FIMA Ch44: Marriage Exchange

“Mother, I have been married into the Gu family for so many years and have never gone against you and father, but this time it concerns A-Zhen’s future. A-Zhen is the future of our Gu family; we can’t go through with this marriage.” Li Xiangtao looked anxious.

Old Madam Gu frowned. “I understand what you mean, but the Xie family now refuses to back out, and it was your father who initially arranged this marriage. Are you asking him to go back on his word now? Your father is the village head; how will the villagers view him in the future?”

Li Xiangtao hesitated for a moment. “But… Mother, you know that A-Zhen has been close to Xiao Huan since they were young. Now that Xiao Huan has returned to the Marquis of Suining’s residence, if A-Zhen can continue with Xiao Huan, then in the future…”

Old Madam Gu sighed. “Who could have known that when the two families arranged the marriage, things would change like this? That Xiao Huan is actually a young master of the Marquis’ residence in the capital?”

Speaking of the Marquis’ residence in the capital, Li Xiangtao’s eyes lit up.

She grabbed her mother-in-law’s sleeve and said, “A-Zhen went to the Shen family’s estate this morning, saying that Xiao Huan had something to discuss with him. Even though Xiao Huan has returned to the Marquis of Suining’s residence, he still thinks about A-Zhen.”

Old Madam Gu glanced at her. “You dare to speak such frivolous words. A-Zhen is a scholar, and the Marquis’ residence is a very prominent family. Don’t ruin their reputation.”

Li Xiangtao immediately closed her mouth sheepishly.

But soon, she unwillingly added, “Mother, even if we don’t mention Xiao Huan, we can’t let A-Zhen marry that Changyue boy who was sent back. Who knows what attitude the Marquis’ residence has towards him? It might hinder A-Zhen.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Gu pondered for a while, then waved her hand irritably. “We still need to wait for your father to come back and make a decision. This marriage is difficult to go through with or to break off. It’s all that old man’s fault for arranging an early marriage agreement for A-Zhen.”

After complaining about her husband, she looked up and saw her second daughter-in-law standing dumbly under the eaves, without any tact, and she immediately wanted to reprimand her.

At this moment, a tall figure appeared beside Mu Xia, and a calm voice said, “Grandmother, I have a solution.”

Old Madam Gu was a person of propriety and rarely scolded her daughters-in-law in front of her grandsons. Her expression immediately softened.

She then asked curiously, “Yang’er, what did you just say?”

Gu Siyuan remained composed. “I said I have a way to resolve the marriage agreement with the Xie family, so the eldest cousin doesn’t have to marry the Xie family’s son.”

Upon hearing this, before Old Madam Gu could respond, the eldest aunt, Li Xiangtao, hurriedly asked, “A-Yang, what did you say? What solution do you have?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at everyone in the courtyard and calmly said, as if discussing something trivial, “Since my cousin doesn’t want to marry the Xie family’s son, why not give the marriage agreement to me? I’ll marry him.”

Everyone was initially shocked by these words.

Then, the eldest aunt Li Xiangtao’s eyes widened with excitement. She clapped her hands and said, “Yes, yes, this would work. After all, outsiders only know that our family is to marry into the Xie family. Since they can change the groom, why can’t we change the groom? No one can say it’s wrong.”

She happily approached to grab Gu Siyuan’s arm. “A-Yang, A-Yang, your eldest aunt must thank you properly. You being willing to marry the Xie family’s son is wonderful. When your elder brother prospers in the future, he won’t forget you.”

Mu Xia, however, looked blankly at his son, who seemed to have changed a lot.

And this marriage… is it really that casual?

Old Madam Gu’s eyes lit up initially, realizing the feasibility of the idea. Their family had always focused on Gu Zhen, neglecting that Gu Yang was only a few months younger than Gu Zhen and already of marrying age.

Then she quickly restrained her emotions.

She lowered her eyelids and looked straight at Gu Siyuan. “A-Yang, are you truly willing to marry Changyue? Although A-Zhen is quite capable, our family doesn’t do things that sacrifice other brothers for one’s future.”

“Mother, you…” Li Xiangtao was anxious and grabbed Old Madam Gu’s sleeve.

Old Madam Gu gave her a sideways glance and quietly pressed her hand.

Gu Siyuan pretended not to notice the exchange between the two and seriously nodded. “Of course, I am sincere. Just now outside the courtyard, I met Changyue briefly, and he is very beautiful.”

This was the result of Gu Siyuan’s careful consideration.

The mission in this world was to save Xie Changyue and make him happy.

In modern times, he could solve his problems and give him a large sum of money.

But in this feudal era, a ger would definitely need to marry. Otherwise, the gossip would be unbearable, let alone happiness.

And if he were married off, even the emperor’s daughter couldn’t guarantee happiness.

So, marrying him was the best solution.

Even if he couldn’t deeply love him, he could guarantee that he would only have him in this lifetime and always prioritize him, never abandoning him for anything. As long as it didn’t violate morality, he would try to satisfy him.

Old Madam Gu’s mouth curled into a smile.

Then she tentatively praised, “If you genuinely like him, it would indeed be a good match. I’ve seen Changyue a few times; he’s beautiful and gentle.”

Li Xiangtao also smiled and added, “Yes, after all, he was raised by a prominent family. Not only in our Huangyang Village, but also in the entire Wuqing County, there’s probably no one more outstanding than Changyue.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Xia couldn’t help but give her eldest sister-in-law a faint glance. If he’s really that outstanding, why are you in such a hurry to break off the engagement for Gu Zhen?

Gu Siyuan also smiled lightly. “Thank you, eldest aunt, for making this possible.”

Li Xiangtao seemed to hear a hint of sarcasm, and she awkwardly smiled.

Gu Siyuan didn’t mind and looked at Old Madam Gu again. “What does grandmother think?”

Old Madam Gu composed herself and nodded. “You are a scholar; naturally, you have good judgement.”

People’s fingers have different lengths, let alone grandsons separated by a generation.

Gu Zhen was the eldest grandson of the Gu family, always handsome, gentle, and obedient. After attending the academy, he excelled in his studies. Not only did she raise Gu Zhen herself and have deep feelings for him, but the old man in the family, although he didn’t say it, was also biased towards Gu Zhen.

Moreover, now Gu Yang was willing.

However, Old Madam Gu thought for a moment, then turned her gaze to Mu Xia, who was standing aside: “Although the elders have the final say in the marriage of the descendants, since you are A-Yang’s father, we should still ask for your opinion on this matter, so that the household won’t be disturbed in the end.”

Hearing this, Mu Xia paused and turned his gaze to his already tall son beside him.

Gu Siyuan met his father’s gaze with eyes full of apology, but more with determination and plea.

Mu Xia understood completely now. He lowered his eyes for a moment. If his parents-in-laws were forcing someone Gu Zhen didn’t like onto his own son, he would fight for it even if it meant bearing the name of unfilial.

But now, it was his son who was asking for it.

It’s not that he wanted to speak ill of his own son, but from childhood to adulthood, perhaps due to his and his partner’s gentle nature, his son always planned for himself and was not one to suffer any losses.

Mu Xia slowly made a gesture: “Since A-Yang is willing, and Mother agrees, I have no objection. But we still need to wait for Father and Gu Er to return and hear their opinions.”

Old Madam Gu nodded, a glimmer of light that couldn’t be concealed appeared in her eyes.

Li Xiangtao’s face blossomed into a big smile, and her gaze at Gu Yang was no different from looking at a savior.

At noon, after the men of the Gu family returned from the fields, Aunt Li Xiangtao couldn’t wait to bring up the matter.

The Gu family had three generations living together. The elderly lady had three sons and a daughter. The daughter was married off to Hexi Town next door, and though the three sons had already started their own families, because the two elderly were still around, they hadn’t split the family yet.

However, the third son, who worked as a bookkeeper in the county town, mostly lived in the city with his family, only coming back for the holidays.

In this courtyard with green brick walls, apart from the old man and the old lady, only the families of the eldest and second sons lived regularly.

After hearing Li Xiangtao’s words, the old man and the eldest son exchanged glances, finding this indeed to be the best solution.

They didn’t expect Gu Zhen and Shen Changhuan, who had returned to the Marquis household, to rekindle their old relationship. But now, this marriage was clearly not desired by either Li Xiangtao or Gu Zhen. Marrying was about family harmony.

If they ended up as resentful partners, disturbing the household peace, it would backfire.

The second son looked at his tall and big son, with an indistinguishable expression.

Gu Siyuan nodded to him, lips moving slightly, and called out: “Father.”

The second son’s expression didn’t change: “As long as you like it.”

Over here, the old man asked again for assurance: “Yang’er, are you really willing?”

Gu Siyuan promised again and expressed that it was best to get married as soon as possible during his one-month field holiday since he planned to take the imperial exams next February and would be focused on his studies afterward.

Hearing this, the old man gladly agreed.

The matter was now completely settled.

Because a major household worry was resolved, the old lady and the old man, feeling a bit compensatory, decided to raise the wedding budget by a notch.

This time, even the always money-conscious Aunt Li Xiangtao had no objections.

…

When Gu Zhen returned from the capital in the evening, he found the house filled with joy, completely different from the gloom before he left.

His mother, Li Xiangtao, beamed upon seeing him: “Son, did you go to see A-Huan in the city today?”

Gu Zhen nodded slightly.

His mother used to disdain A-Huan for being a farm boy, thinking he wasn’t good enough for him, wanting him to marry a girl for better offspring, or at least a city ger who could help in his studies and exams.

But now, with A-Huan’s changed status, his mother was even more affectionate towards A-Huan than he was.

He knew what his mother was thinking, but it was impossible.

A-Huan had someone he liked, General Xiao, and he had promised A-Huan to marry Xie Changyue from the Xie family.

He gently asked his mother: “Mother, about the marriage with the Xie family…”

He was immediately interrupted.

Li Xiangtao said with pride and joy: “It’s already settled, son. Don’t worry, from now on, no one can say anything about you and A-Huan.”

Gu Zhen was stunned, frowning: “Mother, what happened, you didn’t go to the Xie family to break the engagement, did you?”

He knew his mother’s feelings for him, she would do anything for him.

Li Xiangtao shook her head decisively: “How could I? You still have to study and take exams. Your grandfather is the village head, our family can’t do anything disgraceful. It’s your second brother, he was willing to take your engagement and marry the Xie ger who was sent back.”

“Second brother?”

Gu Zhen’s mind pictured his cousin Gu Yang’s face.

Gu Yang was his second uncle’s son, born in the same year, just five months younger.

Such close cousins, especially since the family hadn’t split, should have been very close.

But he and Gu Yang weren’t that close, and Gu Yang’s personality was quite different from his own.

Gu Yang had always been more reserved and gloomy, while he had been precocious and gentle since childhood, the most outstanding in the family. Naturally, the elders paid more attention to him than to Gu Yang.

And although their family was relatively well-off in the village, it was only so. With both of them studying, resource allocation was naturally uneven.

So, he thought his second brother had always disliked him.

“Yes, it was quite a coincidence. A-Yang came back from the academy today and happened to meet Changyue outside the courtyard. He was smitten at first sight. Honestly, Changyue is indeed very good-looking, if I were a man, I would like him too.”

Li Xiangtao couldn’t help but laugh.

Gu Zhen frowned: “Did the Xie family agree to the switch?”

Li Xiangtao stopped laughing, snorting coldly: “Do they have a choice? It’s just a sent-back ger, awkward on both ends. Your second brother may not be as good as you, but our family is the top in the village. Tomorrow morning, your grandmother will ask the matchmaker to go to the Xie family.”

Hearing this, Gu Zhen nodded thoughtfully and said no more.

Li Xiangtao looked at him like this, her heart skipping a beat: “Son, you’re not thinking about it again, are you? Let me tell you, a good-looking ger can’t be relied on for anything. Actually, Xiao Huan is also very good-looking.”

Gu Zhen knew his mother misunderstood again and quickly shook his head.

Xie Changyue marrying his second brother was actually not bad. Shen Changhuan’s request was barely fulfilled, and he himself didn’t have to marry someone he didn’t like. It should have been a happy thing.

But his heart suddenly felt a bit strange. Although he wasn’t very willing, when he accepted Shen Changhuan’s request to marry Xie Changyue, he somewhat harbored a sense of saving someone and doing charity, thinking he was doing a good deed.

…Yet he didn’t expect that the person no longer needed him, suddenly feeling as if something of his had been taken away. For a moment, he didn’t know if he was sad or happy.

It was May, almost summer.

After dinner, the sky was still half-bright. Gu Siyuan didn’t immediately go inside; instead, he stayed in the courtyard to help Mu Xia and Gu Er weave vines.

Wuqing County was surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it a rare scenic spot in the north.

The day after tomorrow was the Dragon Boat Festival.

There would be a dragon boat race on the Anding River outside the county, and people from both the city and the countryside would come to join the fun. Even many idle rich people from the capital would come on horseback to watch. Some skilled people from nearby villages would take the opportunity to sell small goods.

Gu Er was skillful and would make small items to sell.

Mu Xia looked at the small object his son made and found it quite novel. He gestured and asked, “Is this a bear?”

Gu Siyuan nodded lightly: “Yes, a gentle little brown bear.”

Mu Xia squinted his eyes with a smile.

In their farming family, bears were as terrifying as tigers; just seeing one would scare them to death. But under his son’s hands, although it still looked like a bear, it was inexplicably cute and huggable.

Gu Er took the small bear from his son’s hands, looked it over, and then eagerly said to Mu Xia: “A-Xia, do you like it? I’ve got it figured out; I’ll make you one.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Although it was his own father, wasn’t this an infringement of intellectual property?

Gu Er obviously had no such awareness. As the saying goes, an expert can see the essence. He quickly understood the structure of Gu Siyuan’s creation with just a few glances.

In terms of pure skill, he was much better than Gu Siyuan, but his imagination was limited, so he couldn’t come up with so many shapes.

Soon, a brown little bear was born in his hands. He even used dark dead vines for the eyes and pulled the whole body tight and smooth, making it much more refined in comparison.

Just as he was about to hand the little bear to his partner, his niece, Gu Qingqing, came bouncing over.

“Second Uncle, Second Uncle, this is so cute, can I have it?”

Gu Er was straightforward and shook his head directly: “This is for your Second Uncle.”

Gu Qingqing pouted but still really wanted it. She then turned her gaze to Mu Xia, coquettishly saying: “Second Uncle…”

Gu Qingqing was twelve years old this year, very cute and lively.

Mu Xia usually had a good relationship with her and now felt a bit embarrassed. He was so old and was still competing for things with a child.

But this was something Gu Er gave him, and he couldn’t bear to give away what Gu Er had given him.

At this moment, Gu Er patted Gu Qingqing, saying: “Don’t bother your Second Uncle, I’ll make you one.”

Gu Qingqing immediately beamed: “Second Uncle, you are the best.”

Thinking that her Second Uncle loved her Second Aunt the most, she quickly turned around and said: “Second Aunt, didn’t you say you wanted some new patterns last time? I’ll give you my favorite one, okay?”

Li Xiangtao’s voice rang out from behind: “What’s so good that you are even willing to give away your patterns? You wouldn’t even give them to me when I asked last time!”

This reminder made Gu Er and Mu Xia suddenly look at each other.

If Gu Qingqing liked it so much, perhaps the city ladies who had never been to the countryside would like it too.

Gu Siyuan saw that they seemed to understand the key point and reminded: “Father, I see your weaving is very tight. If you make the item smaller, fill it with dried herbs before sealing, and hang colorful silk threads on its head, maybe children will be willing to wear it as a sachet around their waist or neck on the Dragon Boat Festival.”

Hearing this, the couple’s eyes lit up even more.

Gu Qingqing quickly agreed: “I would like that! Second Uncle, I want a little bunny to wear around my neck on the festival to show off to Xiao Cui.”

Gu Siyuan pointed to the basket she was holding and said calmly: “You have so many scraps of cloth. Why not make clothes for it?”

“Huh… it needs clothes too?” Gu Qingqing was stunned, then her eyes suddenly lit up. She hurriedly took out a few palm-sized pieces of scrap cloth from the basket.

Old Madam Gu was very skilled with needlework, and Gu Qingqing had learned a lot from her.

It only took a moment to make a small outfit: a light blue top and yellow shorts, the most common colors seen in the village. But when worn by the little bear, it became incredibly cute.

Gu Qingqing hugged the little bear, holding it close and not wanting to let go, excitedly saying: “I want to make ten sets of clothes for the little bear.”

She didn’t have much whole cloth, but she had plenty of scraps.

Mu Xia immediately followed suit, making clothes for his own little bear, modeled after what Gu Er was wearing today.

Gu Er looked at the little bear and said: “During the day, let it stay home and keep you company.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Middle-aged people are really interesting.

Just then, someone stood beside Gu Siyuan.

Gu Qingqing called out: “Big Brother!”

Gu Siyuan also looked up, nodded to Gu Zhen, and then fell silent. He always had this temperament, and his family didn’t mind.

Gu Zhen smiled slightly: “Second Brother, I have some homework I want to discuss with you.”

As soon as Gu Siyuan heard this, he knew it was just an excuse, but he didn’t mind.

“Okay.” He stood up and walked ahead to Gu Zhen’s room.

After entering the room, Gu Zhen closed the door.

Studying requires quiet, and when the two cousins were at home, their doors were mostly closed, so no one found it unusual.

Gu Siyuan stood in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back: “If you have something to say, just say it!”

Gu Zhen looked at his stern-faced, imposing cousin and was stunned for a moment, then smiled lightly: “It seems Second Brother already knows what I want to ask.”

Gu Siyuan’s expression did not change, offering no comment.

Gu Zhen got straight to the point: “Second Brother, do you truly have your heart set on the Xie family’s ger?”

Gu Siyuan responded without hesitation: “Naturally.”

Gu Zhen asked again: “Second Brother seems to have met the Xie family’s ger for the first time today. What exactly did you like about him?”

Gu Siyuan’s lips curved slightly, and he said indifferently: “Discussing the merits and faults of others behind their backs doesn’t seem like something we scholars should do.”

Gu Zhen’s eyes flickered. He always prided himself on being noble and pure, but today’s conversation was indeed abrupt.

However, he was entrusted by Shen Changhuan, so he had no choice.

At this moment, Gu Siyuan spoke again: “However, if it’s just you and me, I don’t mind saying it. I am attracted to his extraordinary beauty.”

Gu Zhen frowned: “Beauty is like jade, but a painted skeleton. When choosing a wife, one should choose virtue over beauty, and it should be the same for a husband. As a scholar, you should understand this principle. How can you be so impulsive?”

Gu Siyuan squinted his eyes and suddenly sneered at him: “Ha… I didn’t know that Big Brother, who has only met the Xie family’s ger once, already knows if he is virtuous or not?”

Gu Zhen felt as if he was being belittled into the dust by that gaze.

His usually silent and reserved cousin seemed like a completely different person, while he, who was usually sharp, suddenly felt inexplicably clumsy in front of him.

He could only apologize repeatedly: “Sorry, I misspoke.”

Gu Siyuan did not accept his apology, instead saying slowly: “Big Brother, with all your slip-ups today, I might think you are reluctant to let go of this marriage and want to enjoy the best of both worlds.”

“Second Brother…” Gu Zhen’s expression turned anxious: “I have no such intention.”

“Good to hear.” Gu Siyuan walked towards the door.

Before reaching out to open it, he suddenly said coldly: “After tomorrow, Changyue will be my spouse. Big Brother, do not act as recklessly as you did today.”

Gu Zhen was silent, having nothing to say.

Summer days are long, and dawn comes early.

Just after the hour of the rabbit, breakfast was already on the table at the Xie family house at the end of Huangyang Village.

“Why hasn’t Changyue come out for breakfast yet?” Xie Er asked with a frown.

Liu Zhi, sitting beside him, glanced at him without saying anything.

Their youngest son, Xie Qiu, snorted: “Didn’t he go to the Gu family yesterday? Now he’s deliberately not coming out… What’s he pretending to be a noble gentleman for!”

Xie Qiu was also a young ger, two years younger than Xie Changyue, but already at the age to discuss marriage.

Like other girls and gers in the village, he secretly admired Gu Zhen, the son of the village head.

However, with Xie Huan in the picture before, the engagement was his, and Gu Zhen also liked Xie Huan. Now that Xie Huan was gone, Xie Changyue came in, and Gu Zhen was still out of his reach.

Xie Qiu was very dissatisfied with Xie Changyue.

Liu Zhi lightly tapped him with her chopsticks: “Don’t talk like that. Changyue just came to our house and is still adjusting.”

Because of what happened on the cliff that day, she felt somewhat awkward and guilty towards Xie Changyue.

Especially since Xie Changyue was the biological son of her husband, Xie Er, and her nominal stepson.

Xie Qiu became even more displeased: “Hmph, what’s there to adjust to? He’s just like us, a commoner, but he’s been enjoying someone else’s status and fortune for more than ten years, and he’s still not satisfied?”