The third day after Xiao Mo left Stone Bridge Village.

At the residence of the county magistrate of Qingshan County.

County Magistrate Sun Siyuan of Qingshan County strode quickly toward the separate courtyard where Xiao Mo was staying.

"Xiao Mo," Sun Siyuan walked into the courtyard, his face bearing joy.

"Lord Sun," Xiao Mo put down the book in his hands, stood up, and bowed to Sun Siyuan.

"The blacksmith Lei's apprentice just came over, saying that the item you wanted has been completed. Would you like to go retrieve it now?" Sun Siyuan asked.

"Naturally," Xiao Mo's eyes also flashed with brightness, "I have troubled Lord Sun these past few days. The gold that Lord Sun lent to this humble student, I will certainly repay to you, my lord."

"Haha, no rush, no rush, it's just a bit of gold," County Magistrate Sun said with a laugh.

Two days ago, after Xiao Mo came to Qingshan City, he found County Magistrate Sun, expressing that he wanted to borrow some gold to have something made.

Originally, Sun Siyuan had been worried about what to give Xiao Mo that wouldn't seem vulgar while deepening their relationship.

After all, once Xiao Mo entered court as an official, they would meet less frequently but after Xiao Mo passed the provincial examination, he wasn't short of money, and he seemed to be a person without desires or demands.

Many wealthy merchants had offered him things, but he hadn't accepted any.

So County Magistrate Sun truly didn't know where to start.

Therefore, when Xiao Mo actively sought his help, County Magistrate Sun almost laughed out loud.

County Magistrate Sun very generously took out a gold ingot and introduced Xiao Mo to the best blacksmith in Qingshan County.

Xiao Mo gave that blacksmith a design drawing.

Because it was a small item and didn't need anything embedded, just requiring some carved patterns, it could be completed in two days.

So Xiao Mo wanted to stay in Qingshan County but how could County Magistrate Sun let Xiao Mo stay at an inn?

He brought Xiao Mo to stay in his own residence, until now.

Actually, County Magistrate Sun wished that Xiao Mo would never repay that bit of gold.

In that case, Xiao Mo would owe him a favor.

Sometimes, when both parties willingly owed each other things, their friendship would deepen.

There were only two things that made County Magistrate Sun feel regretful.

First was that the item Xiao Mo wanted made was a small object, requiring little gold, so this favor couldn't be bigger.

County Magistrate Sun wanted to give the remaining gold to Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo politely declined and refused to accept it no matter what.

Second was that Xiao Mo still had no interest in his own daughter.

County Magistrate Sun had insisted that Xiao Mo stay in his residence not only to deepen their relationship, but also to let his own daughter appear more frequently in front of Xiao Mo.

County Magistrate Sun was quite confident about his daughter's beauty.

Although Xiao Mo had politely declined him last time, this time, both parties could have some contact.

What if Xiao Mo thought "this young lady is quite nice" and changed his mind?

During meals, Xiao Mo met Miss Sun several times.

When Xiao Mo was reading, County Magistrate Sun deliberately had his daughter go deliver tea.

After these two days of contact, the result was that Miss Sun had indeed become somewhat smitten with Xiao Mo but Xiao Mo never gave Miss Sun an extra glance.

Miss Sun even asked her father to find a way, as she wanted to marry Xiao Mo but what method could County Magistrate Sun think of?

It wasn't as if County Magistrate Sun hadn't investigated.

Xiao Mo's sweetheart should be that Miss Bai from Stone Bridge Village, not to mention her appearance.

That Miss Bai had always taken care of Xiao Mo, weaving cloth and gathering herbs, exchanging them for silver so he could study.

If he truly used some underhanded methods, not only would Xiao Mo resent him, but if word got out, his reputation would truly be ruined forever.

He could only say that Xiao Mo and his daughter simply weren't fated.

After an incense stick's time, Xiao Mo and County Magistrate Sun arrived at the entrance of Blacksmith Lei's shop.

"County Magistrate, Master Xiao," the thick-browed, big-eyed Blacksmith Lei, bare-chested, hurriedly came out and, imitating the manner of scholars, bowed to them.

"Blacksmith Lei, is Master Xiao's item ready?" County Magistrate Sun asked.

"Ready, ready, please wait a moment, honored lords."

Blacksmith Lei washed his hands in the water bucket, then dried them with a clean towel before taking out a brocade box from the cabinet, "Please examine it, honored lords."

"Thank you for your hard work, Blacksmith Lei," Xiao Mo received the brocade box with both hands and opened it.

A golden object appeared before Xiao Mo and Lord Sun.

Lord Sun leaned in for a closer look and couldn't help but nod. Blacksmith Lei's craftsmanship was indeed excellent.

Of course, it was also because Xiao Mo's design drawing was beautiful.

Blacksmith Lei looked at this county graduate master, this future high official, and said somewhat nervously, "Is Master Xiao satisfied?"

Xiao Mo nodded, "Satisfied."

Blacksmith Lei breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as Master Xiao is satisfied."

"Blacksmith Lei, for your labor fee, keep the change," seeing Xiao Mo satisfied, County Magistrate Sun tossed Blacksmith Lei a small piece of silver.

Xiao Mo could afford the labor fee, but precisely because Xiao Mo could afford it, County Magistrate Sun moved quickly to pay, afraid that Xiao Mo would pay first.

"Thank you, County Magistrate, thank you, Master Xiao," Blacksmith Lei hurriedly thanked them. This was about four times the labor fee.

"Xiao Mo, since the matter is settled, shall we go have a drink?" County Magistrate Sun invited.

Xiao Mo hurriedly bowed, his tone carrying apology, "I'm grateful for Lord Sun's kind intentions, but Lord Sun, this humble student fears I must return first."

"In such a hurry?" Lord Sun asked in surprise.

"There is someone who has been waiting for this humble student for a long time," Xiao Mo looked at the brocade box, "This humble student doesn't want to make her wait any longer."

"Sister, eat something..."

"Sister isn't hungry."

"But sister, you haven't eaten anything for two or three days..."

"It's fine. Sister can absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth anyway, I don't need to eat."

"Sister..." Little Green sighed.

Ever since Big Brother Xiao Mo left, sister seemed to have lost her soul, sitting in the courtyard every day waiting for Big Brother Xiao Mo to return.

Last night, sister heard some sounds and happily ran out, thinking Big Brother Xiao Mo had returned, but it turned out to be weasels trying to steal chickens from the courtyard.

In her anger, sister threw all these weasels into the river.

"Little Green, do you think Xiao Mo has come to dislike sister?" Bai Ruxue held her younger sister's small hand and asked nervously.

"Sister... Big Brother Xiao Mo doesn't look like he dislikes sister at all," Little Green said helplessly.

"Then why hasn't Xiao Mo come back? Could he have gone off with some other woman?"

"Sister," Little Green felt somewhat mentally exhausted, "Big Brother Xiao Mo said he went to have something made and would return in a couple of days. Big Brother Xiao Mo should return today."

"Oh..."

Bai Ruxue nodded and continued gazing at the small path outside the courtyard.

Although Little Green said this, in Bai Ruxue's heart, she still felt very anxious.

"Could it be that the words I said that night scared Xiao Mo?"

"Could it be that Xiao Mo doesn't want to fulfill his promise anymore?"

"Or does Xiao Mo think County Magistrate Sun's daughter is indeed nice and went to Qingshan County to marry her?"

In Bai Ruxue's mind, all sorts of speculations couldn't help but emerge.

The more she thought, the more worried Bai Ruxue became, and those beautiful peach blossom eyes gradually became covered with a thin layer of mist.

"Eh? Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Little Green was startled.

"Sister, don't cry..." Little Green was at a loss, not knowing how to comfort sister.

Just as Little Green was panicking, she saw a figure appear on the distant path, walking step by step toward the courtyard.

When she clearly saw the man's form and appearance, Little Green's eyes suddenly brightened, "Sister! Big Brother Xiao Mo is back!"

"Eh?"

Bai Ruxue suddenly raised her head and looked toward the outside of the courtyard.

When Xiao Mo saw Bai Ruxue looking at him with teary eyes, he thought something had happened and hurriedly quickened his pace.

"What's wrong? During these few days I was away, did something happen?" Xiao Mo asked the two sisters.

"Big Brother Xiao Mo, nothing happened. I told sister that Big Brother Xiao Mo would return after two days, but sister..."

Little Green said halfway before being pulled on the wrist by sister and could only swallow the rest of her words.

Xiao Mo's gaze turned to Bai Ruxue in front of him.

At this moment, the woman lowered her head, her cheeks red, her eyes moist, and on her curved, upturned eyelashes, teardrops still clung.

Xiao Mo roughly guessed what had happened.

This girl probably suspected that he had abandoned her and run away.

Or else she suspected that he went to Qingshan County to marry Lord Sun's daughter.

"Little Green, go deliver this jar of wine to the village chief. It's a gift from Lord Sun," Xiao Mo handed a small jar of wine to Little Green.

"Alright, Big Brother Xiao Mo."

Little Green took the wine, glanced at Big Brother Xiao Mo and sister, then hurriedly ran out.

She knew Big Brother Xiao Mo wanted to be alone with sister and wanted her to leave for a while.

Little Green had no objections.

Now that sister was in this state, only Big Brother Xiao Mo could comfort sister properly.

In the courtyard, only Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue remained.

Bai Ruxue lowered her little head, her small hands tightly gripping her dress hem, her little red nose sniffling, looking pitiful yet adorable in a way that made one's heart ache.

Xiao Mo smiled and reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of Bai Ruxue's eyes, "Don't cry anymore. Haven't I returned?"

Bai Ruxue still lowered her little head without speaking.

"I brought back two strings of candied hawthorns, they're in my bundle. Would you like to eat candied hawthorns?"

Bai Ruxue still didn't answer, only gently biting her thin lips.

"Then would you like osmanthus cake? Master Fang's osmanthus cake is quite good, I brought some back too."

Bai Ruxue still didn't respond.

Xiao Mo felt somewhat at a loss in his heart.

Indeed, the girl had just said those kinds of words to him a few days ago, yet he had no reaction and even ran away for two or three days without coming home. This was indeed quite excessive.

Just as Xiao Mo was thinking about how to coax her properly, Bai Ruxue extended her delicate small hand, her slender jade fingers gently tugging at the corner of Xiao Mo's clothes.

The summer breeze swept by, gently stirring the woman's dress hem. The originally loose long dress clung to the woman's body, outlining her graceful and winding curves.

Several strands of her hair floated gently.

The wind carried the scent of forest grass and earth, along with the woman's faint fragrance.

"Xiao Mo... I was wrong..."

The woman's voice was very soft, like a butterfly gently alighting on flower petals.

"What did you do wrong?" Xiao Mo didn't know why she was apologizing.

"I... I shouldn't have been angry with you in my heart..."

Her voice carried a hint of sobbing.

"I shouldn't have kept thinking about wanting your reply."

"I even shouldn't have secretly called you a big stinky egg behind your back, saying your previous words didn't count..."

"Xiao Mo..."

Bai Ruxue raised her head, her beautiful peach blossom eyes brimming with crystalline tears, like peach blossoms made of glass soaked in clear spring water.

"I will definitely be very obedient from now on."

"I will never throw little tantrums again..."

"I can just secretly like you in my heart."

"I can pretend I never heard what you said before."

"I don't need you to marry me anymore either."

"But Xiao Mo, don't abandon me again, alright?"

As the woman's voice fell, crystalline tears slowly slid down her fair cheeks, dropping unhindered to the ground. The scattered water droplets reflected the late summer light before falling into the soil and slowly seeping in.

Xiao Mo reached out his hand, gently stroking her cheek, wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes:

"Silly girl, you did nothing wrong, and I won't abandon you. You're already very obedient, and furthermore..."

Xiao Mo smiled, "Who said my previous words didn't count?"

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue was stunned.

"This time I went to Qingshan Town to have something made for you. This item needed two or three days to complete, and going to Qingshan City takes quite a while, so I simply waited there. Once the item was finished, I immediately rushed back to give it to you."

Xiao Mo took out the brocade box from his bosom, then held Bai Ruxue's small hand, opened her palm, and placed the brocade box in her palm, "Open it and see."

Bai Ruxue looked at the brocade box in her palm and opened it in bewilderment.

A golden ring appeared before the woman's eyes.

The ring was carved with exquisite patterns.

Looking carefully, it somewhat resembled purple sun grass and blue waterfall flowers.

"This ring..." Bai Ruxue stared blankly at Xiao Mo.

"In our hometown, there's such a custom. If a man and woman have feelings for each other, the man will use a ring to propose to the woman. If the woman agrees, the man will place the ring on the woman's right ring finger, with the saying being 'the nameless person's heart already belongs to someone.'

This time I went to Qingshan Town precisely to make this ring.

So... Ruxue, are you willing to wear this ring, willing to marry me?"

"I..."

Bai Ruxue looked at this ring, tears once again sliding from the corners of her eyes.

"I'm not willing..."

The woman raised her head and said.

"Hmm?"

"I'm not willing now..."

Bai Ruxue gazed adoringly at the man before her.

"Aunt Chen said that getting married is very troublesome, requiring banquets and guests, with all sorts of procedures.

But now it's already late summer, and next March, you'll need to go to the capital to take the imperial examination.

You said when you were young that you wanted to be an official.

This is precisely the crucial period for your exam preparation. How could I let you be distracted?

"Next year..."

Bai Ruxue held the ring tightly to her chest and said, "Next spring, when you return from the imperial examination, come to marry me, and I will wed you."