"Sister Fang'er, is your illness really better? Why does Little Xi Tian find her more and more eccentric?"
"Sister Fang'er, it's cold outside, put on your shoes!~" Little Xi Tian quickly pulled Shangguan Fang'er, explaining, "Sister Fang'er, when we met you and Sister Murong, your situation was already very difficult, and it was Sister Murong who took the initiative to be Jin He's companion reader. No one forced her..."
Although she didn't know how capable Murong Qing was, from Shangguan Fang'er's anxious expression, Little Xi Tian vaguely guessed how important Murong Qing was to her.
Shangguan Fang'er's agitated emotions calmed down slightly after hearing this, "She... when will she come back?"
Without Murong Qing's help, it would be extremely difficult, and she might not even be able to leave Da Shui Village.
Little Xi Tian sighed, "Don't worry, Sister Fang'er, my great nephew will definitely be back for the New Year!~"
Yun Jin He had never spent the Spring Festival alone outside, and the academy was already on holiday. Where else could he go if not back to the village?
Shangguan Fang'er slowly sat on the kang, lowered her head, and looked at her feet, "Sweet Baby, in our home, I like you the most. I know you won't lie to me, right?"
Little Xi Tian nodded heavily, "Yes, Mother said children are not allowed to lie, so I won't deceive Sister Fang'er either..."
She thought this would be comforting, but Shangguan Fang'er still couldn't lift her spirits. Her gaunt cheeks were covered with worry and bitterness.
Seeing this, Little Xi Tian asked softly, "Sister Fang'er, is there something you're hiding in your heart? Can you tell me?"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Fang'er turned to look at Little Xi Tian, smiled, and shook her head, "No, it's nothing! Come on, today is Jingde's engagement banquet, let's all be happy!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Clearly, you were the one sighing and frowning!
She knew Sister Fang'er was a very sensitive and fragile person, and even if she had secrets in her heart, she wouldn't want to reveal them.
Perhaps one day in the future, these secrets would reveal themselves...
As noon approached, a carriage arrived outside the Yun family's gate.
A moment later, Magistrate Chen, along with Xiao Ran and Madam Huang, walked into the courtyard with smiles.
Actually, according to custom, the daughter of the bride's family should not meet the groom's family at an engagement banquet.
However, Xiao Ran was too familiar with the old Yun family, so no one bothered with these formalities...
"Oh my, Your Excellency the Magistrate, you look so spirited today, haha!~" Old Man Yun hurried forward, beaming.
Magistrate Chen also smiled broadly, "My in-laws, let's have a good relationship from now on. If you encounter any difficulties, please don't hesitate to tell me..."
Saying that, Magistrate Chen glanced back at Madam Huang, "Quickly take the gifts you bought for Jingde over!"
Madam Huang heard this and quickly handed the gift box in her hand to Madam Gu, smiling, "These are things a little boy likes, please accept them!"
"My dear in-law, you are too kind. We have also prepared engagement gifts for Xiao Ran!" Madam Gu took out a brocade box from her sleeve and handed it to Madam Huang, "I hope Xiao Ran won't dislike it..."
Madam Huang felt the weight of the box and was very pleased, "Not at all, not at all. If we are too polite, we will become strangers, haha!~"
Chen Xiao Ran: "..."
Gao Jingde: "..."
Are you done with your pleasantries?
You're going back and forth, and you'll probably talk until dark.
After exchanging gifts, everyone took their seats. Ru Yue brought a kettle to pour tea, and Ru Hua brought out fried dough twists and pastries for the guests to enjoy...
Following that, villagers who came to attend the engagement banquet began to arrive.
They brought all sorts of gifts, including small chickens, whole geese, plump catfish, various dried goods, salted duck eggs, fresh goose eggs, and even half a bag of frozen bean buns...
Yun San Man stood at the main entrance to greet guests and instructed Jingde to prepare firecrackers to set off before the banquet to bring some festive spirit.
"Wow, San Man, your house is so lively today, just like New Year's!~" Fu Da Qiang arrived at the entrance with Wang Suzhen and Fu Xiao Qiang.
Yun San Man smiled and said, "My son is getting engaged today. You should drink a lot later, Da Qiang. There's plenty of food and drink..."
"Do I need to say that!" Fu Da Qiang winked at him and leaned in, lowering his voice, "San Man, aren't you overjoyed right now? Your son is getting engaged to the daughter of the Magistrate. This means what? It means you won't have to work for the rest of your life, just wait to eat the fruits of others' labor, haha!~"
Yun San Man: "..."
Do I look like someone who would sit around and wait to die?
Even if he wanted to get something for nothing, his parents wouldn't agree.
"You can't say such things outside. My son and Xiao Ran are engaged because they want to. No one forced them!" Yun San Man retorted.
Fu Da Qiang pursed his lips, "They want to? Come on, if it weren't for Sweet Baby, even if Xiao Ran got engaged to my son, it wouldn't be your son Jingde's turn, right? Hahaha!"
Yun San Man: "..."
This bumpkin is deliberately here to upset him today, isn't he!
Fu Xiao Qiang was stunned and looked up, "Dad, is Xiao Ran really going to get engaged to me?"
That would be great! If he could marry Xiao Ran, he wouldn't have to make tofu when he grew up, and he would directly become the son-in-law of the Magistrate...
Fu Da Qiang smacked him on the forehead, "Engaged to whom? Xiao Ran is already your third uncle's daughter-in-law. Alas, you useless thing, when will you marry a noble lady? Then your mother and I can close our eyes in peace!~"
Fu Xiao Qiang: "..."
Dad, why do you compare everything to the old Yun family? They have Sweet Baby, who is blessed with endless good fortune, and even heaven favors them.
If you were capable, you'd have my mother give birth to a lucky baby or something. If he got lucky, maybe he could even marry the Emperor's daughter.
"Why are you staring blankly? Am I wrong?" Fu Da Qiang kicked his son again.
Fu Xiao Qiang 'humphed' and ran away, holding his backside...
At the appointed time, various dishes were served like flowing water, steaming and fragrant.
The firecrackers outside the main gate were lit, crackling loudly.
Xiao Jinfeng and Gu Mingyan sat at the main table with the Yun family and presented their gifts at the same time.
The Azure Peak Sword and the Purple Sandalwood Folding Fan, as soon as these two items were brought out, they attracted everyone's attention...
Although they didn't know how much these things were worth, they were clearly very valuable.
Yun San Man raised his wine glass and toasted everyone in turn, his joy indescribable.
Gao Jingde and Chen Xiao Ran sat on their stools like well-behaved children, shy and unable to speak.
Just then, two men suddenly walked in from outside the Yun family's gate...