Chapter 322 – When Youth Was Thin in Spring (5)
“Brother Ci, Father is having tea in the hall.”
Wei Ci stepped out from Jiang Pengji’s home and took a moment to catch his breath before heading to visit his mentor’s residence.
Mr. Yuanjing, though famous throughout the land as one of the most renowned scholars of the time, led a simple life. His home wasn’t too big or too small, and the decor was quite casual. The yard was filled with a natural charm, set up bit by bit by himself.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open on its own, revealing a youthful, energetic face.
The one who opened the door was Mr. Yuanjing’s youngest daughter, his most cherished late-blooming child—Zhu Qing Ning.
Wei Ci chuckled and tucked his sleeves. “Is this another sign of Master’s foresight?”
Qing Ning playfully dismantled Mr. Yuanjing’s reputation, “Not at all! It’s just the little cat Sanwu running around excitedly in the yard, making it impossible for Father to concentrate. He only knew it was Brother Ci who came by! It’s not as impressive as you make it sound!”
Sanwu was a little cat Mr. Yuanjing had found by chance. When it gave birth with difficulty, Wei Ci just happened to be visiting and was pulled in by Qing Ning to help. In the end, four pitch-black kittens were welcomed into the world, and Sanwu became very close to Wei Ci because of it.
Because of this incident, Wei Ci had faced teasing from several close friends, some of it malicious.
They mocked him, claiming that if he achieved nothing in the future, he could always become someone who delivered babies for women.
To such malicious comments, Wei Ci merely smiled openly, not taking them to heart.
Thinking of the scene where his mentor was enjoying tea while being pestered by Sanwu, he couldn’t help but break into a grin.
Qing Ning saw his expression and involuntarily blushed.
She took a step back, following him in small steps, biting her lower lip shyly as she asked, “Brother Ci, did you just come back from visiting a friend?”
“Yes,” Wei Ci replied. “Master’s birthday is on the third day of March, so I wanted to return a bit earlier.”
Qing Ning nodded, her head lowered. “Then… do you remember what day February 16 is?”
“February 16?” Wei Ci was momentarily confused. “I know February 15 is the Flower Festival, but what’s special about the 16th?”
Disappointment flashed across Qing Ning’s face. She tried to mask her unhappiness, and since they had reached the hall, she hurriedly bid farewell, her head still lowered.
Wei Ci, puzzled, wondered if this girl’s thoughts had become so difficult to decipher.
Seeing his little daughter in such a state, Mr. Yuanjing furrowed his brows but didn’t explicitly address it.
“Master,” Wei Ci greeted.
“No need for such formality.”
Mr. Yuanjing held the squirming and scratching Sanwu tightly in one arm while adjusting his disheveled sleeves, looking somewhat awkward.
Suppressing a laugh, Wei Ci said, “If you’re having trouble holding onto Sanwu, let your disciple take over and hold Sanwu for you.”
As soon as he said this, Mr. Yuanjing loosened his grip, and Sanwu slid right into Wei Ci’s arms, finding a cozy spot to settle down.
Mr. Yuanjing privately rolled his eyes, thinking another young person had lost their heart to a little furball. Even he was being disregarded!
“I just saw you chatting happily with Miss Wu. What were you two talking about?”
Since Qing Ning was the fifth daughter in the household, many elders referred to her as Miss Wu.
Wei Ci puzzledly responded, “Miss Wu asked me if I remembered what day February 16 is…”
Mr. Yuanjing sighed. “February 16 is Miss Wu’s birthday.”
Wei Ci froze, his hand that was stroking Sanwu’s neck suspended mid-air as an absurd thought emerged in his mind.
To Wei Ci, it truly seemed absurd.
He continued to feign ignorance and laughed, “So she was hoping to collect a birthday gift from me!”
Mr. Yuanjing’s stern expression pierced through Wei Ci’s facade.
“Once February 16 passes, Miss Wu will be thirteen—a proper age for courtship.”
Now that the topic had come this far, it seemed a bit excessive for Wei Ci to keep pretending. He could only force a smile.
“I’ve watched Miss Wu grow up, and being seven or eight years older than her, I’ve always thought of her as a little sister. Why would I entertain such thoughts?”
“I know you live a life of rigorous study, not concerned with worldly matters, but Miss Wu is still young…” Mr. Yuanjing paused, lowering his voice as he asked Wei Ci, “This matter, I would be happy to see it come to fruition if it’s your wish.”
After all, Mr. Yuanjing had seen Wei Ci grow up and understood his temperament. If he could take him as an exceptional son-in-law, it would be perfect. As for his cherished little girl, as a caring father he genuinely wished for her happiness.
Wei Ci was taken aback, and Sanwu, sensing the change in his emotions, patted him with its paw and meowed several times.
“I have no such intentions,” Wei Ci shook his head. “Besides, I don’t want to cause her any trouble.”
In fact, Wei Ci had almost married when he was fifteen.
But when the families exchanged wedding tokens, the girl got scared and withdrew her engagement.
Not only did he face a broken engagement, but his reputation was nearly ruined too.
Now, only true friends were willing to still associate with him, and Wei Ci treasured those friendships dearly.
No matter the family, who would dare marry into the Wei family upon seeing his fate?
Mr. Yuanjing rolled his eyes privately; while Wei Ci’s excuse might fool the ignorant masses, it hardly impressed him.
It was clear that those who believed in fate were bound by it, while those who didn’t felt no such constraint.
Mr. Yuanjing sighed. “Very well, I won’t be the old man stirring up trouble between pairs of lovers.”
Wei Ci’s expression stiffened as if he thought of something, trying to evade the topic.
“Young girls are the most fickle; they quickly fall for certain things, and once they have an alternative, they move on just as fast,” Mr. Yuanjing said with a sigh. “The Flower Festival is coming soon. I’ll have your teacher’s wife find someone for Miss Wu who is as good-looking as you, and I suspect this matter will soon fade away.”
Wei Ci felt a bit embarrassed.
Is it his fault for being handsome?
Shouldn’t this be a matter for his parents?
Nonetheless, Mr. Yuanjing’s position gave Wei Ci some relief.
He had been a bit dishonest; he didn’t see Qing Ning as a sister but as a daughter or granddaughter instead.
Considering the generational issue, he merely adjusted his wording.
After discussing a few matters with Mr. Yuanjing, Wei Ci was approached by the Teacher’s Wife, indicating she had something to discuss with him.
Watching Wei Ci leave with Sanwu in his arms, Mr. Yuanjing fell silent and glanced at a nearby screen in the hall.
“Did you hear everything?”
Qing Ning pouted, her eyes filled with tears, bloodshot with traces of dampness on her cheeks.
“Your father will find you a true good husband, so cast away any unnecessary thoughts. There are plenty of good men in the world. Although not everyone is as good as me, there are still many who are no worse than Zixiao.”
Though Mr. Yuanjing cherished his little daughter, he certainly had his principles.
Only Wei Ci was somewhat troublesome.
“I don’t believe Brother Ci’s fate will bring misfortune to wives and children, or bring disaster to families and friends. I’m not afraid!”
“I’m not afraid either, but if someone else is already in love, what’s the point of clinging onto impossible hopes?”
Upon hearing this, Qing Ning instantly began to cry again.
Father, this is not what we initially agreed upon!
