Chapter 82 Everything will be given to you if I come to your door.
"So, during the river cruise a few days ago, it was you who proposed first?" Xue Han, holding a freshly baked lotus-shaped pastry, stared wide-eyed, forgetting even to put the pastry in her mouth. Seriously, this pastry couldn't compare to the sweet melon before her!
Yu Man was busy organizing the newly delivered account books when he replied, "Yes."
Xue Han gasped, her face instantly showing a mixture of shock and delight: "Finally! This is truly a case of lovers finally getting married! Congratulations! When are you getting married? I need to hurry and embroider something nice for you!"
Yu Man was both amused and exasperated by her exaggerated reaction: "Aren't you going to ask... what his reaction was at the time?"
Xue Han clicked her tongue, sat back down, picked up the lotus-shaped pastry again, took a bite, and said vaguely with an expression that said, "Is this even a question? Even a blind man could see what Lord Pei was thinking. He's probably been dreaming of this day!"
Yu Man blushed even more and nodded somewhat guiltily. She herself hadn't expected that after all that mental preparation, she would be unable to restrain herself at the last moment and make such a direct move.
After asking the question, she patiently waited for two blinks—during those brief yet seemingly endless seconds, Pei Ji simply gazed at her quietly, his eyes deep and turbulent, as if he had a thousand words to say. If it weren't for the almost imperceptible trembling of his body hanging by his side, she would have almost thought she had been too forward, or… misunderstood.
Fortunately, he finally spoke. His voice was somewhat low and hoarse, yet unusually steady, carrying a solemn sense of relief:
"good."
He paused, then clearly added four words:
"I couldn't have gotten it."
Thinking about it, Yu Man straightened her back a little more, raised her chin slightly, and gave Xue Han a slightly smug smile, adding, "That's true."
Xue Han was amused by her cute appearance.
Just then, Shan Chun lifted the curtain and came in from the outer room, saying to Yu Man, "Madam, someone has come to visit."
Home? Yu Man didn't react for a moment. Besides these few people, who else was in her home in Beijing?
Before she could think it through, a clear and excited child's voice came from outside:
"Sister—!"
It's Xiuxiu!
Yu Man jumped up and almost ran out to greet her. Just as she stepped out of the door, a small figure wearing a brand-new red jacket and with her hair in two buns rushed straight into her arms, causing her to lean back slightly. Fortunately, she turned to the side and didn't hit her left shoulder.
"Xiuxiu!" She looked up and saw that in the courtyard, Yu's father and Deng Sanniang were smiling at her. Yu's father was holding Er'an, who was wrapped up tightly and was looking around curiously with his big, dark eyes.
"Dad! Mom!" Yu Man released Xiu Xiu, quickly stepped forward, and asked with surprise, "Why did you come? Was the journey smooth? Are you tired?" As she asked, she couldn't help but reach out to tease Er'an in her father's arms. The little guy seemed to remember her, and grinned at her with his toothless little mouth.
Looking at his daughter, who was noticeably thinner but had bright eyes and seemed quite energetic, Mr. Yu was filled with mixed emotions. He pointed to Gu Qiu beside him before saying, "It was Erlang who sent people to pick us up. He said you... you have something to discuss." His tone was somewhat complicated, but seeing the genuine joy on his daughter's face, the subtle emotions he felt from being "picked up without his consent by his future son-in-law" faded considerably.
Yu Man then noticed Gu Qiu standing quietly in the corner and quickly thanked her sincerely, "Thank you for your hard work on the journey!"
Gu Qiu clasped his hands in return, saying, "You're too kind, Madam Yu. It's my duty." After saying that, he quietly withdrew to arrange other matters.
Xue Han was also very perceptive. She smiled and stepped forward to greet Deng San Niang. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she excused herself to go see the letter that Deng San Niang had brought from her mother and left the room to the family.
With outsiders around, some things become easier to discuss.
Father Yu put Er'an down, letting him stand by holding onto the stool legs. He cleared his throat and spoke first: "Aman, Pei Ji sent someone to Dongqing County a few days ago. He was very polite, saying... saying he wants to ask for your hand in marriage and requesting that we come to the capital to discuss the wedding." He glanced at his daughter, his tone carrying a hint of relief, but also a touch of bitterness he himself didn't realize. "This time... you've become sensible, knowing to let your elders handle it." He clearly assumed that Pei Ji had formally proposed the marriage according to custom.
Yu Man guiltily touched her nose, too embarrassed to admit that she was the one who had "forced" the marriage first, and only gave a vague answer. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "Then... what about Uncle Pei and Aunt Liu? Did they come too?"
Deng Sanniang replied with a smile, "They've come together. Pei Ji said that Xilaiju is your place, so it's considered your maternal home. It's inconvenient for you to stay here, so he arranged for them to stay in another clean house not far from here. We'll come to visit formally tomorrow."
Yu Man felt comforted; Pei Ji was indeed very thoughtful. She quickly said, "Father, Mother, you must be tired from your journey. Please come in and rest. The house is clean; please settle in comfortably."
As evening fell, Pei Ji returned from his shift. He clearly knew that Yu's parents had arrived, and went straight to see Yu Man.
"Have you made all the arrangements?" Yu Man led him to a quiet spot in the courtyard and asked in a low voice.
“Hmm.” Pei Ji nodded, his gaze lingering on her face. “My parents have settled in a house at the other end of Yulin Lane. This Xilaiju is yours, so it’s naturally considered your maternal home. According to custom, we will stay separately for the next few days. Tomorrow, after I finish my shift, I will come with my parents to formally visit Uncle Yu and Aunt Deng.”
He had considered everything so thoroughly that Yu Man nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Pei Ji took another step closer. As night fell, the lanterns under the eaves were not yet lit, and his face appeared somewhat blurred in the twilight, only his eyes shone brightly. He said in a low voice, "Xiaoman, marriage is not a child's play. I will give you all the proper etiquette, including the formal betrothal and marriage ceremony."
He paused, then his tone returned to normal: "Did you take your medicine on time? Does your shoulder still hurt today?"
Yu Man then realized that his pause that day was probably because he was thinking about these things, and obediently replied, "I drank it, it doesn't hurt anymore, I feel much better."
Pei Ji seemed relieved at this moment, and after giving her another deep look, he turned and left.
Behind the half-open window of the main room, Yu's father had been peeking through the crack. Seeing that Pei Ji was well-behaved, left immediately after speaking without lingering, he withdrew his gaze, a satisfied look on his face, and said in a low voice, "He is quite polite."
Deng Sanniang, who was making the bed nearby, smiled and said, "Erlang is a thoughtful and considerate child, so he naturally knows how to behave."
Yu's father grunted twice and said nothing more. He knew perfectly well that before their arrival, the two young people had most likely been living in the same house. But since their elders had arrived, Pei Ji immediately took the initiative to separate them, demonstrating his respect for etiquette and his concern for his daughter's reputation.
Although the thought of his daughter getting married soon made him feel a pang of sadness, seeing how attentive and reliable his future son-in-law was, he couldn't help but secretly smile.
Sure enough, the following evening, Pei Ji arrived on time with his parents for a formal visit. The two families were already acquainted, so this meeting was less about formalities and more relaxed. The conversation naturally turned to the specific procedures for the marriage proposal and the betrothal gifts.
Just as Pei's father was about to say, "I have some old acquaintances in the capital who can help find a respectable matchmaker," Pei Ji calmly interrupted him before he could finish speaking:
"I have already arranged the matchmaker."
Pei's father swallowed back the words he was about to say, his face turning ugly for a moment, but Pei's mother secretly tugged at him, and he simply buried his head in drinking tea.
Seeing this, everyone skipped over the topic and started discussing the auspicious wedding date, the style of the wedding attire, and the arrangements for the banquet. Since they were unfamiliar with the customs of the capital, they simply agreed to visit famous silk shops and restaurants together in a couple of days.
Speaking of customs, Yu Man suddenly remembered something—the celebratory noodles. She subconsciously looked up and gazed at Pei Ji.
Pei Ji was listening intently to the elders' conversation. As if sensing something, he turned his gaze almost the instant she looked at him, meeting her eyes.
Their eyes met briefly in mid-air.
As night deepened and the guests and hosts had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, Pei Ji accompanied his parents to take their leave. Yu Man saw him to the door and watched him help Pei's mother away.
She went back to her room and chatted with her parents for a while, and then played with Er'an, who was already drowsy, until Deng San Niang urged her to go back and rest. Only then did she get up and go back to her own room.
She pushed open the door; the room was dark, with only the dim moonlight filtering through the window. Just as she was about to fumble for a tinderbox, she suddenly saw a figure standing by the window!
Yu Man was startled and almost cried out. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Pei Ji who had returned!
"You... how are you here?" she asked in a low voice, both surprised and suspicious. "Didn't you take Uncle Pei and the others back?" And how did he get in? The door was clearly locked!
Pei Ji walked up to her and said in a soft voice, "You glanced at me."
Yu Manyi was taken aback: "...Yes." She was thinking about the celebratory noodles at the time.
"I miss you too." Pei Ji said, then suddenly reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently pulling her towards him. He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Having been apart for so long, neither of them could resist this time. As they separated, Yu Man was still catching her breath when she remembered the crucial question: "How did you get in?"
Pei Ji chuckled softly, "Climb over the wall."
"..." Yu Man pulled away from his embrace a little, looked up at him and glared at him, deliberately saying, "Climbing over walls is not the act of a gentleman."
Pei Ji lowered his head and gently pressed his forehead against hers, his tone frank, even a little roguish: "Yes, I am not a gentleman."
Yu Man's heart skipped a beat. Looking at his handsome face so close to hers and the undisguised possessiveness in his eyes, she thought: Well, this guy isn't even pretending anymore.
Pei Ji, however, had already taken her hand and led her out with practiced ease: "Come on."
"Where to?" Yu Man asked, puzzled.
Pei Ji didn't answer, but instead led her silently to the small kitchen. The kitchen was spotless, and the stove was empty. Pei Ji released her, walked to the work surface, and removed the white gauze covering it—underneath was a lump of dough that had risen smoothly and softly!
Yu Man's eyes widened in surprise.
Pei Ji rolled up his sleeves, carefully washed his hands, and then stood in front of the kneading board to begin kneading the dough. His movements weren't particularly skillful, but they were steady and powerful, kneading the dough until it became more pliable.
"Sit down and wait a while," he said to Yu Man, who was standing there dumbfounded, without turning his head.
Yu Man's suspicions gradually became clearer, and her heart began to race. She moved a small stool and sat down not far away, watching him.
Pei Ji kneaded the dough for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then rolled it into a long strip and began to stretch it. His technique was clearly something he had specially learned; although not as fluid as Hu Yu's, it was still quite skillful, stretching the thick noodles into even, thin strands.
Once the noodles had taken shape, he boiled a small pot of water and added the noodles. While waiting for the water to boil, he prepared a separate small pot with a base of clear chicken broth and seasoned it simply.
Cook the noodles until done, drain them, and place them in a seasoned clear broth. Sprinkle with chopped green onions. A simple yet steaming bowl of clear broth noodles is ready.
Pei Ji placed the noodles on the small table in front of Yu Man, handed her chopsticks, and then sat down opposite her, looking at her calmly.
Yu Man looked at the bowl of noodles in front of her. The broth was clear, the noodles were thin, white, and long, and the scallions were bright green. She picked up her chopsticks, picked up a few noodles, blew on them, and put them in her mouth. The noodles were chewy and smooth, and the broth was delicious and sweet. Although it was the simplest seasoning, it brought out the aroma of the flour itself just right.
"It's delicious." She looked up at Pei Ji, her eyes sparkling. "When did you learn that?"
Pei Ji looked at her, his eyes softening: "A few days ago, I took some time to consult Granny Hu." He paused, "She said that wedding noodles are for good luck and to show your appreciation; clear broth is fine, as it symbolizes a clean and honest life ahead, and a long and prosperous future."
Yu Man thought to herself: Then I won't hold it against him for asking about her learning how to make wedding noodles from Granny Hu.
She lowered her head and slowly and carefully finished the entire bowl of noodles, even drinking the soup clean.
However, Yu Man did not expect that the formal marriage proposal day would come so soon.
Two days later, on the sixth day of the seventh lunar month, the almanac stated that it was "auspicious for marriage, betrothal, and engagement."
On this day, the alley where Xilaiju is located was almost completely packed with neighbors and passersby who came to watch the excitement.
There was no other reason than that the matchmaker who came to propose marriage was of such an illustrious status—it was none other than the current Grand Secretary, Prime Minister Zheng, who was deeply trusted by the young emperor! Prime Minister Zheng was not wearing his official robes today, but rather a dignified dark purple robe with auspicious patterns. Holding a bright yellow scroll, with a gentle expression, he personally knocked on the door of Xilaiju, surrounded by several equally well-dressed subordinates and entourage.
The marriage proposal procession was grand and impressive, stretching for almost half a street. The gift chests were all tied with red silk, and when opened, their dazzling jewels were almost blinding: a complete set of headdresses inlaid with pigeon-blood rubies in pure gold; a necklace strung with pearls from the South China Sea; a pair of auspicious jade pendants carved from mutton-fat white jade; twelve sets of brocade robes for each season from the finest embroidery workshops in Jiangnan… a dazzling array of exquisite pieces, each unique and refined. But the most eye-catching of all were the two live geese, adorned with large red silk flowers, their plumage vibrant, their expressions proud, and they were respectfully presented at the very front.
The news spread instantly. This recently popular third-place scholar, who was rumored to be a potential prince consort, was not formally proposing to marry a woman from a noble family, but rather a commoner from Dongqing County, Laizhou—the eldest daughter of the Yu family, Yu Man.
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