It wasn’t until half a month later that Tang Guo’er finally found another opportunity to go to the market.
With the start of spring, there were plenty of prey in the mountains, so Tang Xiao spent most of his time hunting there. After delivering fruits to Beide Road, Tang Yuan and Tang Guo’er headed straight home. Tang Guo’er often made excuses to go to the market, but his straightforward older brother always refused.
The time before last, Tang Guo’er said he wanted to go to the market to buy soy sauce, but Tang Yuan said, “Your sister-in-law bought some not long ago,” leaving him speechless. Last time, he used the excuse of wanting to watch street performances, but Tang Yuan said, “What’s so interesting about that? I’ll perform for you at home” …
Tang Guo’er was exhausted. If this dragged on any longer, the persimmons would be out of season.
Fortunately, Tang Yuan mentioned that he wanted to go to the East Market to buy pastries today. Tang Guo’er’s ears perked up. Lu Xuesong was near the newly opened pastry shop last time. Perhaps, he thought, they might run into each other again.
“Then let’s hurry. They might sell out if we’re late,” Tang Guo’er urged without showing his eagerness.
“Are you tired? If you are, sit on the cart, and I’ll pull you,” Tang Yuan said.
“Not tired, not tired. Let’s hurry, Da-ge.”
Tang Yuan found his behavior strange, though he couldn’t quite figure out why. With this odd feeling, he and Tang Guo’er arrived at Hu’s Pastry Shop.
The cart was empty and left outside under the watch of a servant. Tang Guo’er’s eyes darted around. “Da-ge, you go buy the pastries. There’s a sweet drink stall up ahead, I’ll go take a look.”
With that, he dashed off.
Tang Yuan shouted after him, “Don’t go too far! Come back quickly!”
“Got it, Da-ge!” Tang Guo’er called back as he walked toward where he had last seen Lu Xuesong.
This area was crowded and on a main road. With just a turn, he could see the pastry shop. If he encountered any troublemakers, his brother would hear him if he shouted.
The two persimmons in his hand had just ripened, perfectly ripe for eating. The last two times he couldn’t make it to the East Market, the persimmons he had saved ended up being eaten by himself. Tang Yuan, thinking he was just craving them, gave him two this time without him even asking.
Tang Guo’er slowed down his pace and looked around, but didn’t see Lu Xuesong. Growing anxious, he was about to check a side alley when a surprised voice called from behind.
“Guo’er!”
Tang Guo’er turned around. It was Lu Xuesong.
“Found you at last!”
Tang Guo’er’s eyes curved into smiles as he handed over the persimmons. “Here, I promised to treat you.”
Lu Xuesong, carrying a bamboo basket on his back, wiped his hands on his clothes before accepting the two persimmons. “They’re really big.”
“Of course. These are from my family’s tree, not the neighbors’.” Tang Guo’er grinned.
“I steamed the egg you gave me last time and ate it. It was delicious.”
Lu Xuesong chuckled foolishly, turned his bamboo basket to the front and pulled something out.
Thinking he was about to give him eggs again, Tang Guo’er quickly said, “I don’t want them. Keep them to sell!”
Lu Xuesong paused, then smiled faintly. “They’re not eggs. I found some pretty flowers in the mountains yesterday and made a flower garland.”
Lu Xuesong took out the garland and was very happy to see that it was not damaged. “This is for you. It didn’t cost any money.”
Tang Guo’er’s eyes widened. “You even know how to make these too!”
He also enjoyed playing with grass and flower garlands, though most of the time he played that game with Tang Ting. It is rare to see a man playing this.
Lu Xuesong was a little embarrassed, stretched his hands forward.”I learned from my brother. Last time, I saw him make one for Xiao Man-ge.”
Tang Guo’er thought about it for a moment, feeling that this was a strange thing to say, but he didn’t think much about it and happily accepted it, saying, “It’s pretty. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lu Xuesong smiled. “Will you… will you come to the East Market again soon?”
“I’m not sure,” Tang Guo’er paused. “Do you want to come find me?”
Having his feelings laid bare so bluntly, Lu Xuesong instantly flushed red. “Yes, I… I want to see you.”
Tang Guo’er finally reacted and stammered, “You… why do you want to find me?”
“Guo’er, I…”
Before Lu Xuesong could finish, Tang Yuan called for Tang Guo’er from the pastry shop entrance. Tang Guo’er clenched his fists and whispered, “Go to Hedong Village. Anyone can tell you where my house is. I… I have to go.”
With that, he turned and ran off.
Lu Xuesong stood rooted in delight. Did Tang Guo’er’s words mean he agreed to let him visit?
Tang Guo’er felt embarrassed only after he calmed down. What kind of ge’r would tell a man where they lived? He pressed his hands to his cheeks and it took a while for him to cool down.
“Where are the persimmons?” Tang Yuan asked.
“Sold them. And… I bought a flower garland.” Tang Guo’er said naturally.
Tang Yuan didn’t suspect a thing and nodded. “Where did you buy it? It’s quite pretty. I’ll get one for your sister-in-law too.”
“They’re sold out.”
Tang Guo’er answered without hesitation. “This was the last one.”
“Then never mind.” Tang Yuan looked disappointed.
Tang Guo’er lowered his head to hide his smile. Going out with his older brother was much easier than with his father.
After returning home, Tang Guo’er placed the garland on the small table in his room so that he could see it every day when he combs his hair. His heart filled with a faint sense of anticipation, wondering when Lu Xuesong would come to find him.
However, before Lu Xuesong came, his parents started arranging another marriage for him.
Tang Guo’er’s face scrunched up like a steamed bun as he listened to his mother describe the potential match. Softly, he said, “Mother, I don’t want to. I don’t like him.”
“What’s this about liking or not liking? People will laugh at us if they hear it. Their family isn’t as well-off as ours, but they’re honest, unlike the Fei family. They would never mistreat you.”
Tang Guo’er already met the man his mother mentioned. He’s so hones he was practically tongue-tied and unable to utter a word for ages. Tang Guo’er pouted. “I just don’t want to. Mother, I want to stay home a while longer.”
“You’ll be seventeen soon. What will people think if you stay home any longer? Outsiders will think something is wrong, that we refuse to let a ge’r marry out!” Huang Shuang frowned.
Tang Guo’er grew agitated. “I just won’t marry him, hmph!”
He stormed back to his room, lay on the bed, and pulled the quilt over himself until he couldn’t breathe, then finally pushed it aside.
Huang Shuang and Tang Xiao’s voices grew louder. Huang Shuang scolded him for being spoiled and daring to throw tantrums over marriage matters. Tang Xiao tried to comfort her, sighing repeatedly.
A wave of grievance rose in Tang Guo’er’s heart.
Because of this, the atmosphere at home grew tense. Even Tang Yuan’s three children noticed and were careful not to upset Huang Shuang.
Though troubled, Tang Guo’er didn’t neglect his work to earn money. He went to the household behind the village to inspect their harvested sweet oranges. The quality was good, and he found them very sweet upon tasting. He then helped the family’s elderly a-mo carry them home.
The family growing sweet oranges also bore the surname Tang, but they were not closely related. If there was, it was by a very distant connection.
As Tang Guo’er and Old Tang walked slowly, he spotted a familiar figure looking around the village entrance. His eyes lit up. It was Lu Xuesong.
Tang Guo’er wanted to call out but hesitated because someone was with him. By the time he finished storing the sweet oranges and went over, Lu Xuesong was gone.
Tang Guo’er deflated. Was it because he was too slow? Did Lu Xuesong lost patience waiting for him?
He pouted and sulked all the way home.
When Tang Guo’er went to town with Tang Yuan again to deliver fruits, and Qiao Suiman pulled him aside to ask if he had someone he liked, Lu Xuesong’s image immediately flashed in his mind. Tang Guo’er quickly denied it. “I… I don’t like him!”
It has been almost half a month since Lu Xuesong gave him the garland, and he hasn’t come to Hedong Village to find him. That sudden appearance before didn’t count.
Hmph, liar. And he even told him where he lived.
Tang Guo’er was angry the entire way back, not even noticing how strange his older brother’s expression was, nor the way he kept sneaking glances at him.
At home, Tang Yuan and his parents were discussing something in the room. Tang Guo’er wasn’t interested, it was surely about his marriage.
The previous match didn’t work out, and Huang Shuang was already looking for the next one. Tang Guo’er felt utterly helpless with no one to turn to, and not even his own father would help him.
The garland Lu Xuesong had given him was still there, but the flowers had wilted. Tang Guo’er looked at it angrily, picked it up, and headed out to throw it away, but couldn’t bring himself to do it and put it back.
It wasn’t until the fourth month that his parents finally revealed their plans to him.
“The Lu family in Xiahe Village. Their second son, Lu Xuesong. You’ve met him, haven’t you?” Huang Shuang said.
Tang Guo’er instantly turned toward Tang Xiao, only to see his father’s gaze shifting somewhere else, unable to meet his eyes.
Under his mother’s knowing look, Tang Guo’er admitted softly, “I have.”
“How many times?”
Tang Guo’er counted on his fingers: once when delivering crabapple to the Lu family, once at the shop, twice at the East Market, and once in the village though Lu Xuesong didn’t see him that time…
“Five times,” Tang Guo’er mumbled.
“You!”
Huang Shuang patted her chest, calming herself before continuing. “The Lu family has expressed interest. Your father and I inquired about them. Since we’ve been doing business with their drink shop, they’re trustworthy. Tomorrow, your older brother will deliver fruits and discuss it with them.”
Tang Guo’er stood frozen. “What do you mean?”
Huang Shuang couldn’t help but smack his head. Tang Xiao immediately protested, “Hey, just talk properly. Why hit the child?”
Huang Shuang glared at him. Such an important matter, and he conspired with their son to hide it from her.
Tang Xiao smiled awkwardly and turned to Tang Guo’er. “What else could it mean? They want to propose!”
Tang Guo’er clutched his head, eyes wide. “Lu Xuesong wants to propose?”
“Really?!” Tang Guo’er jumped to his feet, his eyes sparkling with delight as he exclaimed in surprise.
“So you didn’t like any of the others because you’ve set your eyes on him,” Huang Shuang said unhappily.
Tang Guo’er realized it later and felt embarrassed, “Mother, I… I didn’t.”
“You’re still pretending,” Huang Shuang sighed. “Your brother told us about this last month, but I couldn’t decide.”
“I originally wanted you to marry someone in the village. It’s close to home, and you could come back quickly if anything happens. The Lu family is in Xiahe Village. It’s not exactly far, but they’ve only been there a short while and haven’t put down deep roots yet. Their household does big business, so I was afraid you’d be wronged there.”
Huang Shuang continued, “Your father and brother have dealt with them more. They said that the eldest son of the Lu family and his fulang are easy to get along with, and you get along well with the Qiao family’s ge’r too. That’s why I agreed.”
Understanding his parents’ concerns, Tang Guo’er lowered his head and said quietly, “Qiao-gege is very good to me. He always treats me to drinks every time I visit.”
Huang Shuang sighed helplessly. “All you care about is eating and drinking.”
Tang Xiao finally found a chance to speak. “Someone from the Lu family will be here in a few days. Don’t go out these days.”
“I understand, Father.”
Tang Guo’er obediently agreed.
Sure enough, on the twelfth of the fourth month, Miao Lianhua and Lu Dongqing brought several gifts to propose. Tang Guo’er stayed in his room, smiling until his eyes curved. He glanced at the garland and chuckled to himself.
After Miao Lianhua and Lu Dongqing left, Tang Guo’er came out of the room. Huang Shuang and Tang Xiao were clearly satisfied with the Lu family’s sincerity.
Not only did they bring three major gifts like sugar, meat, and pastries, but they also offered five taels of silver as dowry without being asked, with no shortage of fabric and other customary items.
They even agreed to let Tang Guo’er stay until next year. Huang Shuang was overjoyed, and the slight unease in her heart vanished completely.
A new garland lay on the table. Huang Shuang picked it up and smiled. “He gave this to you. Put it away.”
Tang Guo’er grinned from ear to ear and immediately went to his room to try it in front of the bronze mirror.
So pretty.
The two families were thus engaged. In the following days, when others tried to propose matches for Tang Guo’er, Huang Shuang declined them all. Soon, the village knew Tang Guo’er’s marriage was settled.
A couple of days later, as Tang Guo’er was strolling home with some mulberries he picked from the mountain, he saw Lu Xuesong under the village’s large banyan tree.
Lu Xuesong’s eyes lit up. Tang Guo’er shyly touched his head. For some reason, today he went out wearing the new flower garland.
Author [陳皮皮梅]: Previously on chapter 88-89, hehe.
If you enjoy my translations, consider buying me a milk tea 🥛🍵
