Sixth Wei was a little bit lively. Most of his classmates who were friends with him were also lively youths. Normally, they wouldn't hang out with Fourth Wei, who was quite old-fashioned and academic. Seeing that Sixth Wei brought him, everyone was stunned at first. Soon, they returned to normal and happily set off.
After the several youths arrived at Thousand Lotus Lake, Fourth Wei felt that he wasn't on the same vibe as Sixth Wei's classmates. After giving a head up to Sixth Wei, he walked to the other side of Thousand Lotus Lake alone.
"Sixth Wei, why did you bring your fourth elder brother here?" After watching Fourth Wei leave, the group of youths who usually don't like to study were all deeply relieved: "I always feel that the mountain isn't tall in front of your fourth elder brother and my hair stands on ends again and again!"
"Me too!" It seemed that there was more than one person who felt the same way.
Sixth Wei was a little bit dumbfounded: "So unpromising. My fourth elder brother is just a bit pedantic. Look how scared you are!"
When the group of young people heard what he said, they all laughed and started being rowdy. Fourth Wei, who walked away alone, naturally didn't know what they were talking about behind his back.
June weather was like a baby face, it can change in an instant. One moment, the sky was still clear, the next, it was pouring rain.
Fourth Wei didn't expect it to rain suddenly. Currently, it was a little far away from the pavilion. The nearest shelter was only a row of blue brick and tile houses by the Thousand Lotus Lake. So he had to shield the rain with his hands and stepped up his pace to run to the row of blue brick and tile houses to take shelter from the heavy rain.
However, the rain was too heavy. When Fourth Wei hid under the eaves, his green robe was already more than half wet. Looking helplessly at the gloomy sky covering the vast land and the rain that seemed endless at a glance, Fourth Wei sighed heavily: "Could it be that it's really an unlucky year?"
Amidst the heavy rain, a figure suddenly appeared. A girl in a lotus-green narrow-sleeved ruskirt was holding a few lotus flowers and lotus pods in her arms. In her left hand, she held a large lotus leaf over her head to shield herself from the rain. She briskly walked over to the blue brick house where he was.
"Fourth Miss!" At this time, the wooden door of the blue brick and tile house opened with a squeak. A woman with an oil-paper umbrella came out from inside, walked up to meet her, and then used the umbrella to protect the girl from the rain: "Old servant came over as soon as I saw the sky had changed. Are you okay?"
"Don't worry, Attendant. I have this!" The girl shook the lotus leaf she was still holding in her left hand and smiling brightly. So bright and moving as a lotus celestial fairy in the rain.
The attendant noticed that the corners of her skirt were a little wet and breathed a sigh of relief: "This old servant got someone to cook ginger soup. Miss, go change into dry clothes in a while and drink some ginger soup to get rid of the cold."
The master and servant chatted. Holding an umbrella, they slowly entered the blue brick house. It seemed that no one paid attention to Fourth Wei who was standing on the porch to avoid the rain. It wasn't until the wooden door closed again with a squeak that Fourth Wei recovered from his astonishment.
He idly stood under the eaves watching the bean-sized raindrops slamming into the lotus pond not far away. The distance and nearby were quiet. Only the noisy sound of rain covered up the hustle and bustle of time.
"This gentleman, the humble house had prepared some ginger soup. Please use some if you don't mind." The wooden door opened again with a squeak. The attendant who had just come out earlier was holding an umbrella in one hand and a bowl of hot ginger soup in the other.
Fourth Wei was a little surprised. He didn't expect the owner of this house to be so kind. He never liked to bother others though. So he cupped his hands and politely declined: "It's already a nuisance to borrow the door of your house to avoid the heavy rain, how can I give more trouble to the owner again?"
"Gentleman, you are polite. My master is kind-hearted. She won't hesitate to give this bowl of ginger soup when she encounters passers-by sheltering from the rain." The attendant insisted with a smile: "Although it is June, the rain is still heavy. It's not good if water vapor invades in."
It was the first time for Fourth Wei to meet such a stranger. He felt warm in his heart. Cupping his hands, he expressed his thanks: "Thank you so much then."
After receiving the white porcelain bowl filled with ginger soup, he downed it and returned the empty bowl: "Thank you."
The attendant smilingly looked at the young man, who was a little downcast by the heavy rain, but still looked very upright between his brows. She nodded with a grin. He was really a good and polite boy! Then she opened the door and went in with the empty bowl.
After Fourth Wei drank the hot and spicy ginger soup, he felt warmth spread in his limbs and bones. Even the tip of his nose leaked thin beads of sweat.
After another quarter of an hour, Sixth Wei, who was holding an umbrella and on a search, finally found Fourth Elder Brother. After the two brothers left under the same umbrella, the door of the blue brick house opened again. Dong Zhi, who came out with an umbrella, didn't find him. So she carried the spare umbrella back in.
Outside the blue brick and tile house, there was no one. Only the pitter-patter of rain.
***
In the night sky after the rain, a bright full moon was inlaid in the dark blue sky.
Waking up from a sweet dream, Fourth Wei put on his coat and stood under the porch as he watched the moonlight for a long time. It was only when a gust of night wind blew by, he came back to his senses. He turned around, went back to the room, took out a piece of good quality rice paper, and started to grind the ink. Only when the faint sound of servants walking outside and a red candle burned to the brim leaving only a pile of candle tears did Fourth Wei stretched himself and put down the writing brush in his hand.
On the rice paper pressed by a large white marble paperweight on the desk was a painting of a lotus celestial fairy. In the painting, the lotus celestial fairy embraced three or four lotus flowers that were blooming in their peak, with a faint smile on her lips. With just a few strokes, the girl's loveliness and innocence were all vividly depicted on the paper.
Second Madam Wei was so worried these days that she found a few white hairs. She really liked Su Family's lass. She was very good-looking, had a soft and cute smile, and normally had a very good temperament. But why did Son refuse to comply?
"If Mother really wants Fourth Elder Brother to agree and if the Miss is really as good as Mother said, Mother might as well arrange for Fourth Elder Brother to meet her. Maybe it will work out then?" Mrs. Yang, the daughter-in-law who was holding her son and sitting next to Madam Wei, suggested an idea.
Second Madam Wei's eyes lit up after hearing this: "That's right! Wasn't it the same for old Second at the beginning!" She was still very confident in the daughter-in-law she chose. First of all, she must pass the looks criteria first.
Hearing her mother-in-law mentioning her meeting with her husband, Mrs. Yang shyly lowered her head. Her mother-in-law was really different. Her mind and personality was really lively. She often did some surprising things, but she treated her very well. Furthermore, if it weren't for the astonishing actions of Mother-in-law back then, she and Husband probably wouldn't be where they were today!
"Son! Mother knows you've been studying hard recently. So I specially booked a banquet to reward you." Second Madam Wei was a doer. She booked a table at Sujiayan the next day and only brought along Fourth Wei.
Sitting in front of the revolving round table, Fourth Wei weakly looked at the table with eleven dishes: "Mother, there are only two of us, how can we finish the meal? This is too wasteful."
"It's nothing. Mother is in a good mood today. You can eat whatever you want." Madam Wei's maternal family was a well-known wealthy businessman in a neighboring prefecture. Madam Wei was the only daughter of their family. The dowry was enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. She was always generous in terms of money.
Fourth Wei only felt a dull pain between his eyebrows again. But before he came here, he was repeatedly ordered by Father not to make Mother angry. He could only push the helplessness in his heart. He clipped sweet-scented osmanthus eight-treasure duck into a bowl and began to eat, expressing that he didn't want to talk through his actions. While eating, he thought the feast at Sujiayan wasn't bad at all. With this, he easily dropped the nonsense that had been going on with Mother these days.
"Hearing that Teacher is here, Student came to meet you." You Bao just arrived at the restaurant and heard from the supervisor that a madam who claimed to be Teacher Lin was looking for her in the suite on the second floor. She dismissed Dong Zhi beside her and went to the suite on the second floor by herself. After the greeting, she discovered that there was also a young man in the suite. You Bao pursed her lips, lowered her head halfway and said, "I didn't know Teacher has a guest. Student will not disturb Teacher's elegant mood."
"I heard that a new dish was served recently, so I brought my son to taste it. When I came, I realized that this was your family's property. I didn't see you for a few days, so I wanted to meet you. I'm fine, you can busy away." Second Madam Wei looked at You Bao with curved eyes. Then she glanced at her son to signal, did you see? This was the wife she carefully selected for him?
You Bao's jade face flushed and she backed away after acknowledging.
Only Fourth Wei was staring at the girl who wore a lotus-coloured twelve split skirt dress today. She was just as amazing as when he first met that day at Thousand Lotus Lake. His eyes followed the girl's back until her figure disappeared from the suite before reluctantly retracting his gaze.
"Son, isn't Fourth Miss of Su Family pretty?" As soon as he turned his head, he saw Mother smiling like an old fox and looking at him. Fourth Wei pursed his dry lips. From his throat, he made a barely audible 'um' and stopped talking. He looked as if he was putting all his thoughts on the delicious food.
But as the old saying goes, the mother knows a child better than anyone. How could Second Madam Wei not tell what her son was thinking? Seeing her son's fair face flushed, she was satisfied. Second Madam Wei said to herself: "Son, do you think I can't tell what you are thinking when you're pretending to be focused on eating? Your face is as red as a monkey's butt." ~~~~"
While Second Madam Wei had been tossing around for a long time to sort her son, Su Family on the other side had inquired about Fourth Wei and Wei Family's background.
"Wei Family is a scholarly family. Old Master Wei strictly governs the family. None of the three generations of Wei Family had concubines. Still, the population is thriving. Fourth Gentleman Wei is a strange person. He has a good reputation among the elders, but he is a bit pedantic. Second Madam Wei checked out a few girls for him in a row, but without exception, it didn't work out. The main reason is that Fourth Young Master Wei himself doesn't have any intention. It's all Second Madam Wei who is enthusiastic about it." Leader Guard Xiao had become more and more skilled at information-gathering now. In a few days, he found out everything that was needed to know.
"Fourth Wei himself doesn't have any intention to. So wouldn't it be the same this time?" The more Mrs. Su heard this, the more satisfied she was with this son-in-law candidate. But she was also a little worried: "If we marry You Bao over, wouldn't it be like being a widow?"
You Jin patted Mrs. Su's hand to comfort her: "Mother, don't worry. Both parties must be happy about marriage. Since Fourth Gentleman Wei has no intentions, then no matter how good it is, we can't want it. In short, we mustn't aggrieve You Bao."
Three or four days later, the matchmaker hired by Wei Family came to the door again. According to her daughter's wishes, Mrs. Su reluctantly resigned from this match: "Gentleman Wei is wonderful, but I heard people say that Gentleman Wei is currently concentrating on studying and has no intention of marrying a wife. Although my Su Family isn't as good as Wei Family, getting married isn't forming enmity. If something bad happens due to good intentions, it is really a sin if the two families get married and become enemies."
The matchmaker didn't expect Su Family to refuse for such a reason. The smile on the matchmaker's face was a little stiff, thinking that Su Family was really shameless. What kind of family was Wei Family? It was a great blessing for her, a widow to support the whole family, to become in-law with such a household! And they were still being picky. What a big joke!
Still, she maintained her professional principles and explained for Fourth Wei with a smile: "Mrs. Su's words are off. Since ancient times, aren't marriage affairs always under the parents' order and through matchmaker's words? Fourth Wei can't understand these things now. Wait until he gets married, he will naturally understand what should be understood, right?"
Having said that, the matchmaker was still a little unhappy. If Second Madam Wei hadn't specified Fourth Miss of Su Family, there would be more families in Luohe Prefecture who were better than her Su Family, okay?
Mrs. Su felt this was reasonable. But thinking how if there was no affection between the husband and wife and the young couple will live their lives by themselves, who will know if You Bao was wronged in the future? So she still declined with a smile: "I understand what you said. We still need to pay more attention to the children's affairs. If the children themselves aren't happy, then let's forget it!"
On a rare chance, Mrs. Su sent the matchmaker to the door. Along the way, she praised Wei Family a lot and expressed to the max her regret of not being able to form this marriage. The face of the matchmaker didn't feel brushed off. Although she was rejected, she still kept her face. According to the etiquette on the surface, she went directly to Second Madam Wei after leaving Su's house with a smile.