CHAPTER 1643: CHAPTER 1465: EPILOGUE

Tian Xiaobei looked at Tao Shanding, as if telling both Tao Shanding and Long Aixi, "After I left Peach Blossom Village, Dabao personally came to my house to find me and said he wanted to marry me. If it weren’t for my parents’ objections, we would have already been married."

Long Aixi also looked at Tao Shanding, "My parents particularly like Dabao. My mother even said that if it weren’t for Dabao being two years older than me, they would have arranged a child betrothal for us back then. When they heard I was coming to find Dabao, my parents said that if I couldn’t win Dabao over, then I shouldn’t come back home. Everyone says marriage is the decree of parents and the word of the matchmaker, without the approval of one’s in-laws, a woman won’t be happy. Dabao will definitely understand this."

"But Dabao once told me that if two people are together without feelings, they won’t be happy either," said Tian Xiaobei.

Long Aixi couldn’t help but smile and then she looked at Tao Shanding, "He was referring to you."

Tao Shanding shook his head, his tone seemed timid, but he still spoke up, "What are you two talking about? I don’t understand at all. My parents said marriage is about finding someone to spend life with."

"..."

After this conversation, Nan Feng and Ye Ge came out, and the three young men quickly stood up, asking Nan Feng if they were going to the fields again. Nan Feng said yes, so the three of them left first, to avoid the awkwardness when Xia Dabao came out later.

For the rest of the half-day, Xia Dabao kept a stern face and didn’t utter another word. As the sun was about to set, she took Axian and left first, saying she was going back to cook.

Seeing this, Tao Shanding hurried over to Xia Dabao and said, "Dabao, shall I help you cook? I’m quite good at it."

"No need, I have Axian to help. Weren’t you here to help with transplanting the rice? Then just continue with that," Xia Dabao was not at all amiable.

Tao Shanding stood there, stunned for a good while.

It wasn’t until it was almost dark that the rice fields on Nan Feng’s side were finally done. Nan Feng asked Tian Xiaobei and Tao Shanding to come home for dinner, but Tao Shanding declined, looking a bit downhearted, "Aunt Nan Feng, I still have some matters at home to attend to. Maybe another time."

"But you’ve been busy all day..."

Tao Shanding had already gone ashore to wash his feet, "Next time when the lychees are ripe, let me know. I’ll come help you pick them."

After saying that, Tao Shanding left without looking back.

Nan Feng looked at Ye Ge with a meaningful glance, who just smiled faintly.

Ye Ge was right. It seemed that Tao Shanding was going to give up.

...

Returning home dejectedly, Tao Shanding’s mother immediately came to ask, "How did it go? You worked for a whole day and didn’t get anything for it? Did Dabao loosen up and agree to your proposal?"

Tao Shanding shook his head, "Mom, I volunteered. I don’t care about the benefits."

"So she still didn’t agree? Isn’t that just toying with you, tricking you into working for nothing?"

"Mom, I already said, I volunteered."

"I just heard from Xiao Zhi who came back from Peach Blossom Village. Besides you, there were two other young masters who went to help with the transplanting. The villagers of Peach Blossom Village are all saying that you can’t compare with those two gentlemen. You’re just a countryman, and the annual income from your fruit garden doesn’t even match a government official’s monthly salary. Forget about it, since you know your place, then stop chasing after Xia Dabao."

Tao Shanding went to find some water to drink, and while drinking, he said, "It’s still about who Dabao likes, not just about having good conditions. I’ll wait a bit longer, and if I can’t wait, then I’ll give up."

Mother Shanding grinned, "It’s good that you can think that way. Think about it, Zhou Cuicui from the neighboring village is so nice, and her parents have been waiting for you to agree."

"..."

...