Chapter 96
In his opinion, Gu Xinxin was very capable and intelligent. He didn't believe in the idea of her deceased mother giving her advice. He simply thought that after her serious illness, Gu Xinxin had finally realized that being weak all the time was not enough, so she became more tough. As for the snack business, couldn't it be her own intelligence and a sudden inspiration?
Some people in this world are uniquely gifted in certain areas. Some people are born with a sensitive tongue, able to identify the ingredients of something just by tasting it. Some people have a photographic memory, never forgetting what they've seen once. So, isn't it normal for Gu Xinxin to be gifted at cooking? She can figure out how to make something just by thinking about it, and can whip it up easily?
In Cheng Shansong's eyes, Gu Xinxin was definitely a very smart girl. Anyone who was talented in a certain area couldn't be stupid; at most, she wasn't paying much attention to other things and wasn't willing to pay attention.
Such a smart girl took the initiative to stand in front of him and ask him if he had an engagement - Cheng Shansong felt his heart burning.
His face flushed slightly, which was very different from his usual carefree and unrestrained self: "I do."
Gu Xinxin paused. She hadn’t even asked yet, or did she miss something?
Cheng Shansong pursed his lips and said, "I should have been the one asking about this. I'm sorry to have you asking. I'm not married. I have grandparents, biological parents, a younger brother, and a younger sister at home. I also have my eldest uncle and his family living with me. They have four children in total."
After a pause, Cheng Shansong continued, "I... myself... should be a fairly decent person. I don't like drinking or gambling. In my free time, I just like to read, climb mountains, and walk to beautiful places."
It’s just traveling, Gu Xinxin also likes it very much. From time to time, she goes to other places to experience different scenery, feel different customs and cultures, and experience different food tastes. For her, this is a kind of enjoyment.
"If we get married, can you promise not to take a concubine within ten years?" Gu Xinxin asked again. As a newlywed, she would definitely like to feel the support and help between husband and wife.
As for ten years from now... As the saying goes, the seven-year itch, by then she and Cheng Shansong might have grown tired of each other. If Cheng Shansong wanted to take a concubine, she would just treat it as a divorce and just consider him the father of her children, a partner, or something else. There was no need to insist that Cheng Shansong never take a concubine in this era.
There is a modern saying that she agrees with very much - in the end, what matters is conscience.
If the other party has a conscience, then they will naturally be loyal to each other. If they don't have a conscience, even if they swear now, they will still cheat in the future. If they are not allowed to take a concubine, they may keep a mistress or even go to a brothel from time to time. Isn't it said that a man can cheat once every ten minutes?
She couldn't put a surveillance camera on him.
So, she only wanted ten years. During these ten years, as long as he was innocent, she would be able to accept it.
Cheng Shansong's face flushed red, and he nodded quickly. The idea of taking a concubine... to be honest, he had never thought about it before. His father had always taken care of his mother his whole life. Even when his uncle made money from running a shop, he always took care of his aunt.
People in rural towns might prefer to live a simpler life. But even in rural towns, there are families that take concubines. Shopkeeper Qian has a concubine.
Besides, people have so much energy. They have to give it to their wives, children, study for the imperial examinations, and keep a concubine and a canary. Where does all that energy come from? They have to neglect one of these things in order to allocate the extra energy.
Which one should he neglect to support his concubine?
"I promise that if I marry you, I will never take a concubine within ten years." Cheng Shansong raised his finger and swore. He did not say that he agreed to Gu Xinxin's request, but that he made a promise.
Gu Xinxin's smile was even brighter now: "So, is this a deal?"
Cheng Shansong nodded quickly: "Then it's settled. You don't have to worry about the rest. I'll go back and ask my parents to find a matchmaker."
In addition, he wanted to say that before Gu Xinxin married him, he would find a way to divide the family and prevent her from being entangled by her uncle's family. But thinking about it, the matter had not yet been completed, so it was difficult to make such a promise for the time being. What if it was not completed by then?
So he swallowed his words again.
At this moment, he couldn't think of anything else. His mind was only filled with the thought of getting married. He looked at Xinxin with a silly smile, feeling that he could no longer contain the excitement in his heart. Those emotions were like bubbles with wings, bubbling out.
Gu Xinxin pursed her lips, turned around and left.
What does it look like to be standing at the gate of the provincial school, smiling at each other like this?
Cheng Shansong hurriedly caught up, and Gu Xinxin turned around: "Have you finished school?" If he followed like this, there would be no classes in the afternoon?
Cheng Shansong suddenly realized what was going on and said hurriedly, "Please wait for a moment. I'll ask someone to help me ask for leave. I'll take you shopping later."
Without waiting for Gu Xinxin's answer, he hurriedly turned around and went back to the college, and grabbed a classmate to help him ask for leave.
Then, he took Gu Xinxin to the street and said, "I've seen classmates buy gifts for their fiancées before. Although we... you've already taken the initiative. If I don't show any appreciation, I'll feel guilty. So, don't refuse later. Just ask for anything you like."
Gu Xinxin thought she was just buying some rouge and powder. Although she didn't like wearing makeup, it was not that she couldn't put it on.
But unexpectedly, Cheng Shansong took her directly to the Jinlou.
The shopkeeper brought out several trays of gold bracelets wrapped in silk, gold bell earrings, flower-shaped gold necklaces, and gold hairpins and placed them on the counter. Cheng Shansong wanted to hold Gu Xinxin's hand, but felt it was too presumptuous, so he just urged her from the side: "Try it on first. If it doesn't fit or you don't like it, we can change it."
The shopkeeper had seen more people and could tell their relationship - they were not as close as siblings, but the hairstyle showed that they were not married, so did they just get engaged?
He smiled and said, "Here, it's popular to give gold jewelry to men and women when they get married. Girl, your fiancé is so sincere. You are a blessed person."
Gu Xinxin pursed her lips and smiled, looking at Cheng Shansong. Cheng Shansong felt a little embarrassed and reached out to pinch the gold bracelet: "Isn't it too thin? Change to a thicker pair?"
Gu Xinxin quickly waved her hand: "No, at my age, I can't afford something too heavy. Something delicate like this is fine."
This was the truth. She had only seen that kind of wide gold bracelet on older women.
She picked up the bracelet and put it on her wrist. The bracelet had a ring to indicate the size. Of course, if you were buying a live bracelet, you wouldn't have to consider this, but now the shopkeeper had to give her a ring, so she could only try it on first to see if it fit.
It was also good luck, or perhaps it was that she had a moderate figure, and the shopkeeper had a sharp eye and spotted her at once, so this first one was very suitable.
Gu Xinxin didn't like the bells on the earrings, so the shopkeeper recommended the orchid-shaped ones. There were two small orchids hanging on a gold chain, the upper one was slightly smaller and the lower one was slightly larger. The workmanship was very delicate.
Including the necklace and hairpin, there are four items in total, costing more than three hundred taels of silver.
Cheng Shansong immediately took out the money without hesitation.
After leaving the Golden Building, Gu Xinxin couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid that I'm lying?"
Cheng Shansong couldn't help but laugh: "How could a liar be so generous as to give me 10% of the fish restaurant's profits first?"
Besides, he knew where the Gu family lived. Even if he couldn’t find Gu Xinxin, didn’t he still have Gu Xiangrong?
Moreover, he believed that Gu Xinxin was not a liar. Although they had not met many times and had even fewer opportunities to get along, he just knew that Gu Xinxin was a very straightforward, smart and generous girl.
Gu Xinxin raised her eyebrows: "Okay, but just be generous to me, don't be so generous to other girls."
Cheng Shansong quickly said, "There are no other girls except my mother and my sister."
Saying this seemed like flirting, and both of them felt a little uncomfortable.
Gu Xinxin changed the subject: "You are studying at the provincial school, how often do you come back to town?"
Cheng Shansong smiled and said, "If there's nothing important, I'll go back once a month and be back at the end of the month. If there's something important, I can just ask for leave. I've learned almost everything now, so when I'm not at the academy, I can read some books and do some writing at home."
There is no need to stay in the college. If you have any questions about your studies, you can ask the teacher when you return to the college.
Gu Xinxin asked again: "When do you plan to take the imperial examination?"
"Next year in the autumn, I must take part in the provincial examination." The provincial examination is for Juren, and is also held in various prefectures. If you pass the Juren examination, you should go to the capital to take part in the spring examination. This step is from Juren to Jinshi.
After passing the Jinshi examination, it is time to take the Palace Examination, which is the exam to determine the ranking.
Gu Xinxin nodded and said to Gu Xiangrong: "I can also take part in the county examination next year." The county examination is to test the candidates for the title of Tongsheng.
Cheng Shansong asked, "Are you sure?"
Gu Xinxin shook her head. "Anyway, I don't expect him to pass the imperial examination three times in a row. If he fails today, he can try again next time. If he fails the next time, he can try again. If he fails three times, then it means he has no chance of passing the imperial examination. He can just follow me and make a living in the future."
Since he has no talent, there is no need to waste time anymore. It is impossible for her to spend her entire life paying for Gu Xiangrong to study for the imperial examinations, and then pass the exam to become a tongsheng or xiucai when her hair is old.
The two chatted until they reached the door of the inn. Cheng Shansong then asked hurriedly, "Do you have anything else to do in the city? I'm thinking of going back to town early tomorrow morning. If you want to go back too, we can go together."
He needs to go back and ask for leave today. In addition, he also needs to think about how to settle the matter of dividing the family business.
Gu Xinxin shook her head: "Nothing else, let's meet at the entrance of the academy at four o'clock tomorrow morning?"
Without waiting for Cheng Shansong to say anything, Gu Xinxin waved her hand and said, "We have a mule cart, which is faster than yours. If you come to find us, you have to walk through the academy, which is even more troublesome."
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