Xiao Xi Tian rolled her eyes and snatched Xiao Jin Heng's handkerchief. "Hey, I can wipe it myself!~"
This brat, acting strange for no reason...
Xiao Jin Heng was stunned for a moment. Did the little village boy not like wiping her mouth for her?
Fine, then he'd just pick food for her.
So, Xiao Jin Heng used his chopsticks to pick a large dumpling for her. "Try this, it's delicious!~"
Xiao Xi Tian: "......"
As the night deepened, the Yun family members were all very sleepy, but they still sat at the table, accompanying their guests.
Prefect Chen, after a few drinks, became quite boisterous. He slung an arm around Er Man's shoulders and wouldn't let go. "Hic, I, I'll tell you guys, hic, the Prefect wants to marry his daughter to Jin Shan, hic......"
"If Jin Shan treats his daughter well in the future, won't your family prosper? You'll have everything! Then you can sell your house in Dashui Village and move to the prefectural city to live, haha, hic!~"
Yun Er Man: "......"
He himself didn't even know which girl his son liked.
Hearing Prefect Chen's words, he suddenly looked at Yun Jin Shan, who was clearing the table.
This kid, though young, was already eyeing the Prefect's daughter. He was much better than he was back in the day...
Prefect Qin had also drunk quite a bit and, in his dazed state, paid no attention to Prefect Chen's words.
However, Madam Huang was immediately displeased. She pinched Prefect Chen's waist. "No, what nonsense are you spouting after drinking cat's urine wine? Jin Shan is so young, and you're making blind matches. Aren't you afraid of causing trouble!~"
Prefect Chen glared at Madam Huang with wide eyes. "What blind match? Don't you want Xiao Ran to marry Jin Shan? Is that not making a blind match?"
Chen Xiao Ran and Qin Yi Yi didn't hear these words. The little girls had all gone to Xiao Xi Tian's room to nap...
Jin Shan entered the room with a file and a broom. He almost tripped over the threshold when he heard this.
"Jin Shan, come here!~" Prefect Chen beckoned.
Yun Jin Shan stood foolishly at the doorway, glanced at his grandfather and grandmother, and seeing they didn't say anything, continued to stand there, unmoving...
"Oh, come here! Hic!" Prefect Chen hiccuped. "I ask you, do you like the Prefect's daughter, or do you like Xiao Ran?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xue's eyes immediately fell on Yun Jin Shan, her face full of curiosity and scrutiny.
Yun Jin Shan didn't know what to say. He dropped the broom and file and ran outside. "I just remembered I haven't fed the pigs yet. You guys drink slowly!~"
Prefect Chen: "......"
It's all over.
"Prefect Chen is drunk. Please help him to the guest room to rest!~" Madam Xue looked at Madam Huang, a strained smile on her lips.
Xiao Jin Heng knew that the Yun family had many members, so he had specifically set aside two guest rooms when building the house.
Now, they were just enough for the Prefect and his wife to stay in...
Madam Gu also smiled and said, "He's had quite a bit to drink. Da Man, Er Man, hurry and help Prefect Chen to rest!~"
Prefect Chen clutched his wine glass, unwilling to let go, and was about to say something to Prefect Qin when Madam Huang grabbed his ear and dragged him away.
After eating and drinking their fill, Old Man Yun and Madam Gu also returned to the inner room, took off their shoes, and got on the kang.
"Old woman, do you think Jin Shan's matter is reliable?" Old Man Yun asked, staring at the dark shed.
Madam Gu turned over and said nothing...
"Old woman, how about we arrange a marriage for Jin Shan and Yi Yi? What do you say?" Old Man Yun looked at Madam Gu's back and reached out to nudge her.
"Old man, aren't you going to sleep?" Madam Gu pinched him.
Old Man Yun turned Madam Gu's shoulders and sighed. "Look, our family is quite complete now. The fourth son is back, the daughter is found, and the second son has a new wife. Shouldn't we think about the younger generation?"
"Think about what?" Madam Gu sat up. "Jin Shan is only thirteen today, and Yi Yi is only seven. They are six years apart. This is completely unsuitable..."
To be favored by the Prefect's daughter was an honor for the Old Yun family, but they couldn't just force every marriage.
"Oh, it's only six years, it's not a big deal. Look at Guo Er of our village, he married a wife who is nine years younger!~" Old Man Yun said.
Madam Gu glanced at him. "Are you comparing everything to others? If the age difference is too big now, it might not seem like much, but what about when they get older?"
One is incredibly young and beautiful, and the other is ancient. Wouldn't that be awkward?
Old Man Yun fell silent. After a moment, he asked again, "Then what about Xiao Ran? They are quite a good match too!~"
Madam Gu: "......"
Chen Xiao Ran was five years younger than Yun Jin Shan, so there wasn't much difference.
"Let's talk about this later. Let's go to sleep! Jin Shan and Jin He have to go back to the academy tomorrow. Ask Da Man to see them off!~" Madam Gu instructed.
Seeing that his wife was unwilling to discuss the matter, Old Man Yun took his pipe and went out...
The drinking had lasted too long, and he was now sober.
He had intended to sit in the courtyard and smoke a pipe, but he saw Yun Si Man lying in the rocking chair by the door, enjoying the cool breeze.
Old Man Yun blew out a smoke ring and slowly walked over.
"Fourth son, not sleeping yet?" Old Man Yun asked with a smile.
"Dad!~" Yun Si Man quickly stood up, his handsome face looking even more attractive in the moonlight.
Old Man Yun looked him up and down. "You've really grown up. When you first left home, you weren't as tall as your second brother..."
Yun Si Man smiled and lowered his head. "Dad, I shouldn't have argued with you back then. I've been ashamed of myself while living outside all these years. I regret it deeply. You don't blame me anymore, do you?"
Back then, he insisted on going out to work, but Old Man Yun wouldn't allow it, and the father and son had a big argument.
Yun Si Man, in his anger, cursed Old Man Yun as an "old immortal" and then slammed the door shut as he left...
Old Man Yun patted his shoulder. "There are no grudges that last overnight between father and son. You must have suffered a lot outside, right?"
"Not bitter!~" Yun Si Man helped Old Man Yun to sit down and squatted beside him. "I fished for a year by the sea, saved some money, and then went to the capital to do small business. But the people there were too cunning, and I lost everything.
"Later, I worked as a handyman at a martial arts school and learned some fighting skills. By chance, a noble patron took a liking to me and brought me to his mansion to be a guard. I've been helping this noble patron with his affairs all these years..."
Old Man Yun said, "Oh, ~" "You've really made something of yourself!~"
He didn't ask what affairs he was helping the noble patron with. If his son didn't want to say, he couldn't keep pestering him.
"Dad, how about you and Mom come to the capital to stay for a few days? I have a mansion there, which was a gift from the noble patron. It's very big, and I feel so lonely living there by myself!" Yun Si Man said with anticipation.
Old Man Yun took a puff of his pipe. "No, we can't. Tomorrow or the day after, we have to start harvesting the autumn crops, picking corn, and cutting back the cabbage. If your Mom and I leave, what will happen to the house?"
He couldn't abandon the land, and there were still various chores to deal with. He couldn't just leave.
Yun Si Man was about to plead again when he suddenly heard faint footsteps outside the door.