19 This is Shanshou Village (Bug Fix)

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When Liu Xiufeng and Father Ye heard this, they hurried out to welcome them.

Lin Jiangshan stood outside the bamboo fence with the matchmaker. Both of them had their hands full of gifts. Liu Xiufeng was deeply pleased at the sight. Her future son-in-law had brought generous betrothal gifts, giving her family ample dignity, and the smile on her face grew even broader.

“They’re here, they’re here. Come in, come inside.”

She led the matchmaker and Lin Jiangshan into the house, while Ye Shan hurried to serve them tea. In the past, Lin Jiangshan had come as Ye Shan’s good brother. Today was different: he was the Ye family’s future brother-in-law.

Ye Shan secretly winked at Lin Jiangshan several times. Lin Jiangshan straightened his back even more, his hands suddenly unsure where to rest. He had visited many times before, yet today he felt inexplicably nervous.

The matchmaker naturally began by offering a stream of auspicious words, praising the match from every angle.

Father Ye and Liu Xiufeng smiled and exchanged the usual polite remarks with her. In their hearts, they had already agreed to the marriage.

When it was Lin Jiangshan’s turn to speak, he was no good at pretty words. He could only say, “I will surely treat Ye Xi well. I won’t let anyone bully him, nor let him go hungry or suffer any grievance. I swear it before Heaven and Earth—every word is true. Uncle, Auntie, you can trust me.”

Such simple words, spoken with complete sincerity, moved Liu Xiufeng until her eyes reddened. She said repeatedly, “Of course we trust you. You’re an honest and straightforward man, not one of those smooth-tongued rogues outside. If you and Ye Xi can build a prosperous life together, we’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Father Ye wrote Ye Xi’s birth details on red paper and handed them to the matchmaker. All that remained was to have a geomancer compare their birth charts and choose an auspicious wedding day.

Ye Shan even changed the way he addressed Lin Jiangshan on the spot, calling him, “Brother-in-law.”

And so, the happy marriage was settled.

As for the bride-price, Liu Xiufeng and Father Ye did not ask for much. They accepted only three silver taels, intending it as Ye Xi’s personal savings and planning to place it at the bottom of his wedding chest when he married.

With such reasonable in-laws, Lin Jiangshan did not disappoint them. That afternoon, he went back to town and returned carrying half a pig.

The sight startled everyone in Mountain Elegance Village. People marveled that this outsider was truly generous and clearly valued the Ye family greatly.

Father Ye and Liu Xiufeng repeatedly refused, unwilling to let him spend so much. A household needed to preserve its savings for the years ahead. Still, they were deeply touched by his thoughtfulness.

“Then let’s salt the meat and keep it for the wedding feast,” Lin Jiangshan said. “When the time comes, we’ll make the celebration grand and give Ye Xi plenty of dignity.”

Ye Xi was the family’s only young son, and naturally his parents did not want him to leave in a pitiful fashion. Every parent wished to give their child a splendid wedding feast. Now that they had half a pig, the banquet was sure to be a fine one.

Liu Xiufeng and Father Ye could only accept it.

Ye Xi came out of the room and looked at Lin Jiangshan, giving him a gentle smile. Then he asked for the measurements of his feet. Before the wedding, custom required the new bridegroom to make his future husband a pair of new shoes and embroider him a new outfit. It was also a test of his needlework, meant to show whether he was capable and virtuous.

Lin Jiangshan gave him his shoe size, and Ye Xi nearly jumped. His feet were astonishingly broad! But Lin Jiangshan had a powerful, sturdy build, so perhaps he truly needed shoes as large as boats.

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Ye Xi smiled. “Making clothes and shoes for you will take nearly as much fabric as two outfits for someone else. If I work too slowly, I’m afraid I won’t finish in time.”

Lin Jiangshan did not want him to exhaust himself. “If you can’t finish, just buy an outfit in town to make do. Don’t push yourself too hard, staying up day and night until you ruin your eyes. In any case, I don’t care about these empty formalities.”

Hearing him comfort her so considerately, Ye Xi felt warm inside. But one only married once, and he still wanted to arrange everything as properly as possible. “I know my own limits.”

News that Lin Jiangshan had gone to the Ye family to ask for Ye Xi’s hand spread quickly throughout the village. When Li heard it at home, he hurried over to visit Ye Xi.

The moment he entered, he teased with a grin, “Someone is about to become a new bridegroom. I’ve come to see whether you’re smiling so hard your face might split.”

Ye Xi was sitting beside the window, measuring and cutting a sole for a shoe. He looked up and smiled gently. “You’re here. Come sit down. I’ll get you some dried fruit.”

Li did not stand on ceremony and plopped down on the heated brick bed.

Ye Xi took a plate of roasted melon seeds and peanuts from the little cabinet, along with several dried figs, and set them before him. “Did you come here just to tease me?”

“Of course not,” Li said with a laugh, grabbing a handful of seeds. “I’m thrilled for you. Just a few days ago, you told me you had someone in your heart. Today I hear that Lin Jiangshan came to propose. What could be better news?”

A smile kept tugging at the corners of Ye Xi’s eyes. Joy truly lifted a person’s spirits. “He’s a straightforward man, and he acts very quickly.”

Li raised an eyebrow and continued, “And Lin Jiangshan certainly knows how to make an entrance. The betrothal gifts he brought this morning made half the village green with envy. In the space of a single morning, the news spread through all of Mountain Elegance Village. Everyone says you, Ye Xi, must be blessed by the stars. Just when they thought you had married into a good family, you’ve gone and fallen straight into another nest of good fortune.”

Ye Xi tugged at his needle and thread, curling his lip. “The Cao family was hardly a good match. But this one truly is a nest of good fortune.”

Li pretended to gag at the sourness in his voice. They laughed and played around for a while, until Ye Xi worked up a sweat. He simply removed his veil and continued embroidering a handkerchief.

Resting his chin in his hands, Li sat across from him at the kang table and stared as though he had discovered something astonishing. “Ye Xi, your scar seems lighter.”

Ye Xi paid it no mind, assuming Li was only trying to comfort him. “Really? You’re just trying to fool me.”

Li sat up straight. “I’m serious. The scar isn’t as bright red as before. It has faded quite a bit.”

Only then, seeing how earnest he was, did Ye Xi believe him. He went to the neighboring room to fetch his mother’s mirror and carefully examined the left side of his face in the light from the window.

It was just as Li had said. The scar had faded considerably. Even to the touch, it no longer felt as uneven as before; it seemed to have flattened somewhat.

Ye Xi thought for a moment. Perhaps the jar of ointment Lin Jiangshan had given him was finally taking effect. He had been applying it every morning and evening without fail. At first, he had not expected much, merely wishing not to waste Lin Jiangshan’s kindness. He had never imagined it would truly work.

Li clapped his hands. “That’s wonderful! You’re about to be married, and the scar on your face is gradually improving too. Ye Xi, if that doesn’t mean you’re blessed, what does?”

Ye Xi laughed at his sugary tongue. “Yes, yes. I’m a great bringer of good fortune.”

Li said smugly, “The youngest son of the Lin family must be gnashing his teeth in envy right now.”

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Meanwhile, at the Lin household, Mother Lin returned home and immediately began shouting, “It’s already noon! Why has no one made lunch?”

After a while, the youngest son finally emerged from his room, yawning. A few faint red marks showed on his neck, and it was clear he had only just risen.

The sight infuriated Mother Lin. She planted her hands on her hips and scolded him. “Look at the sun! It’s already high in the sky, and you’re only getting up now. You’re lazier than a young lady from a wealthy family. Have you fed the chickens and ducks? And what about yesterday’s dirty clothes? Have you washed them?”

The youngest son shook his head blearily. “I just got up. I haven’t had time yet.”

Mother Lin snapped, “So you really think you’re about to marry out and no longer need to do any work around the house? What are we going to do with you? If you marry into the Cao family and continue behaving like this, they’ll probably beat you and send you back.”

The thought made her even angrier. The Cao family still had not come to propose. Everyone in Mountain Elegance Village knew that her youngest son was supposed to be betrothed to the Cao family, yet the longer they waited, the quieter things became.

“Has that Cao boy told you when he’s coming to ask for your hand?”

At this, the youngest son was both anxious and furious. The previous night, he had secretly gone out to meet Cao Bin again. It was their fourth secret meeting.

At first, afraid that the Cao family would look down on theirs, the youngest son had resorted to a dangerous scheme. He had gone to the secluded path Cao Bin took to and from the private school, pretended to twist his ankle, and played the part of a weak and helpless beauty. His looks were not bad, and there was a subtle charm in his eyes. In this way, he had managed to ensnare Cao Bin.

At first, Cao Bin had pretended to be upright, refusing even the slightest physical intimacy. But after spending more and more time together, the two had lost control of themselves and secretly pledged their lives to each other.

Yet although they had met in secret so many times, Cao Bin still had not mentioned coming to formally propose. The night before, when the youngest son had tried to ask him about it, Cao Bin had smoothly evaded the question. Then he had untied the boy’s sash and coaxed him back into bed.

“Not yet, Mother. I’m terribly anxious too.”

Mother Lin told him what she had seen that day. “Did you know that Ye Xi from the Ye family is engaged?”

This time, the youngest son was stunned. He frowned in disbelief. “Mother, you must have heard wrong. That ugly wretch was burned across the face. How could he possibly become engaged? Who would want him?”

“I saw it with my own eyes from the village entrance,” Mother Lin said. “The man who went to propose was that outsider, Lin Jiangshan—the one who lives halfway up the mountain. He hired a matchmaker and carried both hands full of betrothal gifts to the Ye family: chickens, ducks, cotton cloth, pastries. As for the bride-price, it certainly won’t be small. The Ye family has gained tremendous face.”

The youngest son still refused to believe it. “Mother, you’re trying to fool me. Doesn’t that man know what Ye Xi’s face looks like? And he’s still willing to spend good silver to marry him?”

“Don’t doubt it. Everyone in Mountain Elegance Village knows. Lin Jiangshan said it himself in front of everyone. He doesn’t care whether Ye Xi’s face is scarred from burns; he only wants to bring him home and live a good life with him. He even said he was afraid that if he moved too slowly, someone else would get there first, so he hurried to stake his claim. The Ye family agreed as well. Now both families are merely waiting for the geomancer to choose a date before holding the wedding.”

The youngest son’s jealousy flared at once. Why? Why was Ye Xi ahead of him again? Only a few days ago, he had been laughing at Ye Xi for being unwanted and unable to marry. Now Ye Xi was engaged and had stolen the entire village’s attention, while there was still no sign of anything between him and the Cao family. If this continued, would he not become a laughingstock again?

No. He had to press Cao Bin once more. Surely Cao Bin was not planning to take advantage of him and then refuse to pay the price.

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