Chapter 152 Father He is heartbroken; his daughter has been bribed with a small dagger!
The situation was achieved where only the eldest brother of the He family was injured throughout the entire gathering.
When Sister-in-law He saw that everyone else was only taking a small sip, but her husband was so drunk that he looked like a corpse, her face turned ashen.
She pinched He Xun's arms and inner thighs until they were bruised, but he didn't react at all.
Jiang Xingyao smelled strongly of alcohol, but the more he drank, the more sober he became.
The more lucid you are, the clearer the images of your childhood become.
On the rainy night my mother died, my younger sister had a high fever and stayed by my mother's cold body for four days.
He carried his sister on his back and finally begged at the door of a kind-hearted family. They casually rummaged through the house and found a packet of medicine, which they then boiled and gave the family a bowl of herbal soup.
My sister is better now, but she doesn't remember anything.
He was the one who took them in, and also their "father," Master Jiang.
He couldn't have children, so he took them in and asked them to change their surname to Jiang so that he could continue his family line.
He agreed.
My father was a schoolteacher who discovered his talent for reading.
His father made no progress in the imperial examinations, so he placed all his hopes on him.
This father wasn't perfect, but he raised the siblings.
His wish was to continue the family line and for his success in the imperial examinations to bring glory to his family.
Jiang Xingyao still remembers returning to his father's grave in Chuzhou before taking up his post in Ding County.
He did it; he came to report the good news.
Later, he was able to do a second thing.
He will always be surnamed Jiang, and his descendants will always be surnamed Jiang.
He Ran quietly climbed over the wall to the guest courtyard, intending to give Jiang Xingyao a surprise.
But I found that he seemed to be shrouded in deep sorrow.
He Ran sat on the top of the wall, "Jiang Xingyao."
Jiang Xingyao turned around, and the girl on the wall had clear and bright features.
It seemed that a smile could dispel the gloom in his heart.
He stepped forward and reached out his hand to her. "Come down."
He Ran immediately rushed towards him with a smile on her face.
Jiang Xingyao had no experience catching people and was tackled to the ground by He Ran.
It felt like her smashed my internal organs out!
"He Ran, don't you have martial arts skills...?"
He Ran lay on top of him and reached out to touch his brow.
"Look at your eyebrows, they're bent over with worry."
“It’s no big deal. When I first met you, I was Jiang Xingyao.”
"If you don't want to acknowledge it, then don't. It's that simple."
Jiang Xingyao looked up at the round moon in the sky from the top of her hair bun. "He Ran, how could you have fallen for me?"
"Whether I acknowledge it or not, there will inevitably be a lot of gossip surrounding me in the future."
"I don't care!"
He Ran rolled over and lay down on the ground next to him.
"What I, He Ran, value is the person."
"If I wanted a prestigious family, I could choose any of them in the capital!"
"Don't worry, I've never been afraid of anyone in my life!"
"What rumors haven't I heard since I was a child?"
Jiang Xingyao: "Uncle He did not respond to me today."
"But I can only stay for five days, as the river embankment project is not yet finished."
He Ran knew, of course. "It's alright, there are still five days left. I'll help you!"
Jiang Xingyao keeps his promises, which is why he took time out of his busy schedule to accept the invitation.
Otherwise, he would wait until the river channel is completed and come back next spring.
He Ran kept his word.
The next day, she stopped her mother and began to fawn over her, saying, "Mother, please say yes."
Madam He ignored her, saying, "Your father hasn't agreed yet."
She clung to Madam He and pleaded, "My father is even more irresponsible than me; he still does whatever you say!"
"Since you agreed, Father naturally agreed as well."
Having no other choice, He Ran turned to look for her older brother and sister-in-law.
As a result, everyone avoided her!
Everyone in the mansion was their informant.
Wherever she went, it was empty.
He Xun's arms and legs still hurt. "Back then, I had to go to his house twice to propose, and he must have had to do it three times!"
He Xuan watched as his younger sister repeatedly pounced on the air, jumping up and down in frustration.
"Be careful she doesn't hear you."
He Xun glared at him. "She found out because you snitched!"
"..."
Jiang Xingyao accompanied He Wenting, playing chess, discussing people's livelihood, and even discussing the battles of the previous dynasty.
They talk about everything, but never about marriage.
That's how marriage works.
She won't agree at once; she wants the man to know that marrying a wife isn't easy.
To make things difficult for the son-in-law, they would have to visit three or four times before agreeing.
But usually, they'll agree on the second visit.
Therefore, Jiang Xingyao was destined to fail this time.
He Ran was so angry that she cried.
Jiang Xingyao also learned about the local wedding customs from He Zhuo.
Therefore, it was right that he didn't prepare an expensive gift.
Offering excessively expensive gifts is seen as coercion, making it seem as if the woman's family is selling their daughter for money.
Only on the second or third visit will they formally agree to the marriage proposal.
Jiang Xingyao comforted her, "This is called 'keeping the daughter,' meaning it means you can't bear to part with your daughter."
"Don't cry, I'll come back next year when the river channel is completed."
He Ran used to find it amusing to watch his cousin make things difficult for her husband at their wedding.
Now that it's her turn, she realizes how annoying this ritual is.
Why drag it out for so long?
"What's the point of trying to keep the girl? You can't keep her anyway..."
"Cough cough!"
As soon as she said this, two coughs came from the city gate above.
Jiang Xingyao resisted the urge to look up. "If they really wanted to make things difficult for me, I wouldn't have seen you at all these past few days."
"Miss He's kung fu is quite impressive, but she sheds too many tears."
"Jiang Xingyao, you're asking for death!"
When He Ran saw him making fun of her, she immediately stopped crying and reached out to pinch the soft flesh on his waist.
"Aww!—"
Scholars are easy to bully.
Unlike her mother, and her two sisters-in-law, who only had the effect of beating people by carrying something.
She didn't know why, but she suddenly thought of this.
With tears still on her face, she burst out laughing again.
Jiang Xingyao rubbed the spot where he had been pinched.
On the city wall, those gazes almost burned him through.
He took two steps back and pulled a dagger from his sleeve.
“You don’t care for gold and jade jewelry, and I don’t know anything about weapons, so I asked Wei Xun to look at this dagger for me. Please don’t…”
He Ran took the dagger directly from his hand. "I like it!"
"Besides my father, you are the first person to give me a weapon."
“My mother bought me a bunch of clothes and jewelry, many of which I’ve never worn. I’ll give them all to my little sister!”
General He on the city gate felt a pang of heartache. "What good things hasn't she seen in our armory? She was just bought off by a tiny dagger!"
He Zhuo, standing at the very edge, shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"To strike a snake at its vital point, one must be a scholar."
Finally, He Xun, the eldest son of the He family, couldn't hold back any longer. "Lord Jiang, it's getting late. We should set off. The project His Majesty entrusted to us is more important."
He Ran looked up and glared at his older brother.
Jiang Xingyao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, Uncle and Aunt, and my three elder brothers and sisters-in-law."
Jiang Xingyao went back.
Only after his carriage had gone far away did another aged figure appear.
Aside from the first day, Meng Yushan did not appear for the next few days.
It seems that they are more comfortable with each other when he is not around.
"Wen Ting, we agreed that we wouldn't make things difficult for him next time."
He Wenting clasped his hands in a fist salute, "That's natural."
"There is one more thing I must remind Lord Meng to pay attention to."
"Yao Zhengliang is now a military commander in Yuzhou. The Prince of Yuzhou, Xiao Shu, is a man of deep cunning."
"We must be wary of King Cheng using Qinglian's daughter to target the Northwest Camp."
"Hmph." Meng Yushan snorted coldly, "Xiao Shu, those who manipulate power will be devoured by it."
“Once Jiang’er’s river embankment is repaired, he should be promoted from his position as a minor county magistrate. Once he leaves Yuzhou, he and his sister will be safe.”
He Wenting stepped aside. "Mr. Meng, this way please."
...
When Jiang Xingyao returned to Ding County, the weather had already turned cold.
Yao Shisan hired someone in the mansion to take measurements and make new clothes for everyone.
"Then I'm in luck, I have new clothes to wear."
"uncle!"
Fu'er ran the fastest.
"Brother, how is it?"
Everyone knew that Jiang Xingyao was there to propose marriage, and they all looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Jiang Xingyao shook his head without revealing his expression.
"Why..." Yao Shisan wanted to ask why, but then realized that he couldn't ask now.
"Where there is a will, there is a way; I will go again next spring."
Dan Niang glanced at Madam Yao, then at Lord Jiang, and said, "Madam Yao is right."
She was also worried; if she went to their house again after already rejecting the marriage proposal, would she be kicked out?
Jiang Xingyao then explained the customs of the border region.
He concealed the matter of Meng Yushan.
Everyone suddenly realized.
Yao Shisan breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile couldn't help but appear on his lips. "I told you, how could I refuse Scholar Jiang?"
"Are there any rules about going next spring? We'll prepare in advance."
This was the first time Dan Niang had ever heard of the rule of "keeping the girl".
"This rule is good, but it should be put in a good way to make things difficult for them."
Jiang Xingyao said, "Just like the first time, the engagement period and wedding date will only be discussed after the woman agrees."
"The He brothers said that the wedding might not take until the year after next."
Dan Niang opened her mouth in surprise, "So long?"
"Lord Jiang, it wasn't easy for you to marry this new bride."
Yao Shisan said, "Of course, they've raised their daughter for so many years, how could they just let her go out so easily?"
Looking at her daughter, who was still a little toddler, Dan Niang said, "Now that you mention it, I'm even more reluctant to let Xuan'er get married."
Shuang'er laughed at her, "Don't even mention that it's not even close to being a done deal, this little 'eight' hasn't even grown up yet."
Dan Niang looked at her and Wei Xun with a hint of mockery in her eyes, "Yes, my little Ba Zi hasn't grown up yet."
"When will Miss Shuang'er and Young Master Wei's birth charts be completed?"
Shuang'er is now so well-trained from her experiences that she's practically invulnerable to swords and spears; these words can't be used to make her blush.
She raised her chin and said, "What's the rush? We'll let you enjoy the wedding feast sometime."
She became increasingly bold, and Wei Xun almost choked on his own saliva.
Wei Xun became depressed.
When someone else's happy event is approaching, things become easier and easier.
Why is it getting harder and harder for him?!
Now Shuang'er's only focus is making money.
Yao Shisan didn't miss the expressions on their faces; one was nonchalant, and the other was full of frustration.
Now my brother's big problem is solved.
It's Shuang'er's turn now.
She had already prepared the dowry she had promised Shuang'er.
After nightfall, Yao Shisan called Shuang'er into his room to whisper to her.
"Shuang'er, has Wei Xun mentioned proposing marriage?"
"I did say that." Shuang'er sat by the brazier drying her hair.
"You said that?" Now it was Yao Shisan's turn to be surprised.
She always thought that the reason the two of them hadn't made any progress was because Wei Xun was still clueless.
Unexpectedly, the problem lay with Shuang'er.
Shuang'er turned to look at her sister and said, "I said there's no rush now."
"I can't sleep now whenever I think about how we are King Cheng's puppets!"
“I’ve already spoken with Ah Xun. I’ll consider other things once we’re free from King Cheng’s control.”
Yao Shisan: "...This doesn't conflict at all."
"No, I'll get distracted," Shuang'er refused.
"..."
Yao Shisan could only silently pray for Wei Xun in his heart...
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