Chapter 33: Marriage, Little Father, Wait for Me to Come Back

Zhao Ling cooked a large table of dishes.

It’s even more sumptuous than the Chinese New Year.

Seeing her about to head to the kitchen, Fang Zhiyue quickly stopped her, "Sister Zhao, this is enough food. I'm afraid we can't finish it even for the three of us."

"It's okay—"

Zhao Ling turned her head to look at him and smiled innocently, "It's just some home-cooked food, not too much trouble. You and Xiaoru can eat first, no need to wait for me."

Then he went into the kitchen again.

Fang Zhiyue sighed but didn't stop her.

"Uncle Fang, let's eat first. My mother is just like that. Don't mind her. She's just so happy to see you."

"Come--"

Zhao Ru picked up her chopsticks and picked up a four-happiness meatball for him. "These meatballs are made by my mother. They are very chewy. They are not worse than the ones sold in restaurants outside. Uncle Fang, you should try them quickly."

She is so passionate.

Fang Zhiyue’s hospitality was hard to refuse, so he picked up the meatball and took a bite. It was indeed delicious.

His eyes lit up. "Sister Zhao's cooking skills are indeed excellent. These meatballs are really delicious."

"Uncle Fang, eat more."

Zhao Ru smiled and continued to pick up some other food for him.

When the two of them were about 70% full, Zhao Ling finally came out with the cooked soup.

I saw that Fang Zhiyue had put down the chopsticks.

She was slightly stunned. "Xiao Fang, why don't you eat anymore? But what I cooked wasn't tasty?"

I stood there for a while, feeling a little lost.

Seeing her misunderstanding, Fang Zhiyue quickly explained, "Don't overthink it, Sister Zhao. I've always had a small appetite, and I'm already full. Sister Zhao, your cooking is delicious, and it's on par with the chefs at those restaurants out there."

"Mom, Uncle Fang and I are full. It's your fault for hiding in the kitchen."

Zhao Ru on the side glared at her, secretly hating her for not living up to her expectations.

Zhao Ling placed the soup on the table and rubbed her head sheepishly. "Xiao Fang, I'm sorry. I was so focused on cooking that I forgot to come out and entertain you, my guest. Luckily, Xiao Ru was there to keep you company."

"Sister Zhao, don't say that."

Fang Zhiyue replied, then smiled and said, "Sister Zhao, hurry up and eat. The food will get cold soon."

After hearing what he said, Zhao Ling finally felt relieved and started eating.

She eats fast.

In a short while, he had eaten most of what was on the table.

Fang Zhiyue couldn't help but look at her in surprise.

Zhao Ru, sitting next to him, felt disappointed again. Oh my god, couldn’t Uncle Fang be more polite when eating? He even scared Uncle Fang.

After finishing the meal, Fang Zhiyue didn’t stay for long.

He quickly said goodbye to the Zhao mother and daughter and left.

Zhao Ling stood up and wanted to see him off, but Zhao Ru stood up first: "Uncle Fang, I'll see you off—"

She walked Fang Zhiyue to the door.

When Fang Zhiyue was about to turn around and leave, he suddenly called him, "Uncle Fang, there is something I want to tell you..."

"What?"

Fang Zhiyue stopped in his tracks when he heard this.

Zhao Ru lowered her voice and whispered to him, "...Actually, my mother likes you, but she's always been too embarrassed to tell you. She only uses these stupid tricks to win your favor."

After she finished speaking, she covered her lips with her hands and smiled.

Without waiting for Fang Zhiyue to come to his senses, he trotted towards home.

Fang Zhiyue stood there in a daze, and it took him a long time to come to his senses.

It was both surprising and not surprising that Zhao Ling had a crush on him.

He didn't think of responding, so he just pretended not to know.

I didn't expect that Zhao Ru would say it herself today.

Fang Zhiyue couldn't explain what he was thinking, and he didn't have time to think about it now. After all, Si Yao was waiting for him at home.

Took a walk outside.

It was almost dusk when I got home.

As soon as Fang Zhiyue entered the yard, he bumped into Si Yao who had returned from the academy.

She looked at him with deep eyes and asked, "Where is my father?"

"I, I'm just strolling around..."

As soon as he saw her, Fang Zhiyue's heart began to tighten, and a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

Afraid that she would ask too many questions, he took the initiative to ask, "Is there anything going on at the academy?"

Si Yao looked at him deeply and replied calmly, "We talked about the Spring Examination. Yunzhou is far away from the capital, so I may have to leave before the New Year. This time, we will go by land instead of by water, which may not be very safe. So, I will take Shi Qi with me when I leave, and I'm afraid my father will have to stay here alone."

"What?"

Fang Zhiyue was very surprised to hear this.

It took him a long time to come back to his senses.

The Chinese New Year is only a few days away. Isn't Sister Yao going to leave right away?

"...Are you leaving in the next few days?"

His tone was a little light, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Um."

Si Yao nodded, his eyes dark and deep: "I'm afraid it will take two or three months for me to come back this time. You must behave well at home alone. When I come back, I will take you to the capital, and we will get married there. Okay?"

"I, I understand..."

Fang Zhiyue forced a smile as she said.

Thinking that Si Yao was about to leave, I just wanted to keep her stable first.

"I'm about to leave, won't you give me some benefits, little father?"

Si Yao spoke again, his voice faint: "We won't be able to see each other for two or three months."

"You, what do you want?"

The smile on Fang Zhiyue's face became more and more forced.

He knew that once she opened her mouth, he would have no choice but to endure it.

"Let's go back to the house first..."

Si Yao held his hand and pulled him into the house.

The desire and lust in her eyes made Fang Zhiyue dare not look up at her, as if he could avoid it this way.

*

Taking advantage of the fact that he was about to leave, Si Yao became more and more demanding and pestered Fang Zhiyue for several days.

Fang Zhiyue was counting day by day.

Finally, the day came for her to leave.

Early in the morning, Si Yao packed his bags and called Shi Qi to leave home.

When Fang Zhiyue got up, he was a little bit unbelievable when he saw the empty yard.

Is he really free like this?

Did Sister Yao really leave like this?

The yard was quiet, with only the sound of a lone bird flying over the treetops.

Fang Zhiyue stood there for a long time before he finally came to his senses.

My tense mind finally relaxed.

Great, Sister Yao is gone!

Maybe when she arrives in the capital and meets those noble young men, she will no longer be obsessed with him.

Fang Zhiyue smiled happily for a while and then quickly frowned.

Suddenly, Si Yao's words popped up in my mind...

She said that when she came back she would take him to the capital to get married.

What if, what if all this is true, what should he do then?

No, he can't be so optimistic. He has to find a way to stop Sister Yao from having these thoughts!

Fang Zhiyue held his head and racked his brains.

Zhao Ling's dark and handsome face suddenly appeared in front of me.

Maybe……

He stood up quickly, his heart pounding.

In the afternoon, Fang Zhiyue invited Zhao Ru to his home.

As soon as Zhao Ru saw him, she smiled and asked, "Uncle Fang, what do you think about what I told you last time?"

It seemed that she had guessed Fang Zhiyue's intention of inviting her.

She is a little devil.

Fang Zhiyue realized that although he was not young anymore, he was still a green hand after all.

Unable to help but blush, "...I agree with what you told me last time. Go back and tell your mother..."

"Okay!"

Zhao Ru nodded immediately.

Without waiting for Fang Zhiyue to say anything, he ran home impatiently.

She must tell her mother about this great news as soon as possible!

Once everyone left, Fang Zhiyue was the only one left.

He didn't know whether what he was doing was right or not, but he had to bring Sister Yao back on the right path.

Zhao Ling is a good person. She has been a widow for many years and has a lovely daughter. He will definitely not be wronged if he marries her.

Fang Zhiyue lowered his long eyelashes slightly and trembled slightly.

*

Si Yao has been away for a week.

Fang Zhiyue and Zhao Ling also set a wedding date. Out of guilt, he told her the true relationship between him and Si Yao.

Zhao Ling was very surprised. She didn't expect that he was not Si Yao's cousin, but her stepfather.

Afterwards, he expressed his understanding.

After all, how could a good man like Fang Zhiyue never be married?

Both of them agreed not to have a big wedding, but just invite a few acquaintances to come over for a drink.

Fang Zhiyue didn't have many acquaintances in Yunzhou City, so he only gave the wedding invitation to Wang, the manager of Hu's shop.

Manager Wang was very happy and immediately wrote a letter to Fang Zhiyue, saying that he would give him a set of wedding headwear as a gift and asked him to pick it up the day before the wedding.

Fang Zhiyue couldn't bear to refuse her kindness.

The day before the wedding, he went to Hu's shop in person.

It was dusk, and the shop was deserted. As soon as Manager Wang saw him, he immediately congratulated him, "Congratulations, young master! Tomorrow is your wedding day, and I'm going to go over and get a glass of wedding wine."

"Of course you are welcome. We will make sure you have enough wine at the wedding."

Fang Zhiyue responded with a smile.

The two of them walked upstairs together, and Steward Wang handed the prepared gift to him.

"Young Master, take a look and see if you like it. If you don't mind, you can wear it to marry your bride tomorrow."

"This... is too valuable. How can I accept it?"

The head ornaments in the brocade box are all made of real gold, and are embellished with gems and pearls. It is obvious at a glance that they are of great value.

Fang Zhiyue had never seen such a valuable thing before.

But Steward Wang just looked at him and smiled, "Little Master, please keep it. This is not just from me, but also from the headmaster. The headmaster said that you must wear this headpiece when you get married tomorrow."

"Boss...?"

Fang Zhiyue was a little stunned when he heard this.

"Yes, so the young master shouldn't be so polite. A piece of headgear is nothing to the big master."

She respectfully escorted Fang Zhiyue downstairs.

Then he saw him off from the shop.

Fang Zhiyue returned home holding the brocade box.

When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, I looked at the wedding dress placed beside the bed and couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

Somehow I thought of Si Yao.

I wonder if Sister Yao will be angry when she comes back and finds out that he is married?

I guess it won’t happen...

He is dull, average looking, and old. How could Sister Yao still be obsessed with him even though he is married?

Fang Zhiyue lay down on the bed and went to sleep obediently.

Waiting for the next day to come.

The next day, the wedding procession, accompanied by the afterglow, stopped at the door of the Si family.

Fang Zhiyue put on her wedding dress and the wedding mask given by Manager Wang and got into the bridal sedan.

He sat in the wedding sedan feeling a little nervous, and felt reluctant when he thought about leaving the Si family in the future.

However, he couldn't stay in the Si family and ruin Sister Yao...

The wedding sedan was carried out of Jingshui Lane, swaying.

The people carrying the sedan chair did not go towards the Zhao family, but turned to another place.