CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: OLDER BACHELOR

"It’s not that I can’t, it’s that I’m certain." Meng Yao had a smug look. "Big sister, you don’t know this, but this kid Xiaoshu has an amazing memory, almost photographic. Whatever you teach him, he learns instantly."

Which made Meng Zhu envy deeply, "Why does my son have no talent for studying?"

"Chang’an isn’t good at studying, right? But otherwise, big sister, can you find any faults? He’s good-looking, filial, and crucially, good at business." Meng Yao quickly praised Li Chang’an.

It’s not really praise; indeed, this kid does have these virtues.

What mother doesn’t enjoy hearing others praise their child?

Meng Zhu smiled broadly, "Only you, as his aunt, can see him this well. I’m about to burst with anger every day."

"How could Chang’an get you so upset~" Meng Yao looked utterly unconvinced.

"Chang’an is even a year older than Dajiang; he’ll be nineteen after the New Year! People who grew up with him are already fathers, yet his marriage prospects are still nowhere to be seen!" Meng Zhu sighed deeply, clearly genuinely worried, not just putting on a show.

Nineteen, for Meng Yao before she traveled back, would have been a university student living a carefree romantic life.

But back in ancient times, he’s considered an overaged young man.

No wonder Meng Zhu was anxious.

"Well, marriage isn’t something that can be hurried." Meng Yao didn’t know how to comfort Meng Zhu.

"Nowadays, the eligible girls in all of Anyang Town are avoiding our family, and I’m..." Meng Zhu sighed. "Why wasn’t Dahe born a girl? If he were a girl, I wouldn’t have to worry. And Xiaohua, if she were twins with Dahe, that would be fine, too."

Cousins in ancient times were considered a perfect match.

It was the ’relative marrying relative’ that ancient parents loved.

Meng Yao thanked her stars that the gender was wrong and the age gap was large.

"Even though we’ve gone to temples to pray and consulted experts, his fortune was good. It’s not a bad marital fate, but why is it that every time a marriage is proposed, strange incidents occur with the girl?" In front of her younger sister, Meng Zhu’s eyes turned red.

Previously, the original person knew a bit about Li Chang’an’s affairs.

It was indeed quite mysterious; several marriage engagements broke off.

The reasons were the same. After getting engaged to him, the girls started having unfortunate events, although harmless, not life-threatening. But consistently annoying.

This is precisely why Li Chang’an’s marriage prospects didn’t materialize.

Initially, people didn’t believe in superstitions, but later, they had to admit that engagement with Li Chang’an seemed to bring bad luck.

"However, the expert who told Chang’an’s fortune said that once Chang’an meets a benefactor, he’ll escape his current predicament. I just want to know when his benefactor will show up." Meng Zhu said sighing.

"It’ll be very soon for sure." Meng Yao comforted her.

"Ah!" Zhao Xiaohua’s angry voice sounded, soon rushing over to Meng Yao and Meng Zhu, "Mom, Aunt, cousin is teasing me again."

Li Chang’an followed, his handsome and gentle face carrying a faint smile, "Mom, Aunt."

Then, he ruffled Zhao Xiaohua’s hair gently, "Weren’t you asking me to play with you? How come you’re tattling now?"

"I was already very fast, but couldn’t be faster than Brother Chang’an, so you must have cheated." Zhao Xiaohua said defiantly.

"That just means Xiaohua needs more practice. After all, I practiced for a long time for quick hand speed back then." Li Chang’an said good-naturedly.

The nineteen-year-old had striking features and a gentle temperament, always speaking tenderly and kindly to his little sister.

Such a person has become a tricky problem.

Indeed quite a headache.

Meng Yao asked what they were playing, and Zhao Xiaohua cheerfully told Meng Yao it was nothing hard; just Three Immortals Return to Cave, requiring quick hand speed.

Meng Yao puzzled; why was Li Chang’an practicing this out of the blue?

Meng Yao began observing Li Chang’an discreetly.

Meng Yao had studied psychology, primarily to communicate more effectively with patients. After all, solid psychological knowledge would ease patients into open conversation.

Beneath his calm appearance, Li Chang’an concealed other things.

"After the New Year, let your cousin stay at our place a few days, then Xiaohua, you follow your cousin to learn properly. You’re so smart; Mom believes you can surpass him." Meng Yao said with a smile.

Zhao Xiaohua exclaimed with excitement, "Aunt, will that be alright?"

"Why not? In January, the shop doesn’t have many customers, and your uncle can manage alone. After the New Year, I’ll bring your cousin and sister over for a few days." Meng Zhu hugged Zhao Xiaohua.

"That’s settled then." Meng Yao said joyfully, "I’ll prepare more food these days, and then I’ll cook something delicious for big sister every day."

"With your cooking!" Meng Zhu clicked her tongue, "Better let me cook."

Not knowing when, Zhao Dahe came over smiling, "Aunt, you’ll change your tune after tasting my mom’s cooking. It fits her perfectly to say, ’After three days apart, treat each other with new respect’."

Meng Zhu looked skeptical, "Dahe, you’re not tricking me, right?"

Zhao Dahe teased, "You’ll know after Aunt tries it."

"Alright, then I’ll wait to taste it." Meng Zhu replied.

Li Chang’an was very perceptive; he always felt his aunt had become different, filled with profound meaning in her gaze.

Li Chang’an even felt his mom’s upcoming visit to his aunt’s house might bring unexpected changes.

Would those changes be good or bad?

Thinking of his situation, Li Chang’an sighed inwardly; how much worse could it get?

Meng Zhu had more to say to Meng Yao, looked at her eldest son, and put her hand on her heart, "Don’t stand in front of me, go play with your siblings, and remember to let them win, okay?"

Sending him away, Meng Zhu started discussing the main purpose of today’s visit.

"Though they’re unreliable and mean-spirited, your personal issues seem worth considering. It’s been four years; you should move on. You’re only thirty-three; you have at least thirty more years to live. Do you really plan to remain alone? Right now, the kids are lively around you, but once they have their own families, will they have time for you?" Meng Zhu said earnestly, "Should I ask your brother-in-law to find you someone suitable?"

She had often urged the original person with similar topics, always being refused.

Meng Zhu hadn’t mentioned it for quite some time, bringing it up again likely due to the Meng Family’s antics.

"It’s not that I haven’t moved on, just that there’s nothing suitable. Besides, Dahe will be taking the exam after the New Year, where would I get the extra time? And afterward, there’ll be numerous expenses—you know, which man would accept such a burden? Studying costs money, marrying costs money. If they were all daughters, it would be just one dowry!" Meng Yao responded smoothly.

"If Dahe and Xiaoshu are successful, sponsoring them would be a great bargain." Meng Zhu said.