On the evening of the eleventh day of the fifth month, the private soldier Su Qi had sent back with a letter returned to Su Family Fort, paid his respects to his master, Su Daozhi, and presented the eldest young master's letter. After reading it, Su Daozhi learned that Chen Caozhi's party would arrive the following day and immediately ordered thorough preparations to welcome Governor Chen. Yet he felt somewhat troubled, thinking, I wonder whether Qi has already mentioned Ruolan to Governor Chen. If he has, and Governor Chen has agreed to take her as a concubine, how could our Su Clan go back on its word? Then Ruolan really would be unable to escape the fate of becoming a concubine. If he hasn't mentioned it yet, we should still marry her to the Cai son.
-Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Cai Feng, Cai Clan Head, had sent someone to propose a marriage with the Su Clan. Su Daozhi's attitude had been ambiguous. Still wavering over whether his daughter should become a wife or a concubine, he had said they must wait for his eldest son, Su Qi, to return before discussing it further. Although the Cai Clan's matchmaker had received no definite answer, everyone in the Su Clan had treated him courteously. Presumably, the eldest young master now held the reins at Su Family Fort. Hadn't he entered official service? It was perfectly reasonable for Su Daozhi to wait for his eldest son to return before discussing it, so the Cai Clan's matchmaker decided to make another visit after Su Qi returned to the fort-
Su Daozhi shared his worries with his elderly wife, Zou Shi. She said, "Surely Qi wouldn't be so impatient, positively itching to give his sister away as someone's concubine!"
Su Daozhi said, "But if