CHAOTER 07 - Elders

"Qiang Ping, is this okay?" Chao Lei brought a pile of herbs to Qiang Ping to see.

After her sessions, she would go here and help Qiang Ping to collect herbs to make medicine and ointments. Even it's a bit of late, Qiang Ping will eagerly wait for her in a manner that's not obvious to hide his embarrassment from yearning for his fiancée while Chao Lei will always make time to see Qiang Ping, always.

All they did both was to collect herbs.

But she was nervous of the way she plucks the leaves and stem, that's why she would rightly let Qiang Ping see her collection time by time.

Qiang Ping examined it and smiled "Just be careful on handling the stems."

Chao Lei nodded and went back to work again.

Qiang Ping first stare off his fiancée sitting at the corner who was dedicated on plucking some herbs. Girls mostly don't like this work, your fingers will be dirtied and scent of the herbs may stick on you but Chao Lei was different.

He smiled with the thought that he is already inlove.

After the collection of the herbs. They went to Qiang Ping's kitchen where he executes the work to make medicine and ointments.

Chao Lei carried the wheelchair inside. The kitchen was big and different apparatus can be seen.

Qiang Ping halted the wheelchair infront of a long table and started to move to get down.

"Let me." Chao Lei went infront of him and placed her arms below his armpits. It was kind of a hug but Chao Lei slowly moved to let Qiang Ping sit.

"Thank you." he said blushingly.

"What are you going to do today?" Chao Lei asked as she analyzes the new set of ingredients on the table. Not seeing the blushed Qiang Ping.

After getting to know Qiang Ping more, the more she admire him. He was devoted on making medicines and elixirs. By day, he can finish about a hundred bottles of elixirs and a set of medicines just to be distributed on the whole village. Each batch has different functions and uses.

"After testing the combination of Luoshu and Qiangjin plants. I discovered another form of booster. This pill has more advantageous functions among the existed boosters, it can multiply the hormones for endurance and strength." Qiang Ping explained.

Chao Lei nodded "Then I'll be willing to help you."

.....

"Young Miss. The news about the Master and the Miss's issue had widespread like a fire." the servant said to He Jian.

The issue about the two earnestly spending time together recently has been the main topic in the street.

He Jian who was spying the couples at a corner turned to the servant "Give me the opinions of the people about the issue."

The servant lowly bowed and said, "Some says that the two were both young and had been madly inlove, that they would break the tradition to just see each other." the tradition was to not let the bride and broom to see each other before the wedding "...and others were saying that the Elders should make a move about these childs."

He Jian smiled "I agree with the last opinion."

.....

The weather has the earthly breeze. New season had come forth, the guy sitting at his wheelchair was casually staring off again at his fiancée plucking some flowers.

Chao Lei had started to grow fondness on plucking some things here on his garden while Qiang Ping will just wait behind to let him see it after.

They both can no longer count the days they've been together. Spring already came.

"Qiang Ping, take a look." Chao Lei casually seated infront of him so she can closely see his expression. "The flowers were rainbow."

She brought a basket full of colorful small flowers.

"These flowers are called Mask. Weird right? They change into colorful flowers at Spring but they change into a death pale white flowers at Winter, then in Summer they change off into a vibrant and fiery flowers and in Autumn, they're close as still. No colors." he said

"That's weird?" Chao Lei said

Qiang Ping took one of the Mask Flower and placed it on her right ear. "Beautiful." he spoke.

Chao Lei smiled "Then, do you think I'm a masked flower?" she asked

"No."

"Why I may not?"

"Because you're a human. Do you wish to be a flower?" Qiang Ping innocently stated.

Chao Lei was first stunned. But then burst into laughing.

She didn't expected the guy to be flawlessly rational. She expected to have a lovey-dovey response.

Qiang Ping just stared off at her in confusion.

But they were disturbed when He Jian came rushing and said that the Elders wants to talk with them.

....

At the Elders Pavilion, the couple was sitting in front of the Elders at the dim hall.

Elders do the regulations and policies here in this village and the Master of the Manor was one of their respected person so, they had the authority to know things about his lifestyle.

In a quiet hall, there is a wide screen infront that covers the people behind. Five elders were behind it and in front was the couple.

Facing them, Chao Lei felt a dominant aura coming from them. She can feel it but it's kinda weird, she don't feel qi but there's this great oppresive aura coming from the five.

Her hands involuntarily trembled. When suddenly, a soft hand took hold of her trembling hand. She turned her head to the smiling Qiang Ping.

"Don't be nervous." he said as he tighten his grip to it, Chao Lei can't help but to faintly smile.

"Greetings to the engaged couple at the East Manor." one of the elders started.

Qiang Ping and Chao Lei bowed and replied the greeting.

"We'll be straight up to the point. The Elders are worried about the spreading issue around the village. The engaged couple who had years before the wedding was said to have spent all the time together on the Master's courtyard all alone."

"The tradition states that before the wedding, the couple should not be seeing each other."

"And you two just broadcasted your imprudence."

Sequence of scolds was heard in the hall. The two only kept their head down.

"Qiang Ping. Every decision and choices you make will greatly affect everything and you must know it." the Elder in the middle said in authority.

This time, Qiang Ping abruptly lifted his head up.

"Master Qiang Ping should reflect."

"Master Qiang Ping should do accordingly."

"Master Qiang Ping should be righteous."

They all said in the same tone and same call. It was creepy.

"Master Qiang Ping should remember."

Qiang Ping shivered and shifted his gaze to Chao Lei who was strangely still lowering her head, unaffected with the creepiness in the hall.

"I'll do as what Elders wish." he stated finally.

Long silence then occupied the room when an elder spoke once again "The wedding that should be held years from now had been changed."

"Elders had agreed that the Wedding of East Manor's couple will be held months from now."

"The quicker the possible."

So this was why He Jian preferred the last opinion.