Time passed by, and in a blink of an eye, sixteen years passed, Pu Songling was already 72 years old, Liu was already 69 years old, lying in bed, and Chen Shuqing had grown into a graceful and graceful girl. Although her actual age was not verified, the year Pu Songling adopted her was one year old, and she had already reached the seventeen-year-old flower season.

One day, on the shore of Dujuan Lake, less than three miles away from Pujiazhuang, Chen Shuqing was in love with Wang Hongqing, a young man from the neighboring village. Wang Hongqing looked pockish and ugly, but Chen Shuqing didn't care at all. The two of them had grown up like childhood sweethearts since childhood. Chen Shuqing, who was ignorant of the world, had already fallen in love with Wang Hongqing, and hoped that Pu Songling would betrothed him.

Wang Hongqing handed Chen Shuqing a string of candied haws: "Come on, is the candied haws you like? Are they delicious?"

Candied haws are Chen Shuqing's favorite, but they can't be bought in Pujiazhuang, and Chen Shuqing is not able to go to the market to buy them. Wang Hongqing's father Wang Juntong runs several businesses in the city. Both daughters have been sent away, and there is only one son. He often spoils Wang Hongqing and wants to pass on the business to him. Therefore, Wang Hongqing not only has a rich family background, but also often goes in and out of the market. He does not forget to bring back candied haws every day to show his attention.

While tasting, Chen Shuqing replied sweetly: "It's so delicious. Thank you for giving me candied haws every day. I won't get tired of it."

Wang Hongqing smiled with satisfaction, picked a bunch of tender yellow malan chrysanthemums, inserted them on Chen Shuqing's head, and said, "It's so beautiful."

Chen Shuqing looked at the lake and asked shyly: "Did you say the flowers look good or I look good?"

Wang Hongqing said gently: "The flowers are beautiful, you are better... Shuqing, I really can't believe that there is a beautiful and virtuous woman like you in the world. You are already seventeen years old and can get married... Can you marry me?"

Chen Shuqing responded happily: "Okay, when I say to my husband, as long as he agrees, you will come to our house to propose marriage, okay?"

Wang Hongqing was immediately happy: "No problem, no problem, my Wang family will definitely prepare the betrothal gift so that Mr. Liuquan can also enjoy the wealth and honor of the world! That's great, Shuqing, I, Wang Hongqing, would never have dreamed that such a beautiful woman would be willing to commit herself to an ugly monster like me."

As he was talking, Pu Songling had arrived nearby and shouted: "Shuqing, I'm going home for dinner!"

"Oh, sir is calling me, I'll go back first, wait for my good news." Chen Shuqing hugged Wang Hongqing gently, turned around and went back with Pu Songling. On the way, he couldn't help asking: "Sir, 'good-looking', what is 'ugly'? Why do people often say that some people look good and some people look ugly, why can't I tell it?"

Pu Songling smiled and said, "Haha, that's the standard in the world. You are a monster. You may be able to tell it out after living for another one or two hundred years."

"Well, although I can't see it, I know that 'good-looking' and 'beautiful' are praises, and 'ugliness' are cursing. Anyway, as long as others say I'm good-looking, I'll be so happy."

Pu Songling said earnestly: "It is a good thing that cannot be distinguished. People are too likely to judge people by their appearance, but they do not know that there are always only ugly people's hearts in this world, but there are no ugly skins."

Chen Shuqing obviously didn't understand the deep meaning, so she secretly glanced at Pu Songling and smirked with a wicked smile. Pu Songling said in confusion: "What are you laughing at?"

"I don't know, anyway, I just think you look good no matter how you look at it." Chen Shuqing said mischievously.

Pu Songling smiled awkwardly: "Oh, my little ancestor, sir, I am in my seventies, and I am still pretty, haha..."

The two returned to the Stories from the Chinese Studio and laughed all the way. They saw Liu lying on the bed and coughing loudly. Chen Shuqing stepped forward and asked with concern: "Mom, are you getting better? I'll feed you."

Liu touched Chen Shuqing's head: "Be good, my mother can't eat it, you and your husband will eat it first."

The two of them were having dinner silently, and Chen Shuqing said carefully: "Sir, I want to tell you something..."

"What's the matter? Tell me, as long as I can do it, I will be satisfied."

"You...you betrothed me to Aqing, okay?"

When Pu Songling heard this, his face became disgusting. He put down the bowls and chopsticks and said, "I can't agree to this yet."

Chen Shuqing didn't expect Pu Songling to refuse and asked in wonder: "Why can't it be? I'm seventeen years old. Don't those girls get married at the age of sixteen?"

Pu Songling sighed and said, "Oh, your mother is ill in bed and needs someone to take care of her. I am old and my son is not by my side. If you get married again, what should I do?"

Chen Shuqing said understandingly: "That's right, then I'll get married again when my mother gets sick." After that, he clasped his hands together and prayed: "Mom, you must get better as soon as possible."

Another year has passed, and Liu's illness has not improved much, but has become more serious. Although Pu Songling is a purifier with endless magic power and can do many things that ordinary people cannot do, he is as helpless as ordinary people in the face of birth, old age, sickness and death. That day, he said to Liu with remorse: "Follow me, you have suffered. If I were richer, you would not have to suffer from this pain."

Liu still smiled and comforted, "Look at what you said, I am afraid that the miracle doctor will not be cured. The family has no money anymore. Don't waste it to buy medicine for me, this old thing. Why not keep it for Shuqing as a dowry in the future."

When Chen Shuqing heard this, tears couldn't stop flowing down and said, "Mom, you will definitely get better! When you get better, you will also send me into the sedan chair!"

Another day, when Chen Shuqing was dating Wang Hongqing, he mustered up the courage to ask him the question of money for the first time: "Aqing, I want to borrow fifty cents from you, okay?"

Wang Hongqing asked, "What are you doing?"

Chen Shuqing said sadly: "My mother is seriously ill, but my family has no money to buy medicine. I want to get some medicine for her to get well soon. As long as she recovers from illness, the gentleman will agree to us get married."

When Wang Hongqing heard this, he took out a string of copper plates with relief and handed them to Chen Shuqing, saying, "No need to return it. You also know that my family runs a pawn shop in Jinan, and life is pretty good. If you have any needs in the future, just open your mouth."

Chen Shuqing happily hugged Wang Hongqing in his arms: "Aqing, thank you! Thank you!"

Chen Shuqing rushed back to Liaozhai without stopping, and shouted loudly as soon as he entered the door: "Mom-Sir-I have money, go and get medicine!"

But this shout did not bring about a positive response. The family was silent like death, and Chen Shuqing suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

When I rushed to the bedroom, I saw Pu Songling and two sons who were rushing back in time were lying beside Liu's side sobbing. Liu on the bed had already turned pale and stopped breathing.

In the 53rd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, Liu, who had worked hard for the Pu family for a lifetime, passed away due to illness at the age of 71.
Chapter completed!