SWNOVELXO Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Settling the Engagement
After dinner, the Li family prepared to head home. Before leaving, Madam Sun’s eyes lingered on the pile of gifts, turning back three times with every step.
Her glaring at her sister-in-law was useless! Mother Xu kept her head down, avoiding everyone’s gaze.
Old Madam Li also kept glaring at her daughter but ultimately said nothing.
Xu Zhizhi, seeing how much more subdued the Li family had become after being intimidated by Xiao Jingheng, said:
“Grandfather, wait a moment. There are several types of fabric here. I’ll give you two bolts to make clothes.”
The Li family’s eyes lit up. They had thought they wouldn’t get anything!
Xu Zhizhi picked out two bolts of fabric, some pastries, and other food items. Since the Li family was large, they didn’t need bags and simply carried the items in their hands.
She didn’t want to give too much, fearing it would only fuel their greed.
The Li family hurriedly left. At this time, many villagers from Qili Village were returning from the fields and saw the Li family members carrying items in their hands.
Especially the two bolts of high-quality fabric in vibrant colors.
The villagers were envious but also worried for the Xu family.
“If they take so much this time, what if they come every day?” Auntie Ma said to the person beside her.
“They probably won’t come again. They’ve already taken so much today,” said the newlywed daughter-in-law of the village chief’s family.
“How can you be sure? Sister-in-law, you haven’t been in our village long, so you don’t know the Li family’s nature. They’re like blood-sucking leeches—they won’t stop until they’ve drained every drop.”
“Back then, the Xu family wasn’t poor. They weren’t the wealthiest in the village, but they were comfortably middle-class. But look at them now—they’re so poor they can’t even afford chaff!”
“Ah! The Li family is that ruthless?”
Auntie Hua said, “Don’t worry. Zhizhi is formidable now. She won’t indulge them anymore.”
“Earlier, when I passed by their courtyard, I heard Old Xu say that the handsome nobleman at the banquet today is Zhizhi’s husband,” one auntie said mysteriously.
“Really? That man looked so noble and handsome. He’s really Zhizhi’s husband?”
“Is it true? Would a man like a god really fancy Zhizhi?”
“You don’t know this, do you? That man was sent by the gods to find Zhizhi,” Auntie Hua explained.
So that’s how it was! It’s likely that no man in the entire county could match his excellence.
Now the villagers felt reassured. Those who had been uneasy before were now at ease.
Qili Village had always been poor. In previous years, during the lean season before the autumn harvest, every household had to tighten their belts to get by.
This year, with the Xu family building a new house, the villagers had been working there almost every day. Not only did they get to eat their fill and earn wages, but they could also sometimes bring home a bowl of meat for their children.
And the sweet potato leaves planted a little over a month ago could now be picked and eaten occasionally, much tastier than wild vegetables.
The villagers were very grateful to Xu Zhizhi. Seeing the Li family eat and take so much, they worried the Li family would impoverish the Xu family as they had before…
Third Aunt Xu, who had sent food home for her daughter since she hadn’t gone to her uncle’s house for dinner, overheard the villagers’ conversation and said:
“Don’t worry, aunties. Zhizhi said she’s not afraid of their nonsense. If the Li family dares to act up, she’ll dare to hit them. Her man is very powerful.”
The villagers immediately remembered that Zhizhi was no ordinary person now. They hurried home to warn their husbands and mischievous children not to provoke Xu Zhizhi…
As it was getting dark and nearing dinnertime, they quickly went home to cook.
Xu Honghua, unaware that Xiao Jingheng had returned with Xu Zhizhi, didn’t come out for dinner.
At the Xu household, after the Li family left, Father Xu looked eagerly at Xiao Jingheng, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Second Uncle Xu, Third Uncle Xu, and Xu Zhizhi’s cousins also stared expectantly at Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng, who was known in Luocheng as a notorious playboy, had seen it all. Was he afraid? Not at all. He sat calmly, letting the Xu family scrutinize him.
He wouldn’t speak first, sitting as steady as a mountain.
Xu Zhizhi, after seeing the Li family off at the courtyard gate, returned to this scene.
“Ha ha ha…”
Xu Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you all doing? Staring at each other like this?”
Father Xu, seeing his daughter laughing heartily, blushed with embarrassment.
He wanted to ask why this young master had returned and whether he was married, but he was afraid of being laughed at by his brothers and sisters-in-law if he got the wrong answer!
Xiao Jingheng, seeing the girl enter, unconsciously curved his lips into a slight smile.
He quickly went over and pulled her to sit beside him, saying:
“I’m already yours. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your family?”
Xu Zhizhi: “…”
When a person has no shame, they’re invincible!
When had she ever agreed to this?
Xiao Jingheng, seeing the girl’s cheeks puffing up in anger with a hint of blush, felt his heart melt.
Not wanting to embarrass her, he stood up and said to Father Xu, “Uncle Xu, my name is Xiao Jingheng. I came today to propose to Zhizhi. There were too many people earlier, and other matters delayed me. Now, I ask for your consent, Father-in-law.”
He knew the girl was reluctant, so he had planned to stay and slowly win her heart. Who knew Father Xu would confidently claim they already had a marriage certificate?
He secretly rejoiced, Heaven is helping me!
Given his status, the number of people he could trust could be counted on one hand. He had only interacted with the girl three times, but each time, he felt exceptionally relaxed and happy.
Xiao Jingheng had never imagined that one day he would feel this way about a country girl and be so determined to have her.
“If Zhizhi agrees, we agree a thousand, ten thousand times over,” Father Xu said, nodding like a fool.
Xu Zhizhi, seeing her father and the rest of the Xu family’s expectant eyes, couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
She turned and saw Xiao Jingheng smiling at her, his starry eyes reflecting her image. The tenderness in his gaze seemed ready to drown her.
The two were sitting close, and unconsciously, a ripple of emotion stirred in Xu Zhizhi’s heart.
Xiao Jingheng’s appearance was exactly her type. The only reason she had hesitated was the complications of his noble background.
But now that she had decided, there was no need to be coy.
Xu Zhizhi looked at Father Xu and said, “I leave it to Father to decide.”
“Good, good, good. Since Zhizhi has no objections, I agree. I hope you will treat my daughter well and always accommodate her,” Father Xu said to Xiao Jingheng.
“I will heed Father-in-law’s teachings!” Xiao Jingheng stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed to Father Xu.
“Brother-in-law, you’re my brother-in-law now! How wonderful!” Xiao Wu quickly walked over to his sister and brother-in-law, clapping his hands joyfully.
(End of Chapter)