For the next two days, Xiao Anlan didn’t visit but still had pastries delivered daily to the Yu family.

That afternoon, their driver, Old Wang, delivered the pastries again.

Madam Yu invited him in to rest for a while, and after he left, she summoned Yu Wanru to the front hall.

Yu Wanru arrived, clutching a newly acquired travelogue, reluctant to put it down.

Seeing this, Madam Yu smiled, “If it were a few decades ago and you were a boy, your father would have sent you to the capital to take the imperial exam.”

Yu Wanru smiled shyly.

Madam Yu had her sit down, took the book from her hand, flipped through it, and asked, “Did Anlan send this a few days ago?”

Yu Wanru nodded gently.

Madam Yu said, “Anlan is a good kid. Even though he hasn’t visited in the past couple of days, he’s still sent pastries every day. He’s serious about this engagement. I asked the Xiao family’s driver, and he said Anlan has been engrossed in a book at home or the restaurant these past two days. He must be busy with something important, but he’ll come to see you once he’s free.”

Yu Wanru nodded again and softly said, “I understand, Mother.”

If not for the engagement arranged by the old master, their family wouldn’t have matched the Xiao family.

Moreover, with the Sun family’s growing power, Young Master Xiao’s willingness to marry her was already a great favor. She felt only gratitude toward him, not resentment.

Madam Yu, pleased, looked at the pastries on the table and added, “Since Anlan keeps sending gifts, we should reciprocate. Aunt An makes excellent walnut pastries. I’ll have her make some to send to the Xiao family. What do you think?”

Yu Wanru said, “I’ll leave it to you, Mother.”

Madam Yu instructed Aunt An to prepare the pastries.

Just as the pastries were being delivered, the matchmaker from the Xiao family arrived.

Surprised and delighted, Madam Yu quickly had her invited in.

Yu Wanru discreetly retreated back to her room.

After about half an hour, Madam Yu came to Yu Wanru’s room with a look of joy on her face. She sent Han Qing away, and then mother and daughter talked privately.

Madam Yu said, “The Xiao family sent a matchmaker to collect your birthdate and horoscope. Although our marriage arrangement with the Xiao family is already set, we still need to follow the proper procedures. These things will move quickly. I estimate that in a few days, the Xiao family will come to formally propose.”

She sighed with a hint of melancholy, “I can’t believe my Wanru is already at the age to be married.”

Yu Wanru tightly clutched the book in her hand and hesitated before asking, “Mother, what should I do?”

Madam Yu shook her head, gently touched her daughter’s face, and said, “You just need to prepare for your marriage. Your father and I have already prepared your dowry.”

Yu Wanru quietly lowered her head, feeling a bit lost.

Madam Yu continued, “But in the meantime, don’t just stay in your room reading. Come to the front and learn how to manage the household with me.”

“Alright,” Yu Wanru agreed.

Not long after, the person sent to deliver the walnut pastries to the Xiao family returned with a few gifts in return, mostly novelty foods, which were not too extravagant. Madam Yu was relieved.

In the evening, when Xiao Anlan returned home, the Xiao family was sitting in the garden, chatting and enjoying the cool air. Madam Xiao asked, “Have you eaten dinner? The kitchen has saved some food for you.”

Xiao Anlan replied, “I’ve eaten. I had some drinks with Zhou Sheng.”

Xiao Anqi, with her short legs, ran over and hugged his leg, looking up and saying, “gege, the cook at sister-in-law’s house makes great pastries. Can you ask her to send more?”

Xiao Anlan picked her up and walked over to the rest of the family, puzzled, “What pastries?”

Xiao Anhui waved the last walnut pastry in her hand and teased, “This one. The Yu family sent it this afternoon. This is the last one, Ge, you’re out of luck.”

Xiao Anlan glared at her and playfully scolded, “You ungrateful little ones. I won’t bring you any more treats.”

Xiao Anqi quickly dug into her pocket, reluctantly producing a crushed walnut pastry, “gege, this is for you.”

Xiao Anlan looked at the crumbs and laughed helplessly, “Alright, Anqi is very good. You can eat it yourself. I’ll go to sister-in-law’s house to eat tomorrow.”

Xiao Anqi’s eyes lit up with anticipation, “gege, can I go see sister-in-law too? I’ll be very good.”

“Uh…” Xiao Anlan looked to Madam Xiao for help.

The fourth concubine quickly said, “No need to humor her, Anlan. She’s just a child, always saying things on a whim. Anqi, come down now.”

“No, no! I want to go gege to see sister-in-law. Please take me!” Xiao Anqi clung to Xiao Anlan, acting spoiled.

Madam Xiao waved her hand, “Just take Anqi with you. Who knows, maybe Wanru will agree to go out with you because of her.”

Xiao Anlan resignedly shook his head. How could he expect his mother to be on his side? She had always favored the daughters more, even though he was her biological son.

…. 

The next day, when Xiao Anlan visited the Yu family, he had a little tail following him.

As soon as Xiao Anqi saw Yu Wanru, she quickly slid down from her brother and ran over to her, clinging to her side.

She was quite chubby and wobbled as she ran, making people worry she might fall at any moment.

Yu Wanru instinctively reached out to steady her.

Xiao Anqi leaned into her arms, looking up with big eyes and a sweet voice, “Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful. No wonder gege likes you. I like you too!”

Yu Wanru didn’t know what to say and glanced at Xiao Anlan.

He coughed lightly, looking away awkwardly.

Yu Wanru squatted down to be at eye level with Xiao Anqi and gently asked, “Your name is Anqi? What a nice name. How old are you?”

Proudly, Xiao Anqi puffed out her chest and counted on her short, chubby fingers, “I’m four years old!”

Yu Wanru chuckled and patted her head, “Anqi is amazing.”

Xiao Anqi eagerly asked, “Sister-in-law, do you have more walnut pastries at home?”

Slightly taken aback, Yu Wanru quickly understood and nodded, “Yes, we have plenty. Anqi, wait here, and I’ll have some brought over.”

She instructed Han Qing to fetch some walnut pastries and sour plum juice from the kitchen.

Xiao Anlan walked over, pinching Xiao Anqi’s chubby cheeks, teasing, “Little glutton.”

Xiao Anqi covered her face, “gege, don’t pinch! It’ll make my face bigger, and I’ll become ugly.”

Xiao Anlan chuckled and used both hands to pinch her cheeks even more.

Unable to escape his teasing, Xiao Anqi turned to Yu Wanru for help, “Sister-in-law, save me! Save me!”

Yu Wanru, feeling sorry for her, softly said, “Young Master Xiao, children’s skin is delicate. Please don’t pinch her anymore.”

Xiao Anlan let go, and Xiao Anqi immediately ran behind Yu Wanru, peeking out to glare at her brother in accusation.

Yu Wanru patted her face and looked at Xiao Anlan with a hint of playful reproach in her eyes.

Xiao Anlan gave a sheepish smile.

Just then, Han Qing returned with a tray. Yu Wanru led Xiao Anqi to the table, personally giving her a walnut pastry and pouring her a cup of sour plum juice.

Xiao Anqi beamed, “Thank you, sister-in-law!”

Yu Wanru wanted to correct her but saw Xiao Anlan watching intently. She couldn’t bring herself to say it, so she accepted it quietly.

While Xiao Anqi enjoyed her snacks, Xiao Anlan sat nearby and struck up a conversation with Yu Wanru.

“What have you been doing at home these days? Have you been out?”

Yu Wanru gently shook her head, wiping crumbs from Xiao Anqi’s mouth with a handkerchief, “Just reading the books you sent.”

Xiao Anlan’s eyes lit up, “I’ve been reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms lately. Have you read it?”

“I read it three years ago. I plan to reread it soon,” Yu Wanru replied.

Xiao Anlan mentally calculated. Wanru was sixteen, meaning she read Three Kingdoms at thirteen. He, at twenty-four, had only just started reading it and hadn’t finished.

He suddenly regretted bringing up the topic, feeling like he’d just embarrassed himself.

Seeing Xiao Anqi happily eating, Xiao Anlan remembered his mother’s words from last night. He had an idea, “Wanru, how about we take Anqi to the riding grounds later?”

Having never been to such a place, Yu Wanru instinctively wanted to decline.

But Xiao Anqi cheered, “Yes! Let’s go ride horses with sister-in-law!”

Seeing her sparkling eyes, Yu Wanru couldn’t refuse.

Xiao Anlan gave Xiao Anqi an approving glance. This little glutton finally proved useful, making all those times he spoiled her worthwhile.