Chapter 665: Chapter 437: If He Wants to Marry You
"What? Me and little brother? What’s with me and little brother?"
Xiaomi looked completely bewildered by the question and didn’t understand why her elder brother was being so serious.
However, upon seeing Xiaomi’s expression, Jiang Yu immediately understood.
After a moment’s thought, instead of revealing the matter, Jiang Yu leisurely started talking about something else.
"Xiaomi, you’re about to turn fourteen, aren’t you?"
The topic was changing faster and faster, and Xiaomi felt a bit unable to keep up, but she still nodded: "Next New Year, I’ll be exactly fourteen."
Jiang Yu nodded: "Girls turn fifteen when they reach maturity. Generally, a year or two in advance, there will be marriage proposals."
Xiaomi’s face instantly turned gloomy. She didn’t want to rush into marriage so early.
Jiang Yu obviously didn’t care about Xiaomi’s reluctance and leisurely took a sip of tea.
"It’s a pity, though; since we’re new to Lishi City, no one knows there’s an unmarried girl in our family, and we ended up in this desolate place where you can’t find anyone for miles around."
Xiaomi muttered, "I think that’s just perfect, marriage proposals and all that are so annoying."
Not to mention the distant past, ever since her big brother became a Scholar and was in Nanyang Prefecture, and later when they returned to Xiangmu Village, matchmakers came almost every month.
Luckily, Brother Ze acted quickly. Within a few days of returning, he got engaged to the second sister, otherwise, neither she nor Brother Ze would have been able to escape.
Don’t think she didn’t know — when those matchmakers came to arrange a marriage for her big brother, they were eyeing the second sister and Brother Ze as well, their regret was almost tangible.
She also knew they were thinking about her and Xiao Wei, but since they were still young, their parents blocked everything, not letting the words reach her ears.
This was one of the biggest reasons she ran up the mountain every day.
Girls who are never home in these times indeed don’t have the best reputation, and when people talk about marriage, they do take that into account somewhat.
Jiang Yu, however, ignored her and continued on his own: "After all, you’re the daughter of a Marquis, even if we were in the Capital City, the number of marriage proposals would wear out the doorstep."
The Marquis may have only a nobility title, but the monthly salary shouldn’t be underestimated.
Though he had no real power, let’s not forget the actual merits of boosting grain production and benefiting millions of people.
As long as their family doesn’t commit any major offenses, even if there’s a change in dynasty, it wouldn’t affect them one bit.
Just based on that alone, many people would be eager to associate with the Marquis.
This isn’t Jiang Yu being arrogant; it’s what Uncle Liu had informed him bit by bit over the years.
Perhaps because Liu Ze abandoned his official pursuits, Big Brother Liu Qingfeng had taken office somewhere else, and Little Brother Liu Qingxuan was set to inherit the family business.
Liu Hongcai had nowhere to showcase his skills, so he took Jiang Yu under his wings, treating him like his own son. Be it court affairs, the ways of an official, or the responsibilities of a minister, he left nothing unsaid.
Coupled with Jiang Yu’s natural calmness and composure, even as a Scholar still studying, he had ample understanding of many things.
Xiaomi puffed up her cheeks: "Big brother, stop beating around the bush. You know my brain doesn’t work as well as yours. Just say what you mean, okay? Anything but marriage is negotiable."
Getting married in this era was far from comfortable, and while she trusted her family, she couldn’t trust others. Her secrets couldn’t be known by anyone else.
So marriage and such never even entered her realm of consideration.
Who knew Jiang Yu would suddenly say: "You wouldn’t marry Wei Ziang either?"
Xiaomi froze, dumbfounded: "What’s that got to do with little brother?"
Jiang Yu chuckled lightly: "There are times when you’re unexpectedly clever, but when you should be clever, you’re so dense?"
Xiaomi immediately protested: "Big brother! Be careful, or I’ll tell mom you’re bullying me!"
Jiang Yu shrugged: "Let me put it this way, if Wei Ziang wanted to marry you, would you marry him or not?"
Xiaomi rolled her eyes: "As if, how could little brother possibly want to marry...marry...big brother, what do you mean?"
The words that slipped out of her mouth became jumbled under Jiang Yu’s serious gaze.
Jiang Yu finished the remaining tea in his cup, stood up, and patted Xiaomi on the shoulder.
"Alright, I understand now, enjoy yourself. Big brother won’t disturb you anymore."
After saying this, he left the bewildered Xiaomi behind and walked out.
It wasn’t until big brother left that Xiaomi seemed to snap out of it, touched her head, and looked completely confused.
"What on earth did big brother mean today?"
Her brother had said so much, but she couldn’t grasp the point of anything.
It seemed like none of it was important, yet somehow it all felt important.
So strange and puzzling.
She shook her head, deciding not to think about it since it didn’t seem like a big deal anyway.
With this thought, Xiaomi stretched and stood up, taking a few teacups out to wash.
This whole ordeal nearly scared her to death.
It seemed Jiang Yu really came back early just to chat with Xiaomi alone, because by the time she went out, he was nowhere to be found, apparently back in the fields.
Although in three years he would have to take the provincial examination, Jiang Yu wasn’t in a hurry, leaving early and returning late each day with everyone else, only spending the hottest part of the day at home flipping through books.
Xiaomi had been worried before, fearing he might fall behind in his studies, but seeing her brother’s constant confidence, she stopped worrying so much.
After putting the washed cups back in the study, Ling’er returned, and Xiaomi fed her some Spiritual Spring water, a bit of chicken breast cooked in plain water, and a grape.
Ling’er seemed to have found enjoyment in working, and after eating, she urged Xiaomi to hurry and get two more pieces of potato because she wanted to plant them.
Xiaomi had no choice but to give it to her, not forgetting to remind her to be careful and not get caught by hunters or eagles.
Even though she knew the worry was unnecessary, she couldn’t help but nag a bit.
Thus, by the end of the day, Ling’er had run back and forth over ten times and eventually went back into the space, returning the body to Xiaoba by nightfall.
Poor Xiaoba, not even knowing what had happened, was utterly exhausted and spent the entire night moping around.
Fortunately, under the nourishment of Spiritual Spring water and various fruits, vegetables, and meats, it recovered in just one night.
Of course, Ling’er borrowed the body again the next day, and this cycle went on for half a month, needing no further elaboration.
However, when Ling’er finally got her fill and stopped running around, the map in Xiaomi’s hand had expanded over twice in size.
The map had every mountain, river, stream, and farmhouse clearly marked, along with a sandbox model.
It even included the people working that Ling’er had seen and noted at that moment.
Incredibly lifelike.