Qu You was originally seething with anger and wanted to turn around and argue with the Chen family members. But when he saw A Lian's calm and beautiful face, he calmed down.
Qu You bent down, pointing to his broad back. "Get on," he said.
A Lian seemed to be burned by his words and shook her head like a rattle. "N-no, it's inappropriate."
Qu You gave a soft snort. "Neither of us is married. What's inappropriate about it? Besides, I've even carried you before."
A Lian's cheeks flushed bright red. She quickly shot him a glare and limped forward.
Qu You knew she was shy. He looked around and found a smooth wooden stick for her to use as a walking stick.
Actually, A Lian's knees weren't seriously injured. She just had numb legs and some blood stasis from kneeling for too long. But since Qu You insisted, A Lian had no choice but to accept the "walking stick".
Now, let's turn to the Pei family's small courtyard.
Fu Chengyi stood outside the window and passed in a brand - new deed.
Pei Jin put down the work at hand and took it.
After a moment, she couldn't help widening her eyes. "What do you mean by this?"
Fu Chengyi's eyes sparkled as he said with a smile, "This is the most convenient way. It also saves me from having to resell it to you and pay the land tax again."
It turned out that Fu Chengyi had instructed Zeng Shou in advance that when Chen Laosan sold the land, it should be directly transferred to Pei Jin's name.
Zeng Shou understood exactly what his master was up to. He immediately promised to handle the matter perfectly.
So Zeng Shou privately gave the village head some benefits. On the surface, it became a matter of the Shu family's steward buying the land and gifting it to the Pei family - no one could find fault with it.
The village head was also straightforward. With a few strokes, he helped with the transfer, and the land officially belonged to Pei Jin.
Pei Jin was about to say something, but when she saw Fu Chengyi's radiant face, she couldn't say a word.
Fu Chengyi knew Pei Jin was proud. He spoke first, "Don't rush to pay me. Just let me buy shares in the new factory when it's built."
Pei Jin laughed. "Your family is so wealthy. Do you still covet this small share?"
Fu Chengyi looked at Pei Jin's smiling face almost greedily. "I do. How could I not?"
He wished he could be involved in all of the Pei family's industries. He just hoped to get closer to A Jin.
A Jin was already old enough to understand. She knew what such a look from a man meant. She took half a step back, biting her lips with her white teeth, and a blush instantly appeared on her face.
Little did they know that their appearance was fully seen by others.
Three heads neatly popped out from beside the kitchen door.
Pei Li gasped. "Good heavens, the looks in their eyes could drown me."
Qi Jiao laughed heartily. "Just wait. Good things are not far off."
Pei Xia said calmly, "That kid Fu Qi is very slippery. We still need to discipline him some more."
...
The three of them discussed back and forth. Little did they know that their situation was seen by Tang Guiniang in the east room.
Tang Guiniang found it both funny and touching. "Young Master Qi is really thoughtful."
Aunt Zheng handed her a cup of thick walnut milk. "Who says it isn't? In my opinion, our A Jin is excellent in every way. Given time, she's destined to be a mistress of a household."
**
Five days later.
Du, the matchmaker who was second to none in matchmaking in Lingle County, came to the Pei family.
Du was neatly dressed. Her black hair was coiled up like clouds, with two shiny green jade hairpins obliquely inserted. If she didn't announce her name, who would associate her with a common matchmaker?
She was followed by two demure little maids, which made Tang Guiniang think that some noble lady had come.
Du was obviously here for the Pei family. After sitting down and exchanging a few pleasantries, she got straight to the point. "Madam, I'm here on the order of the eldest mistress of the Shu family. The seventh young master of the Fu family, who is the younger brother of the eldest mistress, has a deep connection with your family. The eldest mistress is willing to help bring about a good marriage. I wonder what your opinion is?"
As soon as she said this, Tang Guiniang had already guessed.
Sure enough, Young Master Qi had gone back and told his elder sister.
His elder sister was willing to send a matchmaker to the door, and she even sent Du, the most promising matchmaker in the county. This showed that the family still valued A Jin and the Pei family. It was a good start.
Thinking like this, Tang Guiniang felt much more at ease. While inviting Du to have some tea, she carefully said, "Matchmaker, you've come all the way from the city to Yinwan. You must be tired. First, thank the eldest mistress of the Shu family for her kindness. Our A Jin is from a humble family and doesn't know many rules. But she has a kind heart and is honest... I've also met Young Master Fu. He's a rare good boy, polite, kind - hearted, and not arrogant or impatient. I like him at first sight. I have no problem on my side. As a parent, of course, I hope my children will have a better life. However, I still have to ask my daughter's opinion. I can't give you an answer right away."
Du nodded. "That's right, that's right. I'll convey everything you said to the eldest mistress. I'll come back in a couple of days."
After saying that, she got up to say goodbye.
Tang Guiniang saw her off at the door, which is not mentioned here.
After seeing Du off, Tang Guiniang was very excited and quickly went to look for A Jin.
At this moment, Pei Jin was supervising the work at the foot of Xiaofeng Mountain.
She was a practical person. The day after she got the land deed, she discussed the start - up matters with Qi Jiao.
Qi Jiao had the responsibility of Jiaoniang Restaurant and couldn't come back every day. So she simply handed over the matter of building the factory to Pei Jin and sent Pei Xia back occasionally to help.
It was the first time for Pei Jin to be in charge of such a big matter, so she naturally devoted all her energy to it.
When Tang Guiniang went there, Pei Jin was instructing the workers on how to plan the land.
The abandoned house had already been demolished. Tang Guiniang took a closer look and saw that there was also the young servant of Young Master Fu Qi standing beside Pei Jin.
The servant was very attentive, bringing water and fanning Pei Jin.
And Pei Jin didn't refuse. Instead, she made full use of the servant and got a lot of help from him.
Tang Guiniang saw this and silently turned back home, planning to wait until Pei Jin was done with her work before talking to her.
At night, Pei Jin washed away the tiredness of the day and was about to go back to her room to sleep.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw her mother sitting on the bed, and there was also the piece of cloth made from scraps of many families that she had worn as a child beside her.
Pei Jin said with a smile, "It's so late, mother. Why aren't you going to sleep yet?"
Tang Guiniang took a towel to dry her hair. "Daughter, today, the eldest mistress of the Shu family sent a matchmaker to our house."
Although Fu Chengyi had said firmly before that he wanted to marry her, when she really heard this news, her heart still couldn't help but flutter.
Fu Chengyi had left two days ago. Apart from leaving some people to run errands for her, he didn't say anything.
She thought...
Seeing Pei Jin's silence, Tang Guiniang thought she didn't like Fu Chengyi. "What? You don't like Young Master Qi?"
Pei Jin blurted out subconsciously, "I do like him."
Tang Guiniang was delighted. "So you do like him!"
Pei Jin was speechless. She didn't know how to judge her feelings for Fu Chengyi.
After Tang Guiniang quickly dried her hair, Pei Jin directly took out the lacquer box that Fu Chengyi had given her.
"Mother, look. He sent this on the Mid - Autumn Festival night."
Tang Guiniang was surprised. "Mid - Autumn Festival? How did he come? Why didn't I know?"
Pei Jin's pretty face flushed. "Oh, mother, don't ask."
Tang Guiniang knew she was shy and smiled as she opened the lacquer box.
After seeing what was inside, Tang Guiniang had mixed feelings. Young Master Qi had feelings for A Jin.
And A Jin's behavior also showed that she had fallen for him.
She shook Pei Jin's smooth forearm. "Have you made up your mind? If you have, I'll give them an answer then."
Pei Jin went through all the men she had met from childhood to adulthood in her mind.
The one who made her like him, the one who didn't annoy her, and the one who could affect all her emotions, apart from her elder brothers and father at home, seemed to be only Fu Chengyi...
Pei Jin gave a barely audible "yes".
Tang Guiniang was both happy and sad. She lovingly hugged Pei Jin in her arms.