Chapter 72

You thought he was a beggar, but he turned out to be a handsome young man. You thought he was illiterate, yet he spoke in a way that many couldn’t easily put into writing, with an eloquence that clearly came from deep knowledge. His words flowed out smoothly, unrehearsed, with a cultured, literary vocabulary. He didn’t shy away from his current challenges, nor was he self-conscious about his present hardships. Instead, he faced this new world with hope, seeing opportunities everywhere, convinced that stepping out of the mountains would lead to a promising future.

The traits that stand out in a young person’s character are rarely a product of pure chance. They usually come from a father or a mother. The slightly eccentric streak in Ruan Qing didn’t come from her mother—it was undoubtedly inherited from her father, Ruan Aihua. The Ruan family from Lao Mei Valley seemed to carry certain ancestral traits in their blood. Uncle Qi had them, Ruan Aihua had them, and they had clearly made their way into Ruan Qing.

Ruan Aihua always believed that greatness could come from humble beginnings, especially since his own father had risen from Lao Mei Valley. He admired young people willing to leave the countryside and take on the world. He was nearly moved to cheer after hearing Nian Qi’s speech! Ruan’s mother knew him too well—she could sense his brewing excitement just by the faint tension in his jawline. When Ruan Qing had dated a university student years ago, Ruan’s mother immediately sensed it wouldn’t last, while this foolish man had thought, “It’s great! A rural youth working hard to attend university and change his life!” He had thought, “Such a drive to improve, what’s not to like?”

Ruan’s mother quietly stepped on his foot under the table, smothering his enthusiasm. If Nian Qi came from a simple but stable family, then based on his appearance, demeanor, and personality, she might have been inclined to accept him. But looking past the surface and focusing on practical things, what did he have? He had even less than a rural villager. At least villagers have land and a home base; even if they’re poor, they can build a small house and live self-sufficiently. But he didn’t even have that.

Ruan’s mother smiled, “It’s admirable for young people to have such spirit. As I said, we won’t interfere in your lives. The young have their own lives to live; they should take risks, experience their own ups and downs. It’s a good thing.”

What’s the biggest difference between a child born into a wealthy family and one born into a poor one? The child from a wealthy family has room to make mistakes. Even if they take a wrong path, the family can cover the costs. Wealthy children can afford to rebel and even slack off in school. Once they mature, they can be sent abroad for an education and come back to inherit the family business without worry. But a child from a poor family who rebels and neglects school will grow up to face limited options, often working menial jobs. Even if they later regret it, it’s often too late to change much.

Ruan Qing was lucky to be born into a family that could afford her this kind of “mistake capital.” Her parents had worked hard their entire lives to ensure she had this freedom. So, Ruan’s mother could smile, calm and composed, as she addressed the young couple. Her message of “disapproval” was still unmistakably clear.

But Nian Qi wasn’t greedy. Given his current situation, he already felt grateful that Ruan Qing’s parents hadn’t blown up and thrown him out. All he hoped for today was that they wouldn’t immediately, in a loud show, stand in his way and forbid him from seeing Ruan Qing. That would be enough. One shouldn’t be too greedy. Things he wanted couldn’t be expected to be given by others; he would have to earn them himself.

Ruan Qing wanted to speak up again. Usually, she was quite patient with elders and would stay composed as long as her bottom line wasn’t crossed. With most people, she was quite gentle. Yet, with her own parents, she’d become impulsive. Nian Qi placed his hand over hers, gently stopping her from saying anything rash.

“Thank you, Uncle and Auntie, for your tolerance and understanding,” he said. “I understand the principle that marriage is about sharing in life’s needs. If I can build a stable life and earn a living, I will come and formally propose. But if I find I cannot adapt to this world beyond the mountains, I won’t drag your daughter down with me. You won’t need to say anything—I’ll leave on my own.”

He continued, “There’s no need for empty promises; we have time ahead of us to prove things.”

Ruan’s father glanced at his wife, then at Nian Qi, then back at her, and finally back to him again. Ruan’s mother maintained her polite smile. She didn’t believe in men from poor backgrounds. When Ruan Qing had dated a university beau, she quickly saw through him and was relieved when Ruan Qing herself caught on as well. Otherwise, she would have taken measures to safeguard her daughter’s assets and prevent any “gold-digger” from touching them. Even if Ruan Qing did marry someone unsuitable, her mother was determined not to let any man benefit from her family’s wealth. Having seen her close friends taken advantage of over decades, she firmly believed in financial compatibility in marriage.

“Alright,” she said with a slight increase in volume, “He Jie, is dinner ready?”

From the dining room, the housekeeper answered, “Perfect timing! I was just about to call everyone over.” She had sensed the tense atmosphere and had waited to summon them to the meal.

“Let’s eat,” said Ruan’s father, finally able to free his foot and standing to invite everyone over.

The meal was plentiful and the housekeeper was a skilled cook. “She has a chef’s certificate,” Ruan Qing mentioned as she served some dishes to Nian Qi. He noted that her family lived in quite a lifestyle with staff on call.

If he was serious about marrying her, Nian Qi thought, he needed more than just small gestures like cooking for her. Her family certainly wouldn’t be impressed by that; he really would have to make something of himself. Though he’d mentioned delivery work as a way to get by, he realized now that her parents would never accept a son-in-law with such a job. Just like a wealthy family from Yangzhou wouldn’t marry off their daughter to a server in a tavern, he would have to seriously think about his future income.

Ruan’s father then asked, “Your name—does it appear in the Hundred Family Surnames?”

“It’s not a surname,” Nian Qi replied. “I’m an orphan without a family name; it’s simply my name.” He couldn’t share his real story, so he used a cover about how his “grandfather found him on the twenty-seventh day,” which was close enough.

Ruan’s father asked, “Then, what about when you have children? Will they take on ‘Nian Qi’ as a surname?”

Without hesitation, Nian Qi answered, “They can take their mother’s surname.”

Nian Qi had lived a life marked by a lone, cursed destiny, licking blood off the blade, and known only by his code name. He had no attachment to surnames or bloodlines; surviving each day was all he needed. But when he casually suggested that any future children could take their mother’s surname, he keenly observed the shift in Ruan’s father’s expression. His eyes lit up, though a sideways glance from Ruan’s mother made him hold his tongue. Nian Qi noticed it all.

After dinner, Ruan Qing stood up. “Well, it’s still early, so we could just…”

“Sit down!” Ruan’s mother interrupted with a sharp look. “Just what?”

Ruan Qing lost a bit of her confidence. “If we leave now, we could reach Jiang City before dark, no need to drive at night…”

Ruan’s mother glared at her. Ruan’s father intervened, “Look at you, finally home after all this time, and you won’t even stay over? What, have you stopped needing your parents?” Ruan Qing’s voice trailed off, knowing she was in the wrong.

Ruan’s mother asked, “You want to take him back to Jiang City with you?”

“Yes,” Ruan Qing replied. “Of course, he’s staying with me.”

Their daughter was nearly thirty now, and they were open-minded enough to turn a blind eye to her relationships. Her mother added, “It’s his first time visiting. He should at least stay a couple of days to get acquainted.” Even if marriage wasn’t yet on the table, the boy was likely to be with their daughter for some time, and they needed to get a feel for his character. They’d heard he knew martial arts; if he had any violent tendencies, they’d intervene immediately.

So Nian Qi and Ruan Qing stayed at her parents’ home. The arrangement wasn’t for a single night; they wanted them there for a few days. “You’re on vacation anyway, aren’t you? Show him around, take him out in the city,” they suggested. Taking him around the city—Ruan’s parents thought he should experience more urban life, rather than the mountain outskirts he was likely familiar with.

“Alright then,” Ruan Qing agreed, knowing they’d be staying in separate rooms under her parents’ watchful eyes. Outside, they could do as they liked, but here, they’d be staying on different floors, each in separate guest rooms as her parents arranged.

Ruan’s mother, ever observant, asked her, “Did you just buy him those clothes? They don’t look brand new.” Ruan Qing replied, “No, actually. They’re from… What’s his name? Uncle Xiangyun’s nephew?”

“Little Wei?” her mother asked. “Is he even this tall?”

“No, he’s not,” Ruan Qing replied, glossing over the fit, though Nian Qi looked slightly squeezed into Little Wei’s clothes, which highlighted his physique. She fibbed, “They’re meant to be a loose fit, but it’s a hip-hop style. It fits Nian Qi just right.”

Ruan’s mother said, “Tomorrow, let’s buy him some proper clothes. Today, he can wear your father’s.” Despite her views on marriage, she wasn’t unkind. She arranged for him to wear one of Ruan’s father’s loungewear sets as pajamas.

Returning to her room, she found Ruan Aihua lying in bed, lost in thought.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked.

“Thinking about our daughter’s situation,” he replied, turning off the light as they both settled down.

After a moment of silence in the dark, he muttered, “Actually…”

“She’s willing to let him give up the surname rights, right?” she finished his thought. Decades of marriage made it easy to guess each other’s thoughts.