When hitting someone, don't hit the face 1 . When exposing someone, don't expose their shortcomings 2 . Madam An felt that Yuxi had...
When hitting someone, don't hit the face1. When exposing someone, don't expose their shortcomings2. Madam An felt that Yuxi had gone too far. She stood up and said, "Madam Yun, there are matters at home that need my attention, so I won't trouble you any further."
Yuxi was not angry. She merely looked at Ling Ruoyun and said, "Miss Ling, I only wish to know your thoughts. I have no other intentions." She did not look down on Ling Ruoyun. After all, no one could choose their own parents, and the actions of parents should not implicate their children. However, Yuxi needed to know Ling Ruoyun's attitude towards the Zhen family.
Ling Ruoyun was very clever and immediately understood Yuxi's meaning. She replied, "The moment that woman abandoned us and left the Ling family, she was already dead to my younger brother and me."
Yuxi asked, "If she were to come begging at your door, would you help her or not?" Xu Wu's status was special—who knew whether Zhen Shi might one day need assistance? Of course, even if this marriage were truly to go through, and Ling Ruoyun agreed to help her mother, Xu Wu might not. Nevertheless, Yuxi wanted to eliminate that possibility altogether.
Ling Ruoyun smiled faintly before answering, "My father is dead. There are only my younger brother and I left in our family." Even if that woman knelt and begged, Ling Ruoyun would not pay her any attention.
Yuxi was very satisfied with Ling Ruoyun's answer. "What is your younger brother doing now?" Clearly, Master Ling still hoped that his son would enter officialdom through the imperial examinations.
Relieved, Ling Ruoyun replied, "He is learning how to manage the family's assets." The Ling family owned two shops and two hundred mu3 of fertile farmland. Without An Zike's support, how could the siblings have kept hold of this property?
After they had talked for a while, Gancao walked in and handed Yuxi a letter with both hands. "Madam, a letter from the General." The letter had been sent by Xu Wu.
Yuxi accepted the letter and said, "Tell Xu Wu to see Madam An and Miss Ling out." Yuxi liked a girl with such a resolute temperament very much. Aside from having a cold-hearted mother, Ling Ruoyun met all of Xu Wu's requirements.
Momo Quan carried Liu-er into the room and commented, "This Miss Ling is quite pretty. Xu Wu will surely take a liking to her."
Yuxi smiled. "Momo, it's too early to say that. Xu Wu isn't the type who values mere looks." It was true that Ling Ruoyun was beautiful, but Xu Wu might not necessarily like her. He was someone who cared more about practical matters, such as managing a household and bearing children.
Momo Quan laughed. What man didn't love a beautiful woman? "If Xu Wu doesn't choose Miss Ling, then settle on Miss Sun instead!" It would be best to resolve Xu Wu's marriage as soon as possible. This had already dragged on for three months and really couldn't continue any longer.
The two of them talked for quite a while, and, during this time, Liu-er simply leaned in Yuxi's arms, neither crying nor fussing. Yuxi gently scraped Liu'er's nose. "This child does nothing but eat and sleep every day. Even when she's awake, she's so quiet that it hardly takes any effort to look after her. If Zaozao and Liu-er could balance each other out, that would be perfect." Being too noisy was worrying, but being too quiet was unsettling as well.
Momo Quan, however, felt that Yuxi was acting like the man from Qi, who worried that the sky would fall4. "Whether noisy or quiet, children are still too young and not yet settled in temperament. They can be taught slowly later on."
After seeing Madam An and Ling Ruoyun off, Xu Wu turned back to the rear courtyard and said to Yuxi, "Madam, this Miss Ling is too frail." A wife brought into the household was expected to bear children and manage domestic affairs. Ling Ruoyun was indeed pretty, but she looked physically weak. Xu Wu did not want to marry a sickly woman.
Yuxi stood up from the couch while holding Liu'er and said with a smile, "Miss Ling has probably been observing mourning customs and eating a vegetarian diet all this time, which is why her complexion looks a bit pale. If you take a liking to her, I can mention it to Madam An." If Ling Ruoyun were in poor health, An Zike certainly wouldn't have suggested her to Yuxi. Otherwise, this would create an enemy rather than form a marriage alliance.
Xu Wu hesitated.
Seeing this, Yuxi asked, "Are you disliking her because she has a mother with a bad reputation?" When Xu Wu did not utter a word, Yuxi knew she had guessed correctly. "Miss Ling was personally raised and taught by Master Ling. He was an honourable man, and a daughter raised by him could not be otherwise. Moreover, I chatted with Miss Ling for a while just now. She has a calm and resolute temperament. I quite like her."
However, Xu Wu still could not make up his mind and said, "Let me think it over first."
Yuxi did not mind. "Give me your answer before dinner." If Xu Wu did not agree, she could give An Zike an answer in advance.
Xu Wu was extremely conflicted and told Huo Changqing about the matter: "Yifu5, I really don't know who to choose anymore. Either I don't choose anyone at all, or I'll end up choosing both of them."
Huo Changqing asked, "What are your concerns?" He understood Xu Wu very well. If he truly had no interest, he would have rejected it outright. Such hesitation meant there must be misgivings.
Some things were hard to say to Yuxi, but speaking to Huo Changqing carried no such burden. Xu Wu said, "Ling Ruoyun's biological mother abandoned her husband and child and ran off with another man." Like begets like; dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes to phoenixes—rats give birth to children who dig holes6. Having such a mother made Xu Wu uneasy about Ling Ruoyun.
Looking at Xu Wu, Huo Changqing said, "Just because someone's a bad person doesn't mean their child is too. And since Zaozao's mother approves of this girl, there's no need to worry about her character. If you feel she is unsuitable, simply reject her and choose the Sun girl instead."
Xu Wu hesitated before responding, "Xifu, when choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous woman. If this girl is truly a good one, once I reject her, there will be no room to reverse the decision." By then, even regret would be useless.
Seeing Xu Wu's expression, Huo Changqing immediately understood. Xu Wu had clearly taken a liking to the girl, yet he was hesitating over trivial and unfounded worries. Unable to stand it any longer, Huo Changqing slapped Xu Wu on the head. "When did you become an old woman7? Even if Zaozao's mother misjudged her and the woman turns out to be unsuitable, you can just divorce her and marry someone else."
With a big wave of his hand, Huo Changqing made the decision. "Stop overthinking it. It's settled—choose the Ling girl. Hurry and give Zaozao's mother your answer." Other people couldn't even marry a pretty girl if they tried, yet this brat was still humming and hawing. If Commander Feng and the others found out, they would strangle him on the spot.
Xu Wu agreed, and the matter became easy to handle.
Yuxi gave An Zike her answer and added, "I plan to set the engagement for next month. What do you think?" By the twelfth month, there would be too many affairs to handle in the official residence. While she could technically ask others to help with the arrangements if she ran out of time, the real problem was that Xu Wu wouldn't be able to get away either by then.
An Zike disagreed. One month was far too rushed—there wouldn't even be enough time to prepare the dowry. "Marriage happens only once in a lifetime. It can't be rushed." If nothing else, the wedding dress alone could never be fully embroidered within a month.
Yuxi smiled and said, "You should discuss the wedding date with Xu Wu instead. But I noticed yesterday that Miss Ling didn't look very well. She'll need some time to regain her full health."
An Zike replied hastily, "This child has always been in good health. She has just been on a vegetarian diet for the past three years and overexerted herself during the period of mourning. But please don't worry, Madam. I've already invited a physician to help regulate and restore her health."
Yuxi responded with a soft 'Mm' and then said, "Have the official matchmaker go to the family to propose marriage within the next couple of days." She was extremely busy, so she would certainly hand over the specific arrangements to others.
At noon, Xu Wu went to see Yuxi again and said, "Madam, that Miss Sun is quite a good match. I was thinking…" Noticing Yuxi's unpleasant expression, Xu Wu hurriedly explained, "Isn't Daniu still unmarried? Miss Sun seems like a very good candidate. Do you think we could arrange for her to be introduced to Daniu?" The Sun family's daughter was also a well-bred young lady from a prominent family. If the Sun family agreed to the marriage, Daniu would certainly be the one getting the better end of the deal.
Only then did Yuxi's expression soften slightly. "I'll have someone test the wind of their mouth8 first. If they agree, then you can find an official matchmaker to make a formal proposal." She truly didn't want to get involved any further—there were plenty of bachelors around. If she had to take care of each one individually, she'd be worked to death.
Xu Wu brought Yuxi some good news: "Madam, the situation in Xihai has mostly been resolved. The General should be able to return in a few days."
Yuxi exclaimed softly in surprise. "Did the General mention this in his letter?" The letter he sent her yesterday made no mention of his return. Based on Yuxi's calculations, Yun Qing shouldn't have been able to return until the twelfth month.
Xu Wu replied with a smile, "Yu Cong told me. The General probably didn't tell you because he wanted to surprise you." There were indeed many matters on the Xihai side that needed to be handled, but these could all be handed over to Feng Dajun.
Yuxi smiled.
The official matchmaker who had been sent out soon returned. Yuxi took the betrothal birthdate document and glanced through it, then said to Xu Wu, "Mama Qu can handle all matters related to the engagement. But when it comes time for the wedding, you'll need to find someone to help oversee the arrangements. Mama Qu's status is ultimately insufficient—it wouldn't look very good for her to take charge publicly."
Xu Wu already had someone in mind. "When the time comes, I'll ask Feng Saozi9 to help me with the arrangements." Yuxi herself would have been the ideal person, but Xu Wu also knew that her helping him choose a suitable match was already more than enough, and there was no way she'd have time to handle his wedding preparations as well.
When the Sun family heard that Xu Daniu had taken a liking to their daughter, they gave it some consideration and then agreed to the marriage. Their original intention had been to establish closer ties with the Governor-General through marriage. Xu Daniu held a fairly high position and also had some standing with both Yun Qing and Yuxi, so this marriage was considered acceptable.
Xu Daniu had met Miss Sun before, and upon learning that the Sun family had agreed to the marriage, he still found it hard to believe. When Xu Wu had mentioned it earlier, he hadn't taken it seriously at all—yet who would have thought that they would actually agree? Xu Daniu asked, "Boss, is this real? Hurry up and pinch me!"
Seeing Xu Daniu's foolish expression, Xu Wu slapped him on the back and said with a laugh, "If you don't feel pain, then you're dreaming." In the past, they had never imagined that they would one day marry a well-bred young lady from a distinguished family.
Xu Daniu cried out loudly, "I'm about to spit blood—how is that not painful?"
Xu Wu laughed. "Feng Saozi9 said she'll take you to the Sun household tomorrow, so they can get a look at you, their hairy-footed son-in-law10." The Sun family wasn't familiar with Xu Daniu at all; Old Master Sun had agreed to the marriage purely for practical benefit. By both sentiment and logic, Xu Daniu should make a trip to the Sun family, to let the Sun family members see him and 'recognise the door11'.
After hearing this, Xu Daniu quickly said, "Then I'd better go tidy myself up properly." He needed to leave a good impression on his future in-laws.
Footnotes Full List
- 打人不打脸 (dǎ rén bù dǎ liǎn): (fig.) Even if you criticise or confront someone, you should not humiliate them publicly.
- 揭人不揭短 (jiē rén bù jiē duǎn): (fig.) Do not expose another person's flaws or embarrassing past.
- 亩 (mǔ): a traditional unit of area, equal to 60 square zhang (平方市丈), and equivalent to 6.667 ares or 0.165 acre
- 杞人忧天 (Qǐ rén yōu tiān): (fig.) To worry excessively about imaginary or unnecessary problems.
- 义父 (yìfù): adoptive father
- 龙生龙，凤生凤，老鼠的儿子会打洞 (lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ de ér zi huì dǎ dòng): A proverb expressing the belief that children inherit their parents' nature or character.
- 婆妈 (pó ma): Fussy, indecisive, overly hesitant.
- 探探口风 (tàn tàn kǒu fēng): To discreetly gauge someone's attitude or intentions before acting openly.
- 嫂子 (sǎozi): older brother's wife (literal) + respectful term for a married woman (extended usage). It carries warmth and respect, acknowledging both family ties and social familiarity.
- 毛脚女婿 (máo jiǎo nǚ xù): A humorous or mildly self-deprecating term for a new, inexperienced future son-in-law who hasn't formally married in yet.
- 认认门 (rèn rèn mén): To formally visit and establish familiarity with a household or family.
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