Chapter 24: Snatch

Lu Hong thought he had hidden his thoughts very well, but in fact, everyone could see clearly.

In terms of family background, Ling Jingshu was wronged to be with Lu Hong. However, Ling Jingshu was beautiful and talented, and there was no one like her. Lu Hong was also in love with her, so this marriage was not inappropriate.

Due to his hidden thoughts, Lu An did not reject the idea of ​​marrying with the Ling family. At this time, the family of four was talking, and there were no outsiders. Lu An was too lazy to cover up and asked directly.

Lu Hong's handsome face first turned red, then turned pale, and his complexion changed.

Lu An didn't have much patience, frowned and asked again: "You don't have any interest in Shujie'er?"

Poor Lu Hong, his youthful pride and self-esteem were hurt by Ling Jingshu yesterday, and later he couldn't resist Lu Qian's questioning and opened the scar again. Now Lu An is asking questions again...

Lu Hong really didn't have the face to tell the truth, so he simply answered hard: "I only have brotherly love for cousin Shu, and I have no other thoughts." Without waiting for Lu An to say anything, he said: "Father, I just want to study hard now, and get married after I pass the imperial examination and have a future. I hope you can help me!"

"Nonsense!" Lu An's face sank: "You just passed the prefectural examination last year, and you have to wait for a few years before you can take the provincial examination. After the provincial examination, there is the imperial examination. When you have a future, it's still unknown when. Don't you want to get married if you don't pass the imperial examination? Since you don't like Shu, this marriage will be cancelled. When you meet Jizhou in the future, I will find another suitable marriage for you."

Lu An's face sank, and everyone present was worried.

No matter how reluctant Lu Hong was in his heart, he didn't dare to refute, and hung his head and said nothing.

Ling was stunned for a moment, then reacted and smiled to smooth things over: "Master, please calm down. Ah Hong is studious and ambitious, and it's a good thing that he doesn't want to get married early. Since Ah Hong and Shu Jie'er are not destined to be together, there's no need to mention the marriage. Fortunately, I have never mentioned this in front of my fifth brother, so there's nothing embarrassing..."

A voice suddenly sounded: "Mother, I want to marry my cousin Shu!"

Ling: "..."

Lu Hong: "..."

Lu An: "..."

Six eyes suddenly turned to Lu Qian, who said something shocking.

The three of them looked like they had swallowed eggs raw, and each one looked more exciting than the other. Especially Lu Hong, who looked stunned and shocked.

Lu Qian seemed to be unaware of how shocking his words were, and repeated: "Big brother has no interest in cousin Shu, and does not want this marriage. I like cousin Shu, and I want to marry her."

Ling's mind was in a mess, and she blurted out: "Ridiculous! How old are you? You are still an ignorant child. You don't know what likes and dislikes are. Even if you want to get married, it will be a few years later..."

"I'm twelve, only two years younger than cousin Shu." Lu Qian straightened his thin chest, and his handsome and fair face showed a stubbornness that was inconsistent with his age: "I know what love is. I like cousin Shu, and I want to spend my life with her. I'm not an adult yet, so I can arrange a marriage first. After four years, when I'm sixteen and cousin Shu is eighteen, I will marry her."

Lu Qian was not joking, he was serious.

Ling took a breath. Just as he was about to speak, Lu An's angry voice rang out: "How can you treat this important matter like a joke! There is a hierarchy of seniority, your brother is not yet engaged, how can it be your turn."

In the Lu family, Lu An is a majestic father, and his words are final. His wives, concubines, and children are all trembling in front of him, and they dare not talk back at will.

When Ling saw Lu An getting angry, her heart trembled, and she quickly winked at Lu Qian. Why don't you bow your head and admit your mistakes to your father!

Lu Qian ignored Ling's anxiety and said with his head held high: "My eldest brother has been smart since he was young and has a great talent for studying. That's why he doesn't want to get married early and distract his mind. In the future, my eldest brother will definitely pass the imperial examination and bring honor to the family. I am the youngest son in the family, and my talent is far inferior to that of my eldest brother. I probably won't have much future in studying in the future. It's better to get married and have children early to pass on the heirs of our Lu family."

"Besides, although I am not yet an adult, I know my own feelings very well. When I meet a woman I like, I naturally want to marry her home. What's wrong with me thinking this way?"

This seemingly perverse logic actually sounds quite reasonable.

Lu An was quite angry when his youngest son contradicted him. However, he was not overwhelmed by anger. He calmed down and thought for a moment, and had to admit that what Lu Qian said made sense.

As long as Ling Jingshu can be married to the Lu family, as the eldest son's wife or the youngest son's wife, there is actually not much difference...

Lu An's expression relaxed, and Lu Qian's heart was immediately excited. He looked at Ling pleadingly: "Mother, I have grown up so big, and I have never liked someone so much. If I can marry cousin Shu, I will be satisfied in this life and have no regrets."

The face is childish, but the expression is like an adult.

It makes people feel inexplicably inconsistent.

Ling calmed down and rolled her eyes at Lu Qian with a reproachful look: "You are only twelve years old, and the future is long. What about this life? Isn't it ridiculous!"

"Marriage is not a trivial matter. You have to think it over before you speak. You keep saying that you like Sister Shu, maybe it's just a momentary impulse, or maybe it's just a sister-brother relationship. If you really decide on the marriage, you can't regret it in the future."

Ling's tone also relaxed a lot.

Lu Qian was overjoyed and said without hesitation: "Don't worry, mother. I will never regret it."

Being able to stay with Ling Jingshu for life was his biggest obsession in his previous life. After being reborn, his love for her not only did not diminish, but became even more intense. How could he go back on his word?

Ling and Lu An exchanged glances, pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is not a trivial matter. Let your father and I discuss it for a few days before making a decision."

Lu Qian suppressed the excitement in his heart and returned to his usual well-behaved state: "Thank you, father and mother."

...

Lu Hong said nothing.

He just stared at Lu Qian in shock, as if he had never seen Lu Qian before.

The words I spoke to Lu Qian yesterday still ring in my ears. Lu Qian comforted him with care and concern. He remembered clearly... Why did it become like this after coming here overnight?

When did Lu Qian develop strange feelings for Ling Jingshu?

He was completely unaware?

Afterwards, the two brothers followed Lu An and his wife to the Yonghe Hall, where as usual they greeted An and greeted their cousins. Then the birthday guests came one by one, and the bustle was no less than yesterday.

Lu Hong's thoughts were confused and full of worries, and he spent the day in a daze.

It was not until night that Lu Hong finally had the opportunity to speak to Lu Qian alone: ​​"Second brother, come with me, I have something to ask you." His expression was not good-looking, and his voice was a bit muffled.

Lu Qian had expected it and was not surprised at all. He nodded calmly and followed Lu Hong into the house.

This calmness made Lu Hong increasingly frustrated and angry. An unknown fire burned in his heart, and his handsome face darkened: "Second brother, are you serious about what you said this morning? Do you really want to marry cousin Shu?"

Lu Qian raised his head and asked instead of answering: "Brother, do you think I will make fun of life-long events?"

The words "lifelong event" sound extremely harsh.

Lu Hong looked steadily at Lu Qian's childish face, and suddenly laughed at himself: "I'm so stupid. We two brothers get along day and night. You know my thoughts very well, but I didn't know that you also like me. "Cousin Shu."

No wonder Lu Qian was extremely concerned about him and Ling Jingshu!

No wonder Lu Qian asked so nervously yesterday!

He didn't care about himself at all, but wanted to make sure that he had given up completely because of Ling Jingshu's rejection!

This feeling of betrayal made Lu Hong extremely uncomfortable, and he lost his usual humility in his words: "Second brother, my father and mother originally planned to propose marriage for me. What would you do if I agreed at that time?"

There was some sharp sarcasm in his tone.

Lu Qian looked unmoved: "Brother, since he refused, why bother thinking about it."

How could he not think more about it?

"Cousin Shu should be my wife!" Lu Hong glared at Lu Qian and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "You are clearly robbing me of something that belongs to me."

That word "grab" touched the most vulnerable point in Lu Qian's heart.

Lu Qian's expression also changed, and he said coldly: "I'm afraid it's inappropriate for my elder brother to say such things! How can we rob an unmarried man and an unmarried woman? Moreover, this is a marriage that you gave up first, and then I asked my father Mother opened her mouth to plead. Can't I marry her if you don't marry her? "

Lu Hong: "..."

Lu Hong never thought that Lu Qian's words would be so sharp and mean, and his handsome face would turn red and white. The anger in his heart grew stronger: "Lu Qian! I gave up the marriage because she didn't like me. I didn't want to force her to marry me. But you, knowing that I have her in my heart, You also begged your parents to propose marriage for you. What are you doing if you don’t win someone’s love?”

Lu Qian's eyes suddenly flashed with frightening light, and his expression was gloomy: "Whatever you think. In short, I must marry her!"

Lu Hong's handsome face turned pale with anger.

Lu Qian stopped looking at Lu Hong, turned around and left.

"Wait!" Lu Hong held back his anger and called out to Lu Qian: "You insist on marrying my cousin Shu, and I have nothing to say. However, I want you to promise me one thing."

Lu Qian stopped, turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"

"I want you to promise me that before proposing marriage, you must express your feelings to cousin Shu and obtain her approval." Lu Hong took a deep breath and continued: "If she doesn't want to, you can't force it."

Without thinking about it, Lu Qian agreed: "Okay, I promise you. When my grandmother's birthday party is over, I will go find her."

...