Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Engagement

Su Chen lowered the curtain, his heart heavy with worry. If only he were stronger—then he could protect Su Wan and Grandfather. The memory of Jiang Mochen baring his muscles and frightening away the men from the Wang family had only strengthened his resolve to train his body. Tomorrow, he would help Su Wan make another trip to the back mountain.

When Grandfather and Jiang Mochen finished their discussion and emerged from the main room, night had already fallen. Su Wan and her brother had just finished preparing dinner. The four of them sat together at the table, but the atmosphere was tinged with awkwardness.

Su Chen ladled rice for everyone. The dishes tonight were simple—a plate of smashed cucumber, beef stir-fried with bracken, and a dish of scrambled eggs with chili peppers.

Grandfather frowned with displeasure. “Today’s a day of great happiness—how can there be only a few dishes like this?”

Su Chen, agitated, said nothing. It was Su Wan who was startled. “What day of great happiness?”

“The day you and Xiao Jiang are betrothed,” Grandfather replied in a tone that brooked no argument. Su Wan was so shocked her chopsticks slipped from her fingers.

Good heavens! Grandfather, you’re incredible! To have secured someone like Jiang Mochen—what had happened in the short time she’d been away?

She glanced at Jiang Mochen, curious about his reaction. But he only lowered his head and ate, silent as ever, his expression as unreadable as always. Resigned, Su Wan accepted her fate.

Grandfather began to plot their future. “I plan to tidy up Xiao Jiang’s courtyard for you two to live in after you marry. Of course, that’s only temporary. I don’t have enough money right now, but in the future, we’ll buy a couple of homes in the city. That way, we’ll have some security.”

After the incident with the Wang family, Grandfather was deeply affected. One must always strive upwards, he realized, lest they fall prey to those who respect power and trample the weak. The Wang family had dared to storm their house on the strength of a few rumors. If their family ever truly fell, who knew what would become of the children?

He looked at each child in turn, his worry growing. Su Chen was still too young, his temperament not forceful enough. He had always worried most about Su Wan, but now, seeing her clear-sighted and capable, he felt somewhat reassured.

When his gaze fell on Jiang Mochen, he could not help but sigh inwardly. The boy was too sensible—so much so it made one ache. His eyes drifted to the scars on Jiang Mochen’s arm. If only he’d reached out sooner, perhaps Jiang Mochen would already be part of their family. Fortunately, there was still time. He would make proper arrangements for all the children.

With one more person in the house, even the lights seemed brighter.

Dinner passed in relative comfort. Even Su Chen, who had always been wary of Jiang Mochen, found himself smiling.

Afterward, Grandfather asked Su Wan to walk Jiang Mochen home. Su Wan stiffened. “At this hour? Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate? If you keep fussing, don’t bother coming back!” Grandfather retorted, driving her out without mercy. Then, turning to Jiang Mochen, his tone softened, “See you tomorrow, Xiao Jiang.”

Su Wan was speechless. It was over—completely over. In Grandfather’s heart, she now ranked below Jiang Mochen. Indignant but helpless, she had no choice but to follow Jiang Mochen out.

Dusk had fallen, and in the countryside there were no streetlights. The two walked in silence, neither looking at the other.

Su Wan, thinking Jiang Mochen had only agreed to the betrothal under Grandfather’s pressure, felt so guilty she did not dare meet his eyes. Jiang Mochen, meanwhile, glanced at her from time to time, waiting for her to speak.

The awkwardness lingered all the way to Jiang Mochen’s house.

In the end, Su Wan’s conscience wouldn’t allow her to remain silent. She ought to say something.

“If you’re not willing,” she said hesitantly, “you can say so at any time. I won’t mind, and my grandfather isn’t unreasonable.”

The moment Su Wan spoke, Jiang Mochen’s heart leapt into his throat. Why would she say that? Did she herself not want the engagement, but lacked the courage to tell Grandfather, hoping he would take the initiative?

Once more, an image flashed through his mind—Su Wan clinging to Wang Luo’s leg, sobbing. She must still have feelings for Wang Luo. But then, why did she worry about him, help him pay off his debts?

His heart was in turmoil, but he was not about to let her go. She had been the first to approach him—she could not simply walk away.

After much inner struggle, Jiang Mochen shook his head calmly. “No, I’m willing.”

Su Wan, anxious and flustered, misheard him, thinking he’d said, “I’m not willing.”

She’d caught every word, but somehow jumbled the order. Instantly, her spirits fell, and her tone lost all its earlier hope. “Then I’ll talk to my grandfather.”

Jiang Mochen saw her face drop at his words, and his own heart seemed to plummet into a void. For a moment, he was stunned, already formulating several ways to keep Su Wan by his side.

“You should head in. I ought to be going,” Su Wan said, turning to leave.

On instinct, Jiang Mochen reached out and caught her arm, leaning forward to press his lips to hers.

At that very moment, the neighbor woman, just returning from the fields, witnessed the scene and dropped her hoe in surprise.

With a clang, Su Wan, still dazed, was startled into a shudder. Coming to her senses, she instinctively pushed Jiang Mochen away and fled, covering her mouth.

Jiang Mochen remained bent forward, savoring the kiss, his posture unchanged. He had done it on purpose—so the neighbor would see, making it impossible for Su Wan to break off the engagement.

Under the neighbor’s astonished gaze, Jiang Mochen straightened and turned to her. “We’re engaged. We’ll marry in two months.”

Hearing this, the neighbor beamed. “That’s wonderful! Do you need me to help tidy up the house?”

Jiang Mochen glanced at the gloomy courtyard, his eyes deep. He shook his head. “No need. I’m marrying into their family, and I’ll be selling this place soon.”

The neighbor nodded and left it at that.

The very next day, news of Jiang Mochen and Su Wan’s engagement spread through the entire village. With farm work done, the villagers had nothing better to do than gossip.

Women gathered under the big tree, chattering.

“What’s going on with the Su family? Didn’t Aunt Wang say they’d fallen on hard times, the two kids forced to forage for wild greens every day?”

“Nonsense! I saw those kids just the other day, coming back from town with bags full of things. Su Chen even carried home a whole set of pig offal—their days are far from bleak!”

“But tell me, why would Jiang Mochen agree to marry into their family?”

“What other reason? He can’t afford a bride! Look at him—so full of vigor. At night, well, you know...” The speaker gave a lewd grin. “Su Wan’s fair and plump—maybe that’s just his type!”

“True enough. My old man always tells me to put on a little weight—says there’s no feeling to someone too skinny.”

The conversation grew more and more risqué. Someone, uncomfortable, tried to change the subject. “But I heard it was Old Master Su who forced the engagement.”

As they served the rice, one woman kept a wary eye on Jiang Mochen, uncertain what Su Wan was up to this time—surprised, though, that she hadn’t gone running after Wang Luo again.