I threw down my chopsticks and marched up to Grandpa Hu San menacingly, demanding answers.
Gu Yuan had been about to step forward to say something. But seeing me stand up for him, he quickly pulled his foot back. A faint smile played on his lips as he watched the scene unfold like a spectator, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
"I know you. I saw you when you first came in. Don't worry. The Hu family isn't that unreasonable," Grandpa Hu San stood up, looking haughty.
"After Gu Yuan marries Qingluan, he'll definitely take you in as his concubine."
"Grandpa, isn't this inappropriate? She's your most beloved great - granddaughter!" Hu Fujin stepped forward, frowning.
Grandpa Hu San shot her a glare and scolded, "Isn't it a good thing to have one more person to help Qingluan take care of her husband?"
Hu Fujin immediately fell silent and scurried over to stand beside Hu Qingluan.
"Grandpa is absolutely right. It would be a blessing for me to have such a beautiful younger sister to serve my husband with me. I'm more than happy and of course won't object," Hu Qingluan chimed in.
The mother - daughter duo played good cop and bad cop, clearly trying to intimidate me.
They were warning me to leave obediently. If I insisted on entering Gu Yuan's family, I'd surely be in for a tough time.
But this kind of trick might work on conservative women from feudal society. I've been taught the concept of monogamy since childhood. Besides, at least the order of precedence should be respected. Before even getting married, they were already trying to label me as a concubine.
"Grandpa Hu San, I think you've got it wrong. Gu Yuan and I met first. No matter what, I should be the main wife, and she should be the secondary one," I retorted.
"How dare you, you lowly maid! You're so ignorant of your place and delusional enough to dream of becoming the main wife. Who gave you the nerve?" Hu Fujin slapped the table hard and shouted at me. Her shrill voice pierced my eardrums.
"I did," Gu Yuan said coldly, glaring at Hu Fujin. His eyes were ice - cold.
"In my eyes, she is the superior one, and you are the inferior one."
Gu Yuan's words carried an intimidating aura. No one in the room dared to make a sound. Hu Fujin wanted to say something more but swallowed her words.
"The matter of my marriage is not for you Hu family to decide."
"This isn't the Hu family deciding. Grandpa Liu is also here, and the marriage certificate has already been signed. Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. It's the rule set by heaven. How could you..."
"Hehe, it's time to change the rules set by heaven," Gu Yuan interrupted.
After saying that, Gu Yuan turned to look at me, his face beaming with a doting smile.
"I, Gu Yuan, will marry no one but her in this lifetime. As for your feud with the Liu family, you can sort it out yourself."
Was Gu Yuan proposing to me in front of everyone? I'm in love! I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life.
Saying so, Gu Yuan put his arm around my waist and turned into a silver light, leaving the Hu family's old mansion on Changbai Mountain.
Before leaving, I deliberately glanced at Hu Fujin and Hu Qingluan. Their expressions were disgustingly ugly. Hu Qingluan had just recovered from a serious illness, and this blow was too much for her. She fainted this time for real.
This rejection of the marriage had humiliated the Hu family. Fox fairies are known for holding grudges. I'm really afraid they'll seek revenge.
"Gu Yuan, I'm starting to regret this. Hu Qingluan is vengeful. She'll surely cause trouble in the future," I said.
"It's their family being too arrogant. They have no say in my marriage," Gu Yuan replied.
"You're right. Your marriage should be decided by your parents," I said.
"I'm marrying you. Of course, it's up to you and me to decide," Gu Yuan said straightforwardly.
His words were so direct that I blushed furiously. I quickly buried my head in his chest to hide my face.
"Where are we going now?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"To the human world," Gu Yuan answered. As he spoke, we arrived at the bustling market again.
It was just in time for the morning market. The cries of peddlers filled the streets and alleys. This kind of earthly atmosphere was full of human warmth, much better than the so - called "fairy aura" of the Hu family.
Gu Yuan never let go of my hand. He led me straight to the peddler who sold Kongming lanterns before.
"Yo, you two are back. Which one do you like? I'll get it for you," the peddler greeted.
"You recognize us?" I asked.
"Of course. Handsome men and beautiful women like you two are rare. Just one look and I'll never forget," the peddler flattered.
Sure enough, peddlers have sweet tongues.
"My Kongming lanterns are the best in the whole county. As long as you two write down your wishes..."
He repeated what he had said that day.
Gu Yuan took out a gold ingot from his waist and placed it on the stall.
"Wrap them all up for me," he said.
The peddler's eyes lit up at the sight of the huge gold ingot.
"Sure thing. I'll wrap them up right away," he replied.
"Gu Yuan, we don't need so many. One is enough," I said. To be honest, I also liked that gold ingot. One gold ingot could buy a carriage. Buying so many Kongming lanterns with it seemed like a waste. I felt really bad.
Gu Yuan took the Kongming lanterns the peddler handed him. There were also many unfinished ones, which the peddler gave to Gu Yuan as well.
"I've got a lot of unfinished ones here. You two can make them yourselves when you're free. It'll help strengthen your husband - wife relationship," the peddler said.
"Sir, don't talk nonsense. We're not husband and wife yet. I think you're trying to change your business by dumping all these red papers on us," I said.
My eyes were fixed on the gold ingot in the peddler's hand. I was thinking about whether I could get some change.
Seeing me staring intently, the peddler quickly hid the gold ingot behind his back, as if it would lose a couple of taels if I looked at it any longer.
"Let's go," Gu Yuan told me not to embarrass the peddler anymore. He carried the Kongming lanterns in one hand and pulled me along with the other, walking towards the forest outside the market.
"Don't you think you've made a bad deal? These things don't cost that much money," I said.
"Do you like these things I bought?" Gu Yuan asked.
"Of course I like them, but..."
Before I could say more, Gu Yuan's words warmed my heart: "Your happiness is much more valuable than that gold ingot. You're worth a fortune."
"Where did you learn to be so glib - tongued?" I scolded him on the surface, but I was overjoyed inside.
...
At Yunwu, Tingyu Pavilion.
Gu Yuan and I were sitting beside the desk, using bamboo sticks to support the lantern covers and making Kongming lanterns. One after another, the orange - red Kongming lanterns were placed on the floor. I could already imagine them flying up into the sky.
Don't be fooled by Gu Yuan being a young man. He was really dexterous when it came to handicrafts. His long fingers would twirl around, and in no time, a lantern would be done.
Looking at his work and then at mine, mine was not only ugly but also made my hands sticky with paste. My fingers were all stuck together.
Gu Yuan was concentrating on his work. While he wasn't looking, I stole one of the lanterns he had made from behind him.
I placed it on the table and said to Gu Yuan proudly, "Look? I'm really good too, aren't I?"
Gu Yuan looked up at the lantern, a smile on his face. He picked up the brush on the desk and wrote a line of words on the Kongming lantern.
That's when I realized why he had agreed to let me call him Gu Yuan.