Gateway to Happiness - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Unfortunate News

Lu Xiao Shu had a sudden change of mind. She nodded, “Okay! I will go and have a look. You can inform him now that I’ll be there in a moment!”

“Oh, yes, yes! Please be there! Otherwise Young Master will beat the hell out of me!” Cricket mumbled.

“I will! Do I look like a person who can’t keep promises?” Lu Xiao Shu glared at him.

Cricket smiled awkwardly and kept his mouth shut. Once Lu Xiao Shu went back inside her house, Cricket patted his chest, cracked a smile, and cheered silently. He immediately galloped to his Young Master to break the good news.

Lin Fang was absent-minded for days and had no energy to do anything. All he could think was every move and every smile of his crush. He was leaning against a tree in the forest, and staring at the sky thinking about his crush. If anyone could see the look on his face, that person would definitely think he was under a spell of infatuation!

Lin Fang was lost in his thoughts. All of a sudden, he heard Cricket squealing, “Young Master! Young Master!” Cricket was running towards him.

Lin Fang got up when Cricket arrived. He glowered, “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be—— Did you see Xiao Shu? Where is she?”

His eyes lit up with excitement.

“Calm down, Young Master,” Cricket smirked proudly, “Lady Lu will be here in a moment! She finally appeared after I waited for so long! By any means I’m——”

“Okay, okay! I’ll give you credit, you’ll be rewarded! Since she will be here any minute now, you can leave now! Hey, remember to stay far from here!” Why would Lin Fang have the patience to listen to Cricket boasting about his achievements? He shoved him away with just a few words.

“Okay, Young Master!” Cricket was disheartened and retreated. He didn’t manage to express all of his faithfulness to his young master!

Lin Fang had a quick fix of his attire. He was wearing a royal blue round-collared robe, which was made with premium textured silk. The robe flawlessly flaunted his growing physique, and his black hair was nicely groomed. He was pleased with himself, and he beamed with satisfaction!

Not long after, there was a tiny figure dressed in green walking towards him in the shades. Lin Fang was delighted and greeted, “Xiao Shu, Xiao Shu! I’m here!”

He ran towards Lu Xiao Shu.

“Lin Fang!” Lu Xiao Shu stopped and waited for him. She smiled at him.

“Hehe, Xiao Shu, it’s been a long time since I last met you!” Lin Fang rubbed his hands together while smiling.

“Yea!”

“By the way, what were you up to these days? The weather has been good recently, do you want to go for a horse ride?” Lin Fang asked eagerly and grinned.

Although she was more into the horses than towards him, however, at least they could spend time with each other! He couldn’t think of any other excuses to get near to her except for horse-riding.

“I won’t be going anywhere for the time being!” Lu Xiao Shu shook her head and asked, “ Is this why you were looking for me?”

Lin Fang opened his mouth slightly and couldn’t help but to feel disappointed. He then nodded and agreed, “Yea, you, you liked going for a horse ride, isn’t it? Why——”

Lu Xiao Shu gushed, “I have family matters to take care of! Maybe you could lend me a hand?”

His enthusiasm reignited and he beamed, “Just spill it out. No matter what it is, I’ll do my best to help!”

This family matter was not something to be proud of. The beaming look on his face had upset her, but she muttered, “My father went to Yu District to purchase soybeans. He’s been away for quite some time and hasn’t returned home yet. We are very worried about his safety! I know the social connection of your family is strong! Could you help me to ask around and see whether you could get any information?”

“Ah, I see!” Lin Fang realized the reason why she was feeling down and was not willing to spend time with him!

What a filial lady she was! No doubt befitting of his crush!

He observed her secretly. He noticed her face had lost its chubbiness. She once had big and bright eyes, but now, her eyes were dull and lackluster.

His heart ached for her. He promised, “Don’t worry, Xiao Shu! Yu District is not that far away from here. It’s not difficult to get news from there! Wait for me, Xiao Shu. I will bring you the information you need in two or three days!”

“Thank you! I know your family will find a way!” Lu Xiao Shu was delighted. She grinned and her eyes glistened like the stars.

”Hehe!” Lin Fang beamed when she finally cracked a smile. She was even thinking highly of the Lin Family. He reassured, “Wait for my good news! Don’t worry too much! Look at you, you’re getting skinner!”

“Skinnier?” Lu Xiao Shu felt strange when he was talking in a seemingly pitiful way. She glanced at him and objected, “I’m not! Not even my mother was saying that I’m getting skinnier!” In fact, her mother was the one who was getting skinnier.

Actually, Lin Fang was having contradicting thoughts. He intended to let her know what she meant to him, however, he was also afraid about the fact of her knowing his secret. He subconsciously panicked when she looked at him with her gleaming eyes. He gabbled, “Just, just eat more, and don’t worry! The Lin Family is the best when it comes to gathering news!”

“This is why I asked for your help! Actually, my father was just a few days late than what we would expect. The way back home could have been obstructed. It’s no big deal, but, we are just concerned……” Lu Xiao Shu answered.

“It’s perfectly normal for you to think like that. He’s your father after all!” Lin Fang nodded his head.

“Then you should go! Don’t forget to inform me once you manage to get any news!” Lu Xiao Shu reminded him.

Although Lin Fang was reluctant to leave, however, he didn’t want her to anxiously wait for his news. He answered, “Okay, I’ll leave now. Erm, how should I inform you once I get the news?”

This question was strange!

Lu Xiao Shu questioned, “Don’t you know where I live?”

“But…” Lin Fang was feeling guilty.

Xiao Shu is such an innocent little girl, how would she know what I think about her—— What would the adults think if I suddenly turned up at their house? What if they want to keep us apart by locking her up? What can I do if that happens?

“How, how about this! You can take a look outside your front door occasionally every day. I will ask Cricket to place three rocks beside your front door as a symbol. You can look for me in the forest once you see the symbol, is that okay?”

How would Lu Xiao Shu know his turmoil of thoughts? She nodded and agreed, “That will do!” She added, “I have to get back to my mother! I’ll be waiting for your news!”

Lin Fang grudgingly nodded, “Okay! I’ll find you once I get the news!”

Lu Xiao Shu smiled and left.

Lin Fang sighed softly once she had disappeared from his sight. He cracked a smile.

Thenceforth, he was thrilled and delighted. He was doing her a favor! He was even searching for the news of his future “father-in-law”! This was a Godsend opportunity!

He could please her, her father, and also the Lu Family.

He was entranced when he pictured the blissful future.

He was feeling down for the departure of Lu Xiao Shu, however, he appreciated it because he could have more time to search for his “father-in-law”. The earlier he confirmed the news of his “father-in-law”, the higher the chance to win her heart.

“Cricket! Cricket!” Lin Fang shouted. The thought of it provoked his enthusiasm.

Cricket yelled and replied instantly, “I’m coming! I’m coming!” He ran towards his young master and giggled, “Young Master, Lady Lu——left?”

“This is what you are concerned about?” Lin Fang scowled at him and waved, “Let’s go! It’s time to go home! Quit loafing around when I’m summoning you!”

“Yes, Young Master.” Cricket was frustrated. Loafing around? Wasn’t the Young Master the one who asked me to stay far away?

Based on the strong social connection of the Lin Family, Lu Xiao Shu was convinced that the news of her father would arrive in no time. When she reached home, her mind finally calmed down. She stayed by her mother’s side to accompany her. Miao Cui Lan was gratified by her company.

Lu Xiao Shu had constantly peeked at her front door for two days until she finally saw the symbolized three rocks.

It was noon when she saw the rocks. She was overjoyed and ignored the fact that it was almost lunchtime. She went out and dashed towards the entrance of the village.

She heard someone yelling once she had set foot outside her doorstep, “Xiao Shu! Xiao Shu!” Lu Xiao Shu stopped and turned around. Lin Fang and Cricket were just at the junction of the farm next to her yard.

She scurried over and asked, “You guys are already here! Is there news about my father? How was it? Where is he? When will he reach home?”

“Well……” Looking at her eager and excited expression, he didn’t know where to start.

“Say it! What happened to my father?!” Lu Xiao Shu was restless. She asked, “Or was there no news?”

“No! It’s not like that!” Lin Fang would certainly disprove the doubts about his capabilities.

“Then, what?” Lu Xiao Shu was getting impatient.

“Um, Lady Lu,” Cricket could not stand watching his young master being tormented by Lu Xiao Shu. An instinctive habit which he developed in his childhood provoked him to blurt out, “Lady Lu, who do you think Young Master is? There is no news that my Young Master cannot find! But you have to stay calm when my Young Master discloses the truth later!”

“You want me to stay calm? Both of you intentionally wanted me to be anxious! Spill it out!” She was a bundle of nerves.

“Don’t fret, don’t fret! He’s a peasant who doesn’t know how to use words properly, don’t bother with him!” Lin Fang comforted Lu Xiao Shu. He sighed, “We have to cross the Qi Lin Lake to get to Yu District from Gu Xi Town right? There was a storm a few days ago. A big boat full of men sank in the middle of the lake…”

“What did you say?!” Lu Xiao Shu screamed.

“What did you say?!” Another scream could be heard at the same time.

The three of them turned around. Miao Cui Lan was standing there in horrified disbelief with her eyes dazed and face paled.

“Mother……” Lu Xiao Shu rushed over and embraced her mother. She stressed, “Mother! Mother! Don’t you worry! It is not certain that Father is on that boat!”

“Yes, yes! Auntie!” Lin Fang quickly nodded and affirmed, “He definitely isn’t on that boat! A few drowning men were rescued, but Uncle Lu was not among them! Auntie, you can rest assure!”