Chapter 98 Sweet as Honey

Chapter 98 Sweet as Honey

Xianjin came from the modern era and didn't have a strong belief in the concept of clan.

Even for those "relatives" who mocked her as the daughter of a nouveau riche father, unable to even run, at dinner tables in her past life, her father adhered to the "Three No's": "No engagement, no tolerance, no endurance."

When the aunts and matchmakers gossiped incessantly, her father retaliated with their own tactics. Not only did he gossip back, but he also tirelessly nagged them until he was provoked to call them in the middle of the night, shouting, "Hey, you're talking nonsense about my daughter! Are you out of your mind?!"

After a few such incidents, the aunts and matchmakers would run away with their mouths shut when they saw the family. There were no more relatives daring to gossip behind their backs, making every New Year's Eve dinner incredibly pleasant.

Incredibly pleasant.

However, this comfort was shattered by Chen Jianfang.

Xianjin pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the slender and strong fingers of Chen Jianfang as he pinched his nose.

The young man must have held a brush for a long time.

Just looking at his hands, veins stood out on the backs of his hands, and his fingers were long and straight, giving an immediate impression of strength and resilience.

Xianjin swallowed hard, taking a deep breath and shaking her head fiercely.

Focus, girl!

The concept of clan today is different from the modern idea of flipping tables or cutting ties with strange relatives.

For the ancients, the clan was the root.

It was the foundation that allowed the tree to grow outward, upward, and toward the sky.

Without a clan, one was like a floating weed, drifting aimlessly without ever finding a shore.

Especially for Chen Jianfang.

He, and even his father, had received education, paid for their tuition, and received respect from teachers—all funded by the Chen family.

Not by Old Lady Qu, not by his father, but by the entire Chen family.

The entire Chen family tacitly agreed to allocate all resources, money, and power to the eldest branch, providing them with as much support as possible during rituals, property distribution, and benefit allocation.

In return, the beneficiaries of this support were expected to lead the entire family to greater heights.

Chen Fu's brother, the star of hope, achieved this.

But halfway through, he fell.

And now they needed to start over again.

Chen Jianfang was the wing.

Wings cannot choose which feathers to discard.

Xianjin swallowed her words, slumping her shoulders and waving her hand dismissively.

This was his responsibility, and it was better that he took it on than shirking it.

Xianjin was about to speak when Chen Jianfang said, "The Zhang family plans to offer two thousand taels of silver for a bride. Our family will certainly provide a thousand-tael dowry. Since they show sincerity, we should too. I'll write to Grandmother to explain the situation..."

Xianjin nodded.

If the star of hope intervened, Zuo Niang's dowry would not be a source of embarrassment at the Zhang family.

Whether the Zhang family needs it is one thing.

Whether Zuo Niang has it is another.

Xianjin smiled, looking carefree, "Zuo Niang is fortunate. You, her second brother, are working hard to help her."

Chen Jianfang was looking down at the gift box and list sent by the Zhang family, blurting out without thinking, "When you marry, Third Uncle will empty his pockets."

Only after speaking did he realize his mistake.

Chen Jianfang pursed his lips, flipping through the list with a rustling sound.

Xianjin didn't find anything wrong with his words, smiling, "Third Uncle agreed that I can delay marriage."

Chen Jianfang silently repeated three times: Discussing marriage with a young girl is inappropriate, discussing marriage with a young girl is inappropriate, discussing marriage with a young girl is inappropriate...

However, hearing Xianjin's words, Chen Jianfang clearly paused, then put down the list, raised his head, and frowned, "What did you say?"

Xianjin thought he hadn't heard clearly, took a deep breath, and shouted, "I said! Third Uncle agreed that I don't have to get married!"

Chen Jianfang's ears almost went deaf.

How could this girl have such a powerful voice?

It sounded like she was about to go up the mountain to fight a tiger.

Chen Jianfang silently rubbed his earlobes and shook his head.

It wasn't that he hadn't heard clearly; it was that he hadn't understood.

Xianjin realized this and explained again, "Marriage... is optional. I have a job—as the chief manager and accountant. The Chen family pays me twenty taels a month, more than what legitimate daughters and sons receive!"

That was true.

Chen Jianfang himself only received twelve taels a month, plus the rice and silk provided by the government due to his status as a juren, totaling fifteen taels.

Indeed, Xianjin's monthly salary was higher than his.

Chen Jianfang nodded thoughtfully.

Xianjin continued, "Moreover, the Chen family promised to lease me a small two-compound courtyard for my exclusive residence, and they would provide maids, servants, and a carriage with horses."

Chen Jianfang frowned instinctively. "A young girl, how can she live alone? Even in peaceful times, one must have precautions against the comings and goings of people."

Xianjin nodded in agreement. "Therefore, I did not move out. Instead, I deducted two taels of silver from my monthly allowance and gave it to Aunt Zhang as rent."

Chen Jianfang was stunned.

This was the first time he had heard this explanation.

"How can this be!" Chen Jianfang found it absurd. "Regardless of the fact that you are the daughter recognized by the Third Master in black and white, even if you are an orphan, the Chen family merely provided you with shelter. How could they charge you money?"

Xianjin extended a finger and solemnly waved it in front of Chen Jianfang. "Not talking about being a daughter, not an orphan. In this matter, to the Chen family, my identity is simply that of a worker—albeit a more important and better-paid one."

The initial spirit of a worker never changes.

Once it changes, it easily leads to imbalance.

Once there's imbalance, it means she has thoroughly integrated into this unfamiliar world—she may still bear the name He Xianjin, but she would no longer be her own He Xianjin, but the Chen family's He Xianjin.

That would mean her personality is no longer as equal as she insists it should be.

Chen Jianfang seemed to understand, yet remained puzzled, frowning deeply. After a long pause, he said, "What you've said, how does it relate to your... your... marriage?"

It seemed he used all his strength to utter the word "marriage."

Xianjin smiled. "Since I have money, a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat."

Recalling Qiao Shanchang's face filled with pain when he scolded her.

"Even books to read."

Thinking of Qiao Hui, Zuo Niang, Zhang Wenbo, Suo'er, and Aunt Zhang's rice cakes...

"A group of congenial friends and relatives."

Xianjin smiled, her clear and slightly raised eyebrows like the first clear sky after rain. "Why should I marry? Why should I give up my hard-earned career to cook and clean, plunging myself into an abyss from which I cannot escape?"

Chen Jianfang gazed at Xianjin with a deep and serious expression.

No one knew what he was pondering.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze, Xianjin lowered her head and looked away.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Jianfang smiled, a genuine, clear, and light-hearted smile appearing on his usually stern face.

"Marriage can also allow you to continue your..."

Chen Jianfang seemed to be searching for the right term, smiling as he uttered two words, "career."

"The two are not mutually exclusive."

"Xianjin, do you think this is possible?"

In front of Chen Jianfang, the large gift box sent by the Zhang family was wide open, containing lotus roots, tea cakes, brown sugar, and Daughter Red wine.

The four betrothal gifts.

Lotus roots symbolize continuous growth and prosperity.

Tea cakes signify completeness and lasting sweetness.

Wine represents a long-lasting relationship.

What does brown sugar symbolize?

Xianjin fell into deep thought. When she looked up again, she met Chen Jianfang's deep and earnest eyes, his dark brown pupils viscous and stringy like melted brown sugar.

Xianjin felt dizzy.

Oh.

She remembered.

Brown sugar is very sweet.

Following one's heart, as sweet as honey.