Erbing said shyly, "Yuqiu, if you're willing, I...would you marry me?"
"I will observe three years of mourning for my father," Xia Yuqiu said.
Xia Chunmei: "It's only a three-year mourning period. We can arrange the marriage first, and get married once the mourning period is over. Erbing, are you willing to wait?"
"I do," Erbing said almost without hesitation.
"But I don't want to hold you back."
"Is it that you don't want to delay things, or that you don't want to marry him?" Xia Chunmei looked at her with a half-smile.
Erbing, upon hearing Xia Chunmei's words, also looked at her intently, eager to know the answer.
Xia Yuqiu felt that Xia Chunmei had seen through everything long ago, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
But admitting it is impossible; the carefully cultivated persona cannot be allowed to crumble.
“I really feel that I can’t hold Brother Erbing back, and besides, my family background… how could I be worthy of Brother Erbing? I…”
Upon hearing this, Erbing quickly replied, "I am worthy! It won't delay you. Yuqiu, I'm not afraid of delaying you. I can wait until you finish your mourning period."
“But I’m afraid I’ll hold you back, Brother Erbing. You’re a good person, I…”
"Miss Xia, stop giving him the 'friend card' and just tell me straight. Do you not like Erbing? The so-called delay is just an excuse, isn't it? If you don't like him, just say so directly. Don't keep him hanging on, lest he keep thinking about you. That would be what really delays him."
Xia Yuqiu hated Xia Chunmei to the core. Why did she have to force her to make a statement?
If she says she likes him, how can she marry someone else? If she says she doesn't like him, what if Erbing doesn't help her later?
"Miss Xia, please say something."
"I……"
Xia Yuqiu really didn't know what to do, and stammered.
Erbing said dejectedly, "Forget it."
"Since he says it's fine, then so be it. You are no longer a member of my household. Pack your things and leave as soon as possible," Baili Xiao said coldly.
Xia Yuqiu didn't expect Baili Xiao to still let her go, and she looked at Erbing pitifully.
Although Erbing felt disappointed, when he met her wet eyes, he couldn't help but want to get closer and help her.
"Master, Madam, she..."
Seeing that Erbing was still talking to her, Baili Xiao felt a surge of disappointment and cursed himself for being blind. He couldn't see that this woman was pretending and using him at a time like this.
Seeing Erbing like this, San Tiao sighed inwardly and said, "Since Miss Xia has nowhere to go and is not afraid of hardship or fatigue, why don't I introduce her to a job outside?"
I recently met a cloth shop owner who was looking for weavers. He offered them room and board, and they could earn thirty coins for each bolt of cloth they wove.
Even if Miss Xia doesn't know how, she can go there to learn. Having a skill will make it easier for her to find a husband in the future, especially after the mourning period.
These words left Xia Yuqiu speechless.
"Erbing, send her back to Xiangzhou." "She" refers to Zhou Shumin. Baili Xiao felt that Erbing was blinded by women, and it was best not to let him have too much contact with Xia Yuqiu. Therefore, getting rid of him at this stage was the best course of action.
“It’s better for Miss Xia to go to the cloth shop and earn money with her own hands than to stay here as a servant,” San Tiao said again.
Xia Yuqiu didn't want to leave, but it was obvious that apart from Erbing, no one wanted her to stay. She hated Yumeng to death. If it weren't for her, she wouldn't have been suspected and wouldn't have been kicked out.
"Then thank you very much, Brother Santiao, and thank you, General, for taking me in during this time..."
Baili Xiao said coldly, "You don't need to thank me. It was Erbing who kept you here for so long."
Xia Yuqiu choked for a moment, then quickly said to Erbing, "Thank you, Brother Erbing."
Erbing said bitterly, "You're welcome."
After saying that, he left with Zhou Shumin.
The rest was left to San Tiao, and Bai Li Xiao accompanied Xia Chunmei to the dining room for dinner.
Seeing Xia Chunmei coming this way, the cook, Aunt Li, quickly started cooking wontons.
Everything was ready long ago. When Xia Chunmei arrived at the dining room, poached eggs and wontons were served in no time.
The aroma made Xia Chunmei's appetite return.
After taking a bite, she immediately praised, "Aunt Li, your cooking is really good."
"Madam Xie praised me, saying that there were many cooks competing at the time, and the master bought me because he saw that I could make wontons and dumplings."
"You like wontons too?" Xia Chunmei asked.
"It's not that Master likes wontons, but he knows you do, so he instructed me to prepare them early this morning."
Xia Chunmei was taken aback, not expecting Baili Xiao to be so thoughtful.
Rich, good-looking, powerful, and with status, plus so considerate—isn't this the perfect male protagonist character from a novel?
I just don't know if he treats every woman like this.
*
After the meal, Baili Xiao placed a small box in front of Xia Chunmei.
Xia Chunmei looked puzzled.
"These are part of my businesses; most of the rest are in the capital. I will hand them over to you from now on."
"Big brother, have you forgotten that I'm an imposter?"
Why would a fake couple need to control his finances?
Xia Chunmei always mentioned that they were a fake couple, which made Baili Xiao feel a lump in his throat and very uncomfortable.
“Our wedding isn’t fake. If you don’t care, other people might have doubts. You can use these documents as you please.”
"I'll take care of it for now, but we can forget about using it."
How can you use a fake husband's money?
"It's not like I'm using it for nothing; I mainly need something from you."
Xia Chunmei's eyes widened: "You still need something from me?"
“You are very talented. I hope you can take Dandan under your wing and teach her well. I don’t expect her to be as capable as you or even half as good as you. That would be enough.”
Hearing him say that made Xia Chunmei feel very pleased, but she still humbly replied, "You think too highly of me. I'm not that outstanding."
"You have!"
Although Xia Chunmei was happy to be praised by him, she was not carried away, knowing in her heart that this kind of thing was actually thankless work.
However, Baili Xiao clearly understood what Xia Chunmei was thinking, and said, "You are her aunt, so you are an elder. If she does something wrong, just say so. If she needs to be hit or scolded, don't feel embarrassed to do it. I believe in your character."
Dandan's character is not bad, but she is too weak, especially in recent years at home, where she has become accustomed to being subservient and humble..."
Baili Xiao then told Xia Chunmei everything about his background and Su Xuedan's background.
“So Yu Meng’s mother died saving her. No wonder she spoiled Yu Meng like this,” Xia Chunmei said. “To be honest, I don’t know how to teach her. Let her do business first. If a girl can earn money, she won’t be looked down upon by her husband’s family after she gets married.”
With such a powerful uncle, Su Xuedan will surely marry into a prestigious family. But no matter how prestigious the family, money is still a factor. Supporting such a large family will be quite expensive.
Having money to rely on makes it easier to find help when you get married and need anything.
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