Chapter 208 – If Only Xiaosi Were a Girl
Just as Yan Xiaosi, who hadn’t eaten yet, was about to take a bite of her lukewarm dumplings, she was startled by Ms. Gao’s words, almost swallowing the dumpling whole.
“Cough, cough, Auntie Sanbao, I’m still young and not in a hurry to marry. Besides, my three sisters haven’t married yet. If I, the youngest, were to marry first, wouldn’t that cause gossip?”
Yan Xiaosi was actually a girl, and Ms. Zhong, fearing that Ms. Gao might impulsively go back to her maternal home to arrange a marriage for Xiaosi, quickly agreed with Xiaosi’s words.
“Xiaosi is right. To arrange a marriage for him, we should first see his three sisters married off. Moreover, our family currently lives in a cave on Big Sister Peak. Who would look favorably upon us? We appreciate your kindness, Big Sister Wang. We accept your good intentions, but arranging a marriage for Xiaosi will have to wait.”
Ms. Gao, thinking it over, felt that Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiaosi had a point and didn’t insist further. Her gaze then shifted to Yan Shuqin.
“Big Sister Yan, this girl is your eldest daughter, right? Look at how lovely she is. Has she been promised to anyone yet?”
Before Ms. Gao’s enthusiasm could fade, and fearing she might again attempt to arrange a match for Yan Shuqin, Yan Xiaosi quickly intervened: “She has been promised already, to your nephew, Tian Dazhuang.”
“So, she’s Dazhuang’s bride-to-be,” Ms. Gao, being closely related to Tian Dazhuang and now aware of his betrothal to Yan Shuqin, was naturally pleased.
“Not only is Shuqin beautiful, but she’s also capable. My nephew Dazhuang is indeed fortunate.”
Tian Dazhuang, arriving just in time to hear Ms. Gao’s words, glanced at Yan Xiaosi and felt an uncomfortable twinge in his heart.
Yan Shuqin, seeing him, quickly handed over a bowl of dumplings she had saved for him.
“Brother Dazhuang, this is for you.”
Gratefully accepting the bowl, Tian Dazhuang managed a smile. “Thank you, Shuqin.”
Yan Shuqin’s heart raced, and her cheeks flushed with a slight blush. “Brother Dazhuang, I’ll go help my mother clean up. Take your time eating.”
The dumplings, normally delicious, tasted bland to Tian Dazhuang. After hastily finishing his bowl, he set it aside and approached Yan Xiaosi.
“Xiaosi, I’m going to help with digging the foundation.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode towards the construction site. Yan Xiaosi watched his retreating figure, puzzled.
From yesterday afternoon until now, Tian Dazhuang had been acting strangely around her, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.
Ms. Gao, noticing Tian Dazhuang’s behavior, asked Yan Xiaosi, “What’s wrong with my nephew?”
Yan Xiaosi thought for a moment before replying, “He’s probably nervous about getting married soon. It’s called pre-wedding jitters.”
Tian Dazhuang, not far off, overheard her explanation and nearly stumbled. Nervous? He wasn’t keen on becoming his brother-in-law at all.
After breakfast, Ms. Zhong and the Yan sisters helped Ms. Gao prepare vegetables for lunch before returning to the mountain.
Yan Xiaosi approached Yan Shuqin, spat out the blade of grass from her mouth, and nudged her sister with her shoulder, whispering, “Big sister, we’re heading back to the mountain. Aren’t you going to say goodbye to my brother-in-law?”
Yan Shuqin blushed and glared at her.
“Nonsense, who’s your brother-in-law?”
“Brother Dazhuang,” Yan Xiaosi teased.
“Xiaosi, Brother Dazhuang and I aren’t married yet.”
Yan Xiaosi pulled Yan Shuqin aside to talk. “Big sister, you don’t understand. This is me helping you pursue Brother Dazhuang. In the future, every time I see Brother Dazhuang, I’ll call him brother-in-law. Hearing it often, he’ll start seeing himself as my brother-in-law.”
Yan Shuqin’s eyes brightened, finding Yan Xiaosi’s idea quite reasonable. “Xiaosi, would this method really work?”
Yan Xiaosi squinted her eyes with a smile, “Why not give it a try? Since the War King has already arranged your marriage, it’s only right for me to call him brother-in-law.”
“Okay.” Yan Shuqin shyly nodded.
Yan Xiaosi nudged her, reminding, “Mom is almost done packing up. Big sister, you should go say goodbye to my brother-in-law now.”
Feeling encouraged, Yan Shuqin carefully made her way through the muddy field toward Tian Dazhuang.
Hearing footsteps, Tian Dazhuang, excited, thinking it was Yan Xiaosi, turned around to find Yan Shuqin instead. His expression slightly faded. “Shuqin, why are you here? The ground here has been dug up; it’s uneven. Be careful not to twist your ankle.”
Touched by Tian Dazhuang’s considerate warning, Yan Shuqin appreciated his attentiveness, which was exactly what she admired about him. “Brother Dazhuang, we are heading back to Big Sister Peak.”
Tian Dazhuang nodded, “It’s almost noon. You should head back. Uncle Sanbao and I are here, nothing will go wrong.”
“Brother Dazhuang, I trust Uncle Sanbao will do a good job building our house. You don’t need to stay here. You should go home before Aunt Tian finds out you’re helping here; she’ll surely scold you again.”
“Okay, I’ll go back soon,” Tian Dazhuang responded noncommittally, not wanting to return home where his mother would pressure him to marry Yan Shujing.
Yan Shuqin didn’t pick up on his reluctance, clasping her hands together hesitantly before mustering the courage to ask, “Brother Dazhuang, what shoe size do you wear?”
Knowing Yan Shuqin intended to make shoes for him, Tian Dazhuang was touched. “Shuqin, do you really want to marry me?”
Yan Shuqin was taken aback at first, then shyly nodded. “Yes, Brother Dazhuang, you’re very good. I’m willing to spend my life with you, to take care of you.”
“But Shuqin, I don’t have romantic feelings for you. Are you still willing to marry me despite that? If you’re not, I’ll explain everything to the War King.”
Ms. Zhong had also asked her this. Now, hearing Tian Dazhuang express such honesty made Yan Shuqin more certain about marrying him. “Brother Dazhuang, if you don’t have feelings for me, is it because there’s someone else you like? If so, I’ll step back and wish you happiness. If not, I’m willing to wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”
Tian Dazhuang’s gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yan Xiaosi, followed by a thought—how wonderful it would be if Xiaosi were a girl. This thought startled him. Xiaosi was a boy; how could he harbor such feelings towards him? It was absurd and despicable. No wonder he felt upset seeing the War King bothering Xiaosi.
“I don’t have anyone I like,” he hastily covered his emotions, fearing Yan Shuqin might notice something amiss.
