Chapter 25

Back then, Granny Wang had sold off the young girl Yan Xiaoyue to that forty- or fifty-year-old widower in their village just for a pittance of a matchmaker’s fee—truly heartless.

This time with the Xie family, Yan Xiaoyu didn’t even need to investigate to know there was definitely a trap inside.

The Xie family would surely be on guard. He might not uncover much by going out today, but he could fabricate the connections.

His parents trusted him implicitly. If he pinned a few “charges” on Xie Shuan, they would believe him without question. Then, no matter how much Granny Wang tried to talk herself blue in the face, she wouldn’t be able to exonerate Xie Shuan.

Still, it would be best to secure concrete evidence. That way, he could silence Granny Wang completely and expose her dirty deeds, preventing other young masters and mistresses from falling into her trap.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

With his mind made up, Yan Xiaoyu arrived in town and began asking around for the Xie family’s shoe shop.

The shop was quite famous, and it took him quite some effort to find it—tucked away in a small alley on the western edge of Lantai Town, so remote that a few more steps would have taken him into the village.

The storefront was small, its signboard peeling. Inside, two wooden shoe racks lined the walls, with a cash register counter at the front. The remaining space was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Only a few sparse shops surrounded it: one selling steamed buns, another selling wontons, and a third selling joss paper and paper horses. All was quiet with little business.

With this setup, could they really make money? Yan Xiaoyu was highly skeptical.

Xie’s shop was already open, with only a young man bustling about inside—likely Xie Shuan himself.

Xie Shuan was short and stocky, with dark skin and unremarkable features. At first glance, he did look rather shabby.

Fortunately, his parents had long accepted his plain looks, and it hadn’t been enough to make them reject this match.

Yan Xiaoyu pondered for a moment before sitting down at the wonton shop diagonally across from Xie’s. He ordered a bowl of small wontons. This vantage point offered a clear view of the goings-on at Xie’s. As he ate, he observed Xie Shuan across the street.

Xie Shuan was tidying up the shop. He arranged the shoes on the wooden rack neatly, then used a feather duster to clear dust from them before wiping down the counter with a cloth…

By the time Yan Xiaoyu finished eating, Xie Shuan was already seated at the shop entrance, starting to make shoes.

He seemed like a diligent sort, honest enough, with no obvious flaws.

Yan Xiaoyu called out, and the wonton shop owner came over to collect payment. Yan Xiaoyu, setting aside his conscience, praised the wonton generously before seizing the chance to strike up a conversation: “Sir, I’d like to ask you something.”

The owner beamed like a flower at the compliment, his attitude warm and welcoming: “Oh, you!”

Yan Xiaoyu pointed at Xie Shuan. “That shoemaker across the street—how’s his craftsmanship?”

“Young man, are you looking to get your shoes repaired or buy a new pair?” The owner asked, glancing at Yan Xiaoyu without giving himself away.

“Neither,” Yan Xiaoyu replied, feigning embarrassment. “I’m actually thinking of opening a shoe shop here myself.”

“Huh?” The dumpling shop owner seemed stunned by this unexpected answer, taking a long moment before croaking out, “Open… a shop? I suppose it’s possible. But this place is so remote—who’d want to come here? Look at my shop—it’s been open for ages, and you’re the only customer I’ve had. Hardly makes a penny all year…”

The owner couldn’t help but vent his frustrations to Yan Xiaoyu. Yan Xiaoyu quickly steered the conversation back: “The rent is cheap here, and there are fewer people. I just wonder how skilled the fellow across the street is. Could I compete with him? And what about his character? Might he use dirty tricks to suppress a newcomer like me?”

“Don’t worry about that! You can rest assured!” The wonton shop owner took the water Yan Xiaoyu poured for him, sat down beside him as directed, and began discussing the situation at Xie’s Shop.

“The shoemaker across the street is Xie Shuan. His father repairs shoes—probably out now, going door to door fixing footwear. Both father and son are skilled craftsmen. But as for your own skill, young man, I can’t say. How would I know if you’re better than them?”

“I’ve watched Xie Shuan grow up. He’s a good-natured fellow, and his father is easygoing too. They’ve lived in this alley for years without ever causing trouble. Your shop business might not be thriving, but I doubt they’d give you any trouble…”

The wonton shop owner spoke highly of Xie Shuan. Yan Xiaoyu asked many questions indirectly, all probing for Xie Shuan’s shortcomings.

After leaving the wonton shop, Yan Xiaoyu used the same method to find three more people to ask, gathering a mix of men, women, young, and old.

Surprisingly, their accounts were remarkably consistent: Xie Shuan was good, and so were his parents.

Xie Shuan was hardworking and filial, wholly devoted to his family’s business. He didn’t drink excessively, gamble, or chase women.

Xie Shuan’s father was honest and kind-hearted, with an excellent reputation.

Xie Shuan’s mother suffered from a common women’s ailment—nothing serious, and certainly not hereditary.

Xie Shuan’s character and health were both sound. While the Xie family’s financial situation might have been slightly exaggerated, it wasn’t outright false. So where exactly was the problem?

Could it be that this time, Granny Wang really hadn’t done anything malicious?

Yan Xiaoyu pondered it over and over, yet still felt something was off—those people’s accounts were too uniformly consistent, almost as if they’d rehearsed their lines beforehand.

There was nothing more to uncover in this neighborhood. Yan Xiaoyu emerged from the alley and headed south toward the town.

The ox cart from Nanling Village would depart soon, so he’d have to postpone inquiring about Xie Shuan’s affairs.

Two spices at home were nearly depleted. Having accompanied Yan Xingmao to his follow-up appointment yesterday, he’d forgotten to restock. Yan Xiaoyu planned to buy the spices at Yu’s Clinic before heading home.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Earlier, while Yan Xingmao was receiving treatment at Yu’s Clinic, Yan Xiaoyu had asked a young man named Yu An to look after his parents. Later, he had specifically brought food to thank Yu An, and the two had become friends.

This time, to buy the spices, Yan Xiaoyu sought him out again.

After buying the spices, just as they were about to leave, Yan Xiaoyu’s footsteps halted abruptly as something suddenly occurred to him.

He quickly turned back, pulling Yu An to a secluded spot.

“Brother An, do you know anyone from the Xie family shoe shop? Have any of them ever come to the clinic for treatment?”

Yan Xiaoyu finished, his eyes fixed intently on Yu An.

There were only two clinics in town, one in the south and one in the north. The Yu Clinic in the south was closer to the Xie family’s shop and had a better reputation. Logically, Xie Shuan’s mother would likely go to the Yu Clinic for treatment.

Sure enough, Yu An nodded. “You mean the shoemaker Xie on the west side of town? His wife comes twice a month.”

“Twice a month?” Yan Xiaoyu frowned in confusion. “Is his wife that seriously ill?”

“What do you mean by ‘his wife’?” Yu An glanced around to make sure they were alone, then leaned in close to Yan Xiaoyu with a knowing smile. “They’ve been prescribed nothing but kidney-tonifying and virility-enhancing herbs. His wife wouldn’t need that stuff—he must be the one who’s sick!”

He finished, winking at Yan Xiaoyu. “Clinic rules—no revealing patient details. You mustn’t breathe a word of this outside.”

Yan Xiaoyu was stunned.

Xie Shuan’s mother had come to the clinic for nothing but aphrodisiacs. Yu An mistakenly thought Xie Shuan’s father was the one who was ill, but Yan Xiaoyu knew it must be Xie Shuan himself.

Xie Shuan was impotent!

He hadn’t even married yet at twenty-four, and he was already like this.

Damn that Matchmaker Wang! Pairing such an unmanly man with his sister—wasn’t that condemning her to a living widowhood?!

And that Xie Shuan—instead of properly treating his illness, he still wanted to prey on young girls. Yan Xiaoyu wanted to tear his heart out.

While cursing inwardly, Yan Xiaoyu pondered a plan.

He’d never understood why elders always stressed knowing a suitor’s background—now he got it. If Yan Xiaoyu hadn’t happened to visit the clinic today and casually asked about it, how could he have uncovered this? Truly impossible to guard against!

Xie Shuan was definitely not getting married. He’d explain the situation to his parents when he got home today. When Granny Wang returned to his house, he’d kick her right out.

But this wasn’t a long-term solution. His elder sister held rather traditional views; she’d have to marry sooner or later. Xie Shuan would become Wang Shuan, Li Shuan.

Instead of guarding against others, he’d take the initiative and find a suitable husband for his sister.

Yan Xiaoyu’s mind raced, mentally reviewing every man he knew.

The men he knew well and understood thoroughly were mostly in the village. Some were unsuitable in age, some were already married, some had made advances toward Yan Xiaoyue, and some he simply didn’t think much of…

Only one man, aside from being a bit poor, met all the criteria. Not only did he think so, but he believed his sister would be satisfied too.

That man was Yan Shaocheng.

Yan Shaoxuan wasn’t bad either, but his temperament was too peculiar. He didn’t seem like someone who would cherish his wife, and his sister might suffer if she married him.

Yan Shaocheng was the better choice.

Yan Shaocheng was handsome, gentle, broad-minded, and responsible. Most importantly, he genuinely admired Yan Xiaoyue.

Yan Xiaoyue’s physique and complexion set her apart from ordinary girls. Many men in the village were taller and stronger than she, and they deliberately belittled her, thinking she was weak.

Yan Shaocheng was the complete opposite.

That day when the siblings were talking, Yan Xiaoyu mentioned how much he adored his sister, and Yan Shaocheng chimed in with agreement. Yan Xiaoyu sensed it wasn’t mere politeness—he genuinely shared that sentiment.

Later, he observed that Yan Xiaoyue seemed to enjoy Yan Shaocheng’s company. She treated him differently from other men, likely harboring a vague fondness, though she hadn’t yet realized it herself.

It appeared Yan Shaocheng also felt something special toward Yan Xiaoyue.

That day on the oxcart, though he was speaking to her, when the siblings slid backward, Yan Shaocheng immediately grabbed Yan Xiaoyue first. When the three were together normally, Yan Xiaoyu chattered nonstop while Yan Xiaoyue remained silent, yet Yan Shaocheng never once ignored her…

The more Yan Xiaoyu thought about it, the more he felt Yan Shaocheng was the right match. But chasing after someone wasn’t the way to go about it; it was better for Yan Shaocheng to take the initiative.

Yan Shaocheng had gone to the provincial capital on business over a month ago. By all accounts, he should have returned days ago. Why hadn’t he shown up yet? Once he returned, he could use the matter of Xie Shuan to test him—to see exactly what his intentions toward Yan Xiaoyue were.

Lost in thought, Yan Xiaoyu reached the oxcart station only to find the village cart had already departed.

Hiring a private cart was prohibitively expensive. Unwilling to spend, he resolved to walk back. But after taking just two steps, he heard someone calling his name from behind.

“Brother Yu!”

Yan Xiaoyu turned around and instantly broke into a wide grin—‘The devil has arrived’! Yan Shaocheng was back!

“Brother Yan, you’re finally back! What took you so long this time?”

Yan Shaocheng stopped the ox cart. Yan Xiaoyu chatted with him while climbing aboard.

“Some business delayed me for a few days.” Yan Shaocheng’s smile faded slightly as he subtly changed the subject. ”How have you been lately? Why did you come to town alone?“

Hearing this, Yan Xiaoyu’s impatient nature couldn’t be contained. He shot Yan Shaocheng a glance: ”My parents and I are fine. It’s just my sister who isn’t doing well.”

Yan Shaocheng controlled his strength, coaxing a low moo from the ox. He turned his head, his attention fixed solely on Yan Xiaoyu. “What’s wrong with your sister?”

“Ah.” Yan Xiaoyu sighed. “Granny Wang from Nanling Village arranged a marriage for my sister. I came to town today specifically to find out about the man.”

“Isn’t marriage a joyous occasion? Why would it be problematic?” Yan Shaocheng concealed the emotion in his eyes and spoke softly, “Is there something wrong with the man?”

“I haven’t uncovered any issues through today’s inquiries, but I still feel something isn’t quite right.” Yan Xiaoyu recounted Granny Wang’s words from earlier, shared his own speculations, and discussed them with Yan Shaocheng once more.

Yan Shaocheng’s tone remained level: “Marriage is a lifelong commitment. One can never be too cautious.”

Yan Xiaoyu wasn’t satisfied with his reaction.

So calm… Could it be he’d misread it? Was Yan Shaocheng actually interested in his elder sister?

“We should be cautious, but in a few days, my sister will meet Xie Shuan. If I don’t produce evidence of Xie Shuan’s issues, my parents won’t refuse Granny Wang’s proposal.”

Yan Shaocheng stared ahead, his gaze vacant, lost in thought. “Your parents aren’t the domineering type. They won’t force your sister. If she refuses, Granny Wang can’t do anything.”

Yan Xiaoyu felt a pang of disappointment but didn’t press further, quickly changing the subject.

“Brother Yan, the peaches on your tree are ripe. We’ve already eaten half of them. A few days ago, I sent Brother Yan a basket of peaches and a bowl of perilla-infused peaches with ginger. He even gave me two fish in return.”

“He gave you fish?” Yan Shaocheng’s tone held surprise.

“Yes.” At this, Yan Xiaoyu perked up again. “Brother Yan, are you any good at catching fish? I heard there are quite a few fish in the streams on our back mountain.”

Yan Shaocheng shook his head. “I’m not skilled at that. Shaoxuan, however, learned from our foster father and is quite good at hunting and fishing.”

“Oh.” Yan Xiaoyu sighed regretfully. He wasn’t particularly close with Yan Shaoxuan, and inviting him to go fishing in the mountains probably wouldn’t be welcome. What a pity.

They chatted a bit more afterward, but Yan Shaocheng seemed distracted the whole time. Yan Xiaoyu guessed his business trip might not have gone smoothly.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Yan Xiaoyu couldn’t hold back any longer. He genuinely worried about Yan Shaocheng. As the oxcart neared the village entrance, he finally mustered the courage to ask.

“Brother Yan, did your business trip go smoothly this time?”

“You figured it out,” Yan Shaocheng replied with a bitter smile. “Things did go wrong this time.”

Seeing Yan Xiaoyu’s concerned gaze, a wave of warmth washed over him. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to share with her.

“Every time I go to the prefectural city, I load up with goods from our area to sell there, then bring back goods from the city to sell in the county. It used to be steady work—earning honest money, never any trouble. But a few years back, when Shaoxuan took the provincial exams, I brought him some scrolls from the prefectural capital. Turns out the prefectural capital’s scrolls are completely different from the county’s—most of them were county-level…”

Essentially, the brothers were selling books compiled by local officials and scholars in the prefectural city—materials advantageous for the imperial examinations. But in the county town, they hatched a scheme to transport prefectural city exam papers back to sell locally.

Sales were modest at first, but they still made some profit. Later, Yan Shaoxuan realized something was amiss—the county’s books weren’t being sourced from the provincial capital. Instead, the few bookshops in the county were controlled by the aristocratic families. To prevent others from posing a threat to their own offspring, they preferred to earn less rather than sell crucial texts to other scholars.

After Yan Shaoxuan sensed something was wrong, he stopped allowing Yan Shaocheng to transport and sell them. Yan Shaocheng had always obeyed him. But next March, Yan Shaoxuan would take the provincial-level examination. If he passed, he could then take the imperial-level examination in August. Having both exams in one year was rare—a golden opportunity for Yan Shaoxuan. Passing both would save him considerable time.

However, both examinations were held in the prefectural capital. Travel and lodging alone would cost a fortune. Yan Shaocheng also wanted to send his younger brother back to the county school, which required additional funds. Thus, he once again entertained the idea of reselling the previous papers.

“Shaoxuan warned me that the forces behind those county shops are deeply entrenched and intertwined, urging me not to risk it again. But I didn’t listen, and this time I got caught. Of the books I brought back, only a few sold. The person who originally agreed to help me sell them was threatened and refused to continue. I couldn’t let it go. I dragged myself to Linyan County and found someone else to sell them. But that person took my books and vanished. Even reporting it to the authorities, I couldn’t find them.”

Mentioning this, Yan Shaocheng couldn’t hide his despondency: “We’d been saving our family silver carefully. It was enough to cover both exams, though lodging and meals would be tight. Now, it barely suffices for Shaoxuan to take the provincial exam. Shaoxuan is practically guaranteed to pass this time. If he has to delay another two years because of me, my guilt would be unbearable.”

Yan Xiaoyu hurried to comfort him: “Brother Yan, don’t fret. The academy exam is still half a year away, and the provincial exam is a full year. We still have time. I’ll help think of a solution, too.”

This situation wasn’t Yan Shaocheng’s fault. He’d only tried his best to ease Yan Shaoxuan’s path through the imperial examinations. What was wrong with that?

Yan Shaocheng felt rather gloomy all the way back. But after venting, he felt somewhat relieved.

“You’re right. There’s no point in dwelling on discouraging thoughts now. Let’s use these six months to earn back the silver.”

Though difficult, he had no other options at present.

Yan Shaocheng took Yan Xiaoyu’s offer of help to heart, while Yan Xiaoyu began seriously contemplating the matter.

Judging by Yan Shaocheng’s demeanor, he seemed confident in Yan Shaoxuan. Investing some silver to help Yan Shaoxuan through this crisis—if Yan Shaoxuan truly passed the provincial exams, then Yan Xiaoyu would gain a powerful backer.

He had confined his tofu business to this small mountain village precisely because his roots were still shallow. He knew he couldn’t compete with the Qian family in town. But with a juren as his patron, things would be different. Even if others tried to scheme against him, they’d think twice.

Even if Yan Shaoxuan didn’t pass the juren exam next year and only became a xiucai, it would still intimidate those with ill intentions to some extent.

But with business expansion temporarily impossible, how could he earn money to support the Yan brothers?

Yan Xiaoyu pondered this question all the way back.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

As the sun began to set, the two reached the foot of the mountain.

Yan Xiaoyu was still lost in thought when Yan Shaocheng bellowed ahead, “Who’s there? What are you hiding for?”

Snapping back to attention, Yan Xiaoyu saw a figure dart out from the grass at the corner and bolt away.

—It was Yan Xiaobao.

Turning the corner here led straight to Yan Xiaoyu’s home. Yan Xiaobao had been lurking furtively in the grass, clearly up to no good, though what exactly remained unclear.

Yan Shaocheng frowned as he warned Yan Xiaoyu, “Be careful these next few days. I suspect he’s after your family.”

“Got it.” Yan Xiaoyu glared at Yan Xiaobao’s retreating back and sneered coldly, “If he dares to cause trouble, I’ll make sure he pays dearly!”

He’d already been polite enough to the Yan family. If Yan Xiaobao insisted on courting disaster, he’d oblige him.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Back home, Yan Xingmao sat twisting hemp rope on the steps. His expression relaxed at Yan Xiaoyu’s arrival. “Finally back. I told your mother to accompany you, but you refused. A young lad running about like this—your mother and I were both worried sick.”

“It’s not my first time going out alone. I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry.”

Yan Xingmao nodded, his expression cautious as he asked Yan Xiaoyu, “What about Xie Shuan? Did you find out about him?”

He Qiuhua and Yan Xiaoyue, who had just come out, also turned to look upon hearing this.

“No way,” Yan Xiaoyu grinned. “He’s way too ugly.”

Yan Xingmao sighed helplessly, “You silly child, what does a man’s face matter—”

Before he could finish, Yan Xiaoyu added, “He’s not even a full man.”

The words struck like thunder from a clear sky. The family of three froze in shock. After a long moment, He Qiuhua rushed forward, covering Yan Xiaoyu’s mouth. “You… how could you say such a thing!”

She dragged her son into the house, Yan Xingmao limping behind them. Yan Xiaoyue stood frozen in place until He Qiuhua called out, prompting her to hurry after them.

“Xiaoyue, quickly… close the door!”

The family of four sat in the main hall, exchanging awkward glances. Yan Xingmao and his wife looked embarrassed, Yan Xiaoyue remained silent, while Yan Xiaoyu, trying to relax, had already picked up the bean curd set with well water from the table and started eating.

“How… how did you find out about that?” Yan Xingmao began to stutter.

“Brother An told me,” Yan Xiaoyu said, pointing with his thumb at the spices he’d placed on the table. “I went to buy spices and casually asked about it. It just slipped out. Brother An noticed Xie Shuan’s mother visiting the clinic twice a month, always getting tonics for virility and kidney health. He assumed it was Xie Shuan’s father’s problem, but at his age, even if he couldn’t perform, he should accept it. Why such an obsession?“

He Qiuhua sighed softly: ”Yes, that… that must be Xie Shuan’s problem.”

Her eyes reddened, and she felt tears welling up again. “My poor daughter… we finally found a suitor…”

Yan Xiaoyu hurriedly cut her off. “Mother, don’t worry about my sister’s marriage. I’ve already made arrangements. You just need to stand with me and refuse Granny Wang.”

He’d try to persuade Yan Shaocheng again. If that failed, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Once his business took off, surely some fine young man would be willing to marry into her sister’s family.

If Xiling Village didn’t work out, they could look elsewhere. Three-legged toads were hard to find, but two-legged men were everywhere.

He Qiuhua and Yan Xingmao remained skeptical, but at least He Qiuhua’s tears had stopped.

Yan Xingmao looked at his daughter and asked cautiously, “Xiaoyue, what about you?”

Yan Xiaoyue was decisive: “I’ll do whatever Xiaoyu says.”

Yan Xiaoyu nodded with satisfaction, then reminded his family, “Don’t spread Xie Shuan’s… well, you know… otherwise it’ll be awkward for Brother An. Their clinic has rules—they never disclose what medicines patients buy.”

Yan Xingmao nodded. “This isn’t something to discuss openly anyway. Stop saying ‘you know’ all the time.”

“Right, right. I was shouting loud enough for the Yan brothers to hear.”

With the serious matters settled, Yan Xingmao pulled two fishing baskets from behind the door like treasures. “You kept saying you wanted to go fishing the other day. Father wove these two baskets for you. Take a look.”

Yan Xiaoyu was overjoyed. “Father, you’re amazing! You can even weave fish baskets! I love them—you couldn’t buy baskets this good anywhere!”

Yan Xingmao beamed with pride, though a bit embarrassed. He fetched a delicate little basket from inside and handed it to Yan Xiaoyue.

“I noticed the landlord’s daughter has vases with flowers in her room. Since we don’t have vases, I wove you this flower basket. You can pick some flowers and grass yourself to put in your room.”

Yan Xiaoyue was both surprised and delighted. She took the basket and examined it fondly, unable to put it down.

Yan Xingmao, fearing the child might cut herself, had carefully smoothed the slats of both the fish basket and the bamboo basket. They looked truly splendid, and both sister and brother adored them.

Deeply gratified, he glanced at his daughter’s innocent face and spoke gently: “Xiaoyue, don’t fret over this failed match. We’ll take our time. The right one will come eventually.”

He Qiuhua gazed at Yan Xiaoyue with tender affection. “Your father is right. We’re in no rush. We’ll take our time.”

Yan Xiaoyue had been troubled, but her parents’ words soothed her, and she felt a bit teary. With reddened eyes, she managed a smile. “I’m not in a hurry.”

Watching her family, Yan Xiaoyu felt as if winter sunshine had caressed his heart. An indescribable warmth gradually spread through him.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The next day, after closing the tofu stall, Yan Xiaoyu eagerly grabbed his two treasured fish baskets and headed to the river to catch fish.

Yan Xingmao now walked with a cane, so He Qiuhua didn’t need to care for him. With her hands free, she helped her children with their chores, and Yan Xiaoyu finally had a bit more leisure time.

However, his parents were uneasy about him venturing deep into the mountains alone, so he only tried fishing in the village river.

After two days of trying with no luck, on the third day, Yan Xiaoyu plucked up his courage and went to find Yan Shaoxuan.

Their friendship wasn’t deep yet, but frequent interactions would naturally deepen it.

He had calculated it well, but Yan Shaoxuan wasn’t home, and he made the trip for nothing.

Not only Yan Shaoxuan, but Yan Shaocheng was also out early and back late every day. He was nowhere to be seen, and no one knew what he was busy with.

Yan Xiaoyu wasn’t giving up. He continued to wait for Yan Shaoxuan for the next two days. And on the third day, he finally caught him at home. But the moment he spoke, Yan Shaoxuan dismissed him with two words.

“I’ve been busy these days. If you want fish, I’ll go catch some for you in a few days.”

Did he want fish? He wanted to catch fish! He’d delivered so many meals to Yan Shaoxuan these past days. Finally, he’d found the courage to ask him for something, and this was how he was brushed off?

Yan Xiaoyu was furious and secretly resolved to ignore Yan Shaoxuan from now on.

But that resolve lasted only a day.

The next day, Yan Shaocheng showed up at his door. His opening words startled Yan Xiaoyu.

“Brother Fish, Xie Shuan really is problematic. He has some problems there. You should quickly turn down the matchmaker from the Xie family.”

How did Yan Shaocheng know about this? Could it be that he really had shouted too loudly that day? Yan Xiaoyu rubbed his nose. “Brother Yan, how did you find out?”

“How did I find out?” Yan Shaocheng immediately caught on. “You know about this, too?”

That day, to test Yan Shaocheng, Yan Xiaoyu had deliberately kept it secret. Now that he’d slipped up, he felt guilty and couldn’t meet his gaze. “I know. The people at the clinic told me. He asked me not to spread it, so I’m telling you.”

Yan Shaocheng pressed further: “Since you know, you should discuss it with your parents sooner rather than later and call off the engagement.”

“Alright.” Yan Xiaoyu nodded, then pressed on with obvious curiosity, “But Brother Yan, how exactly did you find out Xie Shuan was like that?”

Persistent, Yan Xiaoyu wouldn’t let it go, so Yan Shaocheng had no choice but to explain it all.

“After returning that day, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Early the next morning, I went to inquire near the Xie residence, but like you, I found nothing. Later, Shaoxuan learned of it and instructed me to approach the young masters who were close to Xie Shuan…”

The young masters in the county were from wealthy families, not easily bribed like the merchants in town. The Xie family’s influence didn’t reach that far. Yan Shaoxuan had his brother find out exactly which young masters were close to Xie Shuan. He then enlisted his former classmates from the county school to approach those young masters, taking turns to probe them. They actually uncovered some useful information.

It turned out that Xie Shuan, the old hag, was a master manipulator, skilled at playing the game—exaggeratedly so.

Several years prior, Xie Shuan had indeed used his cunning to ingratiate himself with a wealthy young master from the county seat. That young master had even considered marrying his own concubine-born sister to Xie Shuan. The match had been arranged, but later, Xie Shuan’s mother, unable to bear the guilt and fearing offending the county magistrate, revealed her son’s problems to the future bride-to-be one day after the engagement.

The wealthy young lady immediately informed her parents.

Though she was merely a concubine’s daughter, she wasn’t someone Xie Shuan could bully. The young master’s father sent men to the Xie household the very next day to annul the engagement, giving Xie Shuan a severe scolding.

The reason for the annulment was disgraceful, bringing shame upon both families. They all kept it quiet, and only a few who were close to Xie Shuan and the young master knew the truth. Getting them to talk wasn’t easy.

The Yan brothers had been busy these past days precisely because they were running around handling this matter.

Yan Xiaoyu felt deeply frustrated upon hearing this. How could he have wrongly accused Young Master Yan again?!

Yan Shaoxuan was truly a good man, sharp-witted too. It was a pity he had an eccentric temperament and a sharp tongue—otherwise, he might have competed for the position of brother-in-law.

That very afternoon, he prepared a bowl of crispy-skinned tofu and sent it over to Yan Shaoxuan.

Yan Xiaoyu addressed him affectionately as “Second Brother Yan” with every word. Though the tofu was ostensibly for both Yan brothers, he began showering Yan Shaoxuan with attention the moment he entered the door.

Yan Shaoxuan had grown somewhat thick-skinned under his training these past days, but he still couldn’t quite handle it. Munching on the crispy tofu, he blurted out without thinking: “I’ll take you fishing tomorrow.”

Yan Xiaoyu was both surprised and delighted, her words growing even sweeter.

“Brother Yan, you’re so generous! You’ve helped our family so much this time, and now you’re taking me fishing too! There’s no better neighbor than you! You… you’re not only smart, but you can hunt and fish too! How can one person be so perfect? Compared to you, the other men in our village are like worthless toads! No wonder that Granny Wang is so keen on you—if you’re not popular, who else would be?!“

After the praise, he gave an embarrassed smile: ”So, when should we go fishing tomorrow? Where should we meet? Which spot? Which stream?”

Yan Shaoxuan felt his head spinning, his words tumbling out without thought: “I’ll come find you at your place once the sun rises tomorrow. Just eat breakfast and wait at home.”

“Alright!” Yan Xiaoyu relaxed completely, finally remembering Yan Shaocheng sitting beside him.

Oh no! He’d been so busy praising Yan Shaoxuan that he’d completely ignored his good buddy Yan Shaocheng. Yan Xiaoyu’s smile froze. “Brother Yan, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yan Shaocheng was laughing inside, but he put on a show of being annoyed. “Keep praising my second brother. Why bother with this old toad?”

“Huh? The other men in our village—you’re not included. You’re different from them. You’re outstanding too.” After her awkward explanation, Yan Xiaoyu quickly retreated. “I still have work to do at home. I won’t keep you any longer. Second Brother Yan, you must come find me tomorrow!”

“Alright.” Yan Shaocheng couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The next day, Yan Xiaoyu still did not manage to catch fish because Granny Wang came over.

Granny Wang arrived early. Villagers were still lining up to buy tofu in the courtyard. Unaware of the situation, she entered and, seeing the tofu pudding on the stall, her craving flared up again.

“Sister Qiuhua, I came today to congratulate you both.” She paused mid-sentence, then simply smiled. “I’ve been eating your tofu pudding for days now—it really has me craving more.”

This was the perk of being a matchmaker: whenever she visited a family for matchmaking, they’d always offer food as hospitality.

She’d expected He Qiuhua to serve her a bowl of tofu pudding, but the woman remained motionless. Instead, her younger brother emerged from the main hall, broom in hand, bristling with fury.

“Damn you, Old Wang! You gave my sister such an inhumane man! Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!”

Yan Xiaoyu cursed as she swung the broom toward Granny Wang’s backside. Granny Wang turned pale with fright, running while shouting, “What nonsense are you spouting, boy? When did I ever give your sister an unfit husband?!”

“Still denying it? That shoemaker’s son, Xie Shuan, had his marriage proposal rejected because of this very defect! Did you really think you could hide it? Today you deceive my sister, tomorrow and the day after, whose young sons and daughters will you prey upon? We treated you to fine food and drink, yet you push my sister into the fire pit! This heartless deed isn’t your first offense—don’t you fear a thunderbolt striking you down someday…”

Yan Xiaoyu cursed and struck out wildly. Granny Wang ran fast, but still took a few blows, wailing in fright.

The tofu buyers nearby watched with wide-eyed astonishment.

“Qiuhua, did Granny Wang really set up Xiaoyue with such an unscrupulous man?”

“It must be true. Brother Yu wouldn’t make this up if he knew it so clearly!”

“What a sin! That Granny Wang has a heart of stone! How could she do such a vile thing?!”

“Exactly! If she acts like this, which family would ever let her help with a wedding again? She’s ruining these children’s entire lives…”

The tofu buyers murmured among themselves. When asked, He Qiuhua didn’t deny it.

They had discussed it as a family yesterday.

The village walls weren’t soundproof; news of Granny Wang’s matchmaking would inevitably leak out. The Xie family was entirely in the wrong here. They had to spread the Xie’s conversation. Otherwise, if the Xies and Granny Wang turned around and blamed them later, it would be Yan Xiaoyue who suffered the consequences.

Yan Xingmao hadn’t initially wanted to make a scene, but after hearing Yan Xiaoyu’s reasoning, he agreed it was better to stir things up.

Though it might bring some gossip, it was far better than being unable to speak up later and suffering in silence.

Yan Xiaoyu vented his anger and got his way by making a scene. Granny Wang’s reputation was ruined. Villagers now avoided her for matchmaking, preferring to walk an extra distance to the other village to find someone else.

But while she’d been watching her son fight, He Qiuhua’s tofu stall sold out. The block of aged tofu Yan Xiaoyu had specially made to change things up for the group was left behind.

The family had grown a bit tired of eating tofu these past few days. At lunchtime, Yan Xiaoyu looked at that block of aged tofu and suddenly felt nostalgic for homemade stinky tofu.

This aged tofu would be perfect for stinky tofu, but he didn’t have ready-made brine. Making brine would take over ten days.

As Yan Xiaoyu pondered this, an idea struck him—he knew how to help the Yan brothers!

—Stinky tofu is ideal for street vending and easy to learn. Yan Shaocheng is a peddler; this trade suits him perfectly!

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Meanwhile, at the Yan household.

Yan Xiaoyue’s marriage affair had become a major scandal, involving Yan Xingsheng and his wife, as well as Old Master Yan.

Puffing on his pipe, Old Master Yan cursed, “Serves them right! Who told them to go against me? If it were me, that Wang woman wouldn’t dare treat them like this!”

Yan Xingsheng smirked sarcastically, “That old crone Wang originally tried to marry Xiaoyue off to some village widower, but Cuiqing chased her away. Now that we’re not backing them, she’s gotten even more brazen.”

Though Tao Cuiqing had driven off Granny Wang because she deemed the widower worthless, hadn’t she also saved Yan Xiaoyue in the process?

As the two gloated over their misfortune, Tao Cuiqing spoke up: “Father, Xingsheng, it’s time we went to find Second Brother and the others.”

Her expression radiated confidence: “The opportunity has arrived.”