"Mother, it's not that simple. Marriage is about bringing two families together. If Chong'an and Yunqing's horoscopes don't match, why wasn't that considered when they were first engaged? Also, what if people say that the Xiao family has another unmarried son, so why didn't they marry Yunqing? Is it because her fate is bad? What then?"
"You're just worrying unnecessarily!" Xiao Hua slammed his fist on the table, suddenly getting angry. Was his eldest son deliberately trying to make things difficult for everyone?
"This won't work, that won't work. Are you determined to make Chong'an bear the reputation of being a traitor? In that case, why don't you just marry Yun Qing? That would save you from all these worries."
"Wh-what?"
When he married Yun Qing, Xiao Chongye was stunned. Could this really be happening?
Before this, he had never considered such a possibility. He had always treated Yun Qing like his own sister; how could they possibly get married?
However, this is indeed a good idea. Not only can it silence the gossip, but he can also guarantee that he will treat Yun Qing well and will no longer have to worry about her marriage.
Having figured this out, Xiao Chongye's expression gradually changed from shock to awkwardness, and two suspicious blushes even rose on his face.
"Well, that's not impossible. I have no objection, but I don't know if Yunqing is willing."
"What else can you say if you don't want to?" Xiao Hua stroked his non-existent beard, looking at Xiao Chongye with exasperation.
Madam Xiao, who was standing to the side, was stunned. Had she heard correctly? What had her eldest son just said that he had no objection?
Pushing her husband aside, she approached Xiao Chongye with a forced smile and asked, "What did you just say? Say it again?"
Xiao Chongye suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "What else is there to say? You know what I mean."
Seeing his unusual behavior, Madam Xiao's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this child had already fallen in love with Yun Qing? And that he hadn't married yet, was it all for Yun Qing?
No, no, Yun Qing is seven or eight years younger than him. She only came to Haicheng five years ago. Xiao Chongye was already of marriageable age and had children. They had been worrying about this for several years. Moreover, Yun Qing was only fourteen or fifteen years old at that time, still a little girl.
Xiao Chongye noticed his mother's probing gaze and realized something, so he quickly explained.
“Mother, don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between Yunqing and me. It’s just that it concerns Chongye and her reputation. Since I haven’t had anyone I like, it’s not unreasonable to do this.”
Xiao Hua and Madam Xiao were strangely persuaded, but...
"Are you capable in that area? Although we want Yunqing to be our daughter-in-law, we can't let her live a life of widowhood."
Xiao Chongye's face darkened, becoming so gloomy it seemed as if ink could drip from it. How could he not know that he was actually impotent?
"Where did you get this misconception? That I have a problem in that area?"
"How can this be called an illusion?" Seeing that things were developing in a way that he had imagined, Xiao Chong'an finally found an opportunity to speak up and quickly said so.
"Brother, you haven't gotten married for so many years, and there have been all sorts of rumors going around. Not to mention, you don't even have a woman, or rather, a man or a woman, by your side. How can people not be suspicious?"
As he spoke, Xiao Chong'an nodded seriously: "I suddenly feel that it's not a big deal for me to publish a statement in the newspaper. At worst, my reputation will be a little bad. Although Yun Qing is old-fashioned and conservative, she can't marry a heartless and desireless man and spend her days alone in an empty room."
Xiao Chongye's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "What did you say? Say it again?"
"I said, brother, you don't need to sacrifice your marriage for me. I hate that Miss Yun, but she doesn't deserve this—ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Chong'an's pig-like screams echoed from the courtyard. Xiao Chongye picked up his father's cane and chased him all over the yard, beating him mercilessly.
Xiao Hua and Madam Xiao tried to reconcile them from behind, but they couldn't catch up and had to give up.
In the end, the matter was settled. After consulting Yun Qing's opinion, the person she was betrothed to was changed to Xiao Chongye.
As for her former fiancé, Xiao Chong'an, he was beaten so badly that his buttocks were bruised and he was bedridden for half a month before he could move.
However, the beating did not calm him down for more than a few days. As soon as he could walk, he covered his buttocks and hopped to his brother's yard.
"Brother, I really know I was wrong. I will never speak ill of my sister-in-law again."
Xiao Chongye sat in his chair looking at the account book without even lifting his eyelids. He didn't believe that his troublesome younger brother could ever reform, but it didn't matter; a few more beatings would do the trick.
"I understand, you may leave."
Seeing that his elder brother looked alright, Xiao Chong'an seized the opportunity and quietly approached.
"Is there anything else? Speak."
Xiao Chongye put down the account book and stared intently at him.
"Um, I just wanted to ask, who was the girl you were with when we met at Yunqi that day?"
Xiao Chong'an didn't initially expect to ask his brother, but instead entrusted many people to find out the identity and whereabouts of his beloved.
However, for some reason, those useless guys didn't find out a single useful piece of information.
Left with no other choice, he could only place his hopes on his older brother again.
Upon hearing this question, Xiao Chongye's gaze suddenly sharpened. Yun Qing was his fiancée. What were Xiao Chong'an's intentions in inquiring about her?
Why are you asking this? What's it to you?
"Brother, you're wrong about that. I'm no longer engaged. As the saying goes, a beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman. Since neither of us is married, can't I ask her?"
"Of course not." Xiao Chongye slammed his hand on the table. "How do you know she's not married? To tell you the truth, although you're single now, that girl is getting married soon. So, to avoid any complications, you'd better not bother her."
"What, getting married?"
Xiao Chong'an's ears were ringing, and he wondered if he had misheard. "This, how is this possible?"
"Why is it impossible?" Xiao Chongye's face was cold, unmoved by his pained appearance. "That's the truth, believe it or not."
Upon receiving another affirmative answer, Xiao Chong'an felt dizzy, as if he had been struck hard on the head with a club. How could this be? He had finally met someone who suited him perfectly, how could he already be taken?
Looking at his younger brother's dejected figure, Xiao Chongye felt no remorse whatsoever. In his opinion, he deserved it! He brought it all on himself.
Who told him to run away abroad without a word back then? He even avoided seeing the Yun family when they came to visit. Yun Qing is not a woman he can just take or leave as he pleases.
Since he doesn't cherish it, as his older brother, he has no choice but to take care of him.
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