CHAPTER 785: CHAPTER 785: WARMED THROUGH

Gu Jinli did not hear the sound of hooves and called out to him, "Why have you stopped? Hurry up and go."

She was always urging him to go, yet she kept saying that she would wait for him.

He understood what she meant and knew that he should ride away at this moment, but he didn’t.

Qin San Lang dismounted, walked through the thick mist, and approached her again, boldly taking her hand to warm it: "It’s a bit cold, you should go inside first. I’ll leave after you enter."

Previously, Gu Jinli had not wanted to make him sad, so she said she would wait for his return. Now she felt a little timid and did not want to be too clingy, so she said, "Mm, I’ll be going home first."

She tugged at her hand, but surprisingly, she couldn’t pull it back.

She looked up and glared at him, "What are you trying to do?"

Qin San Lang looked at her and smiled, "It’s cold, I’m warming your hand."

Gu Jinli’s face turned red: "...My hands are very warm."

Qin San Lang nodded, "Mm, they are warmed by my touch."

He let go of her hand, "Go back."

Gu Jinli was defeated and did not dare to linger. She scurried back home. Before entering, she turned and glared at him, clearly not pleased with her loss.

Qin San Lang laughed, watching her say one last thing, "Thank you, Xiao Yu, for being willing to wait for me."

Gu Jinli: "..."

With a bang, she closed the heavy door of the Gu Family house and worried that the loud noise might make him think she was upset and the next few days at the Military Office would be hard for him. She opened a sliver of the door again, peeped out half of her head, waved at him, and then closed the door.

But Qin San Lang did not hear her footsteps. He knew she was hiding behind the door.

Qin San Lang smiled, waved at the tightly closed door, and walked away. Upon reaching his horse, he mounted and rode off.

After the sound of the horse’s hooves gradually faded away, Gu Jinli patted her hot face and breathed out a sigh: In the past, it was so adorable when she teased him. Now that she’s grown up, she blushes from teasing him.

After seeing off Qin San Lang, Gu Jinli went back to bed for a bit more sleep, only for about half an hour, when Xiao Ji woke her up: "Young Master, Sister Xiu is asking for you to get up quickly. Today, Cousin Le from the Qi Family is having her engagement, everyone is busy, and you are supposed to accompany her, so you better hurry up."

During the New Year’s celebration, Gu Daya had already arranged with her family to accompany Cousin Kang Le on the day of her engagement.

This was a custom from the Northwest, called ’accompanying the celebration.’ It’s actually because the girl’s family is anxious on the day of the engagement, so they find two people to stay by her side.

Gu Jinli hugged the thick quilt as she sat up, and squinting her eyes, she replied: "Mm, I’m getting up now."

Saying so, she dived back into the quilt, lingered in bed for a while longer, and then fully woke up. Quickly getting up, she got dressed, stepped out of the room, and went to the adjacent washroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. After drinking a cup of hot water warmed on the stove, she felt refreshed.

Gu Jinxiu, carrying a food box and followed by Sister Li, entered the courtyard and saw Gu Jinli: "Xiao Yu, come have breakfast quickly, and after we finish, we need to go to our aunt’s house."

Xiao Yu had woken up late, and everyone at home had already eaten breakfast and gone to the Qi Family to help out. Gu Jinxiu could only bring breakfast for her, urging her to eat quickly and then head to the Qi Family.

Gu Jinxiu swiftly set the table with breakfast, pulling Gu Jinli to sit down and handed her a wooden bowl filled with egg porridge and chopsticks: "Eat quickly."

Gu Jinli: "Sister, you’ve become more and more efficient, in the past you just gently called me for breakfast, never pushing a bowl and chopsticks into my hands like you do now."

Gu Jinxiu smiled slightly, urging her, "Stop talking and eat."

She was destined to get married and have children in the future. Since she had to become a wife and a mother, she couldn’t be too delicate, otherwise, how could she protect her children in the future?

Gu Jinli was hurried by Gu Jinxiu and had no choice but to quickly gulp down the egg congee, and after eating two fragrant pan-fried egg and bok choy pastries, she finally felt full.

Xiao Ji cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks and then followed Gu Jinli’s sisters, Sister Li, and Tong Xiaoxue to Qi Family’s house.

The Qi Family was decorated with lights and colorful banners, not only lanterns were hung, but also red cloth was draped over the door and windows.

Mrs. Chen felt it was a pity: "Tsk tsk tsk, it’s only because we have Silver now that we can afford to waste so much red cloth. In the past, how could we bear to do so? This red cloth could make several bridal gowns."

Third Grandma glared at her: "Mrs. Chen, keep your mouth shut today, got it? If you dare to speak nonsense, this old lady will tear you apart!"

She added: "Today is Sister Le’s big day. What’s wrong with hanging some red cloth? By the time of the wedding, these red cloths can be used to make festive fabric; it won’t be a waste."

So don’t feel bad about it, it’s not even your family’s cloth, you’re feeling pain for nothing.

Mrs. Chen was scolded as soon as she arrived and hummed discontentedly twice before going to help Third Grandma.

The Gu Family had servants, and called Ah Jiang and a few others to help, quickly getting all the small tasks prepared, just waiting for the Yuan Family to arrive.

Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu stayed in the room keeping company with Qi Kangle.

Qi Kangle was a bit nervous, holding onto Gu Jinli’s hand and not letting go, occasionally peeking outside through the window.

Gu Jinli smiled and said: "Cousin Le, don’t worry, it’s not yet the appointed time. Wait a bit longer and the Yuan Family People will arrive."

Qi Kangle’s cheeks flushed, she hurriedly withdrew her gaze and lowered her head: "I’m not worried, just a little nervous."

Gu Jinxiu said: "Cousin Le, don’t be nervous, we are here with you."

Gu Jinxiu was also somewhat nervous, especially when she thought about if she and Luo Wu were to set their engagement... With that thought, Gu Jinxiu’s face turned red.

Seeing this, Gu Jinli couldn’t help but laugh and teased her: "Big Sister, why is your face red? Today it’s Cousin Le and Chang family’s second brother setting the engagement, not you and Brother Luo Wu."

Boom, Gu Jinxiu’s face turned even redder, she felt both embarrassed and annoyed: "Xiao Yu, don’t talk nonsense, I wasn’t thinking about anything else."

Gu Jinli laughed: "Really? Then why is Big Sister’s face red?"

Gu Jinxiu was left speechless by the question, but Luo Huiniang just entered the room and heard this, disagreeing, and quickly came to help: "Xiao Yu, you mustn’t bully Sister Xiu."

Her older brother had instructed her to protect Sister Xiu well and not allow anyone to bully her, not even Xiao Yu.

Gu Jinli huffed: "I am teasing my sister, what’s that got to do with you? She isn’t part of your family yet, she is mine."

With that one sentence, Gu Jinxiu’s face turned even redder.

At that moment of bewilderment, a burst of suona sound was heard, Mo Qinzi’s brother Mo Xiangming ran into the Qi Family courtyard, shouting: "They’re here, they’re here, the Yuan Family People have arrived, and they’ve brought musicians too."

Third Grandma hurriedly said: "Close the door, close the door first. We’ll wait until the matchmaker from the Yuan Family calls out three times before we open it."

This was the custom of Great Chu, showing the value of the bride’s family.

"Yes," Qi Kangping replied, joining Gu Jin’an in closing the Qi Family’s main gate.

The Yuan Family had only just entered the village for a short while, tossing candies around for the village children.

The peaceful Da Feng Village became a bustling scene filled with noise and excitement. By the time the Yuan Family arrived at the Qi Family’s house, they already had a trail of children following them.

The Yuan Family had come to propose marriage at the Qi Family’s house many times over the past three years, and the village children all knew about this. Seeing the Yuan Family coming again, and in such a grand manner, the adults in their homes said that this marriage was certain to be settled.

Thus, the village’s children also helped call out: "Madam Qi, open the door, your happy guests have arrived!"