At noon, Zhang Rong, Cen Xiaoniang, and Xi'er served the meals onto the table. It was a rare gathering, so they were bound to celebrate heartily.
Shen Fugui also got up and went to the tavern at the alley entrance. He bought a catty of wine that he usually couldn't bear to drink, planning to bring it back to honor his father - in - law.
Just as he came back carrying the wine jar, he saw Zhang Dachun from the village standing at the courtyard gate. There was an oil - paper package in his hand, looking like he had bought some meat for a visit.
Zhang Dachun and Zhang Rong were cousins beyond the five - generation kinship, so there weren't so many formalities originally. However, now Dachun was working in Shen's Dyeing Workshop. He was diligent and capable. Sometimes when Shen Yuning had to go to a more distant place and Xuanzhi was worried and wanted to go with her, he would let Zhang Dachun manage the workshop. Gradually, Dachun could handle things independently.
Shen Fugui greeted him, "Dachun, you're here. Why don't you go in?"
Zhang Dachun gave a start and then forced a laugh as he turned around. "Hello, brother - in - law."
Shen Fugui looked him up and down in surprise. "Why did you come today? Is there still something to do in the dyeing workshop?"
Zhang Dachun waved his hands repeatedly. "Nothing... nothing at all. My mother said to thank you for giving me such a good job. She asked me to come and thank you... I bought two catties of meat to nourish Yuanbao and Huzi."
While opening the door, Shen Fugui laughed. "You don't need to be so formal. It wasn't a job specifically arranged for you. I heard from Xuanzhi that it's because you're capable and eager to learn that he dared to entrust the dyeing workshop to you."
Zhang Dachun rubbed the corner of his clothes with his hand. "It's still because Xuanzhi taught me well. Xuanzhi is really capable. He's smart and literate. Unlike me..."
Shen Fugui burst into laughter. "Xuanzhi is different from us. He's been to school and has a quick mind. In our small village, there's not a single family that can read. When there's a letter or something, we still have to go to the street to find Scholar Zhao."
Zhang Dachun entered the house with him and nodded in agreement. "Yes. Now that your family is doing well and you have a literate younger brother, I see that Yuanbao also knows a lot of characters. Now that you and sister - in - law have earned some money, you can also send Huzi to school in the future to pursue the imperial examinations."
These words hit Shen Fugui's heart. When Huzi was one year old, he ignored everything else and specifically grabbed Xuanzhi's writing brush. Moreover, as soon as he saw his sister Yuanbao writing, he would be extremely well - behaved. He would lie on his sister's desk. If his sister was reading, he would also follow and read and recite.
Now Shen Fugui would never say that his son was as useless as him again. He only thought that this son was extremely precious, just like his aunt.
When Old Man Zhang saw Zhang Dachun, he asked, "Dachun, you're here? Come on, come on. We're just about to have lunch. Have it with us."
Zhang Dachun's face flushed red. He put the paper - wrapped meat on the table and waved his hands. "I... I still have to go back... I'll leave first..."
As he turned around, he ran into Shen Yuning who was coming out of the kitchen. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. He just lowered his head halfway, blushing and keeping silent.
Shen Yuning asked in surprise, "Brother Dachun, why do you have time to come today?"
Zhang Dachun stole a glance at the people in front of him. Everyone was looking at him blankly, making him feel that all his little thoughts were exposed.
He lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and closed his eyes to state his purpose. "Well, my mother said that I'm already... eighteen and it's time to get married. But... she told me to come and talk to sister about it, so I came..."
After saying that, he turned around and ran outside. At the door, he bumped into Xuanzhi who had just entered.
Xuanzhi was hit hard by him. Before he could react, Zhang Dachun had disappeared like a puff of smoke.
"What... was he here for?"
Shen Fugui scratched the back of his head and replied, "Oh, he came to ask your sister - in - law to find a wife for him."
Xuanzhi muttered, "He's not that old. He's not even twenty yet. Why is he looking for a marriage?"
Shen Fugui laughed. "You don't understand. People here get married early. Look at me. When I was eighteen, your sister - in - law was already pregnant with Huzi."
Yuanbao was sharp - eyed. She stared at the paper package in Xuanzhi's hand and asked, "Brother Xuanzhi, what did you buy back?"
There was the logo of Man Yi Pastries on the paper package. It was the signboard of a new pastry shop in the town.
Yuanbao snatched the paper package from Xuanzhi's hand, opened it, and exclaimed happily, "Aunt, these are your favorite begonia cakes."
Shen Yuning was stunned. She didn't expect that Xuanzhi had gone out specifically to buy begonia cakes for her. It was at the beginning of the year when they passed by Man Yi Pastries. She had casually said that when she was in the capital, she really liked the pastries in Ji Xiang Pastry Shop, especially the begonia cakes in late spring and early summer.
It was the beginning of the year at that time. The shop was selling plum blossom cakes. Xuanzhi had bought some for her. She had said that she would come back to buy begonia cakes in early summer. However, there were too many things to do, and she had long forgotten about it.
After Yuanbao shouted, she happily went into the house to tease Huzi with the pastries. Xuanzhi stepped forward and snatched the pastries back. He glared at the two children. "We're about to have lunch. You're not allowed to eat them now."
Huzi pursed his lips and roared at him twice. But when he saw Xuanzhi raise his hand, he immediately didn't dare to roar anymore. He went to find his grandfather to seek justice aggrievedly.
Yuanbao didn't show much reaction. Instead, she looked at Xuanzhi mysteriously and grinned. "You're in trouble."
Xuanzhi thought she meant that Huzi would cry and complain in front of Old Man Zhang later, and with Old Man Zhang's hot temper, he would scold him again. However, he wasn't afraid. It was just a scolding.
Yuanbao got closer. "Guess what Brother Dachun came for?"
Xuanzhi was a bit stunned. Didn't he come to ask his sister - in - law to find a wife for him?
After lunch, Old Man Zhang ordered, "Fugui, you and Xuanzhi go back to the small village and return Dachun's meat."
Shen Fugui asked, "Didn't we say we'd arrange a wife for him? If we return the meat, are we not going to care about him anymore?"
Zhang Rong reached out and slapped him on the head. "You're really stupid. Can't you understand his intention? I'm not a matchmaker. Why should I arrange a marriage for him? It's obvious that he has taken a fancy to our Yuning and came here to test the waters."
Shen Yuning looked up blankly and exchanged a confused look with Shen Fugui.
Old Man Zhang was still savoring the good wine from today. He was comfortably lying on the reclining chair, soaking in the sun. He nodded. "Rong'er is right, Fugui. It's not that I'm being picky and look down on Dachun. Dachun is a good boy, but you've met his mother. She has a bad mouth and a small heart. Especially after their family contracted an orchard the year before last, Dachun's mother has become so arrogant. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Shen Fugui thought for a long time and finally understood. He also clicked his tongue. "I said Dachun was acting strange today. So that's what he was up to. No, no. Even if his mother was a nice person, it's still not okay. I'm not satisfied. My sister is so capable. She must marry into a good family. At least it should be a family in the town."
Old Man Zhang gave him a disdainful look. "Let me tell you, Dachun's mother definitely won't be willing. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Dachun who came today. I think this is Dachun's own idea. So I'm asking you to return the meat, so that later on, his mother won't think that our family is coveting her two catties of meat."
Shen Fugui suddenly stood up, looking extremely unhappy. He asked, "Why isn't his mother willing? Our Yuning is good - looking and capable. What? Isn't she good enough for her son Dachun? How dare she be unwilling?"
"Get out of here. What do you know!" Zhang Rong impatiently pushed him. "What? If she was willing, would you really marry Yuning into their family?"
Of course, Shen Fugui didn't mean that. But his sister Yuning had been raised in a marquis's mansion since childhood. Even though she had fallen on hard times now, she was still a phoenix. It was always the phoenix that looked down on the chickens. How could a phoenix be despised by a chicken?
Zhang Rong knew exactly what Dachun's mother was thinking and had to explain. "Dachun's mother once said that she wanted a daughter - in - law who was strong and capable of doing hard work. Preferably, she should have wide hips and be fertile. Our Yuning is beautiful, but she's not the type to do rough work. Maybe Dachun's mother dislikes that Yuning can't do farm work and is always out doing business."
After hearing this, Shen Fugui was in a daze for a long time. Without waiting for Xuanzhi, he went to grab the two catties of meat by himself. Angrily, he harnessed the ox and drove the cart back to the big village.
Shen Yuning looked at him worriedly and quickly asked, "This... seeing how angry brother is, is it okay for him to go alone? I hope he won't quarrel with them later."
Old Man Zhang had drunk a bit too much, and his mouth became annoying. He waved his hand carelessly. "No, no. His second uncle's family is there. They won't let their son - in - law suffer. Yuning, don't blame me for being talkative. You're not young anymore. It's time to seriously consider a marriage. Don't be too picky and keep thinking about those young men from before. Those aren't the kind of families that match ours. Listen to your uncle. Honestly pick one from the people your sister - in - law has chosen for you. Okay?"
Before Shen Yuning could say anything, Zhang Rong saw that he was drunk and immediately frowned. "That's enough. Mind your own business! You've drunk too much and keep talking nonsense. Go inside and rest. Don't stay here in the wind. Counting on you..."
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shen Yuning quickly slipped into the inner room.
Over there, Yuanbao proudly winked at Xuanzhi. The meaning was obvious, indicating that she understood his feelings very well.
Xuanzhi touched his nose and then saw Huzi moving a small stool towards the table. With great difficulty, he climbed onto the small stool and was about to reach the begonia cakes he had been craving for a long time when Xuanzhi stopped him with his hands.
Huzi burst into tears. "Uncle is bad. I want to eat!"
Looking at Huzi with snot and tears all over his face, Xuanzhi felt a bit disheartened. The things he wanted never came easily. Just like Huzi, with all his efforts to get a package of pastries, he could easily stop him. Perhaps it was because he was still too weak.
However, Shen Yuning never expected that within one day, after two waves of guests, there would be a third.
When Shen Fugui came back from the small village, there was a man in his late twenties or early thirties beside him. It was hard to tell his exact age, but his face was full of vicissitudes, obviously having suffered a lot. His eyes were slanted, and when he looked at the people in the house, he always seemed to look askance, showing a lot of disdain.
Shen Yuning looked out of the window and thought that this man seemed familiar. Moreover, the way he looked at people made her feel that she had seen it somewhere before.
She only heard Yuanbao, who was reading in the yard, stop suddenly and subconsciously call out, "Dad?"