Lucky Is Not Home

After eating and drinking their fill, Leonard Li was in high spirits and had drunk quite a bit of wine. Slightly tipsy, he pulled Lily Evans aside with a mischievous grin: "Lily, Lucky isn't from around here, is he? How did you and your husband meet?"

Lily shot him a look. This foodie gets nosy when he's drunk, suddenly interested in her and Lucky's story.

But Lily really didn't dare tell the truth. Lucky had lost his memory and was still a bit simple-minded. To this day, Lily couldn't figure out his origins. Besides, she couldn't just say Lucky wandered into her home and stubbornly refused to leave until she agreed to marry him.

"Oh, my husband is from up north. He escaped from there because of the war—his whole family died. He and a distant cousin fled all the way to Greenfield City. It just so happened my mom wanted a live-in son-in-law, so his cousin brought Lucky to our house for that, then continued south." Lily explained. This story was one she'd agreed on with Margaret Evans and Lucky, so whenever anyone asked about Lucky's background, this was what they'd say.

"A refugee, huh..." Leonard Li responded, grinning. "That silly guy sure is lucky—he got himself such a capable wife, and even hit the jackpot with that stone bet."

Lily just chuckled and changed the subject. The more you say, the more mistakes you make—she really didn't want to keep talking about Lucky's origins.

Leonard Li spent the day hanging out with Shane Shen and Arthur Evans, the three of them drinking in Arthur's room. Lily brought up more snacks for them, which Leonard happily accepted, praising her for being so thoughtful before turning back to drink with Shane and Arthur.

But every so often, Leonard would glance toward the front gate. In those moments, the drunkenness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, unreadable clarity.

As dusk approached, Shane Shen looked at the sky and then at the rowdy Leonard Li. "Leonard, the sun's about to set. We should head back—if we don't leave now, we'll be traveling at night."

Leonard glanced back at the gate—Lucky still hadn't come home.

"Mmm, let's go! I had so much fun drinking today, I totally lost track of time, hahaha!" Leonard Li staggered out of Lily Evans's house, climbed onto the carriage, and flashed Arthur Evans a cheeky grin as he waved. "Boss Arthur, let's drink together again sometime!"

Arthur Evans burst into hearty laughter. "Young Master Li, you're always welcome here!"

Leonard Li rode off in the carriage. Shane Shen teased him the whole way, but Leonard just laughed it off, slinging an arm around Shane's neck. "Young Master Shen, you looked like you were enjoying yourself too. How about we do this again next time? Tsk, too bad Lucky wasn't here—he's a real character. If he were, you might've..."

Shane Shen frowned. He had zero interest in Lily Evans's husband, but thought it improper to keep freeloading at someone else's house. "Again? Isn't that a bit much?"

Leonard Li burst out laughing. "What's wrong with it? Just write your mother a letter and get her to approve the mushroom partnership. You've helped out so much—Lily ought to treat you to a few more meals!"

Shane Shen smiled and gently pushed him away. "Brother Hao, you really know how to do business. One meal at Lady Evans's, and you rope me into helping you out. Fine, I've seen enough of Lady Evans's character. I'll talk to my mother and have her make the connection so we can do this mushroom deal."

By sunset, Lucky and Mark Hunter finally returned home—bringing with them some explosive news about the Evans family...

Margaret Evans was in shock. "What? Su Shimao wants to break off his engagement with the county magistrate's daughter? Why? He worked so hard to arrange this match—why suddenly call it off?"

Lily Evans was just as puzzled. The Evans family was marrying up with the county magistrate's household. If anyone were to break off the engagement, it should be the magistrate's family. Why would Su Shimao be the one rejecting the magistrate's daughter?