After walking to the outskirts of Wuyuan village, Li Xuejian stopped at the wooden shed in his courtyard and left his cart there. He took out seven silvers from the bag and put them into a smaller pouch.
After a moment, Uncle Chen appeared in front of him.
Seeing Li Xuejian, the old man couldn’t help but put his heart a little at ease. He nibbled on his lower lip and his eyes were probing him: “I'm not trying to pry or anything, but did everything go all right in county town?” He obviously feared swindlers and that Li Xuejian will come back empty-handed.
Li Xuejian greeted him with a warm smile: “What could possibly go wrong with it? You really mustn't worry about me.” Of course, he was clear in his heart what this old man had come for… This was already nine hours since he left and he could see that uncle was somewhat anxious.
Li Xuejian hurried to take the steamed buns and said: “Wait for me in the house and eat something to pad your stomach, Uncle. I still have things to do back in the village.”
Uncle Chen was happy but still hit him angrily: “Aiyo! You should be the one to eat first! How hungry you must be after returning so late?” He raised his voice as he grumbled but the corners of his mouth were obviously smiling.
Li Xuejian cut a sorry figure and stepped out of the courtyard gate, promising to quickly come back.
On the village head's side, when the people saw Li Xuejian approaching, they no longer dared to utter a word, and each and every one of them bowed their heads as if they wanted to reduce their sense of existence.
Li Xuejian also played along and pretended to not know why they were gathered here. His eyes fell on the village chief's house and he could tell at the first glance that the Wang family was better off than the majority of the villagers, their home was made of soil bricks and had three big roof-tiled rooms.
Li Xuejian came in and saw the very old man that appeared to be in his 80s who was standing at the wooden desk.
Wang Qinglin was already waiting for Li Xuejian with the people from the He family and nodded his head as greetings.
“Hello, village chief Wang.” Li Xuejian also nodded cordially as he put the money pouch on the table.
Wang Qinglin bent over and took out silvers from the bag. Then he handed them over to He Anran's uncle after counting them.
He Zishu patted her husband's hand as if placating him. While pretending to wipe the corners of her eyes, she turned towards Li Xuejian: “Alas! We are reluctant to part with this child but we can't keep him forever!”
Under her gaze, the village head handed over the marriage contract but knowing Li Xuejian's situation he couldn't stop himself, and after a brief hesitation, he asked in a kind voice: “Xue Jian, wouldn’t it be better for you to marry into the He household?” Both of Li Xuejian's parents were already dead and it wasn't an uncommon thing to do.
Before Li Xuejian had time to refuse, He Zishu and her son exchanged meaningful looks, and then a young man with a scholarly air around him chimed in: “Uncle Wang, this expression of good intention is praiseworthy but as man doesn’t Li Xuejian has the expectation of familial honor thrust upon him? As a man doesn’t he want his son to carry on the Li family name?” There was nothing wrong with He Jianmin’s words but those values implicit that if one didn’t agree with them then he doesn’t behave accordingly to the role of a man in the society.
The village chief was nodding his head seriously as if he wholeheartedly agreed with He Jianmin’s way of thinking.
The scholars always acquired that superiority tone, just like they were emperors that demanded the native population to kneel before their heirlooms and unearned titles, which Li Xuejian found somewhat irritating.
But he didn’t want to dignify this conversation any longer, life itself will deal with this kind of person. Li Xuejian picked up the marriage contract on the table, stained his finger with ink from the inkstone, and put the fingerprint on the marriage contract. Then he pushed the marriage contract towards He Anran’s uncle.
Originally, He Anran’s uncle didn’t intend to hurt his nephew’s heart and hand over this child to just anyone. But his wife was the one who managed the household and each time she had been suppressing him while making the decision.
The piece of silver was already taken away by He Zishu and he could only sign the marriage contract with a gloomy expression.
Once, Wang Qinglin put He Anran’s household register under his husband’s side, the marriage procedures were completed, this sort of statement would be passed to the official records in the county town.
Li Xuejian turned around to face the boy that still remained standing in the corner of the room with his head hung down, and said: “Let’s go home.”
He Anran walked towards Li Xujian and called out in a quiet, shaky voice: “Yes, Husband!” At once, his face turned red with embarrassment, he fidgeted nervously, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.
Li Xuejian was somewhat in a daze.
Husband - Li Xuejian chewed on that word thoughtfully for a moment. It sounded odd but comfortable. There was also a vague feeling hanging in that he didn't know how to describe.
Maybe it was just a sense of new responsibility weighing on his shoulders.
Li Xuejian snapped out of his thoughts as the village chief led them to the doors.
Usually, when someone married in the countryside the villagers would clap and cheer for the couple but after Li Xuejian and He Anran walked out together only a murmur of congratulations went through the crowd.
Some of the gers were quite envious of He Anran and that he wasn’t married as a concubine but as the main wife but after thinking that his husband was a soft rice man, they only felt pity towards him. On the other hand, the men in the village looked on in disbelief as Li Xuejian married a jinx and of his own choice invited misfortune to his life.
soft rice man - a man who relies on his wife to feed him
After they left Wang Qinglin’s house, the intuition told Li Xuejian that something was wrong and he suddenly remembered that he didn’t have time to introduce himself to the other: “My name is Li Xuejian.” He declared in a measured voice, running his eyes over the blond-haired boy.
I… I’m He Anran!” The other person replied very quickly.
Both of them didn’t know how to carry forward this conversation and for the rest of the way, there weren’t any more words spoken.
He Anran followed Li Xuejian to his new home and towards his future life. His heart pounded with some fear and some apprehension but at the same time streamed with dreams and hopeful expectations.
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