In Yong’an Village, the Jiang family was hosting guests brought by the eldest aunt: nineteen-year-old Qin Changping and his parents. The second and third aunts had also come, bringing their own children.
Jiang Xiaomai was hiding shyly in her room, wearing newly made clothes and two delicate pink Juan Flowers in her hair.
"Nian Nian, did you go take a look? What does he look like?" Jiang Xiaomai blushed as she asked this.
"I haven't seen him either." Jiang Nian spread her hands helplessly, and Jiang Xiaomai’s face fell slightly.
"I'll go take a look for Sister Xiaomai!" Jiang Dou, Jiang Ya, and Jiang Li, holding Sugar Crisps in their hands, happily ran out.
As soon as the three children entered the room, they crowded around Qin Changping. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Qin Changping gently poked Jiang Li’s chubby little cheek—it was soft and squishy.
"Big brother, my sister asked me to come see…" As soon as Jiang Li spoke, Jiang Dou hurriedly covered her mouth. "Don’t say it! If Mom and Dad find out, they’ll spank us."
Jiang Ya and Jiang Dou dragged Jiang Li away as they ran off, while Qin Changping grinned sheepishly and scratched his head.
The three children ran back to the east wing. "Sister Xiaomai, we saw him. He’s really tall, with a dark face, small eyes, and long arms and legs."
The three of them took turns describing him, and Jiang Xiaomai looked horrified. A dark face and small eyes—how ugly must he be?
"Nian Nian, Sui Sui, come with me to take a look."
Jiang Xiaomai pulled Jiang Nian and Jiang Sui toward the main hall. The three of them hid by the doorway, peeking inside. The elders were sitting and chatting, while Jiang Yu, Jiang Mi, and Jiang Feng were drinking with Qin Changping. Jiang Sui pointed at Qin Changping and whispered:
"That’s Qin Changping. He looks quite decent, not ugly at all."
Jiang Xiaomai gripped the doorframe, tilting her head to get a better look. He was tall and well-built, with a strong, handsome face. As if sensing someone watching him, he turned and met Jiang Xiaomai’s gaze. Her cheeks flushed bright red instantly, and like a startled rabbit, she lifted her skirt and ran back to her room.
"Xiaomai, why did you run away?" Jiang Nian and Jiang Sui chased after her.
Qin Changping’s ears also burned bright red. So that was Jiang Xiaomai, the girl he was going to propose to.
The two families chatted happily. Qin Changping’s parents wanted to settle the engagement early. After asking Qin Changping for his opinion, he nodded with a bashful smile.
"I have no objections. I’ll leave it to my parents."
Jiang First Uncle and his wife were very pleased and nodded in agreement to the marriage. The two families began discussing wedding arrangements. In rural families, weddings were simple: pick a date, deliver the betrothal gifts, choose an auspicious day, and invite the villagers for a meal—that would seal the marriage.
The Qin family even specially invited Matchmaker Wang to propose the marriage. Jiang Second Aunt smiled and asked the matchmaker to find a match for her daughter as well.
"Just find an honest, dependable man who can live a steady life," Jiang Second Aunt stated her criteria for a son-in-law.
"No problem! Leave it to me!" The matchmaker boasted. "Eighty percent of the marriages within a ten-mile radius were arranged by me, and every couple lives happily and contentedly."
"That’s wonderful. Thank you, Matchmaker Wang." Jiang Second Aunt grinned from ear to ear.
Jiang Nian poked her own mother, Jiang San Niang, who turned to her and asked, "What is it?"
Jiang Nian: "……"
Other mothers were eager to find good husbands for their daughters, so why wasn’t her mother the least bit concerned about her marriage?
"Mom, I want to find a good husband too, preferably marry early." Jiang Nian leaned close to her ear and whispered.
Jiang San Niang looked helpless. "You’re only sixteen. What’s the rush? Let’s talk about it in a couple of years. Your father and I want to keep you at home a little longer."
Jiang Nian was frantic—how could she not be? What if Qi Heng came to propose to her again as he had in her previous life? If she married early, she didn't believe Qi Heng would want a remarried peasant girl.
If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain—and she actually managed to pick out a man who caught her eye, someone she saw while digging for wild vegetables in the back hills.
As she was gathering vegetables, a rabbit hopped behind her. Mo Xiuqi raised his bow and shot it. When Jiang Nian turned around, her eyes met Mo Xiuqi's. At first glance, Jiang Nian thought he had such a clean aura and was quite handsome. He bowed to her politely.
"Apologies for disturbing you, miss."
"It's fine." After exchanging a few words with him, Jiang Nian learned his name was Mo Xiuqi and that his family had moved here a few days ago, living in an abandoned hunter's cottage behind Yong’an Village.
"Are you also a resident of Yong’an Village?" Mo Xiuqi asked.
"Yes, I'm Jiang Nian, and I live at the foot of the hill." Carrying her vegetable basket, Jiang Nian chatted with him as they walked.
Just as Jiang Nian wanted to talk more, Jiang Dou ran up the hill to find her.
"Sister Nian Nian, come home quickly! A matchmaker has brought betrothal gifts to propose to you!"
"What?" Jiang Nian frowned, her mind exploding with the memory—in her past life, the Qi family's matchmaker had also come around this time.
"No! I have to go back and stop this!" Jiang Nian shoved the vegetable basket into Jiang Dou's arms and raced home, while Mo Xiuqi carried the rabbit back to his place.
As soon as she entered, she saw several boxes of betrothal gifts in the courtyard, each filled with rare treasures. Her heart sank—it was indeed the Qi family. From the main hall came the matchmaker's voice:
"Old Master Jiang, Old Madam Jiang, your third granddaughter is truly blessed. The Grand Administrator has entrusted me to propose marriage on behalf of his second son."
"Grand Administrator?" The Jiang family exclaimed in shock.
"We don't know any Grand Administrator. Are you at the wrong house?" Jiang Lao Da asked, puzzled.
Jiang Nian's face paled. She burst into the main hall and shouted at her grandparents and parents.
"I won't marry him!"
Panting heavily, sweat dripping from her forehead, the Jiang family all turned to look at her. "Nian Nian, what's going on?"
"I don't know what's happening either." Jiang Nian walked over to her mother. "Whoever this Grand Administrator's son is, I refuse to marry him."
The matchmaker chuckled and slapped her thigh. "When the Qi family asked me to propose, they mentioned that the Grand Administrator is the man Jiang Third Uncle saved some time ago. To repay the kindness, he wishes to marry your daughter."
"So he's the Grand Administrator." Jiang Lao San waved his hand honestly. "He already gave us silver—the debt is repaid. There's no need for further repayment. My daughter is just a peasant girl; she's not worthy of the Grand Administrator's son."
"The Qi family said the silver given earlier was also part of the betrothal gifts, delivered personally by the groom."
"What!" The Jiang family was collectively stunned. How could the silver given as gratitude for saving a life turn into betrothal gifts for their daughter?
"Shameless!" Jiang Nian bit her lip and cursed.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, I don't want to marry. Noble families have too many rules; I wouldn't be able to adapt."
Old Master Jiang comforted her with his eyes and said to the matchmaker:
"We are honored by the Grand Administrator's regard, but my granddaughter is uneducated and unfamiliar with etiquette. She is not a suitable match for the Grand Administrator's son. Please convey our apologies to the Grand Administrator. As for the silver the Qi family sent previously, please return it all. We've used a few dozen taels, but we will repay it in the future."
In her previous life, her grandfather had also forbidden her from marrying into the Qi family, explaining the stakes involved. However, she had consented herself and insisted on marrying Qi Heng, so her grandfather had no choice but to comply. In this life, she would never marry him again.