When Su Muqing shifted the topic, Su Cuiping, who was the subject of the conversation, was stunned for a moment. When she received everyone's teasing glances, she couldn't help but blush shyly.
Su Cuiping glared at Su Muqing reproachfully. "Muqing, why did you suddenly bring this up? My father and the others don't know anything yet..."
"Ah? It's been half a year, and they still don't know?" Su Muqing scratched her head. She hadn't expected the two of them to keep their relationship a secret.
It turned out that after the main group arrived at Huaxia City, Su Minghui was still busy receiving refugees outside the city. By the time he entered the city, he was overwhelmed with work every day.
During that time, Leng San was also running around. When the two of them met, Leng San showed great respect for Su Minghui, helping to repair his house and transport supplies. He would eagerly take on any dirty or strenuous work, but he never revealed his feelings.
As for Su Cuiping herself, she had been busy managing the supplies in the Qiankun Bag that Su Muqing had left behind when she was away. Therefore, she hadn't had a chance to tell her family about her relationship with Leng San.
Su Minghui turned to look at his daughter, his eyes full of confusion as he asked, "What exactly are you two talking about? What is it that we should know but don't?"
"Uh... it's just..." Su Cuiping stammered, unable to say it after much effort. She licked her lips, too shy to speak.
Although the situation was very different from last year, she still believed, as a woman, that she shouldn't be the one to actively seek a husband. If word got out, she would be gossiped about and ridiculed.
Perhaps sensing Su Cuiping's embarrassment, Leng San suddenly stood up. His face flushed red, and his eyes were fixed on Su Minghui, burning with such intensity that he wished he could bore a hole through his face.
He scratched his head awkwardly and then stammered, "Uncle Su... I'll say it. I want... I want to marry your Cuiping! I will treat her very well in the future. If I go back on my word, may lightning strike me and I die a horrible death!"
"Ah...! You? You want to marry whom?" Leng San's words truly startled Su Minghui. He never expected it to be about this. When did these two get together? How come neither he nor Wang Shi knew anything about it?
Once the words were out, it became much easier. Leng San knelt on one knee, raised his hand in a respectful salute to Su Minghui, and his tone was much firmer than before. "Village Chief Su, I wish to marry your daughter Su Cuiping. I hope you will permit her to marry me."
"This, this, I... marry you... Rongrong, quickly go call your aunt." Su Minghui was a bit at a loss as he looked at the large man kneeling on the ground. He quickly asked Lin Rongrong, who was watching the scene, to call Wang Shi, who was busy cooking nearby.
A few minutes later, Lin Rongrong, with a smile on her face, pulled Wang Shi into the tent. Wang Shi had been asking her why she was smiling the whole way, wondering if something good had happened to her. However, Lin Rongrong refused to tell her, saying she would know soon enough.
When the two entered the tent, everyone's positions remained unchanged. Su Minghui stood by the table with his hands behind his back, while Leng San knelt upright, staring at him without blinking.
Su Cuiping sat to the side, her head lowered shyly onto Su Muqing's shoulder. The others remained silent, sipping tea, but their faces were all filled with anticipation for gossip.
Lin Rongrong sat down next to Su Muqing, and Wang Shi immediately saw Leng San kneeling on the ground. "Oh! What's wrong with the strong man? Why are you kneeling like this?"
She looked at everyone else's expressions and realized they weren't arguing. So, she quickly wiped her hands on her apron and stepped forward, intending to help Leng San up.
Su Minghui grabbed Wang Shi and whispered in her ear, "Wait a moment, listen to what he has to say first."
Seeing her gaze directed at him, Leng San bowed again to Wang Shi. "Auntie, I like Cuiping and want to marry her. I hope you and Village Chief Su can agree."
"Ah? What did you say? You want to marry Cuiping?" Wang Shi's hand, which was about to help him up, paused and then slowly retracted.
Although this Leng Kui was under Master Lu and was very diligent in his work, judging by his appearance and full beard, he must be quite old.
Furthermore, this person looked so sturdy and was immensely strong. If they ever argued in the future, and he decided to lay hands on Cuiping, how could Cuiping endure it? Let alone her daughter, even her entire family tied together wouldn't be enough to fight him.
In her space, Su Muqing selected a simple and elegant pure gold headdress set and bought a five-piece gold set from the mall. She then passed them to Lu Yuzhi from under the table.
Lu Yuzhi took the two jewelry boxes and handed them to Xu Fu, who was sitting beside him. He cast a subtle glance at Su Minghui and his wife, then winked at Xu Fu.
Xu Fu took the jewelry, smiled kindly, and stood up. "Brother Su, I never imagined we would have such a connection. This Leng Kui is our young master's guard. He was sent to the manor when he was just a child. I watched them train and grow up together, so I know him very well. He genuinely admires your daughter. As the steward of the manor, I am considered his elder. Today, I am officially proposing to your family on his behalf. I hope you two will carefully consider their marriage."
Xu Fu placed the two jewelry boxes on the table and opened them one by one. A complete set of gold headdress and a set of exquisite gold jewelry were displayed before everyone.
"This is a betrothal gift for Miss Cuiping. Once you two agree, we will discuss the specifics of the bride price."
Su Minghui and Wang Shi stared at the wooden boxes on the table without speaking. Su Muqing couldn't help but speak up to help Leng San. "Auntie, Uncle Xu and Brother Leng are still waiting for your reply!"
Lu Yuzhi stood up and bowed to the couple. "Since Muqing said today is a family dinner, I will also call you Uncle and Auntie like her."
"Master Lu, you are too polite."
"Whatever concerns you may have, you can express them directly, and we can discuss them together. Although Leng San is my guard, we have a life-or-death friendship. I can guarantee you that he will treat your daughter well. If he ever wrongs Miss Ping in the future, you won't have to do anything; neither I nor Muqing will let him get away with it."
After hearing Lu Yuzhi's guarantee, Wang Shi didn't immediately agree. Instead, she turned to Su Cuiping and asked, "Daughter, what do you think?"
Seeing how hard Leng San was trying to marry her, Su Cuiping was already deeply moved. Although she was still very shy, she looked at her parents firmly and said.
"Father, Mother, I want to be with Brother San..."