Chapter Seventy-Nine

Bai Qiqiu walked along, admiring the beautiful scenery of Mujia Village.

What was originally a completely unfamiliar village to him has, after so many days, begun to give him a sense of belonging.

Before I knew it, I had wandered to the riverbank.

In the mountains and forests, every breath is filled with fresh, moist air carrying a slight coolness.

Bai Qiqiu squatted by the river, gazing at his pale face reflected in the water, and sighed softly.

He felt that his elder brother had been too tactful. He should have said that he was ambitious and that he was like a toad trying to eat swan meat. He thought that no handsome and fair-skinned man would ever be interested in him.

Looking back now, Zhou Qiang feels that he, such a handsome man, has almost lost all face by having his engagement broken off.

When the engagement was broken off, I went to see him twice. His words were full of self-mockery, implying that he should be the one to break off the engagement.

They met again later, and Zhou Qiang apologized to him for his outburst of anger.

But the words he uttered were like fish bones that had grown into his flesh.

I don't usually feel anything, but the thought of it still makes me feel a little uncomfortable and a little pained.

"What's wrong? Are you crying because you're ugly?"

An annoying voice came from behind, and Bai Qiqiu glared at the person with red eyes.

"How dare you say that to me?!"

Bai Qiqiu was fine with being called ugly by someone better-looking than him, but he was much less happy about being called ugly by someone even less attractive.

Mu Zhaoye's lips curled slightly; he still had the energy to retort, so it seemed he wasn't planning on committing suicide.

"I'm curious, what happened to make a shameless, straightforward, and carefree guy like you secretly cry by the river?"

Bai Qiqiu retorted angrily, "What's it to you? Besides, I didn't cry; I just got sand in my eyes."

Mu Zhaoye smiled and sat down on the grass not far from him.

He casually picked a foxtail grass, put it in his mouth, folded his hands behind his head, and looked nonchalant.

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen you fishing all month, and you didn't come this morning either. Are you not planning to fish anymore? If I don't let you use the fishing boat in the future, then it won't be me breaking my promise."

"I have a lot going on at home, let's talk about it in September."

Bai Qiqiu's sadness was somewhat relieved by Mu Zhaoye's anger. Seeing a patch of water celery not far away, she thought that since she was already here, she might as well pick some to take back and stir-fry tonight.

Water celery has a strong flavor, and both Mu Jin and Zhou Lin really enjoy it.

Seeing this, Mu Zhaoye got up and followed behind him, bending down to pinch him as well.

"I just happened to buy some meat today, so I'll take some home and make dumplings."

There was quite a lot of celery in this patch, and Bai Qiqiu didn't mind Mu Zhaoye picking a couple of bunches.

Knowing that he was alone at home now, she asked in surprise, "You can cook?"

Mu Zhaoye nodded, "If I didn't know how to cook, I would have starved to death long ago."

Bai Qiqiu sighed, thinking of his family, who were also pitiful men.

The two of them held water celery in their hands and remained silent for a while.

Mu Zhaoye suddenly exclaimed, "Am I really that ugly and frightening?"

Bai Qiqiu was taken aback for a moment, "Huh? It's...it's alright."

He only retorted, but he never expected that the man would take it to heart. Is he such a fragile man?

It really doesn't match his rugged appearance.

"I've been to several houses these past two days, but none of them have worked out. Sigh..."

Mu Zhaoye's long, drawn-out "sigh" sounded like a broken heart, carrying a deep and lingering sadness.

Bai Qiqiu felt a vague sense of guilt.

He hurriedly said, "Actually, if you don't look at the scars on your face, you're actually not bad-looking. My family is from the northern frontier. I've seen many soldiers who are missing limbs or even their eyes. Someone like you is actually quite handsome!"

After Bai Qiqiu finished speaking, his expression was so serious that Mu Zhaoye almost believed him.

He chuckled inwardly, but didn't show it on his face. "Really?"

Bai Qiqiu nodded emphatically, his eyes sincere, "Really!"

Fearing that his words were not convincing enough, Bai Qiqiu added, "Look at me, I have all four limbs intact, I'm tall and thin, and apart from a mole on my face, I'm clean and have nothing else, but I still can't find a match. Sigh."

Mu Zhaoye sighed inwardly, realizing that she had secretly run to the riverbank to cry because no one had taken a liking to her.

This guy is strong, hardworking, and can do anything. He even opened a small dye shop.

But she's incredibly simple-minded, straightforward, and strangely adorable.

Her eyes flickered slightly; if she married him, life would be much more enjoyable.

"I think you're quite pretty."

One sentence made Bai Qiqiu's face turn red.

She glared at him and said, "Nonsense! You just said I'm ugly."

Mu Zhaoye smiled and said, "I was just teasing you."

He then turned serious and said, "Qi Qiu, what do you think of me? Now that the new house is finished, you won't lack a place to live or enough to eat. Although I look fierce, I never lay a hand on you. How about we get together? If it's alright, I'll go to town later to buy the betrothal gifts, and tomorrow I'll ask a matchmaker to come to your house to propose marriage."

Bai Qiqiu stood there stunned, the water celery in his arms scattered all over the ground.

That Mu Zhaoye, he changes his mind so quickly. We were just exchanging barbs, and suddenly he's proposing marriage.

This caught Bai Qiqiu completely off guard.

Before he could react, he stammered, "You...I..."

Bai Qiqiu paused for a moment, then clenched his fist and raised it. "Don't joke about this with me, I'll really beat you up!"

Mu Zhaoye stepped forward. "I'm telling the truth, Qi Qiu. I think you're quite adorable. You're passionate, decisive, and have a straightforward personality. I'd be happy to live with you."

This was the first time in Bai Qiqiu's eighteen years that a man had said he wanted to marry him.

She felt genuinely happy and excited, yet also disappointed that the man wasn't her type; it was a very complicated feeling.

He took a closer look at Mu Zhaoye. He was taller than him, and standing next to him, he didn't seem as imposing.

On second thought, this guy is rich; he has built several brick houses!

Isn't this the kind of man my older brother was talking about, the kind who can support the family?!

Even if their child is tall and difficult to marry off, if the family has money, they can find a son-in-law to keep in mind.

It must be said that this idea coincided with Zhou Lin's.

Besides, he'll probably have a hard time finding a handsome man to marry.

For a moment, Bai Qiqiu's mind raced, but he finally nodded.

"Let me tell you, if you marry me, you can't take concubines or anything like that, even if you have money, otherwise..."

Bai Qiqiu glanced at Mu Zhaoye's crotch, causing Mu Zhaoye to feel a sudden chill and clench his legs.

I don't know if I can take back the words I just blurted out.

They threaten to take his manhood at the drop of a hat; it's truly terrifying.

However, it's clear that once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.

Bai Qiqiu picked up the water celery from the ground and said, "Come earlier tomorrow."

With a flushed face, she hurried home.

At home, Mu Jin and Wen Zhaoran looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing Bai Qiqiu's words, which were spoken with a flushed face.

Qi Qiu herself went out to relax, but ended up getting herself completely absorbed in the experience.

Mu Jin then laughed and slapped her thigh, "How could I not have thought of Brother Zhao Ye?!"

Her words were filled with regret that Mu Zhaoye had beaten her to it and that she hadn't been able to act as matchmaker.

Wen Zhaoran was worried for Bai Qiqiu when he couldn't get married, and now that he was about to get married, she felt very reluctant to let him go.

"Brother, can Mu Zhaoye be trusted? Is he a good person?"

Mu Jin smiled and said, "Brother Zhaoye is capable and can support his family. Look at the brick house he built; there are only a few in the village with one. He must have money. He's physically strong and can do a lot of work. There are no elders in his family, so Qi Qiu can manage the household after she marries him. Without a mother-in-law to keep her in check, her life will be much more comfortable."

"However, without the help of elders, the two of them will have to work harder," Mu Jin added.

After hearing these words, Bai Qiqiu and Wen Zhaoran both felt a little more at ease.

Bai Qiqiu, in particular, regretted his decision on the way back, feeling that he had acted impulsively. Now, after hearing what Mu Jin said, he realized that marrying into the family was actually a good idea.

When Zhou Lin returned and heard that Mu Zhaoye was coming to propose marriage the next day, he was happy for Bai Qiqiu.

Because the family needed someone to take charge, Zhou Lin went to Mu Heng's house again to ask for half a day off the next morning.

Early the next morning, the yard was cleaned spotlessly.

Zhou Lin specially wore the new autumn clothes that Mu Jin had just made for him. The couple and Wen Zhaoran sat neatly in the main room, waiting for Mu Zhaoye and Mu Mei to arrive.

Bai Qiqiu stayed in his bedroom, his palms sweating with nervousness.

The marriage negotiations went very smoothly, and Mu Jin and Mu Mei exchanged a smile.

Mu Mei sighed and said with a smile, "At this time last year, I was still busy with your marriage. Now, seeing you living a happy life, I am relieved."

Mu Jin smiled, and then suddenly realized that in just over half a year, he was able to take charge of other people's marriages.

After seeing off Mu Mei and Mu Zhaoye, Bai Qiqiu came out of the bedroom with a flushed face.

Mu Zhaoye's betrothal gifts were very generous: twenty catties of fine rice, twenty catties of fine flour, twenty catties of millet, twenty catties of sorghum, two bolts of cotton cloth, eight catties of meat, two jars of wine, and eight boxes of wedding cakes, which shows how much he valued this marriage.

Mu Jin smiled and pulled Bai Qiqiu over, handing him the betrothal money and an exquisite wooden box.

"This is six taels of betrothal silver, and in the box is a pair of silver bracelets he bought for you."

Bai Qiqiu was surprised. Even when he was first engaged, the man had never given him such a large dowry.

It's nothing more than two catties of meat, a jar of wine, a few catties of flour, and two taels of betrothal money.

This time, Bai Qiqiu truly felt that Mu Jin was right. When it comes to marrying a man, it's best to marry one who can support the family and earn money.

The anxiety of the night vanished in an instant.

“Brother, please accept this. You and your husband are now the elders in my family, and this place is my maternal home.”

Bai Qiqiu took the wooden box and pushed the six taels of silver back.

Looking at the betrothal gifts in the courtyard, Mu Jin really felt like she was marrying a "young man".

He shook his head. “These can be included in your dowry. Your brother-in-law and I can’t accept them, but we will keep the grain, meat, and wedding cakes. We will also take these two bolts of cloth with us. In a few days, we will invite your aunt and uncle to come and make two wedding quilts for you, and have your brother-in-law make two chests and cabinets for you.”

It just so happens that we need to make cotton quilts and cotton clothes for Bai Qiqiu in winter. We can put them in her dowry and take them with us.

Bai Qiqiu was unwilling to take it, but Mu Jin couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he sighed and said, "Brother, I'll buy the quilt and cotton. The village just harvested cotton not long ago, so it'll be easy to buy."

Mu Jin smiled and nodded, thinking to herself that she would ask her husband to make another cabinet for Qi Qiu to take with him.