Chapter 148: Chapter
Translator: 549690339
And so, the two of them began chatting passionately.
From noon to afternoon, their conversation continued, until evening when it was time for dinner. Night was almost upon them.
At this point, somebody in the Prefect’s residence couldn’t sit idly.
“Father, you’re working so late again.”
From afar, a crisp and pleasant voice was heard.
Lu Yuan, who was meditating nearby, opened his eyes upon hearing the noise. He saw a yellow dress fluttering in, followed by a fragrant breeze.
A beautiful young woman, around the age of 28, walked into the room with an irritated look on her face as she looked at Cui Changqing.
“Wenxiu.”
Upon hearing the voice, Prefect Cui came back to his senses and looked a little embarrassed as he realized it was his daughter.
“There are guests.” Cui Wenxiu noticed the presence of two people in the room, realizing that she had come at an inopportune time and became somewhat embarrassed.
As an aristocratic daughter, it was considered impolite to disturb her father during official affairs.
This was common courtesy.
Fortunately, Cui Changqing came to his daughter’s rescue. Glancing at the darkening sky outside, he said to Sun Siwen and Lu Yuan: “Mr. Sun, Mr. Lu, it’s getting late. Why not stay here and dine with me?”
“Ah…” Sun Siwen hesitated and glanced at the woman in the yellow dress before hesitatingly saying, “This is a family feast at your home, it wouldn’t be right for outsiders like us to join, would it?”
Although Da Yue’s martial arts were strong and the customs were relatively open, it was still somewhat inappropriate for strangers to join in a private family gathering.
“Hey.” Prefect Cui waved his hand and laughed, “Since I, the host, have no problem with it, why would you, the guest, be worried? Alright, it’s settled. You’ll have dinner with us tonight.”
He then turned to his daughter and said, “Wenxiu, go and instruct the kitchen to prepare extra dishes; I would like to entertain our two distinguished guests tonight.”
Curiously, Cui Wenxiu glanced at Sun Siwen and Lu Yuan, surprised by her father’s actions, as he had never invited anyone to dine with them before, nor had he been so polite to anyone in Shaoyang.
Wondering what their special qualities were, she agreed and said, “I’ll go right now. Please wait a moment, honored guests.” She then hurried off.
Arrival and departure were equally swift.
Watching his spirited daughter, Cui Changqing looked at the two men and smiled bitterly, “Having no sons, I dote on my one and only daughter.
Since she was little, I couldn’t bear to scold her, allowing her mischievousness to develop. I apologize if it has caused any offense to you two gentlemen.”
Being a fan, Sun Siwen quickly replied, “Not at all, Sir. Your daughter is intelligent and filial. Her innocence is endearing rather than annoying.”
Lu Yuan nodded and added, “Her personality is quite likeable and doesn’t invite any dislike.”
Hearing their praise, Cui Changqing chuckled.
His gaze lingered on Lu Yuan for a moment but eventually turned to Sun Siwen, and as he looked at Sun, he asked, “If I remember correctly, you are still single, Mr. Sun, right?”
At thirty years old, and an unmarried official, Sun Siwen indeed attracted attention.
Sun Siwen thought his superior was reminding him to settle down soon, and he replied somewhat shyly, “I made a vow in my early years to achieve my ambitions first, like my ancestors. I wanted to establish a career before discussing marriage, so as not to let love distract me from my aspirations.
Later, when I was appointed as a county magistrate, I thought it was time to find a suitable match, but none had been found. Thus, the matter was put aside until now. ”
Cui Changqing smiled, stroking his beard, “I see. It’s commendable for a young man to have great ambitions. With your accomplishments and talents, it’s only a matter of time before you find the right woman. There’s no need to rush things.”
Sun Siwen gratefully replied, “Thank you for your understanding, Sir.”
Lu Yuan, watching the conversation out of the corner of his eye, couldn’t help but feel that something was amiss.
Shortly after.
Someone from the Prefect’s residence arrived, but this time it was a servant, announcing that dinner was ready.
The three of them then headed to the dining area.
At the dining table, Cui Changqing invited his wife and daughter to join them. During the meal, the Prefect whispered something to his wife, who began to frequently glance at Sun Siwen with an occasional smile on her face.
Sun Siwen, perhaps preoccupied with dining with his idol, was slow to notice her attention.
After finishing dinner, Lu Yuan accompanied his friend and Cui Changqing for some tea and chat before leaving.
As they exited the Prefecture office and walked through the city streets, brightly lit lamps illuminated their way.
As the capital of a prefecture, Shaoyang Prefecture City’s prosperous streets were a sight to behold, even in an impoverished area.
Stepping out of the back door and taking in the cool night breeze, Lu Yuan turned to his still-dazed friend and said with a smile, “Brother Sun, it seems your romantic luck is just around the corner.”
The events of the night clearly indicated that Prefect Cui held Sun Siwen in high regard and wished to make him his son-in-law. To make matters more official, even the woman’s mother was present, practically introducing the family.
From the scene at dinner, it was evident that the mother-in-law was quite satisfied with her prospective son-in-law, and she even helped serve him food a few times throughout the evening.
This was a level of courtesy that Lu Yuan, despite his handsome appearance, never received.
As a result, Sun Siwen, despite his plain appearance and scholarly nature, remained blissfully unaware of what was occurring around him.
Considering how beautiful Miss Wenxiu was, it was a terrible waste for someone like him to win her heart.
Feeling somewhat indignant, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel wronged.
“What romantic luck?” Sun Siwen still appeared to be confused.
Having had a bit too much to drink, his head was still slightly hazy, and he had yet to fully recover from meeting his idol.
Seeing his friend still clueless, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s nothing.
You’ll find out soon enough.”
He then walked towards the sedan chair that had been prepared for them.
“What is it exactly? Why don’t you just tell me?”
Sun Siwen. feeling somewhat displeased. hastily followed suit..