Chapter 5: Spring Liquor Town

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingyuan’s breath caught for a moment, and his expression stiffened briefly, though Ye Rui could not see it clearly in the darkness.

He cleared his throat lightly and explained, “Yes, I met an aunt just now who happened to ask me about going to the clinic for treatment.”

Meeting villagers by the lotus pond was nothing unusual; she had just encountered some herself.

Hearing this, Ye Rui had no reason to doubt him and didn’t ponder further. She nodded with a gentle smile, her eyes curved softly under the moonlight.

The moonlight poured down, and in its glow, Ye Rui’s eyes curved like crescent moons, her delicate face fair and radiant, exceptionally vibrant and beautiful, captivating the soul.

For a moment, Zhou Qingyuan was spellbound. He couldn’t help but reach out and take her hand.

The man’s hand was large, hers small; as their skin touched, a faint warmth blossomed on her cheek, yet she did not pull away.

After all, they had already discussed marriage; holding hands was only natural.

Satisfied, Zhou Qingyuan smiled softly, leading Ye Rui to stroll along the lotus pond’s edge. His voice was tender: “Rui Rui, tomorrow we’ll go to the county town to buy the bridal gifts. Once the betrothal is settled, I can finally bring you home as my wife. Just thinking about it makes me so happy.”

These words softened Ye Rui’s heart, and a faint smile graced her lips.

Zhou Qingyuan held her slender white fingers gently. “My cousin will arrive in town tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll ride in his car to the county.”

Recalling the brief chat between her mother and aunt earlier about “big cousin,” Ye Rui’s curiosity stirred. “What’s his name?”

“Huo Fang,” Zhou Qingyuan answered.

Years ago, Zhou Qishan had raised Huo Fang as his nephew, although Zhou Qingyuan was not yet born then.

Therefore, he had never met this cousin, only hearing bits from his parents.

But tonight, Zhou Qingyuan would finally meet this unfamiliar cousin.

Especially since he was driving a car back to attend the wedding and bring honor to the Zhou family, Zhou Qingyuan felt a surge of anticipation.

—

The scenery by the lotus pond was pleasant. Ye Rui and Zhou Qingyuan walked while discussing the wedding date.

As the time grew late, Ye Rui tugged his sleeve with a smile. “Qingyuan, I’ll head home first. It’s late, and my mother will worry.”

Her childhood fiancé, handsome and gentle, Zhou Qingyuan was reluctant to part from her daily and quickly said, “I’ll walk you home.”

Ye Rui nodded slightly, her lips curving gently.

The moon was bright, the evening breeze soft, and they walked back together.

In most other villages, at this hour, the roads would be deserted—no one in sight, not even a dog barking at a thrown stick.

—

But Chunjiu Town was different. With a distillery there, some villagers worked night shifts.

So, on their way home, Ye Rui and Zhou Qingyuan met groups of villagers returning together.

Among them were a pair of identical twin sisters, well-known workers at the distillery, whom Ye Rui and Chun Xing both knew and got along well with.

When the sisters saw Ye Rui walking with her fiancé, they teased and chattered excitedly:

“Rui Rui! You wouldn’t believe it—we just saw a huge car coming into town, parked right at the entrance. Many people were watching!”

“The car was big and beautiful, looking so majestic. Compared to it, the county bus looked like a toothless old man. It’s the first time we’ve seen such a stunning car. Truly magnificent.”

“If we weren’t afraid of coming home too late and getting scolded, we’d have stared a lot longer. We’d love to see who’s driving such an impressive car.”

The twin sisters, Hong Shiju and Hong Shiqiu, babbled back and forth, their eyes shining with excitement.

Before Ye Rui could react, Zhou Qingyuan’s expression brightened. He said quickly, “Rui Rui, that must be my cousin. He’s already here!”

With that, Zhou Qingyuan pulled Ye Rui along. “I thought he’d arrive late, but it’s so soon. Come, let’s go meet him now.”

Since they would use his cousin’s car to go to the county tomorrow, and knowing he had arrived, it was only proper to greet him first.

Ye Rui looked at Zhou Qingyuan and nodded softly.

They changed direction midway, heading out of town. Nearby villagers’ homes were brightly lit under the eaves and in courtyards.

At the town’s entrance, a crowd had gathered, as lively as a market day, all drawn by curiosity.

“This is a sight! I’m seventy and have never seen such a grand car before! Incredible!”

“Oh my, how did such a magnificent car come to our town? And the young man who got out and then back in—did anyone catch a glimpse? Tall and handsome, strong build! Any unmarried girls should take a good look!”

“Tsk tsk, we don’t even know his name, and he’s not from here. Probably just passing through and will leave soon. No need to dream about him just because of a fancy car.”

“What’s there to laugh at? If my eldest daughter hadn’t married out of town and my youngest were older, I’d be trying for that mother-in-law spot myself!”

Voices buzzed as all eyes fixed on the black SUV nearby, never shifting to notice Zhou Qingyuan approaching with Ye Rui.

Only when Zhou Qingyuan, from the town’s clinic family, walked toward the car with Ye Rui did someone exclaim:

“The Zhou and Ye girls are about to marry. Could this driver be here for the wedding?”

“Is he a relative of the Zhou family? How impressive!”

—

As the sole male heir of the Zhou family’s traditional medicine clinic, Zhou Qingyuan had some education and had seen more of the world than most townsfolk.

He knew his cousin would drive here, and though he anticipated the meeting, he was careful not to lose his composure.

—

But he had never dreamed his cousin would drive an SUV.

A high-chassis black vehicle, imposing and awe-inspiring. Zhou Qingyuan had only ever seen such cars in catalogs.

How much could that cost?

His breath grew heavier, a trace of nervousness creeping in, but with his fiancée by his side, he would not show weakness.

He cleared his throat and straightened his sleeves. “Let’s go over,” he said to Ye Rui.

At the same time, inside the car, Huo Fang listened to the muffled voice on the phone’s other end. His tone was calm:

“Signal’s bad. Hanging up now. I’ll contact you later.”

He hung up and turned his head, seeing a man and woman approaching outside the window.

Squinting, he guessed they were his cousin and cousin-in-law.

With a click, the car door opened and the man stepped out, striding forward with long legs.

But when Ye Rui caught sight of the unfamiliar “big cousin,” her curiosity vanished instantly. Her eyelashes twitched uncontrollably, and she gently pressed her lips together.

She had not expected that, while her fiancé was gentle and refined, his elder brother would appear cold and intimidating.

The man was tall and sturdy, broad-shouldered and upright, dressed entirely in black, emanating an aura of impenetrable coldness.

His nose was straight, his eyes narrow; under the night’s veil, his features were sharp and ruthless, like a wild wolf lurking in the mountains.

Ye Rui glanced hurriedly away, exhaling softly, lowering her eyes. She felt this cousin was dangerous, unlike anyone from their town.

Zhou Qingyuan was also meeting his cousin for the first time. He wanted to greet him but was stunned, slow to react.

Huo Fang’s dark eyes met Zhou Qingyuan’s, and he nodded. “Cousin.”

Then his gaze swept over the woman beside Zhou Qingyuan.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, her head lowered in unease, revealing only a slender, pale nape from his angle.

He glanced away and spoke in a steady voice: “Cousin-in-law.”