You Come to Marry Me, I Will Marry You

The third day after Xiao Mo left Shiqiao Village.

The residence of the County Magistrate of Qingshan County.

Sun Siyuan, the County Magistrate of Qingshan County, strode towards the separate courtyard where Xiao Mo was staying.

"Xiao Mo." Sun Siyuan entered the courtyard, his face beaming with joy.

"Lord Sun." Xiao Mo put down the book in his hand and stood up, bowing to Sun Siyuan.

"Blacksmith Lei's apprentice just came by and said the item you wanted has been crafted. Do you want to go and get it now?" Sun Siyuan asked.

"Naturally," a glint flashed in Xiao Mo's eyes. "I've bothered you a lot these past two days, Lord Sun. I will certainly repay the gold you lent me, my lord."

"Hahaha, no rush, no rush. It's just a little gold," Magistrate Sun said with a laugh.

Two days ago, after arriving in Qingshan City, Xiao Mo found Magistrate Sun and expressed his desire to borrow some gold to craft an item.

Originally, Sun Siyuan was fretting over what gift to give Xiao Mo, something that wouldn't seem cliché and could deepen their relationship.

After all, once Xiao Mo entered officialdom, he would see him less often.

However, after passing the imperial examination, Xiao Mo was not short of money, and he appeared to be a man of few desires.

He had refused gifts from many wealthy men.

So Magistrate Sun truly didn't know where to start.

Therefore, when Xiao Mo proactively asked for a favor, Magistrate Sun almost burst out laughing.

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

Xiao Mo gave the blacksmith a blueprint.

Since it was a small item and didn't require any gems or precious stones, only some carvings, it could be completed in two days.

Thus, Xiao Mo wanted to stay in Qingshan County.

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

He pulled Xiao Mo into his own residence to stay, and so it remained until now.

In fact, Magistrate Sun wished Xiao Mo would never return that bit of gold.

This way, Xiao Mo would owe him a favor.

Sometimes, when both parties willingly owe each other something, their friendship deepens.

There were only two things that Magistrate Sun regretted.

One was that the item Xiao Mo wanted to craft was small and didn't require much gold, so the favor couldn't be greater.

Magistrate Sun wanted to give the remaining gold to Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo politely declined, refusing to accept it no matter what.

The second was that Xiao Mo remained uninterested in his daughter.

Magistrate Sun had persuaded Xiao Mo to stay in his residence not only to deepen their relationship but also to have his daughter interact more with Xiao Mo.

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

Although Xiao Mo had politely refused him last time, this time, they could interact.

What if Xiao Mo thought, "This woman is quite good," and changed his mind?

During meals, Xiao Mo and Miss Sun had met a few times.

When Xiao Mo was studying, Magistrate Sun deliberately had his daughter deliver tea.

After these two days of interaction, Miss Sun had indeed developed feelings for Xiao Mo.

However, Xiao Mo had never even glanced at Miss Sun more than necessary.

Miss Sun had even asked her father to find a way, as she wanted to marry Xiao Mo.

But what could Magistrate Sun do?

Magistrate Sun had investigated.

Xiao Mo's beloved was likely the Bai girl from Shiqiao Village. Setting aside her looks, that Bai girl had always taken care of Xiao Mo, weaving and gathering herbs to earn money for his studies.

If he were to use any underhanded tactics, not only would Xiao Mo resent him, but if it got out, his reputation would be ruined.

He could only say that Xiao Mo and his daughter were not fated to be together.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Mo and Magistrate Sun arrived at the entrance of Blacksmith Lei's shop.

"Your Excellency, Mr. Xiao." Blacksmith Lei, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, shirtless, hurried out and bowed to them, imitating scholars.

"Blacksmith Lei, is the item Mr. Xiao wanted ready?" Magistrate Sun asked.

"Ready, ready. Please wait a moment, both lords."

Blacksmith Lei washed his hands in a bucket of water, dried them with a clean towel, and then took out a brocade box from a cabinet. "Please examine it, my lords."

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

A golden object appeared before Xiao Mo and Lord Sun.

Lord Sun leaned in for a closer look and couldn't help but nod. Blacksmith Lei's craftsmanship was indeed excellent.

Of course, Xiao Mo's design for the blueprint was also beautiful.

Blacksmith Lei looked at the Jieyuan, the future great official, and nervously asked, "Is Mr. Xiao satisfied?"

Xiao Mo nodded, "Satisfied."

Blacksmith Lei breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as Mr. Xiao is satisfied."

"Blacksmith Lei, you don't need to worry about your payment." Seeing Xiao Mo's satisfaction, Magistrate Sun tossed Blacksmith Lei a small piece of silver.

Xiao Mo could afford the payment, but precisely because Xiao Mo could afford it, Magistrate Sun quickly made the payment, fearing Xiao Mo would pay first.

"Thank you, County Magistrate, thank you, Mr. Xiao," Blacksmith Lei said gratefully. This was almost four times his usual wages.

"Xiao Mo, since everything is settled, shall we go for a drink?" Magistrate Sun invited.

Xiao Mo quickly bowed, his tone apologetic, "Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Sun, but I'm afraid I must be going back first."

"So soon?" Lord Sun asked in surprise.

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

"Sister, please eat something."

"Sister isn't hungry."

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

"It's alright, Sister can absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, I don't need to eat."

"Sister," Xiao Qing sighed.

Ever since Big Brother Xiao left, Sister had been like a lost soul, sitting in the courtyard every day waiting for Big Brother Xiao to return.

Last night, Sister heard some noise and ran out happily, thinking Big Brother Xiao had returned. It turned out to be weasels trying to steal the chickens in the yard.

Sister, in a fit of anger, threw all those little rats into the river.

"Xiao Qing, do you think Xiao Mo might dislike me?" Bai Ruxue asked nervously, holding her sister's small hand.

"Sister, Big Brother Xiao doesn't look like he dislikes you at all, does he?" Xiao Qing said helplessly.

"Then why isn't Xiao Mo coming back? Did he leave with another woman?"

"Oh, Sister," Xiao Qing felt a little tired, "Big Brother Xiao said he was going to get something and would be back in a couple of days. Big Brother Xiao should be back today."

"Oh."

Bai Ruxue nodded, still gazing at the small path outside the courtyard.

Even though Xiao Qing said so, Bai Ruxue's heart was still filled with anxiety.

Could it be that the words I said that night scared Xiao Mo away?

Could it be that Xiao Mo doesn't intend to fulfill his promise?

Or perhaps Xiao Mo thinks Sun County Magistrate's daughter is indeed wonderful and has gone to Qingshan County to marry her?

In Bai Ruxue's mind, all sorts of speculations couldn't help but surface.

The more she thought about it, the more worried Bai Ruxue became. A thin layer of mist gradually veiled her beautiful peach blossom eyes.

"Huh? Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Xiao Qing was startled.

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

Just as Xiao Qing was panicking, she saw a figure appear not far down the path, walking step by step towards the courtyard.

When she clearly saw the man's build and appearance, Xiao Qing's eyes suddenly lit up, "Sister! Big Brother Xiao is back!"

"Huh?"

Bai Ruxue suddenly raised her head and looked towards the outside of the courtyard.

When Xiao Mo saw Bai Ruxue looking at him with teary eyes, he thought something had happened and quickened his pace.

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

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

Xiao Qing was interrupted as her sister tugged at her wrist, forcing her to swallow the rest of her words.

Xiao Mo's gaze fell upon Bai Ruxue.

The woman was currently looking down, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wet, and tear drops clinging to her curled, upturned eyelashes.

Xiao Mo could roughly guess what was going on.

She probably suspects I abandoned her and ran off.

Or she suspects I went to Qingshan County to marry Magistrate Sun's daughter.

"Xiao Qing, go and give this pot of wine to the village chief. It's a gift from Lord Sun." Xiao Mo handed a jar of wine to Xiao Qing.

"Okay, Big Brother Xiao."

Xiao Qing took the wine, glanced at Big Brother Xiao and her Sister, then quickly ran out.

She knew that Elder Brother Xiao Mo wanted some alone time with her sister, asking her to leave for a bit.

Xiao Qing didn't have any objections.

With her sister in this state, only Elder Brother Xiao Mo could comfort her.

In the courtyard, only Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue were left.

Bai Ruxue lowered her head, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. Her little red nose twitched, and her pitiful appearance made people feel heartache, yet also a bit of fondness.

Xiao Mo smiled and reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Bai Ruxue's eyes. "Stop crying, I'm back now, aren't I?"

Bai Ruxue still kept her head down, not speaking.

"I brought back two skewers of candied hawthorn. They're in my bag. Do you want to eat them?"

Bai Ruxue still didn't answer, just gently bit her thin lips.

"Then do you want to eat osmanthus cake? Fang's osmanthus cake is quite good, I brought some too."

Bai Ruxue still didn't respond.

Xiao Mo felt a bit at a loss.

It was true, the girl had said those things to him just two days ago, and he hadn't reacted at all, even running off for three days without coming home. It was indeed quite excessive.

Just as Xiao Mo was thinking about how to coax her, Bai Ruxue reached out her delicate little hand, her slender, jade-like fingers gently tugging at Xiao Mo's clothes.

The summer breeze brushed past, lightly rustling the woman's skirt. The originally loose long dress clung to her body, outlining her graceful, winding curves.

A few strands of her hair fluttered slightly.

The wind carried the scent of grass and soil from the woods, as well as the woman's faint fragrance.

"Xiao Mo. I was wrong."

The woman's voice was soft, like a butterfly gently landing 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 slight sob.

"I shouldn't have kept thinking about your answer."

"And I shouldn't have secretly called you a big dummy behind your back, saying your past words didn't count."

"Xiao Mo."

Bai Ruxue looked up, her beautiful peach blossom eyes glistening with tears, like glazed peach blossoms soaked in clear spring water.

"I will definitely be very obedient from now on."

"I will never throw a tantrum again."

"I can just secretly like you in my heart."

"I can pretend I didn't hear what you said before."

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

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

As the woman's voice fell, crystal tears slowly slid down her fair, tender cheeks, dripping onto the ground without obstruction. The scattered water droplets, reflecting the light of the late summer, fell onto the soil and slowly seeped in.

Xiao Mo reached out and gently caressed her cheek, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Silly girl, you did nothing wrong, and I won't leave you. Besides, you're already very obedient. And also,"

Xiao Mo smiled. "Who said my past words didn't count?"

"Huh?" Bai Ruxue was stunned.

"I went to Qingshan Town this time because I wanted to make something for you. This thing takes two to three days to make, and it's quite a long trip to Qingshan City, so I decided to wait there. As soon as it was done, I rushed back to you."

Xiao Mo took out a brocade box from his embrace, then held Bai Ruxue's small hand, opened her palm, and placed the brocade box in it. "Open it and see."

Bai Ruxue looked at the brocade box in her palm and dazedly opened it.

A golden ring met the woman's eyes.

Exquisite patterns were carved on the ring.

Upon closer inspection, it looked a bit like Purple Sun Grass and Green Waterfall Flower.

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

"In my hometown, there's a custom. If a man and woman have good feelings for each other, the man will propose to the woman with a ring. If the woman agrees, the man will place the ring on the woman's right ring finger. There's a saying that 'the nameless person's heart already belongs to someone.'

I went to Qingshan Town this time specifically to make this ring.

So...

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

"I..."

Bai Ruxue looked at the ring, tears once again falling from the corners of her eyes.

"I'm not willing."

The woman raised her head and spoke.

"Hm?"

"I'm not willing right now."

Bai Ruxue gazed foolishly at the man before her.

"Aunt Chen said marriage is troublesome, requiring banquets and guests, with all sorts of procedures.

But it's already late summer, and next March, you'll be going to the capital to participate in the Metropolitan Examination.

You said when you were little that you wanted to be an official.

This is a crucial time for your preparation, how can I let you get distracted?"

"Next year."

Bai Ruxue held the ring tightly to her chest.

"Next spring, after you return from the Metropolitan Examination.

You come to marry me.

Then I will marry you."