After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 51

Then, he consulted the almanac for a long time and finally selected several auspicious days, all after the autumn harvest next year.

Aunt Zhou thanked her profusely, paid the fee, and finally felt a huge weight lifted from her heart as she clutched the red paper with the auspicious date written on it.

At the same time, Zhou Han was also struggling to make a living. His income from odd jobs at the docks plummeted in winter, and he knew that expenses would be even greater after starting a family, so he had to find a way to make money faster.

He recalled a镖局 (bodyguard agency) leader he had met at the dock, a man known for his generosity and righteousness.

He went to the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and found that he had just taken on a mission to transport a batch of valuable medicinal herbs to a northern prefecture. Although the journey was long and somewhat risky, the reward was generous, equivalent to half a year’s work at the dock.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was impressed by Zhou Han’s skill, strength, and reliability, so he agreed to let him be one of the accompanying guards.

As dusk settled, Zhou Han returned home, his steps piercing the chill of the winter evening.

Aunt Zhou was busy in the kitchen, with a simple porridge bubbling in the pot. When she saw her son return, she quickly ladled out a bowl of hot porridge and handed it to him: “You’re back? Have some hot porridge to warm yourself up. How did things go?”

Zhou Han took the bowl, and the heat of the porridge passed through the rough earthenware bowl to his palm, dispelling some of the chill.

He sat down opposite his mother, took a big gulp of porridge, and then looked up, his tone steady but with a hint of barely perceptible excitement: “Mother, the job is settled. We’ll go with the Zhenyuan Escort Agency to escort medicinal herbs to Liangzhou in the north.”

“A security escort agency? Liangzhou?” Aunt Zhou paused in her porridge-serving motion, her face instantly filled with worry. “That far? I heard the road is rather treacherous, Han’er! This…”

“Mother, don’t worry,” Zhou Han interrupted his mother’s worries with a steady gaze. “The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) is an acquaintance. He knows the ways and his men are all skilled. Although this job is far away, the pay is good. One job is equivalent to half a year at the dock. Once we get married, expenses will be high, so we need to plan ahead.”

Looking into her son’s firm and steady eyes, Aunt Zhou knew that he had made up his mind. She knew her son well; he wouldn’t easily agree to something he wasn’t sure of.

She sighed, suppressing her worries, and reached out to straighten her son’s collar: “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you. But… please be careful on the way, don’t be a hero, and the most important thing is to come back safely.”

“I know,” Zhou Han nodded in agreement.

As if suddenly remembering something important, Aunt Zhou’s tone became serious: “Now that the work is settled, the departure date is approaching, right? Before we leave, we must hurry to the Lin family to arrange the wedding date and set a date for the wedding! This is a top priority and cannot be delayed! We must put Sangsang and her in-laws at ease.”

She thought to herself, “Perfect timing! I had my horoscopes checked a few days ago, and the fortune teller gave me a few auspicious dates, all after next autumn. Let’s go tomorrow, take the matchmaker Wang with us, and finalize the dates! You’ll be gone for more than a month, and you won’t be back until almost the New Year. We can’t let the young lady wait anxiously without any peace of mind.”

As Zhou Han listened to his mother’s words, the corners of his cold, hard lips twitched slightly, and his eyes revealed agreement and a hint of expectation.

He really wanted to move their big plans forward before she left, to put her mind at ease.

“Okay, I’ll do as you say, Mother. We’ll go first thing tomorrow morning.”

By the dim light of the oil lamp, the mother and son discussed in detail the gifts they should bring and the things they should say when they visited the Lin family the next day.

The cold wind still blew outside, but the house was filled with warmth because of the upcoming wedding and the anticipation for the future.

The next day, Aunt Zhou and her son, along with Matchmaker Wang, once again brought some exquisite pastries and newly cut fabric as gifts to the Lin family to formally “ask for the wedding date.”

This time, the atmosphere at the Lin family home was even more harmonious and warm.

Aunt Zhou took out the auspicious day chosen by the fortune teller. Wang and Lin took a close look and consulted the clan elders. Finally, they chose the sixteenth day of the ninth month after the autumn equinox next year. The weather was cool and the busy farming season was over, making it a good time to hold a wedding.

The two families discussed the follow-up details in a lively atmosphere, their faces beaming with anticipation for the future.

After the matter was settled, Zhou Han found an opportunity to go with Lin Sang to a secluded spot in the courtyard.

“Lin Sang,” he looked at her, his voice low, “I’ve taken on a job and have to go on a long trip with the security escort agency. I might not be back for more than a month.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of worry flashed in Lin Sang’s eyes: “A long journey? Is it… safe on the road?”

“Don’t worry, the escorts are all familiar with the route. I’m just going along to provide extra support,” Zhou Han said calmly, trying to reassure her. “The higher the reward, the more comfortable our lives will be in the future.”

Lin Sang knew he was working hard for their future, and she was touched. She nodded gently and said, “Then you must be careful in everything. There’s still a business at home… don’t worry about it. My parents and I will take good care of it.”

Looking at the concern in her clear eyes, Zhou Han felt a warmth in his heart and said softly, “Yes, after I leave, if you encounter any difficulties at the dock, you can go to Steward Zhao, or… go to the yamen to find Clerk Wang. I have already spoken to them.”

“I understand,” Lin Sang replied softly, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “…come back soon.”

Zhou Han nodded emphatically: “Definitely.”

After discussing the trip with Lin Sang, the two fell silent for a moment, with only the winter evening wind whistling softly through the bare branches.

Zhou Han looked at her slightly lowered eyelashes, reflecting the soft glow of the setting sun, and his heart stirred as he remembered the small object he had carried all the way, still warm from his body.

He awkwardly pulled a small bag carefully wrapped in a clean, soft cloth from his pocket and handed it to Lin Sang. His voice was lower than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness: “This… is for you.”

Lin Sang was slightly taken aback. She looked up at him and saw that his gaze was focused but also a little awkward, so she reached out and took it.

The soft cloth was slightly warm to the touch. She gently opened it and saw a silver earring lying inside.

The earrings were simple in design, yet exquisitely crafted.

Below is a teardrop-shaped silver setting, polished smooth and lustrous, on which rests a small, round, warm-white pearl. Although not a precious item, it exudes a soft and lustrous glow in the twilight.

The curved part of the silver hook is also intricately carved with delicate lotus scroll patterns, symbolizing good fortune.

“This…” Lin Sang was somewhat surprised and looked up at Zhou Han.

He, a man who deals with physical labor all day long, would actually choose such delicate and elegant items.

Zhou Han felt his ears burning under her gaze. He looked away, his tone still flat, but with a hint of seriousness: “I saw it at a silver shop in town. I thought it suited you. It’s not worth much, but you can keep it.”

He paused, then added in a lower voice, “I’ll be gone for quite some time, so… wear it as a keepsake.”

Lin Sang’s fingers gently brushed over the warm, lustrous pearl and the cool silver hook, and her heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, leaving her with a bittersweet feeling.

She raised her head, a gentle and genuine smile spreading across her eyes, like spring water breaking through ice, easing the sorrow of parting.

She carefully wrapped the earrings again, held them in her palm, and said softly, “They’re beautiful, I like them very much, thank you, Brother Zhou.”

Looking into her bright eyes and the reassuring smile on her lips, Zhou Han felt his chest fill with a surge of intense emotion.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them, which intertwined.

The small silver pearl earring, still warm from his body, lay quietly in Lin Sang’s palm, like a silent vow, connecting the impending farewell and illuminating the shared anticipation of return and the future.