Chapter 554, Farewell
Yan Wentao ran all the way, his forehead covered with sweat. After calming his breath a little, he walked over to greet the elders, and finally his eyes fell on Mrs. Zhou.
Aunt Zhou
Mrs. Zhou was worried that Yan Wentao might say something inappropriate, so she quickly interrupted him: "You are such a naive child! Even if your elder brother was going to the capital, you wouldn't have to rush here. Even if you didn't come, your elder brother wouldn't blame you."
Mrs. Li looked at her nephew's anxious face and glanced at Daohua, knowing that this girl must have told Wentao about Jingwan's trip to Beijing to propose marriage.
However, Mrs. Zhou's attitude was already very clear, and it would be tactless for their family to continue to pester her.
Mrs. Li was also afraid that Yan Wentao would say something that would embarrass the two families, so she immediately said with a smile, "Your eldest brother has already boarded the ship. You should go and say goodbye to him."
Yan Wentao looked at Madam Li with pleading eyes: "Auntie"
Seeing the tall and strong young man showing such a helpless side, Mrs. Li felt very sorry and couldn't help but look up at Mrs. Zhou. Unfortunately, Mrs. Zhou saw Mrs. Li's gaze and immediately turned her head away.
Seeing this, Madam Li felt helpless. She knew that the marriage with the Zhou family was impossible. She could only harden her heart and said, "Wentao, your eldest brother just mentioned you. Come with your aunt to meet him."
As he said this, he tried to pull Yan Wentao away, but he failed.
There was a flicker of struggle in Yan Wentao's eyes, and his gaze kept looking at the Zhou family's ship. He had just returned from outside with Ye Yang and Wen Kai today. As soon as he came back, the secret guard gave him the letter sent by Daohua.
When he saw Jingwan was going to Beijing to propose marriage, his heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife.
He saw his aunt's embarrassment and helplessness, and he also felt Mrs. Zhou's evasive attitude. Daohua knew that he liked Jingwan, and based on his understanding of her, he knew that Jingwan would definitely help him if she wanted to get married.
Obviously, the aunt should have told Mrs. Zhou about it, but unfortunately, Mrs. Zhou disagreed.
He knew that he was not worthy of Jingwan, but he just didn't want to give up.
Everyone noticed that Yan Wentao was acting strangely, and Yan Zhiyuan and Mrs. Wu looked at their son anxiously.
Mrs. Zhou was worried that Yan Wentao would act impulsively, so she forced a smile and said, "It's getting late. Since Wentao is here to say goodbye to Wenxiu, then go quickly. It's time for me to get on the boat."
Just as she was about to turn around, she heard Yan Wentao say, "Aunt Zhou, I'm late because I was out on errand."
Madam Zhou took a deep breath and said with a stiff smile, "I know you are capable. Now that your eldest brother is engaged, I will find you a good match when I return from the capital."
Yan Wentao interrupted Mrs. Zhou anxiously: "Aunt Zhou, I'm not good enough now, but please believe me, I will definitely work hard."
Mrs. Zhou could no longer maintain the smile on her face: "I believe you, otherwise I wouldn't introduce you to girls from other families." Seeing that Yan Wentao wanted to say something, Mrs. Zhou raised her hand to stop him.
"Wentao, it's really getting late. Your elder brother has to go to Beijing to propose marriage. Go and say goodbye to him. I'll get on the boat first." After saying that, he walked towards the Zhou family's boat without hesitation without even looking at the Zhou family members.
Yan Wentao instinctively took a step forward. When he was about to take the second step, Yan Wenxiu, who had received the news and got off the Yan family boat, pulled him back in time.
"Third brother, I haven't seen you for a while. Let's go talk aside for a while." As he said that, he forcibly pulled Yan Wentao away without saying anything.
Looking at this scene, the Yan family and the Zhou family seemed to understand something.
Zhou Chengye rubbed his forehead with a headache. Wentao liked his sister? He didn't even notice it!
When did it start?
Zhou Chengye thought about it carefully and was surprised to find that his sister seemed to like sticking to Wentao since she was a child, and Wentao also gave his sister gifts every now and then.
Lychees and strawberries, things that even his grandfather couldn't get, Wentao could get for Jingwan.
Every time his sister called him "Brother Yan San, Brother Yan San", he just thought they had a good relationship.
Zhou Chengye couldn't help but slap his head. Wentao was so reserved that he didn't think about it in any other way.
If he had known it earlier, it wouldn't have become like this now, with everyone knowing about it.
Zhou Chengye glanced at his embarrassed and uncomfortable father and Uncle Yan, and thought to himself that this was a bad decision.
Seeing her third brother staring at the Zhou family boat with red eyes, trying to suppress his emotions, Daohua endured it for a while, but finally shouted at the Zhou family boat, "Jingwan, aren't you going to buy me a pearl hairpin? I've decided on one. I want one inlaid with sapphires and with pearl pendants, preferably in the shape of a flower."
In the cabin, Zhou Jingwan, who was making tea, heard this and quickly said, "Grandfather, I'm going to go out and take a look. I promised to bring Yiyi the pearl hairpin when I come back, so I can't bring the wrong one."
After saying that, he put down the tea set and ran out.
The maid beside Madam Zhou wanted to stop her, but Old Master Zhou looked at her and she immediately lowered her head and remained motionless.
As soon as Zhou Jingwan ran out of the cabin, she met Mrs. Zhou who had just boarded the ship.
Mrs. Zhou wanted to ask her daughter to come into the cabin, but unfortunately, Zhou Jingwan had already run to the deck: "Yiyi, tell me again, what do you want?"
As soon as he finished shouting, he saw Yan Wentao on the shore. His eyes suddenly lit up and he was about to run under the boat.
Mrs. Zhou saw this and quickly pulled the man back: "The boat is about to sail, what are you doing?"
Zhou Jingwan: "Brother Yan San is here, I'm going to say goodbye to him."
Madam Zhou's face darkened. She used her body to block her daughter's way and frowned, "What are you talking about? How can a girl say goodbye to a man outside her family in public? Do you still care about your reputation?"
Zhou Jingwan frowned, looking a little disapproving: "Mom, our family and the Yan family are good friends, so how come Third Brother Yan is a stranger?"
Mrs. Zhou felt a severe headache and gritted her teeth, "Anyway, you are not allowed to go down, and you are not allowed to yell without rules. Now go back to the cabin."
Zhou Jingwan hummed to express her dissatisfaction. Seeing that Madam Zhou was unmoved, she took a step back and said, "Mother, I won't get off the boat. I'll just stand on the deck and talk to Yan San." Seeing Madam Zhou's cold eyes, she immediately changed her words and said, "I'll just ask Yiyi what kind of pearl hairpin she wants."
Without waiting for Mrs. Zhou to speak, Zhou Jingwan immediately walked to the edge of the deck, holding the boat's railing and looking at the shore.
When Zhou Jingwan came out of the cabin, Yan Wentao quickly walked to the front of the Zhou family's boat.
Daohua and Yan Wenxiu both followed. With two people accompanying them, at least to outsiders, they would only think that Zhou Jingwan was saying goodbye to the three of them, and no bad gossip would spread.
Zhou Jingwan said to Daohua, "Yiyi, don't worry. I will bring you the pearl hairpin. It will probably take three or four months, and then I will be back."
He was talking to Daohua, but his eyes were always on Yan Wentao.
Daohua glanced at her third brother, who was biting his lip, and replied, "We'll wait for you."
Zhou Jingwan smiled and said, "If you have anything delicious, please save it for me. I'll come back to eat it."
Hearing this, Yan Wentao's fists hanging at his sides began to tremble because they were clenched too tightly. He really wanted to say a few words to Jingwan, but he was afraid that once he opened his mouth, he would not be able to help but say what was in his heart.
He couldn't destroy the friendship between the Yan and Zhou families that had built up over the years just for his own sake.
Mrs. Zhou didn't want to cause any trouble, so she immediately ordered someone to set sail.
Seeing the boat leave, Zhou Jingwan immediately waved to the three people on the shore: "Wait for me to come back."
Daohua raised her hand and responded, "Jingwan, you must come back."
Beside him, Yan Wenxiu looked at his third brother with some regret, reached out and patted his shoulder: "Some things don't have to be possessed, bless them."
Yan Wentao looked up at Yan Wenxiu bewilderedly: "Blessings?"
Yan Wenxiu nodded: "Yes, as long as Sister Zhou is doing well, you will be happy, right?"
Looking at the Zhou family's boat gradually going away, Yan Wentao smiled bitterly: "Yes, as long as Jingwan is fine, it doesn't matter what happens to me."
"Wen Xiu, hurry up and get on board. If you're too late, you won't be able to catch up with the Zhou family's boat."
Yan Zhiyuan suddenly walked over.
Yan Wenxiu looked at his third uncle, nodded, patted Yan Wentao on the shoulder again, and turned to board the Yan family's boat.
The two boats sailed away one after the other.
Seeing this, the Zhou family and the Yan family breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as the matter does not get out of hand, everyone can tacitly pretend that it never happened.
Just as Yan Wentao was gazing at the departing ship with sadness in his eyes, on the Zhou family boat, Zhou Jingwan, who knew nothing about it, was in a good mood making tea because she saw Yan Wentao before leaving.
Old Master Zhou noticed his granddaughter's mood changes, and when he thought of what the steward had just reported to him, his brows slightly frowned.
After the tea was ready, Old Master Zhou asked Zhou Jingwan to go back to her room to rest, but he left Madam Zhou behind.
"What's going on with that kid Wentao?"
Mrs. Zhou was silent for a moment, but finally spoke the truth: "That kid is a toad dreaming of eating swan flesh, and he's targeting our Jingwan."
Old Master Zhou frowned, feeling slightly unhappy: "Do Mr. and Mrs. Yan Zhigao know about this?"
Mrs. Zhou immediately told what Mrs. Li had asked about her eldest son's marriage.
Old Master Zhou said, "The Yan family is also very polite and sensible. We disagree. If we explain things to them clearly, I don't think they will bother us. You are going a bit too far."
Madam Zhou defended herself, "My daughter-in-law didn't want to do this either. It just happened to coincide with our arrival in Beijing. You know Jingwan's temper. If she knew we were coming to Beijing to arrange a marriage for her, she would definitely make a scene."
Hearing this, Old Master Zhou immediately raised his eyes to look at the eldest son's wife: "Jingwan, are you interested in Wentao too?"
Madam Zhou nodded gloomily. "Father, what's the big deal? Yes, the boys from the Yan family grew up with Jingwan and are close to her. Plus, they're all good-looking, which makes it easy for a girl to be attracted to them. But the young masters of the Dong and Su families are obviously much better than the Yan brothers. How could that silly girl Jingwan fall for Yan Wentao, who has the worst conditions?"
Old Master Zhou was not happy with what the eldest daughter-in-law said: "Don't underestimate the Yan brothers. They are just kids whose family backgrounds are not as good as the Dong and Su families. If we just talk about their personalities, it's not certain who is better or worse."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed.
"Did you know that Old Master Su has betrothed the third daughter of the Su family to Yan Wenkai?"
Madam Zhou was stunned for a moment, then said in surprise, "How could that be? What is Old Master Su thinking? With Shiyu's appearance and character, she's more than qualified to marry into a noble family and become a clan wife."
Old Master Zhou said quietly, "Why else? I value Yan Wenkai."
Mrs. Zhou was silent for a moment: "There is still a difference between Wentao and Wenkai. If Wenkai asked to marry Jingwan, my daughter-in-law would consider it, but Wentao..."
Old Master Zhou didn't mean to blame the eldest son's wife. Even if it was him, he would not agree to marry Jingwan to Yan Wentao.
"Okay, go see Jingwan. When the time is right, tell her the purpose of our trip to the capital so she can be mentally prepared."
He was very optimistic about the marriage that the second brother suggested to Jingwan and hoped that it would go smoothly.
(End of this chapter)
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