The sound came from outside the window, and when Yun Jiao opened it, she saw Jiang Youzhi practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.
His agile movements made it look quite authentic.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise, not expecting that Jiang Youzhi was skilled in both literature and martial arts.
The noise of the window startled Jiang Youzhi, and his eyes, sharp as lightning, shot over in this direction.
Yun Jiao quickly shut the window and went to wash up.
After breakfast, Yun Jiao wrapped a scarf around her neck and set off.
Although Jiang Youzhi followed behind her, she still tucked a machete into her waist.
Her maternal village was next to Jiang Village, about seven or eight miles away.
Jiang Youzhi walked about four or five meters behind Yun Jiao, and as they walked, his gaze occasionally fell on Yun Jiao.
She was wearing a sky-blue fine cotton jacket and skirt with a light blue belt at her waist.
Her slender waist swayed naturally as she walked, exuding a captivating rhythm.
After walking nearly three or four miles, Jiang Youzhi saw a large stone by the roadside and shouted ahead, "Let's rest for a bit before continuing."
He could still go on, but he noticed that Yun Jiao's pace had noticeably slowed, indicating she was getting tired.
He didn't call out "sister-in-law," as he found it hard to address someone who appeared so delicate and younger than him.
Yun Jiao stopped, dusted the stone with her scarf, and beckoned to Jiang Youzhi, "You sit here."
Jiang Youzhi shook his head, "No need, I'll stand for a bit, you sit down yourself."
Yun Jiao glanced at the stone, then at Jiang Youzhi, "The stone is quite big."
Jiang Youzhi immediately understood Yun Jiao's meaning, the stone was large enough to accommodate two people comfortably.
He hesitated for a moment, then strode over and sat on one side of the stone.
Yun Jiao, with her back to him, sat on the other side of the stone.
Just as they sat down, a slightly plump woman came walking up the road.
The woman had been watching them from afar, and as she got closer, she cheerfully smiled at Yun Jiao, "Yun Jiao, are you heading back to your mother's place?"
Yun Jiao smiled back at her, "Yes, Aunt Wang."
Aunt Wang squeezed onto the stone and looked at Jiang Youzhi with a beaming smile, "Is this your husband? Oh my, this young man is so handsome."
Jiang Youzhi's face turned slightly red, and he stood up to explain, but Yun Jiao calmly said, "Aunt Wang, you've misunderstood. This is my brother-in-law. My mother-in-law was worried about the journey and asked him to accompany me. On the day I married, my husband passed away."
Aunt Wang's jaw dropped in shock and she couldn't close her mouth for a while, "You mean, you're already a widow now?"
Yun Jiao nodded.
Aunt Wang sighed, "That's really... I said back then that this marriage to ward off ill-luck shouldn't have been done, but your mother wouldn't listen."
"I remember you're not even fifteen yet, why not—" find someone else to marry early on.
She swallowed the rest of her words after glancing at Jiang Youzhi.
Aunt Wang suddenly slapped her thigh, "Oh, right, someone said they saw someone very much like your father in Prefecture City a few days ago. They went to ask, but the person had disappeared."
"After hearing this, your mother is planning to sell the family house and land to go to Prefecture City to find your father."
"She even asked my husband to help her find a buyer a few days ago."