Chapter 1

I haven't finished speaking. My maternal uncle's family has only this one child, who is cherished like a pearl in their palm. They are reluctant to let their daughter marry outside, meaning that they are looking for a young man of good character, even if his background is somewhat modest..." As Young Master Luo spoke, he noticed that Lin Fangzhou was merely focused on eating, so he decided to be straightforward and said, "They want to recruit a son-in-law to marry into the family."

That beef, ah

Lin Fangzhou rolled up his sleeves and began to search carefully in the grass.

At lunch, Lin Fangzhou only ate one steamed bun and drank two large bowls of water. The steamed bun swells when it comes into contact with water, so she considered herself to be half full. However, while walking, she felt the water sloshing around in her stomach, as if she were a walking water bucket

That cricket is indeed no ordinary specimen. With its glossy black skin, strong legs, and fierce mandibles, it is quite large, measuring about an inch in length! It is rare to see such a robust cricket in this season. Lin Fangzhou was overjoyed and determined to capture it

Therefore, she must never let anyone know her secret

If it were to be discovered now that she is a woman, reporting her to the authorities would result in a light punishment of a few lashes, but it could also lead to exile for three thousand miles, to the desert to grow watermelons

Lin Fangzhou thought to herself, the tiger only resides deep in the mountains, and she is merely digging for a bird in the woods of the small hillside outside, which is of no consequence

Lin Fangzhou seemed to catch a whiff of the rich sauce aroma of the beef, and she was somewhat entranced, when suddenly the person eating the beef lifted their head

Lin Fangzhou was about to return the same way when she suddenly heard a commotion not far away in the treetops, rustling as if something was shaking the branches. She thought it was a monkey and looked up, but in her line of sight, a dark shadow fell from the tree, hitting a few branches along the way, and finally landed on the ground with a loud "bang".

Everything originates from a bad idea of her mother

Lin Fangzhou was scalded, her face slightly contorted. She lifted her face from the bowl and, through the white steam, heard Young Master Luo continue to chatter about his distant cousin who was waiting to be married. Lin Fangzhou interrupted him: "Young Master Luo, are you getting married?"

Young Master Luo understood and waved to the boss: "Another bowl of wontons and a plate of beef."

She is extremely curious

Lin Fangzhou quickly found the bird's nest. Climbing up the tree to take a look, he was immediately filled with disappointment: he did not know which rascal had acted first and taken away all the young thrushes.

Lin Fangzhou shouted at the boss's back: "I want a big bowl!"

It doesn't matter if we can't catch the bird, we must catch this cricket

She had no choice but to randomly touch her forehead. Upon seeing the boss approaching with a bowl of cooked wontons, she urged, "Hurry up, hurry up!"

Young Master Luo: "I say, Fangzhou. The daughter of a distant cousin of mine is exceptionally beautiful, comes from a well-off family, and has just turned sixteen this year. She is also in the process of being courted... Be careful, you might burn yourself!"

Uncertain about what to do next, Lin Fangzhou suddenly heard a chorus of insects.

Could it be a bear

She looked around and saw dense trees, sparse weeds, and a thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground. The trees were very tall, much taller than the place where she had just dug for birds.

"Fangzhou, how old are you this year?"

Do you not desire women in your daily life?

Don't play dumb, I'm talking about you

Lin Fangzhou was troubled about how to find a reason to refuse, but upon hearing the words "to marry into a family," he immediately became anxious and fearful

It seems too quiet around here

Lin Fangzhou rubbed his belly, looking somewhat dejected, "Today my luck is not good, I have lost all my money..."

It is the sound of a cricket, resounding and loud. With such a powerful call, it is likely that this cricket is quite formidable in size

Lin Fangzhou also felt quite embarrassed and changed the subject, asking: "Young Master Luo, what is it that you need from me?"

The boss's voice was quite loud: "At the home of Widow Zhang on East Street, her son is named Lin Fangzhou, but everyone calls him Lin Dalang. Widow Zhang is not a local; she fled here over a decade ago, enduring hardships to raise her child. Last year, she unfortunately contracted a fever and passed away after a long illness."

... ...

Given her small stature, it would be very difficult for her to survive whether it be through punishment or exile

The forest was too dark. It was only when she approached that she discovered, lying in the pile of fallen leaves, was actually a person.

The listener sighed and said: "What a pity, what a pity. Has that child ever married?"

Seventeen

What a wonderful girl, how could she be wasted on a scoundrel like me, you should marry her yourself

Lin Fangzhou's emotions were somewhat complex. On one hand, she felt increasingly pleased as the cricket grew stronger; on the other hand, due to the little creature's swift movements, it was quite difficult for her to catch it

Lin Fangzhou let out a heavy sigh, expressing her disdain, and said: "What is the use of getting married? It is merely adding another mouth to feed. I can't even feed myself!"

After feeling sad for a while, Lin Fangzhou put the matter out of her mind. When she reached the city gate, she suddenly remembered something.

Thus, Lin Fangzhou walked towards the mountains and forests outside the city. On the way, she encountered a farmer she knew, who called out to her: "Darlang, do not enter the mountains; there are tigers up there that have already eaten several people. Now, even the woodcutters dare not go up the mountain to chop wood."

Having had his fill, Lin Fangzhou finally found the mental space to feel sorrow

Lin Fangzhou lacks nothing, except for money. If she doesn't make money today, she will have to eat her pants tomorrow

Young Master Luo noticed that although the young man was speaking, his eyes were fixed intently on the beef on the table. He then asked, "Haven't you eaten yet?"

The old woman selling pancakes was extremely reluctant to extend credit, as if her husband had just died. Angered, Lin Fangzhou glared and said, "We are neighbors, we see each other all the time; can I really owe you even a single copper coin?"

Thus, he walked into the woods

Lin Fangzhou prefers a gentle approach over a harsh one. Upon hearing his wife say this, he waved his hand and replied, "Who wants to take your food for free? I will definitely pay you back tomorrow"

After finishing lunch, Lin Fangzhou strolled down the street with his hands behind his back. During the day, the street was bustling with activity; in the tea stalls by the roadside, people were enjoying wontons, and those with some spare change would also order a plate of finely sliced premium braised beef.

Lin Fangzhou looked up and met Young Master Luo's seemingly smiling yet ambiguous gaze. She was at a loss for how to respond to this question; she certainly could not tell him that she was actually a woman.

She climbed down from the tree, venting her anger with a few curses, yet it did not change the fact that she had been preempted by others.

Young Master Luo was not angry, after all, it is rare for a man to be willing to marry into a woman's family, especially since Lin Fangzhou is the only child in her family, making it even less likely.

Fifteen years ago, her mother brought her, then two years old, to escape to this place, where they registered their household. With a single mother and an only daughter at home, and no man to uphold the family’s reputation, her mother feared they would be bullied. Thus, she falsely claimed that Lin Fangzhou was a boy, and that is how the household registration was recorded.

The monkey... shouldn't be this foolish, right

The sun has also been obscured, leaving only faint and weak rays of light, making the entire forest appear eerie

Ah! I finally caught you

A few days ago, she went to the mountains and forests outside the city, where she found a thrush nest. At that time, the thrush was laying eggs, and by now, the chicks should have already hatched

Catch the little bird, raise it well, and teach it properly; it will surely fetch a good price.

She chased the cricket, running and running, and before she knew it, she had entered deep into the mountains and forests

If one does not raise them to maturity, selling only the chicks can still bring in some money to alleviate urgent needs

Lin Fangzhou immediately smiled broadly, stepped forward, and cupped her hands in greeting, "So it is Young Master Luo, my apologies. What brings you out alone today?" She was fair-skinned and handsome, and when she cupped her hands, she managed to display a touch of elegance.

The bear... doesn't seem to be that foolish either

No! He is merely a hanger-on, without any land or property, and without a legitimate means of livelihood. What does he have to marry a wife with

It is time to get married

Suddenly, she realized that something was amiss

Lin Fangzhou then mustered his courage and walked over step by step, slowly

If she had a formidable cricket, invincible in battles throughout the city, what an extraordinary sight it would be, and how it would be revered and admired by all

No matter what, it must be captured

Let's go, hurry up and leave

Lin Fangzhou finished the wonton beef, thanked Young Master Luo, and walked away after patting his backside

Um ... ...

Lin Fangzhou hurriedly pulled open the long bench and sat down, asking: "What instructions do you have, Young Master Luo?"

Young Master Luo: "Fang Zhou, please take a seat, I was just looking for you"

Go take a look, just a glance. That thing is lying on the ground motionless, it might just be a rock! Walking a few dozen steps in that direction leads to a cliff that is a hundred zhang high, it is quite normal for a few rocks to fall, right

After she walked away, a diner in the tea pavilion quietly asked the owner: "What a handsome young man! Whose child is he?"

Alright

Lin Fangzhou held the cricket by its neck, as if a great general were grasping the command token that governs the world, filled with ambition and pride, utterly invincible.

The old woman hurriedly said: "Da Lang, do not be angry. It is only because I had a quarrel with my old husband this morning that my eyebrows are not eyebrows and my eyes are not eyes... When your mother was alive, she had a very good relationship with me. It was just a pancake; not to mention credit, even if I were to treat you to one, it would be nothing significant."

But... what exactly is it

The whole world believes she is a man, but in reality, she is not

Thank you for the reminder, sir. I will not go into the mountains; I will only play outside

Once you embark, changes cannot be made

Lin Fangzhou could not figure out what that thing was, and she was extremely frightened at that moment. This kind of fear was not the shudder one experiences in the face of a tiger or a bear, but rather the dread that comes when confronting the unknown, causing her heart to feel uneasy

Young Master Luo chuckled softly, picked up the fan from the table, and gently tapped Lin Fangzhou, saying: "You beggar, you rascal!"

... ...

That cricket is indeed no ordinary creature, it jumps exceedingly high and runs incredibly fast

She recalled the rumors about the tiger and suddenly felt a bit afraid

That pancake is still on credit