"Mr. Feng Yi, my little girl Yoimiya is also of marriageable age. If you don't mind, let's have the wedding in the next two days!"
Ryunosuke drank his hot tea and said with a chuckle.
"Wait, Uncle Ryunosuke, wait a moment, let me catch my breath. I don't really approve of arranged marriages. True love is the foundation for a marriage to last. You see, I've only known Yoimiya for less than a day. Isn't this too hasty?"
Feng Yi quickly put down his hot tea and waved his hand.
"It doesn't matter. Matters of the heart can be resolved slowly after marriage. I've already asked Yoimiya's opinion, and she doesn't object..."
Ryunosuke also put down his teacup. To be honest, if it weren't for his high standards, Yoimiya would have been married and had children long ago.
This time, Feng Yi saved Yoimiya from the brink of death when she was severely injured. The Naganoara family had no way to repay this life-saving grace except to let Yoimiya offer herself in marriage.
Through observation during this period, Ryunosuke was very confident in his judgment. Feng Yi was humble, polite, and highly skilled, making him an excellent choice for a son-in-law.
Even though Feng Yi had no interest in inheriting the fireworks shop, it didn't matter. Yoimiya could manage the shop.
"Uncle Ryunosuke, Yoimiya, I don't mean it that way. If you just want to repay the life-saving grace, you don't have to go this far. There are many other ways..."
Seeing Yoimiya shyly burying her head in her chest, Feng Yi couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
"Mr. Feng Yi, my daughter Yoimiya is intelligent, lively, and beautiful. If you feel anything is not right, please feel free to say it directly."
Ryunosuke frowned. Yoimiya was beautiful, cheerful, and lively, which was evident to everyone in Inazuma City.
Over the years, many young men had sought her hand in marriage, and matchmakers had almost worn down the doorstep of the fireworks shop. However, Ryunosuke had always respected Yoimiya's wishes and refused them all.
This was enough to prove Yoimiya's excellence, so why was Feng Yi still hesitating?
"Uncle Ryunosuke, you misunderstand. Yoimiya is indeed beautiful, warm, and cheerful. But as you know, I am a traveler, and my aspiration is to roam the entire continent of Teyvat. I will not stay in one place for long. Therefore, I will not consider marriage until my travels are over. I hope Uncle Ryunosuke and Yoimiya can understand..."
Feng Yi spread his hands. A man as excellent as him always had such troubles.
"I see. Then I was being inconsiderate. Alright, let's put this matter aside for now..."
Ryunosuke stroked his beard and said. He hadn't really considered this point Feng Yi raised.
Afterward, Ryunosuke found an excuse to go out for a walk, leaving Feng Yi and Yoimiya alone.
Even if marriage wasn't possible now, cultivating their feelings further would be good.
"Yoimiya."
"Yes, I'm here!"
"Um... don't be nervous. I'd like to ask, where is your kitchen? I'll make you a nourishing medicinal meal to replenish your blood!"
Seeing Yoimiya looking reserved, Feng Yi couldn't help but smile faintly.
It was hard to believe that the normally carefree and cheerful Yoimiya could also appear so shy.
"It's this way, please follow me!"
Yoimiya quickly got up and led the way.
At first, her father had only mentioned this matter to her once. She hadn't refused, but she hadn't expected her father to act so quickly and propose marriage so soon.
Feng Yi was handsome, very comfortable to be around, and had saved her life. If she were to marry him and spend the rest of her life with him, Yoimiya wouldn't object.
When Feng Yi said, "True love is the foundation for a marriage to last," Yoimiya felt for the first time that Feng Yi was truly different from other men.
Well, how to put it? That sense of transcending worldly constraints gave her a feeling of equality and respect.
(In ancient times, arranged marriages based on parental decree and matchmaking were common, especially between wealthy families.)
If, in the past, she had accepted the idea of marriage solely to repay Feng Yi's kindness, then now, Yoimiya genuinely wanted to get to know Feng Yi better from the bottom of her heart.
"Yoimiya, what do you think about the marriage proposal from Uncle Ryunosuke? I'd like to hear your true feelings."
In the kitchen, Feng Yi, who was cooking Golden Bear Paws on the stove, asked Yoimiya, who was helping to stoke the fire.
"To be honest, my father usually respects my decisions in this matter. However, this time, my father said that my life was given by you, so it's reasonable to repay you with my whole person..."
"Feng Yi, perhaps you don't quite understand, but in Inazuma, children's marriages are generally decided by their parents. We rarely have the chance to refuse or choose. A marriage based on true love, like you mentioned, I, I've only ever read about it in storybooks..."
Yoimiya smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in her smile. This was the constraint of the era, and no one had ever wanted to break it.
Being content with the status quo, marrying whoever one's parents chose, and as long as the future husband had a decent job and treated her well, it was considered a blessing.
This was the wish of all marriageable girls.
"Yoimiya, while Uncle Ryunosuke isn't here, let me tell you some, um... 'heretical' words. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that marriage is the most important thing in life. It determines your life's state for the rest of your days. What is a marriage without love but a tomb? Pursuing marital happiness is everyone's right. Rules are sometimes meant to be broken!"
Feng Yi squatted on the ground and said in a hushed voice.
"I understand! Feng Yi, thank you!"
Yoimiya's eyes lit up upon hearing Feng Yi's "heretical words," and she looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes.
"It's nothing, but remember to keep this a secret for me!"
Feng Yi stood up and continued cooking the Golden Bear Paws, not forgetting to remind Yoimiya.
While his words were not wrong, they seemed particularly out of place in this era. If they were widely publicized, they would surely cause unrest in Inazuma's order.
In that case, the Tenryou Commission would likely invite him for a cup of tea in the shogunate's prison.
It was better to be safe than sorry, and Feng Yi didn't want to get into trouble.
"Mhm, this is our secret. No one else will know!"
Yoimiya nodded, looking at Feng Yi with a smile.
This conversation had instantly brought their previously unacquainted relationship much closer.
When Ryunosuke returned from his walk outside, he saw Yoimiya and Feng Yi tasting the dishes together, and it seemed their feelings had deepened considerably, making him feel greatly relieved.
"It's getting late, Uncle Ryunosuke, Yoimiya. I should be going now!"
"Yoimiya, please see Mr. Feng Yi off for me!"
"No problem, Father. I'll do it. Feng Yi, I'll walk you out!"
After eating the Golden Bear Paws, Yoimiya's pale complexion had regained its rosy glow. In the flickering lamplight, a hint of a shy blush could still be seen.