After ending her call with Miss Zhang, Gu Sang immediately contacted her parents.
Under Gu Sang's persuasion and guidance, Zhang's parents were left with no other choice but to give their daughter a chance to try things out with this man.
The next day, Miss Zhang was released by her parents. She wore the poorest coarse linen clothes from home to meet her beloved.
However, even this poorest fabric was still a material that poor families could only dream of.
Meanwhile, Gu Sang hid behind the screen, following Miss Zhang.
When Miss Zhang arrived at her beloved's home, he failed to recognize her in her simple attire and asked, "Who... who are you?"
"Young Mr. Li," Miss Zhang called out emotionally.
Only then did Scholar Li happily approach her, looking her up and down with surprise and uncertainty.
"Why are you dressed so plainly today? Did your parents forbid you from coming out?"
Miss Zhang didn't take his inquiry to heart, after all, she had worn maid's clothes before to meet him in secret.
Following the script she had agreed upon with Gu Sang, Miss Zhang said, "Young Mr. Li, I've broken ties with my parents. They made me change my clothes and wouldn't let me leave with a single thread from the Zhang family."
"If I insist on marrying you, then I will no longer be a Zhang daughter."
"Young Mr. Li, I only have you now. Will you abandon me?"
Scholar Li's heart leaped with joy, and he quickly ushered Miss Zhang into the house to sit down.
This was perfect!
He didn't believe this talk of breaking ties at all.
In the end, as long as Miss Zhang cried pitifully, the Zhang family would surely not ignore her.
Therefore, Scholar Li believed that everything was settled. He immediately took her hand and said affectionately, "I swear I will never let you down!"
"From now on, I'll plow the fields and you'll weave cloth, I'll make the fire and you'll cook. Together we'll create a beautiful and cozy home."
"Even if our home is poor, what more could I ask for with a beautiful wife by my side?"
Gu Sang watched the two exchange these passionate words with a expressionless face. Her heart remained unmoved, and she even felt like laughing.
Miss Zhang, of course, was moved to tears.
At noon, Scholar Li prepared a meal for Miss Zhang. A bowl of porridge with barely any rice grains, just white liquid, accompanied by a bowl of bitter wild vegetables - this was their lunch.
Miss Zhang looked at the thatched hut where there was barely any room to step, sat on a rickety stool, and stared at the moldy chopsticks that had turned black. She endured all the discomfort and took a bite of the wild vegetables.
As soon as she put it in her mouth, her brows furrowed tightly, and she almost spat out the vegetables.
Seeing this, Scholar Li hurriedly asked, "My dear, is the food not to your liking?"
"It's my fault for being incapable of providing you with delicacies. I'm sorry you have to suffer with me."
Miss Zhang was so moved that she almost fell off the unstable chair, feeling no desire to complain at all. "No, Young Mr. Li, as long as I'm with you, I find everything delicious."
As if afraid her beloved wouldn't believe her, Miss Zhang picked up another mouthful of wild vegetables and stuffed it into her mouth.
Instantly, tears welled up in Miss Zhang's eyes. It was hard to tell if she was crying from the bitterness of the vegetables or from being moved.
Today happened to be a day off, so Gu Sang quickly went to a nearby supermarket and bought a large bag of snacks, plus two big bottles of Sprite. She then curled up at home to watch this real-life romance unfold.
Look at that!
This was far more authentic than what you'd see in TV dramas.
After all, in TV dramas, young ladies never frown when eating wild vegetables.
Miss Zhang's reaction truly demonstrated this point.
If it were Gu Sang, who had been pampered since childhood, she admitted she wouldn't be able to eat it. Those wild vegetables looked bitter at a glance, the porridge had barely any visible rice grains, not to mention the dirty and messy environment.
This was enough to show how strong Miss Zhang's desire was to spend her life with her beloved. Strong enough that she was willing to endure any hardship.
However, by dinner time, when Miss Zhang once again saw the wild vegetables on the table, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Young Mr. Li, why is it wild vegetables again tonight? I want to eat something else."
Scholar Li stammered, "The rice jar at home is almost empty, my dear. It's my fault for being useless, unable to provide you with a good life."
Miss Zhang's face contorted as if she were constipated.
In the past, hearing Scholar Li say such things would have moved her.
Even at noon today, she had still been touched.
But now, hearing these words, she suddenly felt scared. She suddenly realized that she might have to eat these unpalatable wild vegetables every day from now on.
No!
She couldn't think like that.
Love could overcome everything!
Besides, she had always known that Young Mr. Li was impoverished. What she valued was Young Mr. Li's talent and his kindness towards her. How could she judge Young Mr. Li by worldly standards?
"Young Mr. Li, if I wanted to live a good life, I would only need to listen to my father's words to do so."
"I'm not the kind of woman who craves vanity. Whatever we eat together, I'm willing to accept."
Though she said this, Miss Zhang looked at the screen.
Seeing Gu Sang heartily devouring spareribs and roast chicken, she couldn't help but swallow hard.
Miss Zhang only managed a few bites before she couldn't eat anymore. The vegetables in her throat seemed to have grown claws, gripping tightly, making it impossible for her to swallow no matter how hard she tried.
Seeing that she wasn't eating, Scholar Li asked perfunctorily and then proceeded to eat the vegetables from her bowl as well.
Miss Zhang touched her empty, flattened stomach. Staying here for a day meant she barely even needed to use the bathroom; there was simply no nutrition in her body. But thinking of their perfect love and seeing the bright moonlight outside,
Miss Zhang gazed at Scholar Li affectionately, about to invite him outside to discuss poetry and philosophy, and chat about life.
Unexpectedly, Scholar Li directly blew out the lamp.
Miss Zhang: ??
It's so dark!
Why did it suddenly go dark?!
"Lamp oil is expensive, my dear. Let's rest early."
Miss Zhang froze like a statue, her mouth gaping wider than a duck egg in the darkness.
"Pfft."
Gu Sang couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The system was only connected to Miss Zhang, so Scholar Li didn't hear Gu Sang's snicker.
Miss Zhang was brought back to reality by Gu Sang's mockery. She reluctantly said to Scholar Li, "Young Mr. Li, the moonlight outside is beautiful. Let's go out and appreciate it."
"Ah!!!"
Just as she finished speaking, in the darkness, Miss Zhang suddenly saw a pair of gleaming green eyes - a rat scurrying across the roof.
She immediately screamed in terror, completely breaking down.
She clearly hadn't yet adjusted to this environment, while Scholar Li was already accustomed to it. Hearing Miss Zhang's startled reactions, he couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
"It's just a little mouse, it won't bite you. It's getting late, let's go to sleep."
Miss Zhang continued to call out, "Young Mr. Li..."
Scholar Li, suppressing his impatience, gently advised, "Besides, what's so great about looking at the moon? It's so dark in the room now, and lamp oil is expensive. We don't have enough money to buy lamp oil just so you can admire the moon."
Miss Zhang's face was a mix of surprise, hurt, shock, and sudden realization.
No, it wasn't supposed to be like this.
This... this kind of living situation, this picture of mustering up the courage to pursue love, how could it be so different from what she had imagined?
She had fantasized about spending time with Young Mr. Li beneath the flowers in the moonlight, sharing simple meals, drinking wine and singing together, living in loving harmony.
But!
Where were the simple meals? All she saw was watery porridge with barely any rice and wild vegetables! Where was the wine and singing when they couldn't even afford to use lamp oil freely?
This wasn't how it was supposed to be at all!
