CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 209: ANNOYING PEST

The eight-year-old Chen Zigeng suddenly got excited and called out to his sister when he thought of something.

When his sister turned her head to look at him, Chen Zigeng was stunned. He felt at a loss for words, fearing a scolding, and worried that his dreams would vanish into thin air.

Xie Liangchen said, "What’s wrong?"

Chen Zigeng steadied his thoughts. His sister was smart, with eyes that could see through people, and she immediately noticed his odd behavior.

Thinking about it, Chen Zigeng looked up and met his sister’s gaze but couldn’t hold out for long before giving up. Thankfully, his mind was quick, and he said, "Sister, someone went to our second uncle’s house yesterday to propose for Sister Yuyu."

Xie Liangchen, thinking it was something else, smiled and said, "During spring plowing, there are still matchmakers coming by?"

Chen Zigeng said, "I heard they saw her during spring plowing and thought Sister Yuyu was capable and had a good temperament. They were afraid someone else would propose, so they hurried to send the matchmaker."

Xie Liangchen hadn’t heard Chen Yuyu mention this matter.

Xie Liangchen said, "Your Sister Yuyu is a few months younger than me; there’s no rush to arrange a marriage for her."

Chen Zigeng calmly said, "The matchmaker said that at Sister Yuyu’s age, many are already married. They also said the groom’s family is quite good, with a house in Zhenzhou City and some farmland."

After saying this, Chen Zigeng held his sister’s hand. "Sister, what do you think? Is this good?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Do you think the groom’s family is a good match for Sister Yuyu?"

Chen Zigeng nodded. "Hei Dan is very worried, constantly talking to me about it. Although he’s reluctant to part with Sister Yuyu, she will have to get married eventually."

Indeed, there was such a matter, but Chen Zigeng had already persuaded Hei Dan that with their second uncle and aunt making the decisions, Sister Yuyu would not be wronged.

Now mentioning this to his sister was actually an attempt to gauge her thoughts. His sister was already fifteen, and although they had called off the engagement with the Su Family, she would still have to marry someone eventually, just as he would have to marry when he grew up. It’s better to plan these things early.

Xie Liangchen couldn’t possibly guess that her seven-year-old brother was worrying like a seventy-year-old.

Xie Liangchen said, "Proposing a marriage isn’t just about looking at the family’s status; you also need to consider the person’s character. Upholding good character is the most important thing."

Chen Zigeng considered General Song, who had brought his sister back. General Song entered the military camp as a teenager, guarded the pass all the way, repelled the Liao people, and stood up for the people of Zhenzhou. His character couldn’t be more upright.

Chen Zigeng continued, "I heard the matchmaker say that a marriage should be between families of equal social status."

Xie Liangchen nodded with a smile.

Tonight, Chen Zigeng had especially many questions. Seeing this smile, he pursued, "What does Sister mean?"

Xie Liangchen said, "The idea of equal status isn’t wrong, but it depends on how you measure it. Is it about social standing, or wealth and prosperity, or knowledge and vision? Everyone sees things differently, and so it’s not clear-cut. If both parties think it’s a good match, then it’s considered equal status."

Chen Zigeng’s heart surged with passion. General Song thought Chen Family Village was good, and the people of Chen Family Village also thought General Song was good. Does this count as a good match?

Chen Zigeng said, "Our Chen Family Village won’t be outdone in the future, and we can compare to anyone. So for Sister’s future marriage, it’ll be the same; there’s no one better than my sister, and no one she can’t match."

Xie Liangchen was startled; why did the topic suddenly turn to her?

Chen Zigeng continued, "But Sister, what you said about an equal match... It’s hard to say, right? How can you know those things? Can a matchmaker’s words be trusted? What if, after getting married, you find things aren’t right, then what?"

Xie Liangchen had long known her younger brother was precocious, but she hadn’t expected him to think so deeply this time. Indeed, isn’t that how most marriages are arranged: by parental order and matchmaker’s words, like hers with Su Huaiqing, arranged early without truly knowing each other?

Chen Zigeng, after a long silence, said, "I think that’s not good, Sister shouldn’t settle for such arrangements."

Xie Liangchen laughed out loud.

Chen Zigeng earnestly said, "I think Sister should find someone she feels is right, see them in person, and understand what kind of person they are, only then consider marriage. That way, when Sister marries, she won’t be scared, and Grandmother and I won’t be worried either."

As Chen Zigeng spoke, it suddenly seemed he understood something: "No wonder Hei Dan says Sister Yuyu isn’t keen on discussing marriage. Life is so good now at Chen Family Village. If she marries into the wrong family, it would be too late to regret."

Before Xie Liangchen could speak, Chen Zigeng hurriedly said, "So Sister shouldn’t believe what the matchmaker says but should look for herself."

Xie Liangchen pinched Chen Zigeng’s nose. If the elders and the teacher heard this, Chen Zigeng would likely get scolded.

The siblings continued talking as they walked home.

Old Mrs. Chen, seeing her granddaughter and grandson at the gate, hurried over and said, "Home so late?"

Before Xie Liangchen could speak, Chen Zigeng said, "Sister went to speak with General Song, and General Song just brought Sister back to the village. It was only after seeing me pick Sister up that General Song left."

Xie Liangchen, with her mouth open, realized her brother had said everything she was going to, and she wouldn’t have been so detailed.

"Dinner is ready," Old Mrs. Chen said, "Go wash your hands and eat."

The three of them sat in the house having dinner. Chen Zigeng noticed his sister moved her chopsticks very slowly, barely managing to finish the rice in front of her.

After the spring plowing, everyone was eating more than usual. What was going on with Sister?

Taking advantage of Old Mrs. Chen going to the kitchen, Chen Zigeng softly said, "Sister, did you eat at General Song’s place?"

Suddenly caught by her brother, Xie Liangchen was startled, her eyes sparkling under the lamp.

Xie Liangchen gathered herself and said, "No."

She clearly had eaten, so why lie? The teacher said that upright actions fear no questions, nor require concealment.

Chen Zigeng felt like he had caught onto something; it seemed his sister was different. Though just seven years old, he understood the wisdom of knowing when to stop, so he put away his smile and continued eating.

After dinner and cleaning up, Xie Liangchen was still sorting through accounts under the lamp.

Old Mrs. Chen yawned several times, unable to stay awake any longer, and started urging her granddaughter and grandson to go to bed.

As she lay on the bed, Xie Liangchen suddenly found it hard to sleep, her mind calculating something unknown. At times, it was the maps Song Xian had drawn, then it was Princess Jiahui, and then it turned to the questions Chen Zigeng had asked her.

"Sister."

In the sound of Old Mrs. Chen’s soft snores, Chen Zigeng whispered, "Sister, can’t sleep?"

Xie Liangchen responded.

Chen Zigeng said, "What are you thinking about, Sister? Tell me, if we talk a bit, we’ll fall asleep."

Saying this, Chen Zigeng’s small hand reached over Old Mrs. Chen to grasp Xie Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen slapped Chen Zigeng’s hand lightly, "Go to sleep."

Chen Zigeng said, "Sister, I haven’t spoken to General Song in a long while. What did you talk about today?"

Xie Liangchen frowned, turning her back to ignore Chen Zigeng. Her good brother had suddenly become a pest, endlessly whispering "General Song" by her ear.

Thinking deeply, Xie Liangchen once again pictured the map Song Xian had shown her. She couldn’t figure out why there was a round moon drawn on it.

If she wasn’t mistaken, it was intentionally drawn there, that bright moon just like the one hanging outside the window now.