Chapter 13 The Marriage
◎Whether you admit it or not, you must admit it.◎
The matchmaker was naturally there to arrange a marriage for Chen Xing’er. Initially, she advised the Chen family to wait until he became a successful scholar before proposing marriage.
But the Chen family said they couldn’t wait a single day.
This Matchmaker Shi was a shrewd woman. She had arranged several marriages where men made extravagant promises, but ultimately failed the imperial examinations.
Therefore, it was better to wait until everything was settled before making a decision.
However, the Chen family gave a generous gift, so why should she worry?
After she spoke eloquently before Madam Zhan, Madam Zhan shook her head, saying that her son already had someone in his heart and wouldn’t consider other girls.
Chen Lishi and Madam Zhan were actually sisters. However, due to the Li family’s poverty years ago, they sold their youngest daughter to a wealthy family as a servant. It was with that money that the family overcame their crisis, allowing the elder sister to marry well.
Later, because Madam Zhan moved elsewhere, the Li family didn’t look for her.
It wasn’t until a few years ago, when she moved to Changhu Village with her son, that they renewed contact.
However, in the eyes of Chen Xing’er’s mother, these were poor relatives who came to take advantage, so they weren’t close to their sister, making their family ties tenuous.
Last night, Chen Lishi noticed her daughter’s unusual state, and immediately had the matchmaker arrange the marriage proposal.
However, she had also seen through her nephew. He had sex before marriage, and wasn’t as upright as he seemed.
Indeed, the Zhan family appeared aloof, but they actually wanted to take advantage.
That’s why they casually sent a matchmaker to propose marriage; she didn’t come herself.
As a result, they were rejected. Matchmaker Shi was furious, “You’ll regret this! You won’t find a better match.”
She stormed off, vowing that no matchmaker would introduce a good marriage partner to the Zhan family again.
After the matchmaker left, Madam Zhan was also angry. When she sacrificed herself as a servant for the family, she didn’t expect gratitude, but the family didn’t recognize her as a Li family member.
Not only did they not acknowledge her, but her son wasn’t recognized either. Once, Zhan Qiyu held her hand and said, “Mother, the Li family has nothing to do with us anymore.”
Faced with her aloof and arrogant son, Madam Zhan felt heartbroken and gradually cut ties with the Li family.
Who knew they would come to humiliate their widowed family like this today? So she firmly refused Chen Xing’er.
Even if her son couldn’t end up with Miss Mu, he wouldn’t become a son-in-law to the Chen family.
That’s right, the matchmaker said that the Chen family had no sons and wanted Zhan Qiyu to be their son-in-law. She didn’t even want her son to know; it was infuriating.
When A Liu returned home to fetch food, Madam Zhan was still upset and forgot to make lunch.
“A Liu, I didn’t make lunch today. Go buy some to bring to Qiyu.”
Seeing Madam Zhan’s anger, A Liu didn’t ask but secretly investigated.
The skills his master taught him were very useful. He had made breakthroughs in his light work skills and had investigated the Chen and Qin families during his spare time.
After all, his master didn’t ask him to kill Qin Fenghang, only to investigate his movements and to prevent him from bothering Miss Mu.
Zhan Qiyu really wanted Qin Fenghang to die quietly, but since he inexplicably had a connection with his cousin, it would be better to let them become a couple. Two troublemakers together would be more stable.
At noon, A Liu mentioned the Chen family’s proposal.
Zhan Qiyu pondered briefly and understood.
It seemed that the foolish woman either deliberately wanted to cling to him or had mistaken someone, misinterpreting that she was with him that night.
The calm and composed Zhan Qiyu thought for a moment and said to A Liu, “I will teach you to write some words later.”
A Liu, who was eating buns, was shocked and resisted. Although he had good bones for martial arts, he wasn’t good at reading and writing; before he’d always wanted to sleep when he saw words.
However, he dared not disobey and nodded. Zhan Qiyu smiled gently and put the last piece of meat into A Liu’s bowl.
Soon, the note was written.
“Master, are you sending this to the Chen family?”
Zhan Qiyu didn’t answer but went inside to continue studying with his teacher.
Guan Zeyang never ate with his students. He needed to have a lunch break alone before continuing his lectures.
Looking at his composed student, he was confident that he would become a powerful figure in the court.
The noon weather was exceptionally clear, but after noon it became cloudy, with signs of rain.
Mu Jiaojiao and Shan Cha, dressed as men, emerged from the small hole. “Madam Zhan, we’re going to Honghua Mountain to do something.”
They hurried off.
Madam Zhan didn’t ask. She was still feeling a slight headache.
However, she still instructed, “Be sure to tell me when you come back to put my mind at ease.”
It was unsafe for two girls to go out. Madam Zhan worried about her future daughter-in-law.
Mu Jiaojiao carried a small jar and a butterfly net from her brother and went to catch crickets.
Whether she could catch one today was crucial.
There was a magical tree on Honghua Mountain. In autumn, the leaves turn fiery red, as if covered in red flowers, hence the name.
However, the mountain was difficult to climb and few people went there, even fewer to catch crickets.
No one would expect to find a top-grade red-headed cricket there.
Therefore, she felt she was bound to succeed.
It was said that the more powerful the cricket, the louder and clearer its chirp. She thought she would find it easily.
Shan Cha was responsible for opening the way and catching the crickets, while she listened for the chirps. They had a clear division of labor and went up Honghua Mountain.
As soon as they climbed the mountain, a light rain began.
The mountain soil quickly became slippery, and Shan Cha softly persuaded, “Miss, why don’t we come back another day? It seems like the rain is getting heavier.”
But Mu Jiaojiao wasn’t as delicate as her name suggested. Raindrops were already on her face, and her black hair was wet, making her look a little disheveled.
But she was unwilling to give up and insisted on searching further. She was afraid that someone else would take it away first, leaving her with no chance.
The two girls carefully searched slowly. The rain fell intermittently, and the cricket’s chirps were mixed with the rain on the leaves, making them difficult to distinguish.
After dark, Zhan Qiyu and A Liu returned home and saw a carriage at the entrance. He saw a wooden sign with the character “Chen” on it and frowned as he entered the house.
Sure enough, he saw his annoying aunt.
Madam Zhan had already cried and her eyes were red. Seeing her son return, she stood in front of him.
However, Chen Lishi thought she was right and was impolite to Zhan Qiyu, “I spit on you, a scholar! Your book knowledge is useless! My pure daughter was defiled by you, and you refuse to acknowledge it!”
Chen Lishi, after hearing from the matchmaker that the Zhan family disagreed, came to demand an explanation, disregarding face and speaking openly.
“You’re lying! My Qiyu wouldn’t do that!”
Madam Zhan unconditionally believed her son and didn’t believe a word her sister said.
A Liu also wanted to explain, but seeing his master’s disgusted expression, he protected him.
“Aunt, you’re joking. I haven’t seen my cousin for years. How could I have anything to do with her? You must have mistaken someone.”
Chen Lishi became even angrier, convinced that this family had taken advantage and refused to admit it, continuing to scold them.
But Zhan Qiyu continued, “I’m with my teacher every day and haven’t seen any outsiders. You should ask your daughter.”
Madam Zhan quickly added, “My son is with Master Guan every day. How could he do such a thing?”
She was ashamed and indignant, and only felt reassured when her son returned.
But Chen Lishi didn’t quite believe it, gritting her teeth and asking, “You won’t admit it? I’ll go to the yamen tomorrow!”
The calm man’s expression didn’t change. He casually said, “Aunt, please feel free to do so.”
Chen Lishi was furious. She stubbornly refused to leave the Zhan house.
Reporting to the authorities would result in mutual harm. Even if Zhan Qiyu went to jail, her daughter’s life would be ruined. So she insisted that he admit it.
Whether or not it was him, he had to admit it.
“I’ll make it clear. Whether or not you did it, you have to marry Xing’er!”
She had heard about Master Guan. Zhan Qiyu had a high chance of becoming an official, even a minor one was still a government employee. She wasn’t willing to give up this advantageous match.
Zhan Qiyu didn’t say much, only saying that he needed to eat first and didn’t have time for guests.
Then the three Zhans went to the kitchen, leaving her in the main hall. Madam Zhan hadn’t eaten all day but didn’t want her son to go hungry.
She warmed up yesterday’s buns, and suddenly remembered something, “Miss Mu and Shan Cha said they were going to Honghua Mountain today. It’s raining; they probably haven’t returned.”
It was completely dark now. How could they not be back? She must have sneaked out and climbed back through the small hole.
Zhan Qiyu was no longer calm. He frowned and asked what time they left, calculating that something wasn’t right.
A Liu was also worried about Shan Cha. She looked strong, but if she encountered danger, she had no ability to resist.
“Mother, I’m going out to do something.”
Zhan Qiyu didn’t waste a minute, immediately taking A Liu out. The Chen family’s carriage at the entrance became their means of transportation. Chen Lishi watched as her carriage was taken away, and felt dizzy with anger.
Madam Zhan was secretly happy. Her sister deserved to be angry.
Watching the carriage disappear into the alley, Madam Zhan hoped her son would return soon.
The two girls on Honghua Mountain had indeed encountered some serious trouble.