Chapter 255 – Proposal
Suddenly having such a delicate-featured, refined-looking, seemingly harmless youth with amazing medical skills in their tent, the three grown men were even more delighted than Yan Xiaosi. With this little treasure around, they wouldn’t need to worry the next time they got injured.
Faced with Wu Bin and the others’ hearty generosity, the smile on Yan Xiaosi’s face deepened. “Big Brother Wu, Big Brother Zhao, Big Brother Wang.”
Wang Cheng patted her shoulder in the classic pose of an older brother looking after a younger one. “That’s more like it.”
Yan Xiaosi had an easygoing personality to begin with and didn’t mind the occasional brotherly shoulder pat from the three of them.
“Big Brother Wu, your back sprain won’t heal that easily. The massage just now can only alleviate your pain. I’ll give you another massage in the evening and needle you a few times before you’ll fully recover,” she told him.
“Alright.” Wu Bin nodded happily.
“Little Brother Yan, you just got here, rest well first. We’re going to head out for drills. We’ll come back to get you when it’s time for lunch. In the evening, we’ll show you around the camp and help you get familiar with it.”
Right now, the Rong Di were only making noise at the border and had not formally declared war on Great Chu. The military camp had almost no wounded solders, so Yan Xiaosi, as a military doctor, indeed had little to do. After Wu Bin and the others left, she could only lie down in her space.
Although it was a floor bedding, it was quite soft and felt pretty good to lie on.
After only resting for a short while, she came out of the tent and wandered aimlessly around the vast military camp.
It seemed Long Yu had given orders, as she roamed the camp without purpose, no soldiers stopped her.
After strolling around, she truly felt that Tongluo Plain’s military camp was immense. Thousands of soldiers drilled in the training grounds, an awe-inspiring sight with earth-shaking sounds. Not far from the training grounds was another large empty plot of land.
This plot was right next to the Yunluo River. Centuries of river silt had accumulated here, forming a fertile piece of land. Leaving such a large swath of fertile soil empty was a real pity. If used to grow crops or medicinal herbs, it could definitely allow an army of tens of thousands to be self-sufficient.
She wandered for about an hour until the lunch bell sounded and the drills on the training ground ended as everyone prepared to eat.
Wu Bin and the other two were worried that she wouldn’t know where to eat on her first day in camp, so they hurried back to the tent to find her. Not seeing her there, they got her a meal and carried it around looking for her.
They finally spotted her walking over from the direction of that empty plot by the training grounds.
Wu Bin walked over holding a bowl of rice while Wang Cheng and Zhao Xi followed.
“Little Brother Yan, we finally found you. It’s lunch time,” he said as he handed Yan Xiaosi a bowl piled high with rice and cautioned, “In the future, don’t wander around when it’s nearly mealtime. Those bastards are ruthless when fighting for food. If you’re too slow, you’ll be left with only scrapings.”
Yan Xiaosi gratefully accepted the bowl and glanced down at it.
The food in the military camp wasn’t bad. A bowl of white rice, one meat dish, one vegetable dish, plus a steamed white bun.
“Thanks for the reminder, Big Brother Wu.”
The four of them found a flat spot, squatted in a row, and happily ate their meal with Yan Xiaosi protected in the middle by Wu Bin and the other two.
In the distance on the watchtower, a black robe embroidered with golden clouds fluttered in the wind.
The War King stood high on the watchtower, observing the situation on the Rong Di side. Withdrawing his gaze, he was about to descend when he happened to catch sight of Yan Xiaosi squatting together with Wu Bin and a few other commanders, eating quite merrily.
This kid, wherever she went, she could always make a few friends! In just half a day, she was already squatting together to eat with Wu Bin’s group.
Beside him, Long Yi noticed his master staring in Yan Xiaosi’s direction, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. His heart jolted.
Had he made another mistake in the arrangements? That shouldn’t be. Putting four people in one tent, he had already shown enough consideration for Young Master Yan.
“…Master, do you want to reassign Young Master Yan to a different tent?” he ventured.
Long Yu relaxed his brow and withdrew his gaze. “No need.”
Long Yi immediately felt relieved and followed his master down from the watchtower.
Shaoyao Village, Tian Residence.
The weather was fair at noon as the Tian family’s little courtyard welcomed two unexpected guests – Liu Ke, the proprietress of the Xu Family Fur Store, and a woman in red and green, hair adorned with large flowers.
Inside the Tian family’s main hall, Yan Shuyun nervously poured tea while listening to the conversation between Ms. Zhong and Liu Ke.
Ms. Zhong asked anxiously, “Proprietress, what brings you to Shaoyao Village? Did Yun’er do something wrong?”
Seeing her nervous expression, Liu Ke quickly laughed and explained, “Auntie Yan, there’s no need to be so tense. Sister Shuyun is diligent and skilled, I think very highly of her.”
Ms. Zhong breathed a sigh of relief but was even more baffled by the purpose of Liu Ke’s visit.
Liu Ke continued, “Auntie Yan, may I ask if Sister Shuyun is engaged to anyone?”
The question was so blunt that Ms. Zhong immediately understood the intention behind Liu Ke’s visit today.
Glancing at Yan Shuyun, she answered truthfully, “She is not.”
Hearing this, Liu Ke was delighted and signaled with her eyes to the matchmaker in red and green beside her.
The matchmaker got up, walked over to Yan Shuyun, and looked her over with a smile. “Miss Yan is truly a beauty. No wonder Young Master Liu was captivated at first sight and insisted on marrying Miss Yan,” she gushed.
“Auntie, what are you saying?” Yan Shuyun blushed and hid behind Ms. Zhong.
Liu Ke gave the matchmaker another meaningful look, prompting her to discuss with Ms. Zhong.
The matchmaker turned to Ms. Zhong with a grin. “Madam Yan, you’ve met Young Master Liu from the Xu Family Fur Store, right? He’s a fine young man, so talented and outstanding. Not only is he good-looking, he has a kind heart too. He and Miss Yan are a match made in heaven. With Young Master Liu’s family background, if Miss Yan marries him, she’ll never suffer any hardship in this life.”
Ms. Zhong nodded slightly. “I have met Young Master Liu. He is indeed a talented and outstanding young man.”
The matchmaker seized the opportunity to ask, “Then is Madam Yan willing to accept this marriage proposal?”
Liu Ke added, “Xu’er is definitely not being impulsive in wanting to marry Sister Shuyun. He truly has feelings for her. In all these years, this is the first time I, as his elder sister, have seen him so taken with a girl.”
Although Ms. Zhong was quite satisfied with Liu Xu, she didn’t want to make decisions about her daughters’ marriages for them.
She gave Liu Ke an apologetic look and said, “Proprietress, this matter depends on Yun’er. If Yun’er is willing, naturally I, as her mother, would happily agree.”
Hearing this, Liu Ke and the matchmaker both turned to Yan Shuyun, as did Yan Shuqin and her sisters who were standing outside the hall, craning their necks to look inside.
Ms. Wang whispered excitedly to Yan Shuqin, “Silly girl, hurry and agree, hurry and agree.”
She was even more eager than Ms. Zhong.
Marrying Liu Xu would mean becoming the mistress of the Xu Family Fur Store. The store was well-known in Daxing Town; she’d never need to worry about money for the rest of her life.
