Chapter 172 City Streets 72

Chapter 172: Urban Life in Fucheng 72

"What? A marriage proposal?"

Inside the He Family Escort Agency, He Kuan and his wife were seated in the main chairs. A little girl, four or five years old, was perched on He Kuan's knee, munching on pastries, crumbs scattering down his trousers.

Standing before them was Chen Sanxi, the young man ramrod straight, his back perfectly erect.

"So, you've found a girl you fancy? Want to ask your shiniang to help you propose?"

It was He Kuan speaking. Seeing Chen Sanxi's silence, he asked again in surprise, his voice booming like a cracked gong, startling the girl on his knee. She pouted, then unhappily reached out a chubby hand to pat her father's knee, signaling him to lower his voice.

Madam He also shot He Kuan a chiding glance before turning a gentle smile toward Chen Sanxi, asking softly, "You're at the age to start a family. It's wonderful to have a girl you like. But may I ask which family's daughter it is?"

He Kuan seemed to remember the main issue only then, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes! Which girl is it?"

Chen Sanxi's face remained calm and unreadable, his tone steady and even, but his hands, hanging at his sides, unconsciously clenched his clothes.

"Master and Madam have both met her. She's the daughter of the Qin family from my hometown."

He Kuan paused, then immediately recalled someone, asking in pleasant surprise, "Oh! Is it Qin, the young physician?!"

Madam He was also both surprised and delighted, exclaiming repeatedly, "I should have guessed! A stubborn-minded man like you only softens around Miss Qin! She's a good girl too—clever and capable, a perfect match for you!"

"Ah, what good news, truly wonderful news!"

The He family were known for their kindness and integrity, and He Kuan, as the master, took his responsibilities seriously.

It's often said that a master's kindness is as weighty as a mountain, and that once a teacher, always a father. He Kuan truly treated his disciples like family.

Especially Chen Sanxi. For one, he was genuinely capable, a natural talent in martial arts. Though his personality was somewhat reserved, he was fair and upright, always repaying kindness, making him worth He Kuan's effort. Secondly, Chen Sanxi was an orphan, unlike other disciples who had parents to care for and dote on them aside from their master. He Kuan and Madam He inevitably showed him extra concern.

Therefore, after understanding the situation, Madam He was eager to help.

She said repeatedly, "Good, good! Very good! Leave this matter to me. I'll find a matchmaker tomorrow to inquire about the proper customs for marriage proposals."

Truth be told, Madam He was not very old herself and had only Yaya, one young daughter, so she had never actually helped anyone propose before.

But Chen Sanxi spoke first: "There's no rush for the proposal. I just wanted to inform Master and Madam beforehand."

He Kuan glared at him and said angrily, "How can this not be urgent? It's very urgent!"

"You're young and don't understand! They say 'a family with a daughter has a hundred suitors.' Qin, the young physician, is both capable and beautiful, her elder brother is educated, and her family is well-off! If you're late, you'll miss your opportunity!"

Chen Sanxi endured the scolding but still insisted, "I need to prepare the betrothal gifts properly. Besides, I've lived in the escort agency all these years in Fucheng and don't own a home."

"I was thinking... I should first find a courtyard. Only with a proper place to settle down would it be appropriate to propose."

The Qin family's fortunes were rising—their village house had been renovated, and they had bought a new courtyard in Fucheng. He couldn’t possibly propose empty-handed, without any prospects.

That said, Chen Sanxi wasn’t without money.

Working as an escort was tough, and escort assignments were not easy. But He Kuan was capable, running the agency well and treating his apprentices and escorts generously, giving substantial shares from each mission.

Chen Sanxi had saved quite a bit of money, but he had modest needs, didn't care much about food or clothing, so others couldn’t tell his financial standing.

Spending more than a hundred taels to buy a large courtyard like the Qin family's, with several rooms, might be difficult, but a young couple didn’t need such a big place. Buying a small courtyard with two rooms would be perfectly suitable.

Hearing Chen Sanxi's words, He Kuan gradually calmed down, feeling that his apprentice was thoughtful and made sense, and soon broke into a hearty smile.

"Indeed, indeed, you’ve really thought this through."

With that settled, Qin Banban brought it up openly with her family.

Cui Lanfang was initially surprised but soon lit up with excitement.

"Sanxi? Sanxi... Wonderful! Sanxi is a good boy! If it's him, I’d be happy with him!"

Cui Lanfang knew both her children knew their own minds when it came to marriage, and she couldn't make decisions for them, though she sometimes couldn't help but worry.

Hearing Qin Banban's words, she immediately felt relieved. Thinking further about Chen Sanxi, she grew even happier.

Sanxi was practically a child she’d watched grow up—responsible since childhood and sharing a deep, longstanding bond with her Banban.

With both families aware and approving of their relationship, all that remained was the formal marriage proposal to make it official.

Chen Sanxi was eager to house-hunt, but unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate. Intermittent rain made going out troublesome, delaying the search for a home.

For two whole months, it wasn’t until July that the rain gradually lessened and the skies cleared day by day.

The months of rain had subdued the summer heat. While July is usually hot, that year was exceptionally cool.

After several days of viewing properties with an agent, Chen Sanxi settled on an eighty-tael small courtyard near Spring Street’s Wedding Invitation Street—a name with auspicious connotations.

Most importantly, it was close to both Spring Street and Apricot Grove Street, and just a quarter-hour by boat to Riverside Street. Once married, Qin Banban would have easy access to her family home or the medical clinic. Plus, Spring Street was just around the corner, full of places women love to explore.

It was a bit farther from the He Family Escort Agency, but Chen Sanxi, tall and strong with a brisk pace, didn’t mind the distance at all.

Once Chen Sanxi decided on the place, he immediately made the purchase, paid the money, and signed the deed—now he was a property owner in Fucheng.

With the courtyard bought, he promptly provided funds for his shiniang to arrange the betrothal gifts and hired a matchmaker to formally propose.

The two young people were already of one heart, and both families were prepared, so the proposal was merely a formality. With all customs properly observed, everyone was thoroughly satisfied.

The wedding was set for September the following year—about a year away. It wasn’t too soon, nor too late, but Cui Lanfang still felt a pang of reluctance at the thought of her daughter marrying. Fortunately, they would all remain in the same city, not far apart.

After seeing the matchmaker and Madam He off, Cui Lanfang wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and smiled at Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi.

She asked, "Erlang, Guyu, what are your plans? Banban is the younger sister, yet her marriage is settled before yours."

Liu Guyu was lounging with one leg crossed over the other, happily shelling and eating the plump roasted sunflower seeds from the betrothal gifts, carefree and content, when he suddenly heard Cui Lanfang's words.

He looked up with a grin and said, "What do you want to do? I’m fine with anything. If you want it done quickly, Erlang and I can kowtow to you right now as a wedding ceremony, and we can have the wedding night this evening!"

"Pfft... cough, cough..."

Qin Rongshi had just taken a sip of tea and hadn’t swallowed yet when he heard Liu Guyu’s shocking remark. Startled, he choked and burst into a fit of coughing.

Cui Lanfang’s eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth hanging open for a long moment before she processed what Liu Guyu had said.

"Aiya! You rascal, your words are getting more and more improper! Have you no shame?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Qin Rongshi, who was still coughing violently, and flushed with embarrassment.

Liu Guyu, accustomed to being irreverent and especially loose-tongued around family, saw the extreme reactions from both mother and son and finally rubbed his nose sheepishly, settling down. Even his casually crossed leg came down, and he sat properly with legs together, as if the one who’d uttered the "shocking statement" wasn’t him at all.

Seeing Liu Guyu blinking innocently at her, Cui Lanfang sighed in both exasperation and amusement.

Shaking her head helplessly, she said, "Marriage is a serious matter! It can’t be done hastily and carelessly as you suggest! Well, you’re still young and don't understand these things properly. I’ll have someone pick an auspicious date in a few days—it’s time to get this settled."

Liu Guyu finally settled down and spoke earnestly: "Erlang has the provincial examination next month, which is the most important matter at hand. Let's set the date after the exam."

Cui Lanfang nodded upon hearing this, then stood up and left the main hall, giving the two young people some space.

Liu Guyu, who had only stayed well-behaved for barely fifteen minutes, stretched his neck to watch Cui Lanfang walk away step by step until she was out of sight. Then he crossed his legs again and was about to continue shelling sunflower seeds.

Just then, Qin Rongshi’s hand reached over, holding a palmful of shelled sunflower seeds—plump, slightly yellow, and roasted to a fragrant crisp.

"Hey, you shouldn't have!"

Liu Guyu chuckled, then scooped all the sunflower seeds from Qin Rongshi’s palm into his own hand.

After that, he continued asking, "I thought you were against Banban and Sanxi’s relationship, but seeing how Madam He came to propose today, you didn’t say anything."

Qin Rongshi: "I don’t disapprove. To be honest, Chen Sanxi is indeed a good match."

Still, being a good match and being displeased with him were two different things.

He didn’t say this to Liu Guyu but instead turned to look at him, who was picking sunflower seeds one by one and tossing them into his mouth. In a serious tone, he said, "The provincial exam is next month. According to Mother, she wants to get things moving quickly... You should focus on our matter first."

Liu Guyu paused, blinked at Qin Rongshi, then flashed him another grin.

"I’m not in a hurry. You should be the one in a hurry."

"You should read a couple more erotic picture books after the exam, so you don’t end up not knowing what to do on the wedding night!"

Playing on his seniority and knowledge from a later era, he started teasing him boldly.

As soon as he said this, Qin Rongshi indeed froze again, unable to speak for a long time.

Feeling victorious, Liu Guyu strutted proudly, then turned over Qin Rongshi’s palm and poured the remaining sunflower seeds back into it, even making a gesture of feeding them into his mouth.

He said, "Here, share some with you. Eating a handful at once tastes much better."

"Give it a try, little scholar."

After saying this, he brushed the seed shell crumbs from his hands, clasped them behind his back, and left the room cheerfully, like a proud rooster that had just won a battle.

Staring at Liu Guyu’s retreating figure, Qin Rongshi remained silent for a moment, then chuckled wryly.

Erotic books?

Did this guy really think he was some clueless, bookish nerd who only knew how to study?

Well, never mind. Since the exam was coming up, whether he understood such things or not would become clear after the exam, once the wedding date was set.

Qin Rongshi thought to himself.

But as luck would have it, the provincial examination was postponed.