When the group left Eldest Uncle Ye's house, Chen Guihua was still cursing, but no one paid her any attention.
Rong Zheng first took Ye Yun and Ye Chen to Doctor Ye in the village to have their injuries treated. The elderly couple were heartbroken to see the brothers hurt, and once they learned what had happened, they cursed Eldest Uncle Ye's family for being inhuman.
Doctor Ye said, "Yun-ge'er, it's just as well that you've split from the family. Things will get better. If you still want to dig up medicinal herbs to sell, I'll buy them anytime."
Rong Zheng settled Ye Yun and Ye Chen at an inn in town for the time being. Looking at the swollen side of Ye Yun's face, he said with heartache, "I won't let anything like this happen again. Stay here without worrying. I'll have someone find an auspicious wedding date, then come to fetch you."
Ye Yun looked at Rong Zheng, his heart swelling. "Thank you for helping me today. I didn't know what to do anymore. I..."
He knew that if Rong Zheng hadn't appeared today, he would eventually have had to compromise. It would only have been a matter of time.
Although these weren't times of war and chaos, a seventeen-year-old ger and an eight-year-old child had neither money nor a home to return to. Under those circumstances, the village chief and clan elders would not have let him leave with Ye Chen.
At Eldest Uncle Ye's house, they at least had a roof over their heads. Out on their own, there was no knowing whether they might be bullied or sold.
It was precisely because of Rong Zheng's guarantee that he had been able to split from the family so smoothly today.
His heart was undoubtedly filled with gratitude toward Rong Zheng. With Rong Zheng there, he felt completely at ease.
Rong Zheng stepped closer to reassure him, saying softly, "Don't worry. I'm here!"
Ye Yun's eyes suddenly reddened.
He lowered his eyes, and tears spilled down his face. His voice choked. "I was so scared today... so scared... so scared I'd be forced to marry, that I wouldn't be able to look after Xiao Chen, that I'd let my late parents down and spend my whole life without anything to look forward to..." His body trembled as he cried, his words broken and halting. He had never felt as hopeless as he had today; even remembering it frightened him.
"It's all right now. I'll always be with you from now on!" Rong Zheng held Ye Yun, turned his head, and gently kissed his cheek, reassuring him over and over. "It's all right now. It's all right. It's all right..."
After crying, Ye Yun calmed down and realized he was still leaning against Rong Zheng. Belatedly, he grew shy, not knowing where to put his hands or feet. He wanted to push Rong Zheng away, but couldn't bear to, so he let him hold him.
How wonderful. We're going to get married. He likes me, and, yes, I like him too.
Seeing that Ye Yun had recovered somewhat, Rong Zheng raised a hand to wipe his tears and gazed deeply at him.
"A-Yun, I don't fall for someone easily. You're the first, and you'll be the last. Just as I said when I proposed, I'll stay by your side for the rest of my life."
He made his promise solemnly.
Looking at Rong Zheng's earnest expression, Ye Yun slowly said, "I... I like you too."
The dark days he had lived through were finally coming to an end. Rong Zheng was like a beam of light that would illuminate the road ahead.
"Brother Rong? Brother Yun?"
Their tender moment was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Ye Chen, whom Rong Zheng had left downstairs at the inn to eat, came in. "I've finished eating. You weren't coming down, so I came to check."
Rong Zheng told Ye Yun, "Then I'll have the waiter bring you a meal when I leave. Eat here in the room." He took out five taels and placed them on the table, telling Ye Yun, "Things cost a little more in town. Here are five taels. Take them. If you don't want to go out to eat, you and Xiao Chen can eat at the inn. Just have the waiter bring it up."
Then he stroked Ye Chen's head. "Stay here with Brother Yun for a while, Xiao Chen. I'll take you both home soon."
"I have money. Take it back." Worried that Rong Zheng wouldn't have enough money to prepare for the wedding, Ye Yun hurriedly refused.
"Take it. Besides, you'll be managing all my money in the future!" Rong Zheng teased, his lips curving.
Embarrassed by the gaze of those smiling peach-blossom eyes, Ye Yun quickly looked away.
Back in the village, Rong Zheng first found someone to select the nearest auspicious date and settled on ten days later.
Then he went next door to see Wang Zhang-shi and ask her advice on the wedding preparations.
Wang Zhang-shi said, "Ten days from now... well, that's a little tight. We'll have to start preparing today."
"I have no elders at home. Sorry for the trouble, but I'll need your advice."
"Do you want a grand wedding, then, or something simpler?"
"Yun-ge'er suffered today. It all happened so suddenly, and my proposal was too hasty. I intend to hold a grand wedding and invite the whole village."
Wang Zhang-shi was startled for a moment. Seeing that Rong Zheng intended to hold a grand wedding to show Yun-ge'er every respect, afraid that people would mock Ye Yun for being rushed into marriage like a duck forced onto a perch, she sighed. Remembering how pitiful the boy was, she said nothing about the expense. After thinking for a while, she said:
"For a grand wedding, we'd probably need fifty tables. Each table usually gets six dishes, one meat dish and five vegetable dishes. At a hundred wen per table, the banquet would cost about five taels."
"Auntie, let's have two meat dishes and four vegetable dishes."
"That might cost six taels?" Now Wang Zhang-shi was shocked by Rong Zheng's generosity. Not only was he inviting the entire village, he wanted two meat dishes and four vegetable dishes. Meat was so expensive! By that reckoning, the banquet would cost at least another tael.
Rong Zheng estimated the labor costs, then took out ten taels and put them on the table. "Auntie, let's make it two meat dishes and four vegetable dishes. Sorry for the trouble, but please handle the banquet. I'll rely on your judgment for buying ingredients and hiring people. Will ten taels be enough?"
"Yes, more than enough. I'll make sure it's done properly."
"Sorry for the trouble, Auntie. I'll certainly repay your kindness."
"Don't mention it. I'll have Wang Ze and Wang Liang help too. Leave it to me."
"Then I'll go see the village chief and ask him to witness the marriage." Rong Zheng had no elders at home, and on Ye Yun's side, they couldn't invite that heartless eldest uncle of his.
The village chief's house was the best in the village, a large blue-brick house that looked quite imposing. Rong Zheng went up and knocked on the courtyard gate. The village chief's young ger, about twelve years old, opened it. Hearing that they were looking for his father, he let them inside while turning back to shout.
Seeing that it was Rong Zheng, the village chief had the young ger pour tea. He more or less guessed why Rong Zheng had come; it was probably about his marriage to Yun-ge'er.
"Have you chosen a date to marry Yun-ge'er?"
Rong Zheng nodded, then briefly explained the date and banquet arrangements and said he wanted to ask him to witness the marriage. The village chief readily agreed.
"By the way, have you found someone to oversee the wedding proceedings?"
"Not yet. Is there anyone you would recommend, Village Chief?"
"You could ask Auntie Zhong at the far end of the village. She's very experienced. People in the village usually ask her to handle weddings."
"Thank you for the reminder, Village Chief."
The village chief was deeply gratified to see that Rong Zheng could hold a grand banquet for Ye Yun and give him every honor. He had thought that, with such a hasty marriage, everything would have to be kept simple. He hadn't expected Rong Zheng to put so much care into it.
That child had suffered so much. Having left his heartless eldest uncle's home, meeting Rong Zheng could be counted as a blessing.
He hadn't expected such a great change in Rong Zheng. He spoke with proper restraint and courtesy, and his entire bearing was different. Most importantly, his financial resources were astonishing.
After all, the families who could invite the entire village to a wedding could be counted on ten fingers. This was certainly a major event.
The village chief couldn't help thinking more highly of Rong Zheng. Then he remembered that Rong Zheng was a scholar. Although he had failed to attain tongsheng status three times, who could say what the future held? Curious, he asked:
"Will you continue your studies?"
"That's my intention. In a little while, I'll return to the school for lessons."
"Good. While they were alive, your parents hoped you would take the imperial examination path. Study hard, and you'll have a chance."
If the village produced a tongsheng, it would reflect well on him as village chief. A xiucai would be even better; the entire village would gain considerable prestige. Looking at Rong Zheng's bearing now, he had a vague feeling that Rong Zheng would accomplish great things in the future.
Rong Zheng also went to see Auntie Zhong. After discussing matters with her, he took the wedding shopping list she gave him and set off for town again. He bought red candles, paper decorations, two sets of wedding clothes, and other things. Remembering Ye Yun's and Ye Chen's old, heavily patched clothes, he estimated their sizes and bought each of them two sets of new clothes.
Considering that there would be three people in the household from now on, he also bought bedding, daily necessities, furniture, and other things.
That night, as he lay at home, Rong Zheng was exhausted. The wedding was so rushed, and with no elders at home, there were many things to handle.
But he enjoyed every moment of it. The thought of Ye Yun coming to live with him made him extremely happy. He was very much looking forward to the wedding.
His parents in the modern world would be delighted if they knew he was getting married so young, wouldn't they? Back home, they had often teased him, saying that with his obsession with practicing calligraphy and martial arts, he would probably remain a bachelor all his life.