Mu must have heard what Skinny had been up to the past months, so he rushed over.
He is upset to really find Skinny with a prostitute, but he didn’t know how to handle it. Skinny is not rich, so if he such a habit now, it can end up pretty badly.
He left Xiaoliu to deal with Skinny and stormed off.
小六笑眯眯地看着，老木却脸色铁青，一脸伤心失望。小六侧头看十七，十七站得笔直，眼睛却看着自己的鞋尖，绝对地非礼勿视。
长相思第8章 最难欢聚易离别(1)
Xiaoliu is all smiles, Mu’s face is ashen and full of hurt and disappointment. Xiaoliu tilted her head to look at Shiqi, Shiqi is standing straight but with his head lowered, determined to see no evil.
Instead of stopping Skinny right away, Xiaoliu noticed Shiqi’s discomfort and decided to tease him.
在女人的呻吟声中，十七苍白的脸颊慢慢地染上了一层红晕。小六已经快要笑破肚子，却越发邪恶，更是凑近了，几乎贴着十七的脸，声音低沉地问：“你想要吗？”
没想到，十七慢慢地抬起了头，虽然有一点羞涩，可眼神清亮清亮，竟然溢出了笑意！
小六愣住了，半晌脑子里才冒出句，披着羊皮的狼啊！
长相思第8章 最难欢聚易离别(1)
小六又羞又恼，脸腾地红了，把气全撒到了串子身上，直接冲了过去
At the sound of the woman’s moaning, Shiqi’s pale face slowly became red. Xiaoliu nearly burst with laughter, but she felt wicked, so she got even closer, almost right in his face, and asked in a low voice:” Do you want (sex)”?
Unexpectedly, Shiqi slowly raised his head, and even though he was still a little shy, but his eyes are gleaming, and actually filling with laughter!
Xiaoliu was stunned, it took her a while to suddenly think, this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Xiaoliu felt ashamed and annoyed, and its now her turn to blush hard, so she marched right over to Skinny in a huff
The drama can’t have such a line, so they changed it to, “Do you also want to get married?” lol
Seeing Xiaoliu unexpectedly in the alley, Skinny’s first instinct was to run away, but he quickly doubled back to defend the woman before Xiaoliu.
The woman herself, was perfectly composed and greeted Xiaoliu without shame.
Sang Tian’er, said she was with Skinny because she liked him and did not take his money.
Xiaoliu made a quick decision and decided on the spot that if those two were willing, they can make it happen.
Back at the clinic, Xiaoliu and Skinny put on a show to appease Mu.
His anger earlier dissipated once he started to feel sorry for Skinny who was taking a beating from Xiaoliu. Mu doted on Skinny, he was just upset that Skinny didn’t go for a ‘good’ girl.
如果老木是神农或高辛人，以他对串子的真心疼爱，恐怕很难接受串子娶一个娼妓，可他来自民风奔放彪悍的轩辕，蹲在门槛上吹着冷风，琢磨了半晌，觉得也没什么不行的，串子的媳妇就这么定了下来。
长相思第8章 最难欢聚易离别(1)
If Mu was from Chenrong or Haoling, considering how he sincerely loves Skinny, it would have been very difficult to accept Skinny marrying a prostitute, but he is from Xiyan, where customs are far bolder and free, so he thought for a moment, concluded its not something that can’t be done, so Skinny’s wife is settled like this.
……开了个高价，都够麻子再娶十个春桃了。老木四处托人说情，但是，以老木和小六在清水镇二十多年的关系，竟然完全搞不定。
长相思第8章 最难欢聚易离别(1)
The asking price for Sang Tian’er’s redemption was so high, that Pimply could have married ten more Chuntaos. Mu went all over for favors, but even with Xiaoliu and Mu’s 20+ years bearing in Qingshui town, they still could not get it settled.
那夜之后，已经几个月了，相柳一直没有出现。那么多人找他的麻烦，他不出现是正常，如果出现，小六也明白自己活到头了。小六一直在心里祈祷，多一些人找他麻烦吧，最好忙得他完全忘了清水镇上还有个玟小六。
长相思第8章 最难欢聚易离别(1)
Since that night, it has been a few months, Xiangliu has not appeared. So many people are after him, its normal that he does not show up. If he shows up, Xiaoliu also understood that her time is up. Xiaoliu has been praying in her heart, let more people go after him, let him be so busy he will completely forget there is a Wen Xiaoliu in Qingshui town.
Xiaoliu mused as she ate her melonseeds while Shiqi worked.
She wondered why the bawd would not allow Tian’er to be redeemed. Shiqi responded that someone is sabotaging this.
That led her thinking that it might be Xiangliu, since she dared to play the prank on him months ago. She chuckled at the memory.
Xiaoliu, if only you knew what a capable, experienced deal-maker Shiqi is, you would not have kept getting injured every time you met up with Xiangliu. But then again, Shiqi has no power or influence as Ye Shiqi now, so how will he convince Xiangliu to help?
Oh you humans. When you are sad and helpless, you turn to drink to forget your troubles.
Meanwhile, your guardian deity Xiaoliu is risking her life, running around to fix your life.
Xuan interrogates Skinny after plying him with more strong drink.
He tried to sound out what Xiaoliu has been up to, on the pretext that he wanted to invite him over to taste his wine.
So close, Cang Xuan!!
Mulberry win is a sweet fruit wine, most men probably prefer the harder liquors.
Skinny at least paid attention and knows what Xiaoliu likes, so she didn’t spoil him for nothing.
All that build-up….lol
Shiqi obediently came to pick up Skinny himself, as instructed by Xiaoliu.
Shiqi’s eyes seemed to say, he knew what Xuan had been doing.
He did not accept Xuan’s offer and left payment for Skinny’s drinks, not wanting to owe him anything.
Xiangliu is reading some reports in his dark, gloomy tent. Chubby came to report that Xiaoliu is looking for him.
Meanwhile, Xiaoliu is rewinding her favorite clip, of Xiangliu livid with his face of 9 heads.
She also rehearses how she would beg for mercy in a variety of ways, ranging from pleading to outright threatening.
Xiangliu watched all her antics with an amused look.
Shiqi brought Skinny home, and went to check up on Xiaoliu.
He realized she had left him behind on purpose and guessed she went looking for Xiangliu.
Worried, he went to look for her.
Xiaoliu was looking at the moon while Xiangliu took his pound of flesh blood.
Xiangliu seemed to have gotten carried away and took too much at once. She started to feel dizzy. Xiaoliu still dared to get mouthy with him and asked him can’t he save some for next time.
Xiangliu immediately stopped, although he thew in some threats for good measure.
Shiqi is back in the forest tracking Xiaoliu down.
Meantime, Xiaoliu managed to appease and even engage Xiangliu, as she rambled on about her random thoughts about the long life of deities and her previous encounter with another snake demon.
As they sat side by side, chatting companionably, Xiangliu seemed very much taken with Xiaoliu’s story about her past and asked alot of questions. He even sat there zoned out for a moment, as he flashed back to his own horrible childhood.
He was not about to share his own past, so he just changed the subject back to the reason why Xiaoliu was looking for him.
Xiangliu seemed to be in a good mood, until Xiaoliu decided that she didn’t need his help after all.
As she took her leave and proceeded to climb down the tree, he spitefully made the branch break. Xiaoliu fell quite a height down the tree, and coughed up some blood from the landing.
Well Xiaoliu, that’s what you get, for provoking a snake demon.
As she limped by herself in the deep forest, lucky for her, Shiqi had tracked her down.
Her face lit up as he rushed forward to check on her.
Shiqi is like the guy who does not want the woman he likes to keep returning to an abusive boyfriend.
He tried to wipe the mark away but stopped once Xiaoliu said it hurts.
Xiaolu noticed he was upset but she already got him wrapped around her little finger.
Shiqi stayed quiet even when Xiaoliu kept calling his name, but this guy can’t even stay mad at her for even 5 minutes.
Her triumphant little smile when he anxiously asked her where it hurts, is so adorable.
I really love that little detail where Xiaoliu hugs Shiqi closer and she plays with the folds of his outer shirt while she acts cute to get him not to be upset. She’s got all the power here.
How cute are these two? *dies*
Other than Shiqi’s impressive ability to learn the medical skills from Xiaoliu in a short time, we get another glimpse into his astute mind.
Shiqi maybe smart but he still only a man.
He looked disturbed by the mark on her neck while he tucked her in, and used his spirit power to remove the ‘love-bite’.
You poor boy, it still happened even if the mark is gone.
Xiaoliu went to look for Xuan, to ask him to help with Skinny’s marriage.
He did not immediately admit that he is the person who can help, but after hearing Xiaoliu’s sincere pitch, he was decisive and conceded.
As Xiaoliu got up too quickly she forgot her right leg is still broken and lost her balance.
Xuan was about to catch her, when Shiqi appeared out of nowhere and stopped him.
Looking slightly amused at Shiqi’s protectiveness of Xiaoliu, Xuan did not seem offended by his grip.
Xuan looked like he was enjoying the BL ( boy love ) story of Qingshui town.
Look at his 姨母笑
Xuan is no fool.
He could tell that there is more to Shiqi than the quiet man who follows Xiaoliu around.
Skinny is all smiles when Sang Tian’er finally returned to their home with Mu.
Alone with Tian’er, Xiaoliu directly confronted her about her intentions.
Tian’er was very forthcoming. She admitted she seduced Skinny at the bidding of an unknown person, to get information on them. She came to like Skinny, even though she was skeptical when he promised to redeem her, but she really wants to try to make it work with him.
Satisfied, Xiaoliu gave them her blessing.
So the timeline matches up.
3 months ago, on the night Xiangliu was injured by Xuan’s men, he came to seek Xiaoliu’s miracle blood pack to heal himself.
After Xiaoliu was caught in Xuan’s kitchen later, Xuan then sent someone to investigate her background.
晚上吃过饭，串子和桑甜儿沿着河岸散步。那么冷的风，两个人也不怕，一直一边说话，一边慢慢地走着。
长相思第9章 最难欢聚易离别(2)
After dinner, Skinny and Sang Tian’er slowly took a walk along the river. The wind was cold, but neither was bothered, and just walked slowly as they talked.
As Xiaoliu and Shiqi watched Skinny and Tian’er, Xiaoliu was skeptical if this can really work out.
Every time Shiqi starts to worry, Xiaoliu would act cute to distract him.
She kept jumping on her good leg, but suddenly slipped into his arms. She awkwardly tried to reach for her walking stick, but Shiqi lets it fall and proceeds to scoop her up in his arms.
Every person who understands is giggling at this crafty fox.
slippery 滑 hua has the same sound as 狡 jiao 猾 hua – cunning.
He finally stopped being a meek little thing and became very ‘man’!
He even laughs a little at how flustered Xiaoliu got after she returned to her room.
The novel was more ‘innocent’.
It was supposed to be winter by now and there was ice that formed on the stone steps leading to the yard that caused her to slip into Shiqi’s arms.
Here’s the novel version for comparison
到了院门，跳上台阶，石板上结了一层薄冰，小六没提防，脚下打滑，身子向后倒去，跌进了十七怀里。
“哈哈，谢谢了——”小六仰躺在十七怀里，说话的声音也不知道为什么就越来越小了。
小六去抓十七手里的拐杖，想站起来，不想拐杖掉到地上，小六抓了个空，又躺回十七怀里。
两人呆呆地看着对方，十七突然打横抱起小六，跨上石阶，跨过门槛，走过院子，把小六稳稳地立在了他的屋前。
长相思第9章 最难欢聚易离别(2)
….some ice formed on the stone slab, Xiaoliu was not on her guard, and slipped. Falling backwards, she fell into Shiqi’s arms.
“Haha, thanks……” Xiaoliu laid in his arms, her voice faltered without her knowing why.
Xiaoliu tried to grab the walking stick in Shiqi’s hand to stand, but the stick fell to the ground and she fell back into his arms again.
The two of them stared wordlessly at each other, Shiqi suddenly swept Xiaoliu up in a bridal carry, up the stone slab, over the threshold, past the yard and deposited Xiaoliu carefully outside her room.
As Xiangliu sat quietly drinking above his tent, he overhears the conversation of some disgruntled soldiers who are unhappy with the extra patrols and even doubted his loyalty to their cause.
仲春之月，百花盛开时，老木为串子和桑甜儿举行了婚礼。
长相思第9章 最难欢聚易离别(2)
Second Lunar month, their wedding was held in Spring when all the flowers bloomed.
Everyone was having a good time, but Chuntao did not seem very accepting of her new ‘sister-in-law’as she ignored Tian’er’s toast. Xiaoliu noticed, and tried to smooth things over.
Nian came to crash the wedding party.
Xiaoliu glanced over and sure enough, Shiqi disappeared right before she got to the table.
串子和麻子紧紧地握着拳头，可是阿念什么都没做，什么话都没说，她只不过姿态端庄地站在那里，看着大家而已。长相思第9章 最难欢聚易离别(2)
小六都不得不佩服，这姑娘究竟是怎么被养大的？能如此优雅盲目地自傲自大、俯瞰天下、鄙夷众生，还偏偏让大家觉得她是对的。
Skinny and Pimply clenched their fists, but Nian did not do anything, or say anything. She only stood there in her dignified manner, and looked at them.
Xiaoliu had to feel impressed. Just how was this maiden raised? She can be so elegantly impetuous and arrogant, looking down on the world and despising everyone, yet others are made to feel that she is right.
Cang Xuan’s smile is so strained hahaha
He must be thinking, please don’t make Xiaoliu poison us again.
Today’s episode, is about ‘taking a chance for happiness’.
The unlikely union of Skinny and Sang Tian’er, which is not easy because of society that discriminates women like Tian’er. For a jaded person like her, to trust another to be sincere in his feelings for her, is a big gamble on her part.
Xiaoliu also gave Shiqi another chance, choosing to rely on him again.
She shares with him her thoughts and concerns, and enjoys his attention and company.
There is also an unspoken tension between the two of them now.
whysoDrama 
Deng Wei’s micro-expressions are chef’s kiss ❤️
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