Chapter 123: Voluntary or coerced?
Song Yuntang thought he had heard it wrong.
"What?"
Xu Qingye's calm eyes were full of seriousness.
"I say, let's get married." Then he said, "Don't worry, it's just a change of status. I won't touch you without your permission. After the marriage, you can go to the county town with me. It will be more convenient to do business there, and I can take care of you legitimately. Or you can stay in Cile Town. With your parents backing you up, you will never be bullied by others in the future."
Song Yuntang was a little confused.
"You want to continue your studies, so you must be planning to enter the government. I heard that some relationships in the government need to be maintained through marriage. Aren't you afraid that I will be a burden to you?"
Xu Qingye shook his head. "I studied hard and passed the imperial examination to become an official. If I still need a woman to get to the top, then I don't have to squeeze into this officialdom."
"Will you take a concubine in the future?" Song Yuntang asked again.
"I will only have you as my wife in this life."
Looking up at his serious expression, Song Yuntang nodded and said, "Okay."
Hearing her answer, Xu Qingye breathed a sigh of relief.
"When I get back, I'll ask my parents to find someone to pick a date."
"I don't want to make it too grand, just a family gathering together for a meal, and..." Song Yuntang looked at him and said seriously, "If you really have another girl you like in the future, I hope you won't hide it from me. Tell me openly, and I will withdraw gracefully and make room for your sweetheart."
Xu Qingye shook his head.
"There won't be anyone else."
Song Yuntang smiled, "Although I'm happy you said that, it's still a little early to say that now. A person's life is neither long nor short, and no one knows what kind of people they will meet in the future."
Xu Qingye smiled helplessly and shook his head, not arguing with her any more.
Now, it is indeed too early to say some things.
Only over time can one see a person’s true character.
The next moment, Jiang's voice came from the kitchen, "Tang'er, is your second brother back? The food is almost ready."
At the same time, there was a knock on the door, "Sister, I'm back."
Song Yuntang was about to stand up with a smile, but Xu Qingye held his arm.
"You take a rest, I'll go open the door."
The gate of the courtyard was open. The smile on Song Jinsheng's face suddenly froze when he saw Xu Qingye. He stretched his neck and looked into the courtyard.
"Where's Tang'er?"
"She's in the house." After Xu Qingye let the person in, he closed the gate again.
Song Jinsheng entered the yard and saw a strange figure busy in the kitchen, with a look of confusion in his eyes.
The next moment, Jiang turned around and smiled at Song Jinsheng, "Second brother Tang'er is back."
Song Jinsheng looked at Xu Qingye in confusion, and then he heard him explain in a calm voice, "My mother."
Although Song Jinsheng was a little surprised, he immediately greeted her with a smile, "Aunt, just call me Jinsheng. Why are you bothering me here today?"
"Tang'er is feeling a little unwell. It won't take much time to cook a meal. It will be the same if I cook. Jinsheng, go wait in the room. The meal will be ready soon."
Hearing that Song Yuntang was not feeling well, Song Jinsheng responded and hurried into the room.
"Tang'er, are you okay?"
Song Yuntang smiled and shook his head, "I'm fine, I just felt a little dizzy after being in the sun for too long, I just need to rest for a while."
Song Jinsheng frowned, feeling somewhat guilty, "I should have known not to let you go to the manor. It would be the same if I came back and carried the things over there."
"Although the village is not far away, it takes a lot of effort to carry things there. It's not as convenient as pulling them there by ox cart." Song Yuntang changed the subject, "Did your trip to the county town go smoothly this time, second brother?"
"Everything went well." He took off the purse from his waist and handed it to Song Yuntang, "Here is the four taels of silver for Furongju and the three taels and six cents of silver for Wan Qingsi to buy the pills. Please count them."
"If I can't trust Second Brother, then I can't trust others either." Song Yuntang smiled and took out five coins from his purse and gave them to Song Jinsheng, "Second Brother, take this and use it for yourself."
Seeing this, Song Jinsheng hurriedly stuffed the silver into Song Yuntang's hand.
"I don't want this. You bought me clothes and shoes. I've already spent enough money."
Song Yuntang stuffed the silver into his hand without saying anything, "Second brother, you are doing things for me now, how can you not have some silver on you? Besides, five cents of silver is not much, unless you don't want to help me anymore."
Song Jinsheng waved his hands quickly, "I don't have any."
"That's it, take it." Song Yuntang smiled, took the purse and put it away in his room.
Song Jinsheng had no choice but to put away the silver and went to the kitchen to help Jiang.
Soon, the food was on the table. Jiang cooked a pot of rice porridge for Song Yuntang and Song Jinsheng, and made a few pancakes with the freshly bought white flour, and stewed a pot of meatball soup.
Seeing this, Song Yuntang hurried to the kitchen and got two more bowls, and served a bowl of meatball soup to Jiang and Xu Qingye respectively.
"Aunt has been busy for so long, please eat with us, otherwise we will feel bad."
Song Jinsheng quickly responded, "Yes, auntie, you and Xu Qingye should both come to the table and have something to eat."
Jiang had no choice but to sit at the table happily, drink soup with them, and share half a white flour pancake with Xu Qingye, chewing it in her mouth.
"Tang'er, I have something to say. Auntie thought about it for a long time while she was busy in the kitchen just now. If it's not to your liking, please don't mind, okay?"
Song Yuntang slowed down his chewing.
"Aunt, please speak."
Jiang rested her forearms on the edge of the table.
"I thought that it's not easy for a woman like you to make a living outside. I like you very much, but we are not close enough yet. In order to avoid gossip, I don't want to get too close to you."
"Why don't you get married to our Qingye earlier? After you get married, you can live in Lushan Village or in the town. At least he can be with you and you can take care of each other. You just feel dizzy today. If something urgent happens someday, you will be helpless."
Xu Qingye put down his chopsticks and said, "Mom, I just said this, and she agreed."
Jiang was stunned and was unable to react for a moment.
"A... agreed?"
Xu Qingye nodded, "When we get home, Mom will ask someone to pick a date so we can get married as soon as possible."
Jiang was beaming with joy.
"Okay, let's get married. Now we're finally getting married."
Song Jinsheng stared at Song Yuntang in a daze, as if he wanted to know whether she did it voluntarily or was coerced.
Although he also thought it was better to get married early.
But she said there was no rush just two days ago, why did she suddenly change her mind?
Song Yuntang gave him a reassuring look and looked at Jiang, "Aunt, I just told Qingye that I don't want the wedding to be too grand, just a family dinner will do."
Jiang's expression froze, "Wouldn't that be unfair to you?"
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