Chapter 6

Jiang Fuying didn't even raise her head as she threaded the needle, concentrating on her own business, until -

she raised her head seriously and looked at Tonghua, who was burning with gossip, "Why don't you come in and sit for a while, aren't you tired of standing?"

Tonghua shook her head and smiled: "It's been a long time since we talked through the window like this. Do you remember the first time we talked was when I sneaked into your house. At that time, I was not even as tall as the window..."

"What I mean is," Jiang Fuying narrowed her sore eyes, "you are blocking the light."

Tonghua came in quickly and sat beside her, "When you just moved in, I secretly watched you..."

She seemed to never get tired and spoke quickly: "...The evening before yesterday, when I came out of your house and was about to go back to the house, I saw that Qiu Er was sneaking around and I didn't know what he was doing, so I went up to question him. You know him, and he said those ugly things, and I was so angry... I said that Mr. Zhang is nothing good. What's the big deal about having a few stinky money? He is not as handsome as the man our Fuying picked up casually."

Tonghua came up with a shameless face: "Sister Fuying, I really didn't say it on purpose. I was just talking nonsense when I was angry."

Jiang Fuying was really pestered, so she put down her needlework and sighed: "Okay, when have you ever seen me really angry with you?"

"Have you thought about what to do about the Zhang family?"

"That's about right," Jiang Fuying thought for a while, "There is a way."

Tonghua was finally relieved and her attention was finally moved back, "So what are you doing? Men's clothes, for whom?"

"Who else," Jiang Fuying let her pour herself some water, "They helped me, I have to thank them."

Tonghua was shocked: "Making clothes by myself, and with such good material, Sister Fuying, what are you doing?"

Jiang Fuying put down her needle and thread and looked at Tonghua seriously.

She didn't interact with many people on weekdays. When it comes to being lively, talkative, and getting along with others, she was no match for her, so she wanted to learn from her: "What do you think a boy of your brother's age likes?"

"My brother?"

Tonghua thought about her brother, "My brother likes everything as long as he doesn't kill pigs."

Jiang Fuying shook her head, "It's not that, it's... what can you do to make a man like your brother happy?"

"It's easy to make my brother happy, you just stand in front of him and you'll be happy without doing anything."

"Don't talk nonsense," Jiang Fuying patted her and said seriously, "I'm serious."

"I'm serious too, Sister Fuying. You are so beautiful, let alone my brother, even I would be happy to see you... But why ask my brother, my brother is in school and can't come back now."

Tonghua was simple and her attention was easily distracted. She saw the pastries on the table and touched them furtively, "Sister Fuying..."

"You eat."

Jiang Fuying was not stingy in sharing these with her sisters. She was still thinking about her own things.

"What he looks like is secondary; he can't see..."

For the first time, it felt like blindness was such a headache. Jiang Fuying had known she was pretty since she was a child, and she was used to receiving compliments from others. But her appearance meant nothing to a blind person like Chang Yuan.

Her brows furrowed again, and she lowered her head to make clothes.

Tonghua saw that she looked seriously contemplating something, and scrutinizing her face, she asked in surprise, "You didn't sleep last night?"

"Well," Jiang Fuying changed the needle, raised the thread high, held it up to the light, found the eye of the needle, and threaded it decisively. "It's urgent."

"What's the rush?" Tonghua was puzzled. "It's just a piece of clothing. What difference does it make if it's done a day earlier or later?"

Jiang Fuying frowned, considering, choosing her words carefully: "I'm in a hurry... to propose marriage."

The cakes clattered to the ground, and Tonghua raised her voice.

"—What?!"

-

The mountains became much cooler at night. No matter how hot the day was, there was always a cool breeze at night, which blew through the clothes.

Chang Yuan closed the window to block the cool breeze, and placed his hands against the wooden window. Several dark green veins were faintly visible beneath his fair skin, becoming more and more obvious as the pain came on. He clenched his fists.

His breathing became heavier and faster. The sharp pain in his head drained all his energy, and his swollen head drooped weakly, leaning against the windowsill.

Occasionally, some images flashed through his mind, but he couldn't grasp them, and he was powerless to find them - nothing more than those bloody fights filled with thick hatred.

There were also some that he could vaguely see in the house with carved beams and painted rafters, where he was alone, watching the night and the dawn again and again.

He gritted his teeth to resist the pain, which was more fierce than usual, not allowing himself to make any sound. Cold sweat dripped from his body, soaking his inner clothes.

Chang Yuan wanted to go back to the couch, he needed to rest.

There was a faint sound of wind outside the window.

The more painful it was, the more acute the sensations became. A rustling sound reached his ears, something he couldn't see, yet vague, inexplicable images formed in his mind.

The girl quietly emerged from her room and closed the door.

Chang Yuan didn't move, pausing before the wooden window.

The footsteps, unhesitatingly close from afar, landed on the gravel-covered dirt floor of the courtyard.

Before he could even think, there was a knock on the door.

A few gentle taps, as light as her, the sound also ethereal, with a pleasant, crisp finish.

"Chang Yuan," she knocked. "Are you asleep?"

Having gritted his teeth to endure the most difficult moment, he felt much better now. He struggled to stand upright, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and replied, "No." He

couldn't explain the pain, but at the sound of her voice, it was like his blood, boiling with heat, finally calmed, like the burning charcoal extinguished by the winter snow. Suddenly, his whole body relaxed, his white fingertips lightly clasping the wooden window.

"What's up?"

"Bring you something."

Jiang Fuying leaned against the door, listening to his weak breath. "Are you okay?"

Chang Yuan took a deep breath and went to open the door.

He didn't know what the night was like outside, but he knew that the moment he opened the door, the cool night breeze and the wisps of jasmine fragrance entwined together, completely enveloping him.

The cool breeze that should have caused him pain now brought warmth, and the peaceful jasmine scent penetrated every crevice from his nose to his brain, making him suddenly calm down.

On his fingertips, the touch of yesterday, the gentle embrace of the day before became particularly clear.

He held the door, his palm silently pressing the door frame to suppress the itch.

"I'm fine," he said. "Thank you, Madam Jiang."

Jiang Fuying thought he was thanking her for the gift, and smiled. "You don't know what I brought you yet. It's too early to say thank you now."

She passed by him, her slightly loose hair brushing against his arm, the scent of jasmine wafting with it. As if by instinct, he followed, following that reassuring presence... or perhaps it was a person.

His world was too dark.

...

Jiang Fuying brought lamp oil, bringing some light into Chang Yuan's usually dark room, illuminating their fair cheeks.

She placed the things neatly on the table, and Chang Yuan sat at the table without touching them rudely.

"This is for you," Jiang Fuying placed the lamp at the edge of the table and sat opposite him, "Take a look...oh, touch it."

Chang Yuan did not move easily, and from her tone he felt that she had something to say. Her jade-like

face was stained with a yellowish hue from the lamplight, and her breathing was shallow. The man looked a little pale and his voice was also shallow, "What is this?"

Jiang Fuying also sat down, leaning forward slightly, "I made a piece of clothing for you, try it on and see if it fits. If it doesn't, I'll help you alter it."

"Clothes?"

Chang Yuan was not a person who paid much attention to his appearance, and since he was blind, he could not see how he dressed these days. He only knew that he was wearing the old clothes of Jiang's father, some of which were old and some were small, not very suitable, and only used to cover his body.

It was all done. Jiang Fuying didn't give him a chance to think again. She pulled him up, spread out her clothes, and compared them to his shoulders.

As the clothes slipped past his hands, he could feel that the fabric was different from the ones on his body. It had a slightly cool touch, which was very suitable for summer.

Before he could think, he felt the woman's body suddenly approaching.

The breath that had just calmed down suddenly became disordered.

She was concentrating on the things in her hands. Chang Yuan was much taller than her, so she had to tiptoe to get close to his shoulders, spread her shoulders, and whispered, "It's still two fingers narrower..."

She leaned closer, lowered her head, as if marking something. Through several layers of thin fabric, her hand was pressed on his shoulder, and she whispered softly, her breath was shallow.

The irresistible jasmine fragrance enveloped the two of them without any obstruction. Chang Yuan subconsciously took a half step back, but was held by Jiang Fuying's waist.

She said in a serious tone, "Don't move, look at your waist."

Chang Yuan had no choice but to stand still, and she manipulated him to raise his hands and turn sideways, and his light hands and disobedient hair wandered around his body. He couldn't see her movements, so every time she touched him, it fell on an unknown place, making people involuntarily speculate on the arrival of the next touch.

"...Madam Jiang."

He spoke, his voice weak after the severe pain. There was something else, hidden in his invisible eyes, trembling again and again.

Chang Yuan was a little dazed: this was also the first time he was saved and touched by someone, and when he was extremely weak, she forcefully entered every corner of him with such a gentle yet irresistible posture.

"Are you okay?"

Jiang Fuying didn't hear the strangeness in his tone. Perhaps she had something on her mind but was always thinking about how to start the conversation, so she was a little flustered and nervous. She concealed her slightly disordered heartbeat and pretended to be calm, "The waist is a finger wider, but summer clothes don't need to be so exact, it's cooler."

"Is there something wrong?" Chang Yuan was not a fool, so he naturally noticed her strange behavior towards him tonight, "Is it difficult to start the conversation?"

He took a step back slightly, away from the jasmine fragrance that made him lose his mind for a short time, but after a moment of clarity, he was greeted with the familiar pain again.

Chang Yuan was stunned.

Jiang Fuying was unaware of the subtle changes in the person in front of her. After pondering for a while, she finally made up her mind, turned around and solemnly placed the remaining things on the table in front of Chang Yuan.

She said, "These are the deeds to all the land and houses of my Jiang family."

"You and I have known each other for a long time. I came here tonight just to tell you-" Jiang Fuying made up her mind, "I admire you and want to marry you."