Chapter 21: No Choice

"Big Brother, dinner is ready."

Lin Feng walked into the room to find the meal set and the wine poured. Having earned some money, their quality of life had improved accordingly.

"I recall we still have some spiced peanuts; bring them over to go with the wine," Lin Feng said.

Liuxi immediately went to the kitchen to fetch the half-jar of spiced peanuts. Whether spiced, boiled, or fried, peanuts had been an essential side dish for Lin Feng in his previous life—the very soul of drinking.

The three of them ate and drank happily. With hope now visible in their lives, the gloomy shadow of being driven out of the Lin family over a month ago slowly dissipated from their hearts.

"Big Brother, do you think that Miss Liu will come?"

"Big Brother will return to Chu Capital sooner or later. If she doesn't come, it doesn't matter if we wait a few years," Liuxi laughed.

"She sent people thousands of miles to find me, which shows how desperate she is to annul our engagement. She will most likely come looking for me, unless she is willing to remain an old maid while bearing the name of the fiancée of a lecherous stepmother's son."

Lin Feng thought to himself that it would be better if she came quickly; he wouldn't wait around for her. Once he had earned enough capital, he would certainly head to the provincial city to seek his fortune.

Xiaodie asked timidly, "Big Brother, that night, did you really want to..."

Lin Feng looked at her, speechless. "Although I like beauties, I'm not so desperate that I'd eat anything. That lecherous-looking new stepmother of my father's isn't my type anyway! When I pursue a beauty, I must make her fall for me of her own free will, right at my feet."

Liuxi chuckled, "Xiaotaohong from the Apricot Flower Pavilion is better looking than your stepmother, and she seems quite fond of you, Big Brother!"

Lin Feng smiled. "Her singing isn't as good as Little Moon Fairy's from the Lotus Workshop; the way Little Moon Fairy sounds makes one's heart flutter and soul drift..."

Lin Feng didn't continue, for he noticed that Xiaodie's small face was already covered in storm clouds.

"Big Brother, I'm going to deliver the spiced peanuts to the Pear Blossom Garden tomorrow, and neither of you is allowed to go!" With that, she stomped back to her room, huffing with anger.

She didn't even clean up; look how spoiled she had become.

"Your future wife is quite formidable; you'd better keep her in check, or it will be troublesome if she turns into a shrew," Lin Feng joked.

Liuxi immediately stuttered, "B-Big Brother... what are you saying? What... what future wife?"

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Don't think I can't tell."

"I... I really don't feel that way about Xiaodie..." Liuxi shook his head in a panic.

"If you like her, go after her. Don't be wishy-washy like a woman. If she takes a fancy to someone else one day, you won't even have a place to cry. You need to seize the opportunity while you're close!"

"I... I understand, Big Brother..."

"Alright, clean up and go to sleep."

After dinner, Lin Feng didn't go to bed immediately; it was still too early. Feeling empty and lonely, he stepped outside to admire the moon. The moonlight, like water, fell dreamily over the mountain village landscape, which was quite beautiful at night.

Just then, he heard a "meow-chirp" sound from the corner. Walking over, he saw it was the two puppies and the kitten in the cage. The three little creatures looked at him with eager eyes. He had been so busy the past two days he had forgotten them; they were probably starving.

Lin Feng went to the open-air kitchen, found a broken bowl, poured in some leftover soup, added hot water, and soaked two coarse flour pancakes in it. He carried it to the cage, and the three little ones smelled the food, standing up excitedly and pawing at the bars while calling out to him.

Lin Feng opened the cage and placed the bowl inside. The three little ones immediately crowded around the bowl, devouring the food. They were getting along quite harmoniously; people say cats and dogs don't get along, but that’s only because they aren't raised together. Growing up together, they were like brothers.

Lin Feng closed the cage. At that moment, he heard noise coming from Auntie Tian's house. Although he didn't eavesdrop, he was quite familiar with the family now and had established a relatively harmonious relationship, so he wondered what they were arguing about this time.

"A year? The government can't wait a year!" It was the voice of the second daughter-in-law. It seemed she hadn't given up yet.

"I want to wait for Li He; I won't marry anyone else!" Tian Xi'er insisted.

"Xi'er, a year is indeed a long time. Ask Li He if you can get engaged first, without going through the government, just a ceremony so everyone knows you are betrothed," Mrs. Tian said.

"A betrothal must go through government procedures, otherwise, if there is a forced marriage later, the government won't recognize that you are already engaged," the second son, Tian Yun, explained.

"Then what should we do?"

"It has to be the young master of the Jin family. I've already inquired; he's not taking a concubine, and he is an honest man who doesn't run around causing trouble."

Mrs. Tian asked, "Are you sure? You must be certain; this is Xi'er's lifelong matter."

"Mother, would I lie to you? It's true."

Mrs. Tian was puzzled. "But... how could he have taken a liking to Xi'er?"

"Last year, when I took Xi'er to the county market, the third young master of the Jin family caught a glimpse of her by chance. He asked around and found out she was my sister, so he went directly to the academy where I study and told me about it."

"Second son, is that so? Is the young master truly unmarried and of upright character?"

"Y-yes, that's right."

Mrs. Tian made an immediate decision. "Xi'er, you go talk to Li He in the next two days and have him marry you quickly. You've already been in mourning for two years, so consider it a wedding to ward off bad luck. If he doesn't agree, then cut the ties cleanly!"

"Mother..."

"Don't say another word, just do as I say!"

Following that, he saw Tian Xi'er run out of the hall, tears streaming down her face, and dash out of the courtyard. Lin Feng went to the gate and saw her squatting by the ridge outside, crying.

In truth, if what her second sister-in-law said was true, marrying the Jin family's young master might be a decent choice. Besides, Tian Xi'er and Li He weren't even truly together, not to mention that Li He's three-year mourning period hadn't ended yet.

Lin Feng didn't go to comfort her; he really didn't know what to say. Even an honest official finds it hard to settle family disputes, and as an outsider, he shouldn't meddle.

Feeling sleepy, Lin Feng went back to bed. Lying there, he could still faintly hear Tian Xi'er crying. He thought perhaps she would feel better after a night of weeping.

The next morning, after Lin Feng finished his morning jog and returned to the farmstead, Tian Xi'er had already arrived and was busy making breakfast with Xiaodie, while Liuxi had just returned from the village well with two buckets of water.

Tian Xi'er's eyes were swollen like peaches, and her large eyes had lost their luster.

"Big Brother Lin." She turned her face away immediately after speaking, clearly not wanting him to see her red, swollen eyes.

Lin Feng pretended not to notice. "Did you let your parents taste the candied hawthorns?"

"Yes, they all said they were delicious. They also said Big Brother Lin is a good person who doesn't keep his secrets to himself. They told me to learn the trade and skills from you properly. My mother even asked me to bring you some eggs this morning, saying that since you've just recovered from a major illness, you need to nourish your body."