CHAPTER 466: CHAPTER 466: BETROTHAL (PART 1)

Cui Wang was greatly pleased and said with a smile, "Once your marriage is settled, I should also start thinking about getting married."

He was three years older than Cui Du, already eighteen this year, and still unmarried. This was considered rare in present-day Da Liang.

His father had kept him in Nanyang County, instructing him to fully support Cui Du, with a purpose he understood well. Over the past two years, he had become adept at his duties, proving to be Cui Du’s strong arm. In the future, he would certainly be staying long-term in Nanyang County, so it would be best to marry a local wife.

Cui Du, immersed in his own joy, didn’t catch the double entendre in Cui Wang’s words.

Cui Wang busied himself with writing a letter while Cui Du lay on the bed, his heart as radiant as spring flowers in full bloom, finding it hard to fall asleep. He tossed and turned until midnight before finally feeling drowsy.

He had a dream.

In the dream, he returned to a world he had been away from for over five years.

His father and mother were as they had always been, quick to express their dissatisfaction: "We wanted you to study finance or management, but you refused. Who will inherit the family company in the future?"

"Business doesn’t hold much promise. It’s better to enter politics. Agricultural studies are somewhat relevant. Once you get your Ph.D. next year, join the talent recruitment program and work at the Ministry of Agricultural Development. After gaining experience and making achievements, you can steadily move up the ranks..."

"I’ve told you all along, I’m not interested in business or politics. I only like working in the experimental fields, cultivating crops, which is my favorite thing. Besides, agriculture is the foundation of the country, the basis for people’s survival, and the most important." A long-missed anger welled up in his heart as he looked directly at his father, whose face was filled with shrewdness, and his mother, who exuded an imposing bureaucratic air, and said word by word, "It’s my life, and I want to make my own choices."

His father sneered, "Fine, you’re like a hopeless muddy wall, and I won’t force you anymore. You should marry early, and continue the Cui family’s line. I will raise my grandson well to take over the family enterprise."

On this point, the domineering mother and father were in agreement: "I have a few suitable candidates here, all with good backgrounds and appearances, and they are smart and capable. Starting tomorrow, you will go on blind dates, and you’ll certainly find someone suitable."

"I won’t go on blind dates. I already have a girl I love." He blurted out: "Her name is Jiang Shaohua. She is the most beautiful, intelligent, calm, and capable girl in the world. I want to become her son-in-law!"

His father and mother were both stunned, and then they were furious: "What son-in-law! Are you joking! You are the sole heir of the Cui family, how can you marry into the woman’s family!"

"Becoming a son-in-law is out of the question! Where is this Jiang Shaohua? Bring her here for us to see. If she’s barely acceptable, we’ll bring her in as a daughter-in-law."

"After she enters the family, she must at least bear two sons, one to inherit the family’s business, and the other to go into politics, to manage the political connections..."

No!

I am willing to marry into her family! I want to be Jiang Shaohua’s son-in-law, and if we have children, they will take the mother’s surname, Jiang.

This is my life, and I’ll live it how I want. Don’t try to control me!

Cui Du abruptly opened his eyes and sat up on the bed, taking several deep breaths. His gaze swept over the familiar surroundings in the room, and his vigorously pounding heart finally eased.

It was just a dream.

Fortunately, it was only a dream.

"Cousin," Cui Wang said with a smile as he pushed the door open and came in, "I’ve finished writing the letter, and it was sent out last night. We should have a reply in seven or eight days at the most."

Cui Du was fully awake, smiled at Cui Wang, and said, "Thank you, cousin!" He glanced outside the window. "It’s already daylight. The Commandery Princess must have been up long ago. I’ll go find the Commandery Princess."

...

An incense stick later, Cui Du promptly appeared in front of Jiang Shaohua.

After holding hands last night, their relationship took another step forward, greatly reducing the distance between them. However, in public, they still maintained appearances.

Cui Du bowed in greeting as usual, but when he looked up, there was a bit more eagerness in his eyes.

Jiang Shaohua also felt a slight warmth in her heart: "Breakfast is ready; accompany me for breakfast."

Cui Du happily agreed.

The cook at the field manor had limited culinary skills and couldn’t make too exquisite a breakfast. However, the freshly picked fruits and vegetables from the manor were fresh and delicious.

Jiang Shaohua had recently noticed a slight increase in her appetite. Cui Du was also at an age when he was still growing taller and was busy every day, consuming a lot of energy, so his appetite was not small. They sat opposite each other, both enjoying their meal.

"Commandery Princess, you should return to the Prince Mansion soon!" Cui Du urged softly.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at him with a smile, "You used to always hope I’d stay at the field manor a few more days. Why are you urging me to leave now?"

Cui Du grinned, whispering, "The longer we wait, the more uncertainty there is. It’s better to settle the engagement early."

Jiang Shaohua silently chuckled, "Once I’ve decided on something, I won’t change it."

"Then it’s better to do it early." Cui Du thickened his skin and continued to urge, "Commandery Princess should return to the Prince Mansion early!"

Jiang Shaohua was so smothered with affection that she got goosebumps: "Speak normally." Do you think you’re some kind of demon concubine?

Cui Du laughed heartily.

Jiang Shaohua also laughed, "I’ll go back tomorrow; that should satisfy you, right?"

Cui Du nodded repeatedly, resembling a chick pecking at grains.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "You should accompany me back to the Prince Mansion, and we’ll discuss how to handle the engagement arrangements."

Cui Du nodded fervently.

Waiting outside, Chen Jinyu listened to the cheerful voices drifting out from the dining hall and couldn’t help but whisper, "The Commandery Princess is really decisive, settling for life just like that."

In her eyes, no young man in the world could truly match her Commandery Princess. However, since they’re taking in a son-in-law, Cui Du might just barely be up to it.

Ma Yaosong chuckled softly, "I really envy Elder Changning for getting his title so early."

Unlike him, who had to wait until he was twenty years old for the lady to consent to marry him.

Chen Jinyu rolled her eyes at him playfully, "Elder Changning is marrying into the Prince Mansion. I will marry into your Ma Family in the future. It’s not the same. If you were willing to marry into my family, you wouldn’t have had to wait so long."

So, never argue with the girl you love, you’ll always lose.

Ma Yaosong rubbed his nose and fell silent.

...

The next afternoon, the Nanyang County Princess, who had been on tour for half a year, finally returned to Nanyang Prince Mansion with her entourage.

The ever-dedicated Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng led the officials to welcome them, while Lu Xuan, alongside Aunt Mei, came to greet them as well.

"Elder Changning has also returned with the Commandery Princess." Chief Historian Feng, who had sharp eyes, nudged Chief Historian Chen with his elbow.

Chief Historian Chen’s eyes showed an understanding smile as he whispered, "We can start preparing for the Commandery Princess’s engagement now."

Getting engaged so soon!

Chief Historian Feng felt a bit unwilling: "Cui Du is a lucky kid."

As they spoke, the Commandery Princess dismounted from her horse. Elder Changning, Cui Du, followed her off the horse and stayed right behind her.

There was no need to say much more. Just by looking at Cui Du’s shining face and his grinning mouth reaching his ears, it was clear that a joyous event was approaching.