m giving myself two years time, if I can earn enough money to comfortably live with her, then I will go and propose marriage.”
“What if by that time, she’s already married another?”
“Then I can only relent. As long as she’s happy, I’ll be happy.” Xiang Qing sighed.
“Promise me one thing,” Fourth Senior Brother smiled, “Don’t over exert yourself too much.”
“En.”
“I want you to promise.”
“Okay.”
My mouth dropped and I became speechless. Shifu has taken fancy to another woman and even wants to propose marriage…..he has already rejected my proposal, so that woman can’t be me. Then who is it? So daring, to even want to compete with I, Hua Miao Miao! I will disregard the Buddha’s teachings, find that woman, and shred her to pieces! To conceal this, I will dig a hole and bury her remains!