The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 625 Rushing to the Imperial College (5)_1

One was Bao Xiang, and the other was another household she was quite satisfied with before; both were considered passable matches by Lady Yu. Bao Xiang was to be a stepmother, but fortunately, he had no sons. That household, upon hearing of Pei Zongli’s official position, had called off the marriage proposal, but once they saw her son had passed the imperial examination and gone to the Imperial College, they once again sent word wishing to become in-laws, which made her quite uncomfortable.

So when she noticed Grandma Li behaving unusually, Lady Yu paid extra attention. She then saw her staring at Pei Qian, couldn’t help but frown, and quietly asked Pei Qin, "What does the Li family mean? Is Grandma Li now eyeing Qianqian?" They’re pulling at their Fang Fang at one end, and still harboring thoughts for Pei Qian at the other, trying to stick their oar in her son’s marriage matters!?

Pei Qin also looked towards Grandma Li, following her gaze towards Pei Qian, and narrowed her eyes slightly.

Feeling observed, Grandma Li was startled and her heart skipped a beat. Glancing at Pei Qin and Lady Yu’s expressions, she suppressed her fear and pretended she was just looking at Jiujiu. In her heart, however, she knew that their chances of marrying Pei Qian were slim and would not only offend the Fang family but also make Pei Qin look down upon them.

Yet Bao Xiang wanted to give it a try.

For Jiujiu’s first birthday, the entire Fang family came, including Fang Fang. Seeing her from the moment she arrived, she hadn’t stopped eating, from pastries to dry fruits and seeds, amassing a body full of fat, to the point where her chin was almost drooping. Thinking of lying in the same bed with such a fat woman, Bao Xiang felt he couldn’t bear it. Even if he took a risk to fight for Pei Qian, he would never want to marry this fat woman!

During this period, Pei Qian rarely went out, spending most days at home, playing with Jiujiu when not busy, teaching her to speak and walk. Jiujiu was very responsive to her younger aunt and managed to grab a Gold Ingot.

"Jiujiu is amazing!" Pei Qian laughed, praising Jiujiu as she watched her.

Bao Xiang saw her smile, it was exceptionally brilliant, filled with a lively vigor, and in fact much more appealing than Sun Xiujin who smiled with pursed lips, which made him even more resolute.

Everyone kept saying how pretty Jiujiu had grown and that she was destined to grab Gold Ingots.

Jiujiu glanced at the Gold Ingot in her hands and then threw it aside, stretching her hand out to grab a short sword with a tassel and held on to it.

Upon seeing this, Chang Yonglin and Xiao Yong clapped their hands in praise for Jiujiu.

Pei Qian pouted in exasperation, "Jiujiu! Your little aunt has been calling you for so long, and you haven’t listened!"

Pei Qin laughed as she picked up her daughter, bringing the first birthday ceremony to a close. Otherwise, if the little one threw away the short sword and grabbed something else, and kept grabbing a bunch of objects, who would know which one to count!?

Bao Xiang looked on and started a conversation with Pei Qian. Her playful smile had its charms.

Grandma Li immediately became anxious, stealthily observing Pei Qin and Lady Yu.

Lady Yu’s gaze turned stern, and although she still wore a smile, it looked quite unpleasant.

Pei Qin glanced over and then, holding her daughter, invited everyone to take their seats at the table.

Although no one had been formally invited, quite a number had shown up, necessitating several tables to be set up.

After a lively meal, Grandma Li saw an opportunity and approached Pei Qin to propose a good match for Pei Qian, mentioning a household with hundreds of acres of land belonging to a landlord’s young master who was literate and educated, well-featured, and very promising. She wanted Pei Qin to not misunderstand their intentions towards Pei Qian and to not scorn them.

"That would be great! If such a person exists, bring him over tomorrow for me to meet him," Pei Qin nodded in approval.

Grandma Li panicked; there was no young master from a landlord’s household, it was all made up on the spur of the moment. But now Pei Qin had agreed so readily and even asked her to bring the man over the next day, where was she to find such a landlord’s young master to bring!?

Seeing Pei Qin smiling lightly at her, Grandma Li awkwardly chuckled, "The distance is a bit far, and one cannot return in a single day. I’ve already inquired about everything, but I haven’t arranged a time to meet. Shall I go and make a trip first and send you a letter in a couple of days? I’ll see whether to bring him here or to meet in the county town!"

"You’ve done your inquiries? It seems you have taken quite an interest in my sister’s marriage affairs!" Pei Qin chuckled.

Grandma Li’s face stiffened somewhat, "We are relatives... It’s only right for me to be concerned..."

"There’s no need to worry so much about Pei Qian’s marriage. If you have such concern to spare, why not help your relative by caring for Fang Fang!" Pei Qin’s gaze was full of deep meaning as she looked at her.

Grandma Li went pale, with shades of green, but forced a smile, "Definitely, that’s a given! I’m also concerned for Fang Fang!"

Pei Qin laughed and turned away, walking a few steps before looking back, "Actually, you should worry about your own children instead of others."

Still maintaining the awkward smile on her face, Grandma Li waited until Pei Qin had left and hurriedly reminded Bao Xiang that pursuing Pei Qian was a lost cause and would only offend both sides. She advised him to forget about it and look elsewhere.

But Bao Xiang was adamant about not marrying Fang Fang.

Grandma Li didn’t want to ruin relationships with both the Fang family and Pei Qin. Even if they married Fang Fang, they could slowly train her to lose weight. With her in charge, Lady Yu’s indulgence wouldn’t allow Fang Fang to get fat, and she could make her lose a layer of fat.

Still, Bao Xiang was unwilling, "Mother! I absolutely will not marry that fat woman!"

Grandma Li grew angry too; she worried herself sick over her son, who still didn’t appreciate what was good for him.

After leaving the first birthday banquet, Bao Xiang began to think about how to win Pei Qian’s favor and make her willing to follow him. If he married Pei Qian, even if he was two years behind Fang Liuming and became brothers through marriage with Mo Heng, also becoming Pei Qin’s brother-in-law, he didn’t believe they would continue to support only Fang Liuming and neglect him, their own brother-in-law.

Despite the advice of both Grandma Li and Old Man Li, Bao Xiang wouldn’t listen. Even if it was a gamble, he wanted to try his luck! If successful, he too could come and go from the Imperial College, achieve top honors in the imperial exams, and make a name for himself!

Using the excuse of consulting Mo Heng on scholarly matters, Bao Xiang brought some food and a few small trinkets and visited Taiping Town.

Just as he knocked, a horse galloped past, heading straight for Liu’er Alley.

Bao Xiang shouted in fright, nearly getting trampled under the horse’s hooves.

Shuang Xi, seeing he wasn’t crushed, paid no mind to him and dismounted, rushing through the gate, "Ms. Pei! There has been an incident! Something happened in the palace with the... soy sauce!"