Chapter Thirty-Two: Yue Qianshan and Liu Qingqing

  Liu Qingqing woke up when the sun was high in the sky. After washing and dressing, eating and drinking, and doing everything she needed to do, she had nothing better to do than play with her fingernails, drawing little people on them and talking to herself. The servants of Yangsheng Hall were guarding the doors tightly, bringing her anything she needed, as if they were afraid she would fly away. She thought to herself: If I didn't want to come back, I could have escaped last night, what's the point of being so careful?

  I recalled the handsome man from last night, probably Yang Liuqing's fiancé, Yue Qianshan. He looks so fair and delicate, not like someone from the northern desert at all. Maybe it's because he's a young master, living a life of luxury, even wearing a veil when going out to protect his skin, making him look so tender and smooth, like a big girl's skin. He appears to be a very likable handsome guy, but I don't have any impression of him at all. Oh dear, I must have gotten lovesickness syndrome, even if my parents came, I wouldn't recognize them. If this handsome man can cure my illness, I wouldn't mind having an affair with him. If we're compatible, I wouldn't mind marrying him first and loving him later either. If not, judging from the situation with Hu Zhongren, I can still force him to divorce me anyway.

  Just thinking about entering the non-existent, Yingying came in to report that Hu Zhongren and Yue Qianshan had come to visit. Liu Qingqing smiled: "Please do." She was extremely bored and had nothing better to do, waiting for them.

  Liu Qingqing stood up, her expression unchanged, calm and elegant. Yue Qianshan, on the other hand, had already suppressed his emotions and quickly stepped forward to grasp Liu Qingqing's hand, making her feel that she really had a deep emotional connection with this person, for people's eyes never lie.

  Hu Zhongren coughed lightly, hinting that she was his wife and to keep a distance. Yue Qianshan hastily let go of Liu Qingqing's hand. Liu Qingqing said: "Hello, Master Yue, Xiangxiang, serve tea for the two gentlemen." She was polite and elegant, with the demeanor of a noble lady. Even Hu Zhongren didn't know what she did, but her emotions were like those of a princess from a foreign country who had fallen into the mortal world - her bearing was breathtaking.

  Facing the beauty, two people simultaneously picked up their water cups and took a sip of tea. The beauty was like an opium poppy - alluring yet poisonous.

  At this time, Liu Qingqing's big eyes blinked and stared at Yue Qianshan. Originally, Yue Qianshan was secretly watching Liu Qingqing, but he was caught off guard and his face turned red.

  Liu Qingqing burst out laughing: "Handsome pot, you're so shy!" Hu Zhongren took a look and was relieved that he had returned to his normal self.

  Yue Qianshan was startled, thinking that this jumping ability was too strong. How did it become so fast? It seems that he really has a disease, and the symptoms of stupidity are really that severe.

  "Qingqing, do you still remember me? Am I your Qianshan? Look at this book 'Yu Chu Fan Pu', it's the token of our love back then. And the green jade Buddha on your body, was also given by me." If Liu Qingqing hadn't fallen ill before, she would definitely have blown up and said that her green jade Buddha was given by her mother or passed down from her grandmother's grandmother. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember now. Hu Zhongren of course knew what she used to say, but now Liu Qingqing's small mouth is tightly closed, no longer the same as when she would argue with him in the past, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

  Liu Qingqing took a look at the "Yu Chu Fan Pu". She really didn't have any impression of this thing. After hesitating for a while, she said, "Young Master Yue, you also know that I don't remember anything from before. Even if my parents were in front of me, I wouldn't be able to recognize them. So, can you please tell me about our past interactions? Maybe it will help with my memory." Hu Zhongren nodded frequently on the side, this girl's brain was still so sharp even when she was ill.

  "Alright, I'll say it." Yu Qianshan's spirit was determined, and he slowly told the story of his love with Qingqing.

  "In today's world, there are three extremely wealthy families that can rival a country, known as the East Liu, North Yue, West Nan and South Hu. I am one of them. My father is Sai Bei Yue Ye, have you heard of him?"

  Liu Qingqing shook her head, having never heard of it before. Nowadays, she only knew things through hearsay.

  "I was thirteen when I came to Kyoto with my father, and we stayed at the Ryokan Inn. That's where I met you. The Yanagi family, your family, made a living by running restaurants and inns, and the restaurant was famous for its Oden. Big Yanagi is Yanagi Seiichiro, your older brother, who has the nickname 'Tenten', while Little Yanagi is you, but nobody knows your real name or that your skills surpass those of your brother. Only I call you Little Yanagi."

  Liu Qingqing couldn't help but roll her tongue, it's so fierce, my goodness. Am I a food god descended to the mortal world?

  "I followed my father to the capital and lived in the State Guesthouse. Your brother was touring major restaurants across the country, and during this period, every March, you would take over as the head chef of the State Guesthouse, replacing your brother. Outsiders never knew your true identity, thinking that the head chef of the State Guesthouse was always your older brother. But I, who am passionate about cooking, wanted to learn from you, so I intentionally made things difficult for you. I asked you to make eggplant dishes, but they couldn't taste like eggplant at all. At that time, you used three dishes to defeat me: braised eggplant in soy sauce, steamed eggplant with garlic, and clear broth with eggplant. To this day, I still remember the flavors of those dishes."

  Yue Qianshan had an indecisive look on his face. Hu Zhongren and Liu Qingqing couldn't help but exchange a smile.

  "You made three dishes, but I didn't taste any eggplant in them. So, I decided to worship you as my master. I knelt at your door for three days and nights to show my sincerity. At that time, I thought you were your brother and didn't know you were a woman who doesn't see strangers. After being rejected by you, I still didn't give up. Therefore, every March, I would take the opportunity of my father's inspection tour in Kyoto to come here, stay at the guest house, and think that while tasting your cooking, maybe I could learn your skills. One year, because something came up, I arrived in April instead, and found that the flavor of the dishes was different from before. I asked your brother about it, and only then did I realize that you were only in charge of cooking in March."

  "So you admired me, pursued me, and then we exchanged tokens of our affection. I gave you the 'Imperial Kitchen Recipes', and you gave me the Jade Buddha, right?" asked Liu Qingqing.

  Yue Qianshan's eyes lit up, "Qingqing, you've remembered?"

  "No. It's just that your plot is old, anyone would think of it." Hu Zhongren couldn't help but be amused by Liu Qingqing's words, and a smile appeared on his serious face.

  Yue Qianshan let out a disappointed "oh". So that's how it is. He thought his love story was quite attractive, huh.

  "Years have passed in this way, and we've been secretly meeting each other. Except for your brother, no one knows about our relationship. My father has been urging me to get engaged, and many matchmakers came to propose marriage, but I told him about you instead. He was delighted when he heard that your adoptive father is Liu Changchun, so he agreed and brought betrothal gifts to the Liu family during his inspection tour in Beijing, intending to ask for your hand in marriage from Old Man Liu. However, he told my father that you had already married Hu Zhongren and become Mrs. Hu, and also told me not to think about it anymore. I was furious when I heard this from my father, resenting you for breaking our promise and marrying someone else, and also hating myself for not telling my parents earlier and bringing you home as my wife."

  "Alas, it's really like that. When there are flowers to be picked, they should be picked immediately, don't wait until there are no more flowers and the branches are empty. It's hard for people with feelings to become a couple, you're truly pitiful!" Liu Qingqing heard this and sighed, not even considering herself as the person involved.

  Yue Qianshan listened and became even more sorrowful, shedding tears as he said: "If you were living happily, I would have nothing to say, but now you are suffering from a serious illness and have been driven out of the house by Old Lady Hu. What can be done to save your life?"

  Liu Qingqing said: "Your words are not pleasant to hear. Harmony is calculated, discord is scattered, what's the shame or no shame? Moreover, life and death are destined, wealth and nobility are in heaven, you should be more open-minded, human life is like morning dew, only struggling for the present, you're so pessimistic, aren't you going to throw away all your wealth and happy life? Besides, life isn't just about one person, as long as you're willing to move forward, you'll definitely meet better people! Look ahead at everything, the future is limitless!"

  Hu Zhongren watched her persuade people with ease and fluency, and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

  Who was the one who got sick? However, the crazy words and phrases were quite insightful, and suddenly felt refreshed, saying: "Qian Shan, after hearing your love story, I feel even more ashamed. Fortunately, it's not too late to mend the fence after the sheep has escaped."

  "What did you say?" Yue Qianshan asked in puzzlement. Liu Qingqing also looked at Hu Zhongren.

  "To be honest with you, although I and Qingqing have been married for a long time, we haven't actually consummated our marriage." Hu Zhongren hesitated for a moment before deciding to reveal everything, as long as it could help cure Liu Qingqing, he was willing to let go.

  "But Xiaolian said we've already passed that stage." Qingqing Liu exclaimed, this matter was originally very private, Qingqing's unbridled shouting made Hu Zhongren's face turn bright red instantly. "Don't you know your own body?"

  "Should I know?" Liu Qingqing was puzzled.

  Yue Qianshan was also full of surprise, "Big brother, is this true? Is Xiao Liu still a virgin?"

  Hu Zhongren smiled wryly: "Originally, I didn't take a liking to this mischievous girl, but later on, I grew fond of her. However, due to various misunderstandings, we never consummated our relationship." He then began to ridicule himself, saying his face had an ugly scar like a caterpillar, how he was mute for seven days and couldn't speak, and how he learned the sounds of lovemaking between men and women. After repeating this several times, he said: "It seems that you two are truly meant to be, I wouldn't want to stand in the way of your happiness, lest heaven and earth condemn me. Although I also have feelings for Qingqing, a gentleman doesn't steal someone else's love interest. So, I'll just congratulate you both instead. Why wait for an auspicious day when we can do it tonight? How about you two consummate your relationship tonight?"

  Liu Qingqing said: "You say I'll spend the wedding night with him, then I'll spend it with him! A loveless marriage is boring. Eldest brother, do you understand? Was your brain kicked by a donkey or squeezed by a door that you'd say such nonsense?! How could you write a divorce agreement for me and treat me like an object, saying 'give her away' just because I'm given away?! My body belongs to me, my emotions are mine to decide!"

  Liu Qingqing spoke out in a flurry of words, leaving Hu Zhongren speechless. Yue Qianshan felt that Qingqing was being too overbearing and not as gentle and soft-spoken as she used to be, unlike the type he liked before, had she become seriously ill?

  Hu Zhongren was already accustomed to her temper, and he liked what she said, but if it didn't match the house, he could only look for the Biyu Buddha, relying on the Biyu Buddha's power to cure illnesses. However, this Biyu Buddha was mysterious and unpredictable, so how could they easily meet?

  Before he knew it, he felt embarrassed, "What's your opinion?" The two looked at Liu Qingqing together.

  Liu Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly, as if gazing into the distance. This was her thinking face. "You all say I have a relationship with you, but I'm not sure. However, we can find witnesses, just like the two of you told me about past events and I knew my past. If I find some people, I can understand my entire life trajectory. For example, Liu Qinglian and Liu Changchun know about my situation in the Liu family, Ren Zhonghu knows about my relationship with Hu Zhongren, and Liu Qingyang knows about my relationship with Yue Gongzi. As long as I find these people, I can piece together a general idea. Even if I never recover, at least I'll know what kind of person I am and what situation I'm in. Die without regret."