Chapter 118 Extra - Marriage
Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough.
Seeing that Shen Tang had reached marriageable age and had grown into a beautiful girl, Master Shen began to discuss her marriage with Qi.
Qi was busy with household affairs and taking care of her own children. She could not find any faults with this daughter left by her first wife, nor could she be said to be attentive to her.
"Tang'er is so well-behaved and sensible, Master should put more effort into choosing a good husband for her."
It's difficult to be a stepmother, so it's better to leave it all to your biological father.
Master Shen’s efforts… were there, but not much. For example, he didn’t know his daughter could read until Shen Tang was seven or eight years old.
It just so happened that Qi's nephew Qi Huaijing had just returned to Guangling. As a young man with great ambition, he casually mentioned that he wanted to study with his uncle for a few years.
The Qi family was wealthy and they were relatives, and the salary they gave was more than his salary, so naturally he had to accept it.
It's the same if I teach one child or two children. There are also some other relatives' children who come in groups of three or five. It's better to teach them together.
Naturally, Chen Tang also entered his own primary school.
Unexpectedly, among the three or five children, only Chen Tang learned the best. He had a photographic memory and understood everything he saw. His calligraphy also improved day by day.
Since he already had a daughter named Yongxu at home, Master Shen decided to wait until the results of the spring imperial examination were announced and then pick the most outstanding scholar among the students on the list as his son-in-law.
Chen Tang likes reading, but he doesn't like people who read books.
Scholars always restrain themselves, abide by the rites, be cautious and keep their hearts, and think twice before acting. It is inevitable that they are a little indifferent and distant, and a little rigid and boring, just like her own father... She doesn't like him very much.
After thinking about it, I remembered my third cousin from my stepmother's family. He was handsome, came from a wealthy family, was a true person, had his own ideas, and was also quite humorous and unrestrained.
More importantly, in the past two years, he often secretly looked at himself.
His fleeting eyes swept over her like the wind, landing on her for a moment before floating away...
His stare made her heart beat wildly, but she pretended not to notice and let him look at her, wondering secretly - does this cousin like her?
They have known each other since childhood, they have been childhood sweethearts, and they are closely related... If he was really interested, he should have proposed marriage a long time ago.
Don't be, I'm just being too sentimental.
If he didn't tell her about the young man's thoughts, she wouldn't be sure.
I had no choice but to find one excuse or another to meet him when he came to visit.
For example, give dad a pot of tea.
For example, giving your stepmother a plate of fruit.
For example, being dragged by Xiaoli'er to play with her cousin.
Since she vaguely guessed her father's idea, she spent the whole winter slowly teaching Xiao Li'er how to play chess, and mentioned it several times...
"Li'er learns really fast, but Daddy said that cousin Huaijing is the best at chess. If you beat him, you'd be really good."
Little Li'er clenched her fists and remembered this.
It was spring again, and Qi Huaijing came to visit the Shen family on time as usual.
When Chen Li got the news, she immediately took her sister to look for her cousin.
It's impossible to stop it.
"Okay, okay, wait for me to change my clothes."
She picked out a light crimson peach blossom dress. The color was bright and lovely, and it set off her bright eyes, white teeth, black hair, and rosy cheeks, making her look particularly bright and charming.
Normally, she seldom wears such bright colors as she doesn't want to draw attention.
This time, she wanted to attract attention.
Chen Li pulled her sister's hand, dragged her to the living room, and went to bother Qi Huaijing again.
"Cousin, come and play chess with me! I want to show my sister who can win between the two of us."
Qi Huaijing smiled and naturally did not refuse.
He sat on one side of the chessboard and started playing chess with his little cousin, but his eyes kept unconsciously glancing to the side, peeking at the pair of hands that were helping to arrange the chess pieces.
He acted as if nothing had happened and thought he had hidden it well.
Chen Tang had already noticed it, and he felt a little proud and a little anxious.
Silly brother, what are you waiting for?
...Are you waiting to attend your cousin’s wedding?
Just as she was thinking about it, Xiao Li'er lost another game and yelled for her sister to avenge her.
The man breathed a sigh of relief, finally finding an excuse, and looked at her openly.
"Sister Tang, do you dare?"
Chen Tang smiled and nodded, probably more daring than you.
She gathered her skirt and stood up, sitting opposite him, picking up the jade-white chess piece with her slender hands.
Back and forth, black and white chess pieces fell in an alternating pattern.
From time to time, he shifted his eyes away from the chessboard, his eyes brushing past the light and bright dress, the slender and tender fingers, the beautiful and gentle eyebrows like the wind... and then gently shifted his eyes away.
Chen Tang didn't even look at him. He focused his attention, fiddled with the chess pieces between his fingers, and stared at the well-arranged chessboard.
I just heard that he is going to the capital again. I am afraid he will be gone for another half a year.
However, the results of the Spring Examination will be announced soon.
The chessboard was getting more and more dangerous, and neither side could afford to be distracted at all. But she just wanted to give it a try to see who could bear to be distracted more.
Chen Tang started chatting, and as he was chatting, he casually said something important.
"I heard that my cousin is getting engaged to Miss Yue?"
Sure enough, his face remained calm, but he made a wrong move.
"Nonsense, Sister Tang heard it wrong."
"Oh, I see... My cousin is a few years older than me, why isn't he engaged yet?"
He only answered the first half of the sentence.
"I think so. I'm two years older."
The tone remained calm.
"Come to think of it, my sister is almost seventeen years old. Is there anyone she likes?"
Chen Tang pondered for a long time and made a crucial move, telling him to move forward and not retreat.
"Marriage is a big matter, naturally it all depends on the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words..."
She paused for a moment deliberately, and watched Qi Huaijing pick up a black piece. His fingertips were so tight that they turned white, but his eyes were gloomy and he refused to look up at her.
Chen Tang had a smile on his face, and his tone was very light, as if he was a little nonchalant.
"These past two days, I've often heard Dad mention that there's a new Master Du in the Academy..."
She had only said half of her words when she saw his fingertips tremble and the black dot fell where it should not have fallen.
Chen Tang smiled, stopped talking, and placed the last white piece steadily on the chessboard, smiling like a flower and speaking in a very cheerful tone.
"Cousin, you lost!"
"……yes."
There had been a bet in place, and if Qi Huaijing lost the game of chess, he would allow his little cousin to put flowers in his hair.
He still had a gentle smile on his face, but his heart was almost broken.
Why didn't she finish her words? Who was Lord Du? What did he have to do with her? Was her uncle going to marry her to this man?
Anyway, I won’t marry him!
Little Li'er messed up his hair, but he didn't notice at all. His complicated emotions were harder to describe than the chessboard.
After playing chess, he followed Master Shen to the study to get some books and couldn't help asking a few more questions.
"Uncle, I heard that there is a Mr. Du in the Academy of Education. He is very knowledgeable... How old is he? Is he easy to get along with? What is his family background like?"
I hope he is a very good person so that he will be more willing to endure in the future!
Master Shen was stunned. This nephew was so filial, but he still worried about his colleagues?
"Lord Du, he is a good man. He is already a sixth-rank official in his thirties and has a bright future! It's a pity that he became a widower at such a young age..."
Qi Huaijing suddenly stopped.
widower!
Master Shen didn't pay attention and walked farther and farther away. The sound reached his ears for a while and then for a while.
"...There are two children at home...Hey, Huaijing, what's wrong with you?"
Beside the window of the study, there is a patch of green bamboo. The breeze blows through the forest and blows on your face, which makes you feel enlightened.
Rather than him, it would be me!
"Nothing. I suddenly remembered something very important, and I really can't delay it any longer."
Behind the small window, peach blossom skirts turned by, and in the warm spring sun and breeze, layer upon layer of ripples were created.
Like a heartbeat.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
