She had observed and planned for quite some time. She had calculated the number of people going to their house to sell tomatoes every day, including which times were usually crowded, which times not so much, and which times were quite empty.
And that was how she planned to go with Aunt Su that morning. Aunt Su had agreed to help, only because she promised to pay her in silver after the deed was done.
In her eyes, the Ye family was currently the richest household in the entire village!
Her mother frowned and continued scolding her. “You’re still thinking about Ye Mo? Then why did you trick Ye Ling? Ye Mo won’t marry you, and neither will Ye Ling. How could you do this?!”
She could not make sense at all of what her daughter had been thinking!
“I’ll think of a way to get him to marry me! Ling lets his guard down around people, that’s why I chose to do it on him. Once I’m accepted into the Ye family, I get to see Mo every day, and that’s enough for me.”
And then she broke into hysterical laughter.
Mrs. Li, having seen how Li Chunmei behave as though she was possessed by the devil, struck her daughter with a slap in the face.
“I think you’ve gone mad! Even if you managed to trick Ye Ling, they still wouldn’t marry you! Do you take the village chief for an idiot? He’s on their side! How do you plan on getting married now?”
Mrs. Li was so furious she was running out of breath.
How foolish of her, to go for wool and come home shorn, and spoil her own reputation as well!
And Mrs. Li thought she could report the case to the government officials? That would be impossible now!
Li Chunmei placed a hand on her swelling cheek and said stubbornly, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. I will find a way to marry into the Ye family, and screw up Liu Duo’s life!”
“You’re coming home with me! Enough with your crazy ideas! I’m going to the matchmaker’s tomorrow, and I’ll marry you off to a widower if I have to! Anything to stop you from disgracing the Li family name again!”
And then, Mrs. Li dragged Li Chunmei back home.
Behind her, Li Chunmei rebelled. “Mother, I’m not listening to you this time!”
Mrs. Li felt like choking her to death there and then. How could she have given birth to such a useless thing?
Talk about an ugly family affair!
She decided not to speak to her, or she might really take action.
Mrs. Li dragged Li Chunmei into the house and locked her up.
“You’ll stay right there and think about what you did! Don’t think about coming out without knowing what you did wrong! When I find a good suitor, you’ll marry whether you like it or not!”
And then she left the house and headed towards the matchmaker’s place.
It began to drizzle again, despite having rained that morning.
Dongfang Ming sat by the window, admiring the rainy weather outside, when he suddenly thought of Liu Duo.
He wondered what she might be doing now.
He looked down at the picture she had drawn for him. He got up and walked towards his desk, where he picked up a brush and a piece of paper. He sat back down, intending to imitate the drawing.
Time passed and he still did not know where to start!
Later, he took out another one of Liu Duo’s drawing, the one with the cute pig, and attempted to imitate it.
He recalled the order in which Liu Duo moved the brush along. When he finished, he looked at his work and chuckled as he mumbled to himself, “How did my painting end up so ugly?”
He drew a regular pig on the side and compared the two.
Truly, Liu Duo’s drawing was quite unique. Hardly anyone could do it right.
Right then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
He put down his pen. His coachmen received his gentle orders and opened the door.
“Boss, there’s someone outside…”
Before he could finish his report, a woman’s cheerful and distinct voice rang from behind.