Chapter 1394 - 1361: A Life Off Course 8
Chapter 1394: Chapter 1361: A Life Off Course 8
Xiao Yuan and Anning traveled particularly quickly.
In just a few days, they had already passed through several Prefecture Cities.
On this day, Mr. Wei was taking a break from his duties, and he went out to have fun with his friend Mr. Hong.
Mr. Hong and Mr. Wei were classmates and took the Imperial Examination together. However, Mr. Hong was not interested in officialdom, so after two years of serving as an official, he resigned and became a teacher at Baihe Academy in the Capital. Recently, he returned home for ancestral rites, planning to stay longer since he hadn’t been back for years, and coincidentally, Mr. Wei is the magistrate of Mr. Hong’s hometown. After finishing his ancestral rites, he came to catch up with Mr. Wei.
The two hadn’t seen each other in many years, so naturally, they spent several days talking late into the night. However, Mr. Wei was busy with official duties, mostly at the government office during the day, only having time to talk with Mr. Hong in the evenings.
It was finally a day-off, so Mr. Wei naturally took the opportunity to spend time with his old friend.
The two left the Wei Residence, chatting leisurely as they walked.
Mr. Hong asked Mr. Wei, "Why did Wei Yuan go to the Capital in such a hurry this time? I was thinking of writing a letter for him to take, so that when he gets to the Capital, he can stay near the academy and seek advice if needed."
Mr. Wei smiled and waved his hand, "I usually don’t interfere in the children’s affairs, but this time Yuan’er went with his wife. Staying near the academy might not be convenient; it’s better to rent a house in the Capital."
Since Mr. Wei said so, Mr. Hong naturally didn’t press the matter.
The two continued walking, enjoying the scenery.
Wuyuan City is well built, with many places for entertainment. Mr. Hong, having not returned for many years, found many places unfamiliar. He insisted Mr. Wei accompany him to the lake.
Mr. Wei, helpless, had no choice but to go along with him.
The weather wasn’t too hot yet, and they hired a boat, sitting on it with the cool breeze brushing past, enjoying the lake view, feeling quite pleasant.
Mr. Wei asked the boatman to prepare a few dishes and brought a pot of wine, chatting with Mr. Hong as they drank.
He raised his glass with a smile, "If only life could be like this every day, but unfortunately, I’m burdened with mundane duties daily, rarely having time to play."
Mr. Hong raised his glass and clinked it with Mr. Wei’s, "I rarely have leisure time too; there are quite a number of students in the academy, all needing proper guidance, and there are plenty of trivial matters."
Mr. Wei laughed, "Snatched half a day of leisure."
They played on the lake for a while before coming ashore. Mr. Wei, being in high spirits, drank a few extra cups, feeling a bit unsteady on his feet when they got off the boat.
Coincidentally, there was a large crowd on the shore, and Mr. Hong didn’t hold Mr. Wei in time, causing them to be separated by the crowd.
Mr. Hong hurriedly went to look for Mr. Wei, but at that moment, a wedding procession was passing by, and for some reason, they set off firecrackers as they went, scaring the children playing nearby into uncontrollable crying.
Mr. Wei looked around but couldn’t see Mr. Hong and was sweating nervously.
Just then, a firecracker from the wedding party exploded near Mr. Wei.
The noise scared many people, causing screams and fleeing, while Mr. Wei, unsteady from the drink, was shoved toward the edge of the lake, his head spinning.
He hadn’t noticed that since he had come ashore, a beautiful girl had been following him from a distance, and as he retreated toward the lake, she squeezed herself beside him.
The girl was naturally Xin Lan.
Xin Lan saw Mr. Wei near the lake and knew it was time.
She pretended to be unsteady on her feet and fell into the lake, tightly grasping Mr. Wei’s clothing as she went down.
Mr. Wei was already unsteady and was dragged down with Xin Lan into the lake.
"Someone fell into the lake."
Many people nearby saw a girl and a gentleman fall in and began shouting loudly, some calling to nearby boatmen, "Boatmen, hurry and save them."
Soon, several boats rowed over.
Someone rescued Xin Lan and Mr. Wei.
When they were pulled out, many saw they were holding each other.
As they were brought onto the boat, Mr. Hong arrived and recognized Mr. Wei.
"Mr. Wei."
Mr. Hong waited for the boat to reach the shore, then quickly reached out to pull Mr. Wei up, asking, "Are you alright?"
Mr. Wei was drenched, covered with a borrowed blanket from the boatman, hair disheveled, saying, "I’m fine, just swallowed a few mouthfuls of water."
He turned to look at Xin Lan, whose eyes were reddened with a bashful expression, "Is the young lady alright?"
Xin Lan shook her head, "No problem."
As she said the two words "no problem," her tears began to fall, "This gentleman, could you lend me some broken silver, I..."
Xin Lan was soaked as well, perhaps feeling cold, shivering and huddled into a ball.
Seeing this, Mr. Wei quickly took out his wallet and offered a piece of broken silver to Xin Lan, "Take it."
Xin Lan bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, I am the daughter of Scholar Xin, living in Guihua Lane in the southwest corner of Wuyuan City, rest assured, I will repay the silver soon."
Mr. Wei waved his hand, "No need to fret over it."
Xin Lan gave a bitter smile, took the silver, and turned to leave.
Mr. Hong tugged at Mr. Wei’s sleeve, "Mr. Wei, how do you plan to handle this matter?"
At this moment, Mr. Wei couldn’t think much. He only wanted to return home, take a hot bath, and change clothes, "What else can be done? The young lady didn’t do it intentionally, moreover, who could have expected such an event today."
Mr. Hong shook his head angrily, "Mr. Wei, you’re muddled. You embraced Miss Xin in the lake, which many witnessed firsthand. As they say, public opinion is formidable; Miss Xin’s reputation is likely ruined now. If she doesn’t marry you, she can only become a nun in a temple."
Mr. Wei was stunned for a moment, shaking his head, only feeling a headache coming on, "I’m so old; my grandson is already grown. To marry Miss Xin... it’s impossible, impossible."
Mr. Hong called for a carriage, letting Mr. Wei get in, and he followed, "If Miss Xin doesn’t marry you, does she have another way out?"
That’s true enough.
"Let’s go back first, see how things stand later."
Mr. Wei smiled bitterly.
He returned to the residence, bathed, changed clothes, and was pressed by the Old Madam to drink a bowl of ginger syrup, feeling much better after sweating it out.
The next day, Mr. Wei discussed the incident of falling into the lake in detail with the Old Madam. Upon hearing it, the Old Madam clapped her hands gleefully, "Isn’t this fate? I was just thinking of urging you to get another wife, and look, a bride has come to your doorstep."
The Old Madam hurriedly sent someone to inquire about the Xin Family’s situation.
Knowing that Xin Lan’s father was a scholar but having fallen in health leading to the family’s decline, the Old Madam was slightly moved, but upon learning that Xin Lan’s brother, Xin Hui, was a gambler, she became a bit dissatisfied.
Just as the Old Madam was hesitating, the person Mr. Wei sent to inquire about the Xin Family returned, saying Scholar Xin learned of Xin Lan’s incident and, in a fit of rage, wanted to send Xin Lan to a nunnery.
Upon knowing this, Mr. Wei became anxious.
He quickly went to find the Old Madam, explaining his intention to marry Xin Lan, "Mother, if I don’t marry Miss Xin, she will spend her life in solitude and devotion. Anyway, Xin Lan and I were embraced together in the lake, I can’t ignore this."
The Old Madam considered, "Marry her if you wish; once she enters our family, will she remain entangled with her brother? Besides, what is our family’s status and theirs? Even if her brother had courage, he wouldn’t dare make trouble at the governor’s house."
Having considered this, the Old Madam felt reassured.
Thus, the Old Madam rushed to find a matchmaker to propose to the Xin Family, and the two families quickly settled the marriage. Mr. Wei sent betrothal gifts and went through the Six Rituals.