Chapter 559 - 208: Recognizing Relatives (Part 3)
Chapter 559: Chapter 208: Recognizing Relatives (Part 3)
"She really lost her memory?"
"Absolutely. If she hadn’t lost her memory, there’s no way my aunt would have stayed away from home for all these years."
"You have a point."
Mr. Sheng paused, then addressed Xu Yanlin by his courtesy name. "Wangting, you know I sent Wen Shu to the Chen family this afternoon, don’t you?"
Xu Yanlin smiled upon hearing this. "I do. Uncle, are you referring to your intention to arrange a marriage with the Chen family by betrothing Kaiyan to my cousin?"
Sheng Mingchuan gave a slight nod. "Sometime ago, Yanhe passed through Xinghuai Prefecture, and I met with him. Afterward, Yanhe went to Liangchun Prefecture to see your younger uncle. Once the news of the special imperial examination was announced, your younger uncle sent me a letter specifically to tell me that Yanhe is a top student at the Imperial College and would surely pass if he took the exam. He remembered that I have an unmarried daughter and knew of my long-standing wish, so he intended to matchmake Yanhe and Kaiyan."
"And you refused, Uncle?"
"I did," Sheng Mingchuan said. "I have complete trust in your family’s character. I would be overjoyed to have Kaiyan marry into your family. But you can’t force love. Kaiyan already has someone in her heart. As her father, I won’t be able to protect her forever, so my only choice is to respect her wishes and choose a good man for her."
"And De’an is the one Kaiyan loves?"
"Precisely."
Xu Yanlin smiled again. "Whether she marries Yanhe or De’an, she’ll still be part of our Xu family. As long as we are around, Uncle, you won’t have to worry about Kaiyan and Kailing being bullied."
Sheng Mingchuan didn’t continue the discussion about the marriage. He just pointed to the chestnuts on the stove. "Have some."
Sheng Mingchuan’s point was that Kaiyan’s beloved had always been De’an, and no one else.
This would also prevent any misunderstandings when Xu Su Ying was reunited with her family, should someone bring up the matter at that time.
’To think that Xu Su Ying is actually my old friend’s younger sister... That’s something I never would have imagined, not even in my wildest dreams.’
"Your father and I have been friends for a good twenty years now. Back when we were officials in the Capital City, I often went to your family’s home to drink in my spare time."
Xu Yanlin’s father was the eldest legitimate son of the old couple of the Xu family, while Xu Su Ying was the youngest legitimate daughter. There was an age gap of nearly twenty years between the two siblings.
Because of this, Sheng Mingchuan’s memory of Xu Su Ying was faint at best.
Perhaps he had seen Xu Su Ying during his visits to the Xu family home.
After all, Xu Su Ying had been truly doted on in her youth; the entire Xu estate was practically her personal playground. She would often pop out from behind a rockery or down from a large tree, scaring people into shrieks, then run off, laughing heartily.
A memory seemed to surface: he and Yan Lin, in high spirits from drinking, were leaning over to grab a wine jar, about to open a new one, when a little girl with her hair in flower-bud buns suddenly crawled out from under the long tablecloth...
Sheng Mingchuan stroked his beard and chuckled. "I never would have imagined such a twist of fate. If I had known she was Chen Song’s wife, I would have invited the couple to the manor for a visit much sooner. Perhaps in the course of conversation, we would have recognized her."
"It’s not too late. Haven’t you already sent an invitation for my aunt to visit tomorrow?"
"I didn’t invite her; your aunt did. As you know, she risked her life to give birth to Kaiyan and has cherished her like the apple of her eye ever since. Now that Kaiyan is choosing a husband, she naturally needs to meet him herself to be at ease. However, if she knew De’an’s mother was Suying, I imagine all her worries would vanish instantly."
The chestnuts roasting over the fire made a "CRACKLE" as they burst open one by one.
Xu Yanlin peeled two and placed them by Sheng Mingchuan’s hand. Sheng Mingchuan smiled. "You eat them, don’t worry about me. I’m getting old, and my teeth aren’t what they used to be. I can’t chew anything even slightly hard."
"Please, think of it as a small token of your nephew’s respect. You should at least try one."
Sheng Mingchuan did indeed try one, then looked at Xu Yanlin. "You rascal. If you have something to say, say it directly. No need to go through all these motions with me."
"You’re as sharp as ever, Uncle. You saw right through my little trick. Uncle, I have nothing else to ask, really. I just want to inquire about Chen Song’s character."
"Worried your aunt entrusted herself to the wrong man? If you ask me, you can tell whether a woman married a good man just by looking at her state of mind. Is your aunt’s face gaunt and haggard?"
"Of course not."
"Has she developed wrinkles prematurely, or are her temples frosted with white?"
"Not that either."
"Is she timid and hesitant in front of her husband and children, unable to speak her mind?"
"Definitely not."
"Then what else is there to ask about?"
"There’s no harm in asking for more details. I have to write a letter home later. When I write, what should I say? I can’t just write down a name and place of origin. If I did that, I’m afraid my father would travel a thousand miles to Xinghuai Prefecture just to personally give me a beating."