Come and Marry Me, and I'll Marry You (4,000 Words)

On the third day after Xiao Mo left Shiqiao Village.

The magistrate's residence in Qingshan County.

The magistrate of Qingshan County, Sun Siyuan, strode toward the courtyard where Xiao Mo was staying.

"Xiao Mo." Sun Siyuan walked into the courtyard, his face bright with delight.

"Lord Sun." Xiao Mo put down the book in his hands, stood, and saluted Sun Siyuan with a bow.

"Blacksmith Lei's apprentice just came by and said the things you wanted have been made. Would you like to go pick them up now?" Sun Siyuan asked.

"Of course." A glint flashed in Xiao Mo's eyes. "I've imposed on you a great deal these past two days, Lord Sun. I borrowed your gold, and I'll be sure to repay you."

"Hahaha, no rush, no rush. It was only a little gold." Magistrate Sun laughed.

Two days ago, after Xiao Mo arrived in Qingshan City, he went to see Magistrate Sun and asked to borrow some gold to have something made.

Sun Siyuan had been worrying about what to give Xiao Mo: something that wouldn't seem tacky, but might deepen their bond.

After all, once Xiao Mo entered government service, they would see each other less often.

But now that Xiao Mo had passed the imperial examination, he wasn't short of money, and he seemed like a man who wanted for nothing.

Many local gentry had given him gifts, but he hadn't accepted any of them.

So Magistrate Sun truly had no idea where to start.

That was why, when Xiao Mo came to him with a request, Magistrate Sun had almost laughed out loud.

Magistrate Sun had generously produced a gold ingot and introduced Xiao Mo to the best blacksmith in Qingshan County.

Xiao Mo had given the blacksmith a design.

It was a small object, and it didn't need any gemstones set into it. It only required a few engraved patterns, so it could be finished in two days.

That was why Xiao Mo had planned to stay in Qingshan County.

But how could Magistrate Sun let Xiao Mo stay at an inn?

He had drawn Xiao Mo into his residence, where he had stayed ever since.

In truth, Magistrate Sun wished Xiao Mo would never repay that little bit of gold.

That way, Xiao Mo would owe him a favor.

Sometimes, when both sides willingly owed each other something, their friendship grew deeper.

There were only two things Magistrate Sun regretted.

The first was that Xiao Mo was having a small object made, which didn't require much gold. The favor couldn't be made any bigger.

Magistrate Sun had wanted to give Xiao Mo the leftover gold, but Xiao Mo politely refused and wouldn't accept it no matter what.

The second was that Xiao Mo still had no interest in his daughter.

Magistrate Sun had gone to great lengths to persuade Xiao Mo to stay at his residence. It wasn't just to deepen their bond; he also wanted his daughter to spend more time around Xiao Mo.

Magistrate Sun was quite confident in his daughter's looks.

Although Xiao Mo had turned him down last time, perhaps the two of them could get to know each other this time.

What if Xiao Mo thought, "This young woman isn't bad at all," and changed his mind?

Xiao Mo had seen Miss Sun a few times at mealtimes.

When Xiao Mo was studying, Magistrate Sun had deliberately sent his daughter to bring him tea.

After spending these two days around each other, the result was that Miss Sun had truly started to fall for Xiao Mo.

But Xiao Mo had never so much as glanced at her.

Miss Sun had even asked her father to think of a way. She wanted to marry Xiao Mo.

But what could Magistrate Sun possibly do?

It wasn't as though Magistrate Sun hadn't investigated Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo's sweetheart was probably that Miss Bai from Shiqiao Village. And it wasn't just her looks.

That Miss Bai had always looked after Xiao Mo, weaving cloth and gathering herbs to earn money for his studies.

If he resorted to any underhanded methods, Xiao Mo would resent him—and if word got out, his reputation would be ruined.

All he could say was that Xiao Mo and his daughter were not fated to be together.

An incense stick later, Xiao Mo and Magistrate Sun arrived at the entrance to Blacksmith Lei's shop.

"Magistrate, Mister Xiao." Blacksmith Lei, a burly man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, hurried out bare-chested and saluted them, imitating the manner of a scholar.

"Blacksmith Lei, is the item Mister Xiao asked for ready?" Magistrate Sun asked.

"It's ready, it's ready. Please wait a moment, both of you."

Blacksmith Lei washed his hands in a bucket, then dried them with a clean towel. Only then did he take a brocade box from the cabinet. "Please have a look, sirs."

"Thanks for your hard work, Blacksmith Lei." Xiao Mo took the brocade box in both hands and opened it.

A gleaming golden object appeared before Xiao Mo and Lord Sun.

Lord Sun leaned in to take a closer look and couldn't help nodding. Blacksmith Lei's craftsmanship was indeed excellent.

Of course, Xiao Mo's design was beautiful, too.

Looking at the Jieyuan, a future high-ranking official, Blacksmith Lei asked nervously, "Are you satisfied, Mister Xiao?"

Xiao Mo nodded. "I'm satisfied."

Blacksmith Lei breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're satisfied, Mister Xiao."

"Blacksmith Lei, keep the change." Seeing that Xiao Mo was satisfied, Magistrate Sun tossed Blacksmith Lei a small piece of silver.

Xiao Mo could afford to pay the fee, but precisely because he could afford it, Magistrate Sun was quick to pay, afraid Xiao Mo might beat him to it.

"Thank you, Magistrate! Thank you, Mister Xiao!" Blacksmith Lei hurriedly thanked them. It was almost four times the usual fee.

"Xiao Mo, now that you've taken care of your business, shall we go have a drink?" Magistrate Sun invited him.

Xiao Mo hurriedly bowed in salute, his voice apologetic. "I'm grateful for your kindness, Lord Sun, but I'm afraid I must head back first."

"In such a hurry?" Lord Sun asked in surprise.

"There's someone who's been waiting a long time for me." Xiao Mo looked at the brocade box. "I don't want to keep her waiting any longer."

"Big Sister, eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"But, Big Sister, you haven't eaten for two or three days."

"It's fine. I can absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, so I don't need to eat."

"Big Sister..." Xiao Qing sighed.

Ever since Brother Xiao had left, it was as if Big Sister's soul had left her body. Every day, she sat in the courtyard waiting for Brother Xiao to come back.

Last night, Big Sister heard a noise and ran out excitedly, thinking Brother Xiao had returned. But it was only a weasel trying to steal the chickens in the yard.

In a fit of anger, Big Sister threw all the little critters into the river.

"Xiao Qing, do you think Xiao Mo will hate me?" Bai Ruxue held her younger sister's hand and asked nervously.

"Big Sister, Brother Xiao doesn't look like he hates you at all." Xiao Qing was helpless.

"Then why hasn't Xiao Mo come back? Could he have gone off with another woman?"

"Big Sister..." Xiao Qing was growing weary. "Brother Xiao said he was going to have something made, and he'd be back in a couple of days. He should be back today."

"Oh..."

Bai Ruxue nodded, still gazing at the little path beyond the courtyard.

Even though Xiao Qing had said that, Bai Ruxue's heart remained terribly unsettled.

"Could what I said to him that night have frightened Xiao Mo?"

"Could Xiao Mo have changed his mind about keeping his promise?"

"Or did Xiao Mo decide that Magistrate Sun's daughter really is lovely, and go to Qingshan County to marry her?"

All kinds of guesses kept popping into Bai Ruxue's mind.

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. A thin veil of tears gradually clouded her beautiful, peach-blossom eyes.

"Eh? Big Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Xiao Qing jumped in fright.

"Big Sister, don't cry." Xiao Qing was at a loss, not knowing how to comfort her.

Just as Xiao Qing was panicking, she saw a figure appear in the distance along the path, walking toward the courtyard step by step.

When she recognized the man's face and figure, Xiao Qing's eyes suddenly lit up. "Big Sister! Brother Xiao is back!"

"Eh?"

Bai Ruxue abruptly lifted her head and looked outside the courtyard.

When Xiao Mo saw Bai Ruxue staring at him with tear-filled eyes, he thought something had happened and hurried his steps.

"What's wrong? Did anything happen while I was away these past few days?" Xiao Mo asked the two sisters.

"Brother Xiao, nothing happened. I told Big Sister you'd be back in two days, but Big Sister..."

Xiao Qing was interrupted when her sister tugged at her wrist, so she swallowed the rest of her words.

Xiao Mo looked at Bai Ruxue before him.

The young woman had her head lowered. Her cheeks were red, her eyes damp, and tears clung to her long, curled lashes.

Xiao Mo had a pretty good idea what was going on.

Either this girl suspected he'd abandoned her and run off,

or she suspected he'd gone to Qingshan County to marry Lord Sun's daughter.

"Xiao Qing, take this jug of wine to the village chief. It's a gift from Lord Sun." Xiao Mo handed Xiao Qing a small jug of wine.

"All right, Brother Xiao."

Xiao Qing took the wine, glanced at Brother Xiao and Big Sister, then hurried out.

She knew Brother Xiao wanted some time alone with Big Sister and was asking her to leave for a while.

Xiao Qing didn't mind.

In Big Sister's current state, only Brother Xiao could comfort her.

Only Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue remained in the courtyard.

Bai Ruxue kept her head bowed, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes. Her little red nose twitched as she sniffled. She looked so pitiful that it made people ache for her, and yet she was also a little adorable.

Xiao Mo smiled and wiped the tears from the corner of Bai Ruxue's eye. "Don't cry. I'm back, aren't I?"

Bai Ruxue kept her head lowered and said nothing.

"I brought two strings of sugar-coated haws back. They're in my bundle. Would you like some?"

Bai Ruxue still didn't answer, only biting her thin lip lightly.

"Then would you like some Osmanthus Cake? Fang's shop makes pretty good Osmanthus Cake. I brought some back, too."

Bai Ruxue still didn't respond.

Xiao Mo wasn't sure what to do.

It was true—she had confessed her feelings to him just a couple of days ago, and he hadn't given her any answer. Then he'd gone away for two or three days without coming home. It really was rather awful of him.

Just as Xiao Mo was trying to think of how to soothe her,

Bai Ruxue reached out her delicate hand and gently tugged at the hem of his robe with her slender fingers.

The summer breeze swept by, teasing the hem of her skirt. Her loose dress clung to her body, tracing her graceful, winding curves.

A few strands of her hair fluttered softly.

The wind carried the scent of trees, grass, and earth, along with the faint fragrance of the young woman.

"Xiao Mo, I was wrong."

Her voice was very soft, like a butterfly settling gently on a flower petal.

"What did you do wrong?" Xiao Mo didn't understand why she was apologizing.

"I... I shouldn't have been angry with you in my heart."

Her voice was tinged with a faint catch in her throat.

"I shouldn't have kept thinking about getting an answer from you."

"I especially shouldn't have secretly called you a big stinky egg behind your back, and said that you never kept your promises..."

"Xiao Mo."

Bai Ruxue lifted her head. Her beautiful, peach-blossom eyes shimmered with tears, like peach blossoms made of crystal soaking in a clear spring.

"I'll be very obedient from now on."

"I'll never throw another little tantrum."

"I can secretly like you in my heart and keep it to myself."

"I can pretend I never heard what you said before."

"I don't need you to marry me anymore."

"But, Xiao Mo, please don't leave me again, all right?"

As the young woman's voice faded, sparkling tears slid slowly down her fair cheeks and fell unobstructed to the ground. The droplets scattered, catching the glow of late summer before landing in the soil and slowly seeping into it.

Xiao Mo reached out and gently caressed her cheek, brushing away the tears from the corner of her eye.

"Silly girl, you haven't done anything wrong. I won't leave you, either. And you're already very obedient. Besides..."

Xiao Mo smiled. "Who says I didn't mean what I said before?"

"Eh?" Bai Ruxue stared at him, stunned.

"This time I went to Qingshan Town to have something made for you. It would take two or three days to finish, and it takes a long time to travel to Qingshan City, so I decided to wait there. As soon as it was ready, I hurried straight back to give it to you."

Xiao Mo took the brocade box from his robe, then held Bai Ruxue's little hand and opened her palm. He placed the box in it. "Open it and have a look."

Bai Ruxue gazed at the brocade box in her palm and opened it, bewildered.

A golden ring appeared before her eyes.

Delicate patterns were engraved on the ring.

Looking closely, they resembled Purple Sun Grass and Green Waterfall Flowers.

"This ring..." Bai Ruxue stared blankly at Xiao Mo.

"Back in my hometown, we had a custom: if a man and a woman cared for each other, the man would propose to the woman with a ring. If she agreed, he would put it on the ring finger of her right hand. There's a saying: 'A nameless finger, yet the heart already belongs to someone.'"

"This time I went to Qingshan Town to have this ring made."

"So."

"Ruxue, are you willing to wear this ring and marry me?"

"I..."

Bai Ruxue looked at the ring, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes once more.

"I don't want to."

The woman raised her head and said,

"Hm?"

"I don't want to right now."

Bai Ruxue gazed at the man before her, dazed.

"Aunt Chen said that getting married is a lot of trouble. You have to hold a banquet and invite guests, and there are all sorts of rituals.

But it's already the end of summer, and next March, you'll be going to the capital to take the Metropolitan Examination.

When you were little, you said you wanted to become an official.

This is a crucial time in your preparations. How could I let you get distracted?"

"Next year."

Bai Ruxue clutched the ring tightly to her chest.

"When spring comes next year, after you return from the Metropolitan Examination,

come and marry me.

And I'll marry you."