NFBE Chapter 2010 Ruobai: Even I feel awe!
Chapter 2010 Ruobai: Even I feel awe!
The courtyard house at No. 80 Nanluoguxiang.
Li Xiangnan lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with his eyes open.
The moonlight outside the window was hazy. The snow had stopped, but the wind was still howling, making the windowpanes creak.
He can't sleep.
My mind is full of things.
Is there anything we haven't prepared for tomorrow's wedding banquet?
Tables, chairs, benches, bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils; festive decorations; guest list; and various emergency response strategies.
Can Wanqing hold on to her situation? What about Shangguan Wuji's conspiracy? Will the Ten Families of Yanjing actually come? Who is that mysterious gentleman? And what preparations will Little Buddha make?
Grandma Mu Huanying, the account books...
A thousand and one things, like a tangled mess, that I can't sort out no matter what.
A faint sound came from beside me.
Qin Ruobai turned over to face him.
"Aren't you asleep yet?" she asked softly, her voice still languid from just waking up. "I already had a nap!"
"Hmm!" Li Xiangnan responded, naturally putting his arm around his wife's shoulder. "Did I wake you up?"
"No!" Qin Ruobai snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I can't sleep either! I feel the same way you do!"
Li Xiangnan sighed and said apologetically, "Things will be much better after tomorrow! You've had a hard time these past few days..."
Before he could finish speaking, her slender fingers covered his mouth.
Moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, and he looked down to see the moonlight shining on Ruobai's face.
Her eyes were bright and clear, reflecting off her stunningly beautiful face.
Every time this happens, Li Xiangnan feels an endless sense of contentment.
"We're husband and wife, there's no room for argument!" Qin Ruobai reminded her husband, then comforted him, "Make the most of tomorrow's wedding banquet. Don't worry about Wanqing's matter. If something really happens to her, Captain Guo and the others won't let Shangguan Wuji off the hook!"
A girl, for the sake of justice and friendship, dared to betray her filthy family and risk her life, refusing to yield even if locked in a cellar.
Such courage, such deep affection, such a woman—even Qin Ruobai felt admiration for her.
She even felt a little envious of him.
I envy Shangguan Wanqing for believing in justice in this world so unconditionally, and for being willing to do anything for the beliefs in her heart.
Qin Ruobai, being a woman, knew better than anyone that Shangguan Wanqing must have developed feelings for her husband long ago.
She felt no jealousy, but rather a sense of awe.
Her feelings for her husband were a combination of love and familial affection, based on mutual understanding and commitment.
Wanqing's love was probably the purest and most intense kind of love.
Like fire, it can burn away all obstacles and illuminate the darkest night.
With such an outstanding and devoted woman to her husband, Ruobai was actually quite happy for him.
This proves that my choice was never wrong, and that my husband is someone who deserves to be deeply loved.
This shows that he is good enough and outstanding enough that a girl would give everything for him!
At the same time, it also fully demonstrates the depravity and unbearable nature of the Shangguan family.
Wanqing must have witnessed far too much of the dark side of things, so even with the slightest chance, she would warn her husband about their family's conspiracy.
This girl is using her humanity to protect the purest part of this world.
Qin Ruobai hugged her husband's neck and said, "Xiang Nan, remember, no matter what happens tomorrow, I will stand by your side! Tomorrow is Xi Tang's wedding banquet, everything will be alright! The banquet must be held well, Wan Qing must be saved, and those Shangguan family or the ten families of Yanjing, whoever dares to deal with us, we will not let them go! We will take it one step at a time, the sky won't fall!"
Looking into his wife's determined eyes, Li Xiangnan's anxiety and unease quickly subsided.
Of course, the sky won't fall down.
With such a wonderful wife, so many helpful friends, and supportive family, what is there for him to worry about?
“You’re right,” he took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening again. “Tomorrow is Xitang’s full moon celebration! I’ve prepared for so long and arranged so much; even if the Heavenly King himself came, he wouldn’t be able to ruin this celebration! Go to sleep!”
His chaotic thoughts finally calmed down, and before he knew it, he had slept for an unknown amount of time. Li Xiangnan finally got some mental rest.
He opened his eyes and it was already past five o'clock. Unable to fall back asleep, he simply got out of bed, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains.
Outside the window, the eastern sky was already turning a pale white, but it was still very dark nearby.
Dawn is approaching.
The sky was exceptionally clear after the snow, with a few remaining stars still hanging on the horizon, twinkling coldly.
The snow had stopped in the courtyard, and the whole place was covered in a blanket of white.
The red lanterns swayed gently in the morning breeze, their warm red light reflecting off the white snow, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting.
It will be daybreak soon.
He stood by the window, watching the sky gradually brighten, looking at the red silk, lanterns, tables and chairs prepared for the wedding banquet in the courtyard...
Suddenly, Li Xiangnan froze.
He saw people in the yard.
They weren't family members, but a group of strangers dressed in coarse cotton-padded coats and covered in mud.
They tiptoed around the yard, busy with their tasks: some shoveling snow, some moving tables, some pulling snow off the pergola to sweep away, and others tidying and wiping the lanterns...
They moved very lightly and carefully, afraid of waking the people inside.
There were more than a dozen of these people.
Li Xiangnan rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.
Upon closer inspection, wasn't that Yuan Guoqing standing on the table rubbing snow from the sunshade?
Isn't that woman wiping the table Shi Dujuan?
And that old man who was directing everyone to be quiet, isn't that Grandpa Shi who was bringing them sheep?
Ai?
Upon closer inspection, Shi Jinxiu was pushing snowballs out with several young people!
These people... are all villagers from the Sanduhe Brigade!
What are they doing here? And so early at that?
Li Xiangnan suddenly pushed open the window, and a cold wind rushed in, making him shiver. He quickly closed the window, put on his clothes, and went outside.
Hearing the noise, everyone in the courtyard stopped and looked up in unison.
Yuan Guoqing straightened up, still holding a broom in his hand. He saw Li Xiangnan and smiled憨厚ly, "Little Li, did I wake you up?"
Shi Dujuan wiped the sweat from her forehead and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Xiao Li, we were thinking of finishing it secretly and giving you a surprise when you woke up..."
Grandpa Shi came over, leaning on his cane. He looked at him, his white beard trembling slightly in the morning breeze. "Little Li, I heard your daughter is one month old today. We... don't have anything good, so we brought some mountain produce from Sanduhe!"
"Dr. Li, come quick!" Shi Jinxiu skipped over after finishing pushing the snowball, wanting to shout, but quickly lowered her voice and excitedly pulled him to see.
In the corner of the courtyard, under the eaves of Grandpa Yu's house, there was a mountain of burlap sacks.
Hickory nuts, wild mushrooms, dried dates, wild boar meat, herbs...
All of them are local specialties of Sanduhe.
The burlap sack was still covered in mud, and in some places it was torn, revealing the contents inside.
Clearly, these things were carried all the way from Sandu River.
How did they manage to traverse over a hundred miles of mountain roads, blocked by heavy snow?
“You guys…” Li Xiangnan’s eyes were a little red, and his voice choked up, “When did you arrive? Why didn’t you knock on the door?”
"We arrived in the middle of the night!" Yuan Guoqing rubbed his hands together, grinning sheepishly. "I went back and told everyone the date, and they all said they wanted to come see you! We were afraid of disturbing your sleep, so we just squatted at the entrance of the alley for a while and told Brother Cheng! It was almost dawn, so we thought we'd hurry into the yard to tidy up. You have a lot to do today, so we wanted to help you out! We'll tell you more when you wake up!"
Shi Dujuan added, "The snow was heavy on the road, and we were afraid we wouldn't make it in time, so we set off yesterday..."
She didn't finish speaking, but Li Xiangnan understood.
These villagers carried dozens of kilograms of mountain produce on their backs, walking for a day and a night, their steps uneven, just to deliver a token of their heartfelt wishes on the day his daughter turned one month old.
Just to give him some support!
Li Xiangnan's eyes instantly turned red.