Su Household Father and Daughter

Wu Yi slowly followed Su Yan's steps onto the deck of the riverboat.

The moment he boarded, Wu Yi caught a strong scent of mixed spices, seemingly blended with something else. He frowned slightly after smelling it.

"Miss Su, what line of business does your esteemed father engage in?"

"My father made his start shipping spices. It is not much of a business."

As she spoke, Su Yan glanced back at Wu Yi.

Seeing his slight frown, Su Yan asked with concern, "Young Master Wu, are you unaccustomed to the smell of spices aboard the ship? If so, you may wait on the deck while I notify my father."

"No, absolutely not, Miss Su. I am not someone raised in pampered comfort. Of course I can bear the smell; I just need a little time."

Seeing that Su Yan intended to leave him on the deck, Wu Yi hurriedly refused, afraid he might be too late if he spoke slowly.

He would endure it even if he had to smell it for a while longer.

Seeing Wu Yi's stubborn show of strength, Su Yan lowered her head and smiled.

"Young Master Wu will get used to it after smelling it more. I was just like you at first, but later I became much more accustomed to it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Yi said, "Miss Su is right. I already feel much better now."

Along the way, many maidservants and attendants bowed to Su Yan and addressed her as Miss.

Wu Yi nodded to himself. She truly was the daughter of an Aristocratic Clan.

They soon arrived outside the room where Su Yan's father was staying.

Lamplight flickered inside, casting the shadows of two people.

The two seemed to be discussing something, and laughter occasionally drifted from within.

Su Yan gently knocked on the door, and the voices inside abruptly fell silent.

"Father, Yan'er requests an audience."

As soon as she spoke, a kindly male voice came from within.

"So it is Yan'er. Come in, quickly."

At his words, Su Yan pushed the door open and entered, while Wu Yi did not follow her in.

They had not invited him inside. How rude would it be to enter without permission?

As the door opened, Wu Yi saw two people seated facing one another.

One was around forty years old, somewhat plump, lavishly dressed, broad-shouldered, and sporting a short beard along his chin.

A faint smile rested on his face, and his manner was composed. This must be Su Yan's father.

The other man looked utterly ordinary, with nothing especially noteworthy about him. Yet there seemed to be a trace of ferocity hidden between his brows.

Still, Wu Yi felt that this man looked somewhat familiar, though he could not recall where he had seen him before. It was probably just his imagination.

"Greetings, Father."

"Good. Yan'er, come here quickly. This is your Uncle Xiang."

At that, Su Yan gave the other middle-aged man a slight bow.

"Greetings, Uncle Xiang."

"Hahaha, good, good, my niece."

The middle-aged man laughed as he looked at Su Yan. He discreetly glanced toward the doorway, and a strange glint flashed through his eyes.

"It is already late, and Brother Su seems to have an honored guest visiting his Household. I shall not disturb you further. I will take my leave first."

With that, the middle-aged man rose and headed outside.

"Take care, Brother Xiang."

Su Yan's father rose as well and saw him off for several steps.

As the middle-aged man stepped outside, he saw Wu Yi standing nearby and found him familiar.

The two met each other's gazes for a brief moment before quickly looking away, exchanging no further words.

"Yan'er, that young man outside is your friend, isn't he? Hurry and invite him in."

Another voice came from inside. Hearing that it concerned him, Wu Yi immediately straightened his clothes.

Su Yan came out just in time to see this and covered her smile with her lips. "Young Master Wu, please come in."

"Cough, cough."

Wu Yi could only fake a cough to cover his embarrassment before walking inside.

"Greetings, Master Su."

Wu Yi bowed slightly to the plump middle-aged merchant seated before him.

"Since Young Master Wu is a friend of my daughter, why stand on ceremony? Please, have a seat."

Su Yan's father seemed quite satisfied with Wu Yi's conduct and nodded with a smile.

Once Wu Yi had seated himself, Su Yan's father asked again, "May I ask where in Cloudwater City Young Master Wu resides, and how you came to know my daughter?"

"This junior lives in the eastern district of Cloudwater City. Miss Su and I hit it off at first sight at the docks and regretted not meeting sooner, so I came to pay Master Su a visit."

Hearing this, Su Yan's father was visibly stunned. The smile on his face unknowingly collapsed as well.

So he came to court my daughter?

Noticing the change in his expression, Su Yan stepped forward at once and whispered something into her father's ear.

After hearing her out, the gloom on Su Yan's father's face vanished instantly. He beamed and said, "Hahaha, I never expected Yan'er and Young Master Wu to have such a chance encounter. It truly is enviable."

"I heard just now that my worthy nephew lives in the eastern district of Cloudwater City. Su has been conducting business in Cloudwater City for many days, and I have heard that its eastern district is the most prosperous area of the city."

"Yet Su does not seem to have heard of any Wu Lineage in Cloudwater City. May I ask where your Lineage comes from, worthy nephew?"

Watching Su Yan's father say this to him with a smiling face, Wu Yi could not help cursing inwardly. What an old fox.

Yet he maintained a fitting smile as he said, "Uncle Su may not know this, but my father is an upright and low-profile man.

He requires us descendants of the Lineage to conduct ourselves with humility and restraint as well. That is why our Wu Household is somewhat unknown in Cloudwater City.

But in truth, our Wu Household has dealings with both the Zhang and Wang Households. My father is also an old friend of the heads of the Zhang and Wang Households."

The Zhang and Wang Households were Cloudwater City's two great Aristocratic Clans. When one was away from home, one's identity was whatever one made it. Wu Yi was merely borrowing the Zhang and Wang Households' prestige.

However, there was one thing Wu Yi had not lied about. When his father had still been in Cloudwater City, the heads of the Zhang and Wang Households often came to visit. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his father had been old friends with them.

Upon hearing this, Su Yan's father's eyes visibly lit up.

"Worthy nephew, do not blame Su for my earlier rude questioning. Matters concerning my daughter cannot be handled carelessly."

Without waiting for Wu Yi to reply, Su Yan's father continued, "My daughter has reached the age for marriage, yet she has never encountered a suitable man. Su searched all of Blackwater City for talented young men, but none caught my daughter's eye.

By chance, Su came here to conduct business and brought my daughter along to meet the outstanding young men of Cloudwater City."

Before he had even finished, Su Yan's father sighed with feeling. "Fortunately, Heaven has favored my daughter, allowing her to meet you by chance. I can see that you are an exceptional young man as well. May I ask whether my daughter is worthy of catching your eye?"

"Father, what are you saying~"

Standing nearby with flushed cheeks, Su Yan gave her father a gentle shove, making him burst into laughter.

Hearing this, Wu Yi cursed inwardly. As expected of an old fox. If I had not borrowed the Zhang and Wang Households' prestige, he would probably have thrown me out at once.

"Thank you for your esteem, Uncle Su. Miss Su possesses both virtue and talent; naturally, this junior admires her greatly. If I am fortunate enough to form such a marriage bond, I will never fail her."

Wu Yi's smile faded, and he spoke sincerely. His eyes burned with what seemed like genuine emotion.

Seeing Wu Yi like this, Su Yan's father said "Good" three times in succession.

He then turned to ask Su Yan for her opinion.

At some point, Su Yan had lowered her head with a blushing face. She nodded softly.

Seeing this, Su Yan's father became even more delighted. He seized Wu Yi's hand and told him to bring his father over tomorrow so they could discuss the marriage together.

Then, citing poor health, he sent both of them away.

Wu Yi and Su Yan walked across the deck.

"Miss Su..."

Before Wu Yi could finish, a voice interrupted him.

Listening closely, the voice sounded somewhat familiar.