A group of n, drunk and unsteady, left Dong Da’s place.
As they were leaving, Li Chenshu patted Dong Da on the shoulder, slurring, "Brother, don’t cry, and don’t dwell on that woman. Look, the Third Young Master has given his pampered daughter to you, what more do you want? I’m telling you, considering the importance the Third Young Master places on you, you can’t treat the young lady poorly going forward. If you do even a bit of wrong, us brothers won’t let you off."
Dong Da nodded repeatedly, "Brother, I know. I can’t wrong anyone, especially not my wife. Rest assured, whatever the Third Young Master says, that’s how it will be. I’ll do as he says."
Yuan Wei also laughed, "Once your marriage is settled, us brothers will co again to drink at the wedding feast."
Dong Da hurriedly said, "Alright, when the ti cos, we won’t leave until we’re drunk. Anyone who doesn’t drink is a bastard."
So, the group of drunkards got into carriages and returned ho.
They were drunk but not completely forgetful. Once ho, their wives ca to serve them, and each laughed while telling their wife, "Today was a happy day. We played matchmaker, and that boy Dong Da invited us for drinks. Next ti, he’ll invite us again."
Then, the wives asked, "What kind of matchmaking did you do? What’s going on?"
They couldn’t hold back and spilled it, "Dong Da misses being married, and luckily the Third Young Master was present. Everyone was drinking, and as we got drunk, we suggested letting the Third Young Master marry his daughter to Dong Da. The Third Young Master agreed, and Dong Da even bowed and called him father."
As soon as these words were spoken, their wives’ faces changed color.
The wives quickly figured out what happened.
These n had been in the military for so long their manners beca rough, say anything and stir up trouble when drunk.
But was this sothing they should stir up?
What is it with the daughter of Mr. Xiao’s house?
To say sothing daring, if this really happens, Mr. Xiao’s daughters are all Golden Branch Jade Leaves, true princesses.
Not just in the future, but even now, Mr. Xiao and his wife dote on their daughters. Not to ntion their own, even the three adopted ones are nurtured like treasures. In the entire Nanyi Prefecture City, there’s no comparison.
They raise daughters as if they could compete with court Grand Secretaries.
Whose daughter has read the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly?
Whose daughter never lets go of history books and literature?
Whose daughter learns mathematics, dicine, and strategy?
Even those in the backrooms have heard about Mr. Xiao allowing his daughters to listen behind the curtain during discussions.
Daughters raised like that don’t just have an aura, even when handling affairs outside, not many n can compare.
Especially the Third Madam, treating her daughters like precious gemstones, pampered beyond asure. For those n to drunkenly instigate promising his daughter to Dong Da, who is old and clueless as a second marriage concubine, isn’t that striking a nerve?
At once, the wives couldn’t control their husbands and quickly took their maids and old won to the Xiao Family.
Xiao Yuan ca ho and lay down imdiately.
Still slling of alcohol, he returned and fell asleep instantly.
Anning still had to take care of him.
She helped him take off his shoes and clothes, untied his hair crown, and wiped his face and hands.
They still hadn’t finished tidying up when Chun Xing ca in: "Madam, Lady Li, Madam Yuan, and Mrs. Ge and Mrs. Zhou are waiting outside."
Anning hastily covered Xiao Yuan with a quilt: "Invite them to the flower hall for a chat."
Anning tidied herself and went to the flower hall.
In the flower hall, the ladies appeared anxious.
Seeing Anning enter, the ladies all stood up.
Madam Yuan stepped forward, a guilty look on her face, speaking to Anning, "Third Madam, our husbands are drunk and forgot everything. It’s really... How can I put it, sorry for the trouble, they wronged Huihui. I’m here to apologize first."
Mrs. Li added, "These n are so coarse, a few drinks of cat’s urine, they forget even their nas."
"What’s going on?"
Anning looked confused: "I don’t even know why you’re here."
The ladies exchanged glances, and Mrs. Li exclaid, "Didn’t the Third Young Master tell you?"
Anning nodded: "He didn’t say anything. Whenever the Third Young Master drinks too much, he simply sleeps. He never chats idly."
"Well..."
Mrs. Zhou was slightly embarrassed, letting out two awkward laughs: "Here’s what happened..."
She explained the drunken commotion among the n today: "Really, we didn’t expect this. As soon as we knew, we hurried over to discuss it with you. Dong Da is a good person, but he doesn’t match Huihui. Huihui is like a budding flower, brought up well by yourself. Not to ntion the age gap, he already has kids. There’ll be lots of trouble in the future."
All the ladies avoided eting Anning’s eyes.
Anning’s face turned stormy.
She was visibly outraged, right hand gripping the cup so tight it nearly shattered: "That Xiao, he... wait for it."
The ladies realized sothing was wrong. The Third Madam might hit the Third Young Master.
They dared not linger, one by one getting up to leave: "Well, we need to go back and care for our drunk husbands. Third Madam, we’ll leave now. Discuss this with the Third Young Master. Don’t let this escalate."
"Okay."
Anning forced a smile: "Then I won’t see you off, take care on your way."
Once the ladies left, Anning turned towards the bedroom.
Xiao Yuan was lying in bed with his eyes open.
His expression showed no sign of drunkenness. He was clearly sober.
Anning walked over and sat on the bed, Xiao Yuan held her hand, laughing: "This thing is almost settled, but my heart feels uneasy. Our daughter is getting married, I really can’t let go, wish I could punch Dong Da."
Anning rolled her eyes: "Try punching him, I guarantee Miss won’t talk to you for days."
"Girls are ant to be let go."
Xiao Yuan wiped his face.
Anning sighed helplessly: "You say this, for getting the daughter married, we need to act, and indeed, keep acting."
"No choice."
Xiao Yuan sighed too: "Not only must we act, but treat Dong Da well. We must make Dong Da feel indebted to us and Huihui, so he treats Huihui well. Otherwise, his conscience won’t be at peace."
Dong Da slept off the booze overnight, waking the next day in a panic, slapping himself: "What have I done?"
He quickly summoned the old steward: "Uncle Wu, did I call the Third Young Master ’father’ yesterday, say I wanted to marry the Third Young Master’s daughter?"
The old steward was at a loss: "Master, truly you’ve mishandled this, watch out. The Third Madam will be furious, may break your legs."
Dong Da was both scared and guilty.
"How could this happen, I’m wrong here, poor Huihui, also the Yuen and Li ones, why did they stir things up?"
Now truly clueless, this situation was tricky.
If Dong Da formally proposed, he’d lack the nerve, fearing Anning’s wrath, and even more, Xiao Hui’s disdain.
Being older, unable to match the freshness of Xiao Hui.
Besides Dong Da, Yuan Wei and the others were also afraid, now sober, and regretting imnsely why they drank so much yesterday, speaking such nonsense, a real pickle.
What now? How will the Third Young Master manage?
Marrying the daughter to Dong Da is a loss for the Third Young Master. Not marrying after such talk, even if drunken words, how to act like it doesn’t count?
If the Third Young Master were a humble villager, maybe he could take back his word.
But the Third Young Master is practically the King of Southern Barbarians, can he be dishonest with his words in front of his subordinates? Frankly, his word is as good as gold, he can’t take it back.
User Comments
0 comments from readers