Chapter 130

Chapter 130

After seeing Zhang Wengong off, Xiao Zhen turned and walked inside, stepping through the hanging flower gate. He saw several of his younger brothers shouting and preparing to compete in spear skills.

Third Younger Brother was already married, while Fifth Younger Brother was still young and didn't need to worry about it yet.

Fourth Younger Brother had many thoughts. When teased by others, he once said he dared not marry Second Sister-in-law's younger sister, fearing that any quarrel with his wife would offend Second Sister-in-law as well. Always yielding to his wife would make him feel stifled. In fact, it was clear that Zhou Gui had no interest in him, so he didn't want to push for a marriage between relatives.

The two cousins looked kind and friendly, but unfortunately, they were only polite to outsiders. At home, they spoke without restraint, and Zhou Gui in the eastern courtyard could hear everything clearly, surely frightened by those rough words. She rarely came to the West Court.

What a good girl, none of his own brothers deserved her.

"What are you thinking, Second Brother?" Xiao Ye asked warily, always feeling that his elder brother's gaze on them seemed a bit off.

The others also looked over.

Xiao Zhen: "I'm thinking that you shouldn't just focus on martial arts practice; you should also read more books."

The five of them snorted in unison.

Xiao Yan: "On New Year's Day, don't say such dampening things. Second Brother, come over quickly. We six will draw lots and fight in pairs."

Xiao Zhen: "You go ahead and draw, I'll be back in a moment."

Saying this, he quickly went to the East Wing Courtyard.

Tong Sui had been waiting for him. Her mother had asked her to sound out Zhang Wengong, to see if he was engaged, definitely on behalf of her cousin.

Recalling the conditions her cousin had set, Zhang Wengong was indeed suitable. He had the skills to protect her cousin and was steady and courteous in his speech and actions.

Tong Sui couldn't do the probing herself, so she entrusted the task to Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen entered the room and smiled at her: "Wengong is still single. He's smart and guessed we wanted to matchmake him with your cousin."

Tong Sui: "What did he say?"

Xiao Zhen: "You saw how he blushed. He's definitely willing, but he's afraid your cousin won't like him."

Tong Sui said happily: "I'll ask my cousin. It's likely to work out, otherwise, my mother wouldn't have urged me to find out."

Xiao Zhen: "Our mother."

Tong Sui gave him a playful glare.

Xiao Zhen pulled her into his arms and touched her face, asking: "If it were peaceful times, would you prefer someone like me or someone with a scholarly air like your cousin?"

His hands moved somewhat playfully, which Tong Sui found unusual during the day. She grabbed his hand and said: "You've read a lot of books."

Xiao Zhen: "Do I have a scholarly air?"

Tong Sui couldn't hold back a laugh.

Perhaps when he was eighteen, Second Master Xiao had a scholarly air. But after six years of fighting on the battlefield, the first time he appeared before her, he exuded only sternness and authority.

"It's not just about having a scholarly air. You're better-looking than Wengong. If you two stood together, I'd definitely look at you first," Tong Sui said honestly. "Anyway, Mother is waiting for my news."

Xiao Zhen: "Are the elder sisters here?"

Tong Sui: "In the main hall, they can definitely see. There will be three matches."

Tong Sui nodded.

When the couple arrived, the whole family was standing in the courtyard. The old master stood under the eaves on the left with his sons and sons-in-law, while the women stood on the right.

As soon as Tong Sui reached Liu Chu's side, she heard Xiao She say: "Second Brother, let's fight."

Xiao Zhen glanced at the other younger brothers and asked: "Drawn lots?"

Xiao Yan laughed: "We four drew lots, deliberately leaving you for Fifth Younger Brother. What, Second Brother, are you afraid of Fifth Younger Brother?"

Xiao Zhen didn't respond, just started warming up his hands.

All six brothers had brought their spears, all of which were fine weapons that the old master had spent a fortune on for his sons. Among them, Xiao She's spear was the heaviest, weighing over sixty pounds.

The old master said: "Just touch and stop. Whoever gets angry will get a beating from me."

Xiao Ye: "Grandfather, don't worry. We know each other well, it's just for fun to entertain you."

Those who weren't up next stood under the eaves of the east and west wings. Xiao Zhen and Xiao She went first.

Brothers who had sparred countless times knew each other's moves well, making it hard to determine a winner. Whenever the two heavy spears clashed, they produced a thunderous, drum-like sound that made the spectators' heads buzz.

Tong Sui couldn't help but clench her fists.

After dozens of rounds, taking advantage of Xiao She's unsteady landing after a jump, Xiao Zhen swept his spear backward, hitting Xiao She's calf.

Xiao She stumbled, almost falling.

Xiao Zhen retracted his spear, and Xiao She grunted, stepping aside with a lingering desire to continue.

Xiao Zhen glanced at his wife under the eaves.

He heard light laughter and teasing, and Tong Sui felt her face heat up.

Even if she used to like men with a scholarly air, it was only because she hadn't seen the heroic demeanor of martial artists.

Next, it was Xiao Yan against Qiao Changan. As they fought, Qiao Changan suddenly ran away with his spear: "Forget it, forget it. Third Sister-in-law is watching. Even if I could win, I wouldn't dare to, or Third Brother would resent me for the whole year."

Xiao Yan: "Nonsense, you can't beat me at all!"

Uncle Xiao spoke fairly: "This round is indeed a loss for Chang'an."

Xiao Yan puffed out his chest and looked at Lin Ningfang.

Lin Ningfang lowered her lashes, glancing at the old man, thinking: Are the nobles born of a different seed?

Xiao Ye and Qiao Changshun were evenly matched and hastily stopped their sparring due to a guest's arrival.

---

Tong Sui came to the eastern courtyard, where the women sat in the room whispering.

At the mention of Zhang Wengong, Zhou Gui blushed first.

Zhou Qing laughed: "Look, last night when Grandfather praised Zhang Wengong, Ah Xiang even talked back, saying Grandfather should marry him himself. Today, seeing him, she’s a different person."

Zhou Gui: "It's all your fault. I didn’t expect to run into Zhang Wengong as soon as I stepped out. If it weren't for his having carried my grandfather, I wouldn’t have stayed there to listen to Second Brother’s nonsense."

Jiang Shi: "So what do you really think? He already has feelings for you. The fear is that you don’t like him. If you truly have no interest, we should clear things up early so he doesn’t pine away in vain."

Tong Sui looked encouragingly at her cousin, thinking it was good to speak her mind about liking or disliking someone.

Zhou Gui lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers: "He seems quite pleasant, but one meeting isn’t enough to tell much. He doesn’t understand my temper, and I don’t know him either. My sister and brother-in-law married blindly because the two villages were far apart and they had no other choice. Since both of us live in the city, I’d like to get to know him better first."

Jiang Shi was surprised: "How do you plan to get to know him? He’s a very busy person."

Zhou Gui: "Doesn’t he get three days off each month? If he likes me, he could spend half an hour with me on the streets during his rest days. After a few visits, we’ll be more familiar with each other."

Jiang Shi: "...I’ve never heard of such a way to court someone."

Zhou Gui: "You and Father grew up together, and before your marriage, you even lived under the same roof. Uncle also visited our family clinic five or six times a month before marrying Aunt. Only my sister is silly, agreeing to marry without ever meeting the man, not even fearing a pockmarked face."

Tong Sui: "...I’ve never met him, but everyone knows the Xiao family, and their sons are widely acknowledged as handsome. That’s why I dared to marry."

She wasn’t foolish!

Zhou Qing laughed: "Alright, alright, this time it’s Ah Xiang’s turn to choose a husband. Whatever she says goes."

Tong Sui thought for a moment and said: "Then on the fifth day of the month, ask Second Master to inquire about his intentions. If he’s willing, I and Second Master will accompany you both for a stroll."

Zhou Gui: "If Brother-in-Law is too busy, forget it. I doubt he has the courage to bully the second madam of the Xiao family’s younger sister."

---

On the 15th day of the first month, the Lantern Festival, the city gates of Wei City closed on schedule, and the curfew was lifted for three consecutive nights within the city.

The Xiao family’s backyard faced a river, and shops of all sizes on the opposite bank hung lanterns to celebrate the festival.

Madam He, Aunt Xiao, and their daughters, daughters-in-law, and children spent the evening wandering through the lantern fair. Since there wasn’t much new beyond the additional lanterns, one night was enough, and they didn’t go out the next evening.

Tong Sui put on a cloak and quietly followed Xiao Zhen out the door.

Zhang Wengong was already waiting outside, his face flushed, whether from embarrassment or the red lanterns hanging at the Xiao family’s gate.

Xiao Zhen chatted with him while Tong Sui went to the eastern courtyard to fetch her cousin.

By the riverside, Tong Sui, following her cousin’s hint, walked ahead with Xiao Zhen.

There were fewer people by the river tonight than last night. Tong Sui secretly turned back to observe how her cousin and Zhang Wengong were getting along, but each time she was caught by her cousin.

Xiao Zhen suddenly took her hand: "Let’s enjoy ourselves; we don’t need to worry about them."

Tong Sui: "Alright, let go of me first."

Xiao Zhen didn’t let go.

About ten steps away, Zhou Gui saw this scene and turned to look at Zhang Wengong.

Panic-stricken, Zhang Wengong also turned his head, leaving his back to the girl.

Zhou Gui found it amusing: "I want to look at you, why are you looking the other way?"

Zhang Wengong had no choice but to turn back, unsure of how to respond.

Zhou Gui: "Grandfather praised you for being polite. Why don’t you talk to me?"

Zhang Wengong stammered: "I, I rarely interact with girls, I don’t know what to say."

Zhou Gui: "Are there no girls in your village who like you? Your father is the Village Headman, and your family is considered wealthy in Pine Village."

Zhang Wengong glanced at the path ahead and then at the girl beside him, explaining: "Since I was twelve or thirteen, I’ve been learning martial arts at the Xiao family. I only stay in Pine Village for meals, sleep, and when help is needed at home."

Zhou Gui: "That explains why Brother-in-Law treats you like a brother and even assigns you important tasks like the Imprisoned Dragon Ridge mission."

Zhang Wengong: "The Xiao family has shown me great kindness..."

Before he finished speaking, he noticed a man carrying a child passing by. The child held a half-eaten skewer of candied haws, leaning crookedly, with the sharp end pointing at Zhou Gui.

Zhang Wengong immediately raised his hand to protect Zhou Gui’s side face and head.

The child thought he was trying to take the skewer and clung closer to his father’s chest.

Zhang Wengong paid no attention and withdrew his hand.

Zhou Gui bit her lip and ordered: "I want to eat one too, go buy me a skewer."

Zhang Wengong: "Sure, it should be up ahead."

At the end of the first lunar month, Xiao Shouyi continued to stay in Yun County, while Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, Qiao Changshun, and Sun Dian, these four young men, returned.

Sun Dian came to the Xiao family for a cup of tea before heading back to Lingshui Village.

Qiao Changan sighed to Xiao Ye and Qiao Changshun, "Cousin Zhou from the Zhou family is about to get married."

Qiao Changshun spat out his mouthful of tea.

Xiao Ye also asked, "Which brat moved so fast?"

Qiao Changan: "Zhang Wengong, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law arranged the match themselves."

Xiao Ye,不甘心地说: "Is he more handsome than me?"

Qiao Changshun: "A defeated opponent."

Qiao Changan: "Exactly, when it comes to being quick with numbers, he can't compare to me either."

Xiao She looked puzzled, when did Cousin Zhou and Zhang Wengong get together? He was also in Weicheng, how could he not know?

Xiao Yan laughed at their misfortune, seeing his second brother arrive, he stopped him and asked, "Second Brother, tell them where they went wrong."

Facing four discontented faces, Xiao Zhen calmly summarized, "Insufficient reading."

The four of Xiao Ye: "..."

"Forget it, let's go find Wengong and settle the score, we'll drink up his entire month's military pay!"