Chapter 324: Chapter 172: Choosing His Own Wife (Part 2)

Li Changyu grinned and sat down beside his grandfather, leaning lazily against him. He pouted and said, "You were always saying I wasn’t mature enough. Now that I am, you’re complaining about it."

Li Changfeng looked at his somewhat haggard younger brother and smiled. "That’s actually true. I always used to think he was too flighty. But the other day, I saw him with Huai Zi at the restaurant, discussing business so earnestly with someone. It felt strange, as if that wasn’t Changyu at all. Even Huai Zi seemed different from his usual self."

At the mention of Zhang Huai, Li Changyu fell silent, and his recently lifted spirits immediately plummeted.

Mrs. Fang, clutching a shoe sole she was stitching, looked at Li Changyu with concern. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to make some pastries for you to eat?"

Li Changyu chuckled. "Mom, didn’t we just have lunch a little while ago? How could I be hungry already? You still treat me like a little kid."

The questions his mother asked him most were always, "Are you hungry?" and "Are you cold?"

Li Gengtian nodded. "Changyu is all grown up. It’s almost time for him to marry. Once we’re finished with your brother’s affairs, it’ll be your turn. A man must start a family and establish a career. You’re busy establishing your career, so your mother and I will have to put more thought into your marriage."

Li Changyu was taken aback. He sat up straight and asked, "Who’s getting married? Why are we suddenly talking about marriage?"

Li Gengtian shot him a look. "Who would bring this up for no reason? It’s because we’ve settled a match for your brother that we’re on this topic. We’ve been talking about it for a while now, not just since you returned. What’s the matter, you want to get married too?"

He was in a rare good mood and decided to joke with his son.

Li Mingrui chuckled and patted his grandson’s hand. "Your brother says that County Magistrate Hu has arranged a match for him. It’s the daughter of Scholar Gao from Qinghui County. We just finished discussing it and we’ve all agreed. We’re planning to make a formal proposal after the New Year."

Li Changyu stared in astonishment at his blushing brother. "When did this happen? How come you never said anything to me about it?"

Li Changfeng glanced up at him. "Tell you? Have you had any time to talk to me? For days now, even when we’re together, you’re busy planning business matters with Huai Zi. All you talk about is meat, vegetables, and shops. At night, back at our aunt’s house, you’re snoring before I can even ask you a single question. Now that you’re home, I figured you’d hear when I told Father and Mother, but then you went out again. You tell me, is that my fault?"

Li Changyu looked sheepish. He quickly grinned, gave his brother a formal bow, and said, "It’s my fault. I can’t believe I wasn’t paying attention to my brother’s marriage, the most important event of his life. I’m the worst. When you get married, brother, I guarantee I’ll give you a huge wedding gift."

Seeing the two brothers getting along so well, the three elders all smiled in contentment.

Mrs. Fang then asked Li Changfeng worriedly, "Is Changyu really that tired?" She sighed. "That child... instead of focusing on his studies, he insists on running a business. It’s such exhausting work. He’s never had to endure hardship before; how can he stand it?"

Li Gengtian said to his wife, displeased, "He’s a boy born and raised in the countryside. What’s there that he can’t handle? Even the children from prominent families have to work hard and manage their affairs. Nobody just sits around waiting to die."

Li Changyu nodded. "Mom! I don’t feel tired at all. Brother, have you met Scholar Gao’s daughter?"

Li Changfeng smiled and nodded. "I saw her once during the Lantern Festival last year."

Li Changyu immediately leaned closer, asking excitedly, "What does she look like?"

Seeing his expression, Li Changfeng shot him a glare. "She’s not your wife. Why are you so concerned?"

The brothers’ exchange made the whole family laugh.

Li Mingrui patted his grandson’s hand and laughed. "He’s right, you shouldn’t be concerned. You just need to know what your own wife looks like. Changfeng’s mother," he said, turning to Mrs. Fang, "you must explain things clearly to the matchmaker. We need to be very selective when choosing a wife for our Changyu. Mmm, and I want to meet her myself when the time comes. We couldn’t interfere with Changfeng’s match, but as his grandfather, I’m going to personally approve of Changyu’s wife."

Mrs. Fang nodded. "During the first month of the New Year, I’ll pay a visit to Matchmaker Zhang from Xiatang Market and ask her to start making inquiries..."

Li Changyu was stunned. He shot to his feet, interrupting his mother. He spoke solemnly to his father, mother, and grandfather, "Grandfather, Father, Mother! There is something I must ask of you today."

Seeing his grandson’s solemn plea, Li Mingrui’s heart ached for him. He quickly pulled him back down to sit. "My dear boy, if you have something to say, just say it. We’re all family here. There’s no need for such formality. Come, tell your grandfather. What is it you want to ask?"

Li Gengtian and Mrs. Fang waited in surprise for his answer. Even Li Changfeng was taken aback—’this brother of his is becoming more and more of an enigma.’ 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Li Changyu’s gaze swept across the faces of his family members. He said earnestly, "I want to ask Father and Mother... to let me decide on my own marriage."

The smiles on everyone’s faces instantly froze.

After a long moment, Mrs. Fang finally asked nervously, "Changyu... have you... have you taken a liking to some girl? You haven’t done anything improper, have you?"

Li Changyu was taken aback by his mother’s question, then he couldn’t help but laugh. "Mom, listen to yourself. Am I that kind of person? Don’t worry, I haven’t done anything. I just want to choose a wife who I genuinely like for myself."

Only then did Li Gengtian and Li Mingrui breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Gengtian opened his mouth, about to scold his son, but then he remembered his own youth. He recalled how much trouble he had gone through for their mother, and he swallowed the reprimand.

He put on a stern face and said to Li Changyu, "Choose for yourself? You don’t even get to meet any young women, so how would you choose? Even when we say we’re arranging it for you, don’t you think we’d find a way for you to get a look at her? We wouldn’t finalize the marriage without you ever seeing her. Your mother and I aren’t that old-fashioned, and our village doesn’t have that many rigid customs. What are you so afraid of? Just look at your brother’s engagement. We haven’t even met the girl, but he said she was a good choice, and we agreed, didn’t we?"