A Little Reunion

There was no rain in spring or summer. The fertile fields cracked, and the wheat withered and died.

In a year of famine, Tuan Yuan entered the Lu household and became the adopted bride of the second son of the third branch of the Lu family.

The aloof, distant young man before her was handsome, but had become disabled in the prime of his life.

The Lu family could only start making plans for their son early.

But Lu Zongqu, who had already passed the first imperial examination, did not approve of this marriage.

Looking at the poor little girl, thin as a bean sprout, he said, "The adopted-bride arrangement doesn't count. When you're grown and times are better, you'll be free to marry whoever you want."

Tuan Yuan listened anxiously and understood only one thing:

Her husband didn't like her.

-

A few years later.

Tuan Yuan had grown into a lovely young woman, and Lu Zongqu's leg had long since recovered.

Since Lu Zongqu was now busy with the imperial examinations, the Lu family had gradually forgotten about the adopted-bride arrangement.

That is, until the year Lu Zongqu returned to the village and saw Tuan Yuan chatting and laughing with Wang Erniu from the neighboring village beside the stream.

The dark-skinned young man awkwardly handed her a flower.

Lu Zongqu silently clenched his fists. That night, he sought out his Tuan Yuan.

"Today, Second Brother won't teach you how to read and write."

Tuan Yuan looked confused. "Then what will you teach me?"

"The ways between a man and a woman."

PS:

1. The adopted-bride arrangement is only mentioned in passing. Most of the time, the male lead's family raises the female lead as a younger sister. The male lead's mother rescued her during the famine. See Chapter 1 for details.

2. The author strongly opposes this outdated custom in real life!

3. The female lead has a golden finger that lets her travel between ancient and modern times, but it's not very powerful. It's a little comfort when life becomes unbearable, and a reasonable supplement to her growth, since a girl raised in a mountain village wouldn't realistically have very modern ideas.

4. The story starts when she is a child, but she will grow up soon. All romantic feelings begin after she is grown.

5. The story will cover the male lead's imperial examinations. If possible, I hope to write through the leads' middle age.

6. The author has limited knowledge, so there may be a few unrealistic details. I'll do my best to research and correct them. You don't need to tell me if you drop the story.

Theme: Go with the flow, take things as they come, and keep a good attitude!