CHAPTER 784: CHAPTER 784: I’M BETTER THAN SILVER

Qi Kangle’s engagement could finally be formally set, the Qi Family and Gu Jinli’s family were both very happy, having started preparing for the engagement ceremony on the 16th of the first month since before the New Year.

Gu Jinli also helped, learning a lot about the marriage customs of the Great Chu people.

However, even though she was busy, on the sixteenth she would still get up before dawn to see Qin San Lang off.

Qin San Lang, as usual, waited for her not far from the Gu Family’s main gate; seeing her come out, he couldn’t help but smile, stepping forward and calling her, "Xiao Yu."

Gu Jinli looked up at him and handed him the several bamboo boxes she was holding: "Here, these are for you."

Qin San Lang took them with a smile, not looking at the bamboo boxes, but only at her, asking, "What’s inside? It doesn’t smell like jerky."

Gu Jinli poked the coarse linen-wrapped boxes and said, "I was afraid you’d get tired of jerky if I made it every time, so this time I made boxes for you: there are egg and bok choy boxes, minced meat boxes, and dry fruit sugar crumble boxes. They’re very filling; if you get hungry, just take them out and heat them up on the stove in your courtyard."

As a Military Department Company Commander, Qin San Lang had a small courtyard in the Military Office where he could live comfortably.

"Alright, I’ll listen to Xiao Yu," Qin San Lang said, holding the boxes that were still warm and asked, "Did you just make these?"

Feeling sorry for her, having to make boxes to eat in the cold weather, she must not have gotten enough sleep.

"Don’t make them anymore, even if you do, just a few would be enough; making too many is hard work." Qin San Lang didn’t want Xiao Yu to have such a hard time; he wanted her to sleep in.

Gu Jinli, looking at his touched face, felt a bit guilty: "Well, I actually made them the night before last. Even though they were made two nights ago, but since the weather is cold now, they won’t go bad even if kept for half a month."

Qin San Lang: "..."

His heart relaxed, and he smiled again, praising, "Xiao Yu is really smart. This way is better; you don’t have to do all the work at once and can sleep a bit longer."

Gu Jinli smiled, her eyes narrowing, and nodded her agreement: "Hmm, I also think I’m very smart."

Qin San Lang, looking at her slightly proud face, laughed out loud: "Xiao Yu has always been smart."

Gu Jinli blinked: "Is it okay for us to boast like this while standing in the cold wind?"

Qin San Lang shook his head: "No, Xiao Yu is naturally smart, what’s wrong with praising that?"

Then he asked, "Are you cold?"

Was she feeling cold, and thus didn’t want to stand in the cold wind chatting with him?

Gu Jinli shook her head: "It’s okay, not too cold."

Qin San Lang wanted to touch her hand to see if she was freezing but ultimately dismissed the thought...

"Chang Errui and the Qi family’s cousin are having their engagement today," Qin San Lang suddenly brought up the matter.

Gu Jinli nodded: "Yes, they’ve been preparing since before the New Year, didn’t you already know?"

Qin San Lang did know, but knowing made him feel envious.

He looked down at Gu Jinli, his eyes fervently shining with the unspoken question: When can we have our engagement?

Gu Jinli understood instantly, but said: "It’s getting late, you should get going."

Qin San Lang, slightly disappointed, knew that his own situation was a bit daunting for her; fearing she would get hurt if she fell too deep, thus she had never given him a clear response.

Nevertheless, he wasn’t discouraged, because he knew, if Xiao Yu were to marry, she would definitely marry him.

"I’m just afraid she doesn’t want to marry and would rather hold onto her money."

Perhaps Gu Jinli likes money too much, or maybe he really is worried. Suddenly, Qin San Lang said to Gu Jinli, "I am better than money."

At least when it’s cold, holding me would be warm, unlike money, which is cold and icy.

"Ah?" Gu Jinli was a bit confused: "What do you mean?"

Seeing she didn’t understand, Qin San Lang added, "I am better than money."

This time Gu Jinli understood and laughed out loud: "Yes, you are indeed better than money."

Not only better than money but also better than gold, he was an unconventional ancient man she had never considered.

"Have you eaten breakfast? Did you drink hot salt water again?" Gu Jinli asked as she beckoned him over. The two came under the eaves of the Gu Family’s courtyard wall, and she took out two boxes from a small cloth bag she carried with her: "They are meat-filled. I knew you hadn’t eaten breakfast, so I brought them especially for you. Eat them quickly, then you can leave."

Then, she unfastened a sheepskin water bag and handed it to him: "It’s hot soy milk, which you can pair with the food."

Qin San Lang took it, drank a sip of the hot soy milk, and his whole heart warmed up. He turned to look at her and said, "Xiao Yu is really good to me."

This is why he was so certain; if she were to marry, she would definitely marry him... Speaking of which, Xiao Yu actually has a somewhat indifferent nature and rarely takes the initiative to treat someone well, but she treats him very well.

Even now, like this, neglecting worldly proprieties, regardless of her reputation, she got up early to send him off and stayed under the same roof with him while serving him breakfast.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and eat. If the wind blows a bit more, the meat-filled buns will get cold, and then they won’t taste as good," Gu Jinli urged him.

Qin San Lang nodded, took a bite of the meat bun; the bun was made with a mixture of flour and glutinous rice flour, yielding a soft yet chewy texture. The filling was ample, a bite filled his mouth with meat.

Xiao Yu is really good to him, giving him so much meat to eat.

After eating one savory bun, Qin San Lang suddenly looked at Gu Jinli and asked, "Xiao Yu, do you know what we are like right now?"

"Like what?" Gu Jinli looked up at him, again urging, "Hurry up and eat. There’s still one more bun. With so much talking, when will you finish eating?"

Qin San Lang laughed upon hearing this, followed her suggestion, and finished eating the meat buns. When it was time to leave, he still hadn’t said what they resembled.

Actually, they were like a newlywed couple.

A young wife getting up early to see off her husband who was going to work... Qin San Lang felt, what he was eating wasn’t a meat bun, but a candied fruit crushed filling, very sweet.

Qin San Lang: "I’m leaving now, on the 20th I will make time to come back and help you."

The 20th of January was the day of the ham auction’s second session.

Gu Jinli said, "You don’t need to come back specially. It’s already the second auction; the tasks are familiar, and there’s nothing much to assist with."

But Qin San Lang shook his head: "Don’t worry about me; I can squeeze out half a day."

Now that the ham had built a reputation, he worried that people would flock to the second auction. If there was any issue, he could be there to help in time.

Although she could handle it herself, he wanted to solve all matters for her.

Gu Jinli said: "Since you want to come back, then alright."

Qin San Lang smiled, looked at her for a while, and said, "I’m leaving now. Don’t follow me out; otherwise, you will catch the cold again."

Gu Jinli nodded and simply said, "Okay."

Qin San Lang carried the items, walked off, placed them on the horseback, mounted the horse, and as he rode off, he glanced back at her but suddenly heard Gu Jinli’s voice: "I’ll wait for you to come back!"

Qin San Lang paused, tightened the reins, stopped the horse, and looked back at her. His heart warmed by her words, feeling an urge to dismount and run towards her.