Grandma Fang has placed plates of roasted peanuts and melon seeds outside to entertain the guests. So no matter whether it was her acquaintance or just a villager who came to watch the show, all of them came to say auspicious words.
"I just saw the bride price. It's not small at all!" Granny Yang, who was friends with Grandma Fang, commented as soon as she entered the Fang courtyard. She saw the ox-cart while she was coming here, and her granddaughter even ran up to Yu Dong to get some candies. "Your Chi is really fortunate. Yu Dong seems to hold him in high regard. He won't be troubled at all once he marries her!"
"Exactly! Though Yu Dong had crooked ways in the past, she has changed for good. I have seen the big carriage that comes to her house every Saturday to bring those big jars of wine. If her income is any less than village head, then I will take her surname and become a Yu!" Exclaimed another aunt. Some villagers might look down on Yu Dong for her lustful past. However, she at least had the means and brains to give her husbands a good life. Many women didn't have a good income, yet they had ten or twenty husbands by their sides with a little army of children stuffed in a small house. Compared to them, Yu Dong was loads better!
"I looked at the cart. There were at least seven pieces of pork and an entire chicken! The last time I saw someone delivering an entire chicken to a mer as betrothal gifts were when the lord from the town took fancy to a mer from our village!" Pork and chicken were everyday things when giving bride price, but when has anyone given this much? It was a new record, alright!
Grandma Fang was so happy that her chest was puffing up with pride. She grinned and said, "Really? Such a thing happened. I didn't know at all. Yu Dong, this girl I told her not to stand on ceremony." She spoke as if she was just casually commenting, but everyone could hear her boastful tone. "She is superb to my Chi. I was apprehensive about what would happen once this lazy brat got married, but now I can rest at ease. I don't need to worry about him anymore with Yu Dong here. The day he gets married to Yu's house, I will be relieved."
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"Grandmother Fang," Yu Dong first bowed to Grandma Fang as a greeting before continuing, "I have prepared some gifts according to the rituals. Although the value of these gifts is far less than the worth of Fang Chi in my heart, they are my heartfelt gifts and love. I hope you will understand my affections for your grandson and allow me to take care of Fang Chi from now on and into the future. Don't worry, and rest assured that I will share all of my happiness with him and that I will bear all the sufferings in his stead. I will shield him from all wrongs and give him all the joys of the world. I might have many shortcomings, but I will never burden Fang Chi with them." Yu Dong only stood up straight once she was done. After speaking, she said nothing more and humbly waited for Grandma Fang to speak.
(yeah, Yu Dong is my inner imagination. I want a guy like her. )
"Good! Good! Good! You are a good woman!" Grandma Fang wanted to shed a few tears, but she had to hold it all in as a woman. She squeezed Yu Dong's shoulder and smiled. "This daughter-in-law, I recognize! I will leave my grandson in your care!" Then she turned her head and shouted, "Chi, come and hand your token. It's time."
Fang Chi, who was sitting inside his house, jumped up. It startled him like a little rabbit. Then he took a calming breath and stood up. Once he walked outside, his line of sight fell on Yu Dong, and immediately all the blood in his body rushed to his head. She was standing right in front of his grandmother, dressed in a light blue shirt and pants, a long robe on her back that fluttered in the wind. Her heroic face seemed to glitter with a glow that he had never noticed before. Her long ponytail swayed behind her, enchanting him in a way he thought no one could. Fang Chi swallowed and clenched his hands.
Was he really going to marry this woman?
Fang Chi thought that Yu Dong was the star of the show, but actually, he was the one who stole the limelight. Because his own running thoughts embarrassed him, he was biting his lips. His lips were curled in an embarrassed and shy smile. His ebony-colored hair resting on his shoulder in a side half ponytail was fluttering in the wind.
The sound of people eating and chattering stopped. Everyone froze in surprise and appreciation at the sight of Fang Chi. They had only one thought in mind: Was Fang Chi always this good-looking?
Were their brains damaged? Why did they think he was ugly? Yes, he was tall, but he was indeed exquisite! If they knew he was this pretty, they would have pocketed him before Yu Dong!
Even Yu Dong lost a bit of her momentum. It was nothing but a new piece of clothing, yet the effect was instantaneous. She has always seen Fang Chi in tattered clothing and covered in soot and mud. She, too, didn't think that he was this good-looking when he dressed up. If one was to replace his plainclothes with wedding ones - then will her heart jump right out of her chest?
"Hahaha! Look at this. Even Yu Dong cannot look away from Fang Chi! What is it, Dong Dong? Did Fang Chi really steal your breath away?" teased Grandma Yang.
Yu Dong embarrassingly rubbed her nose and stole another glance at Fang Chi. "En, I'm afraid he stole my heart as well."
These words came from her heart.
And Fang Chi turned redder than a tomato.