Chapter 164

After Cui Fei’s “tongue twister,” even those young men who had gone with him to the Fragrance Temple, including Lao Buyu, were puzzled.

Just then, Shen Cui came over to bring them some snacks. She listened for a moment and then smiled, asking, “Did you meet Miss Sun at the Temple?”

With just this sentence, everyone understood what was going on.

They hadn’t expected such a coincidence, and they hadn’t even looked at the love notes, so they hadn’t figured out the situation earlier.

But Shen Cui knew that this world is like a book, and coincidences are essential for a good story.

Anything is possible, so she guessed it.

Blushing, Cui Fei nodded and, with newfound courage, explained everything to everyone.

So it’s no wonder Cui Fei didn’t recognize Miss Sun. First, because the two of them had never formally met—Mr. Cui his Grandfather took him to the Sun family as a guest to let him see Miss Sun behind a screen, and he behaved properly, not looking around.

Second, of course, is because the Miss Sun he had in mind was quiet and gentle, not like the one he saw today.

But what made him happy was that Cui Fei didn’t think there was anything wrong with Miss Sun’s behavior, otherwise he wouldn’t be laughing foolishly like this.

After listening to today’s events, Shen Cui also felt that a girl with a slightly stronger personality like Miss Sun was a good match for Cui Fei, who was overly gentle—men marrying wives certainly wouldn’t want their wives to be better than them in any way, but Cui Fei was not that kind of person.

Their personalities could complement each other.

Moreover, listening to Cui Fei’s description today, although Miss Sun had been teasing him for being silly, her behavior as a girl showed that she was quite fond of him.

This was also a rare and good marriage in a wealthy family like theirs, where both sides were well-matched and in love.

Before the New Year, the Cui and Sun families arranged a formal meeting.

Such meetings usually took place in a garden or temple as a “coincidence.” Since the two had really met by chance at the temple, this time it was arranged in the garden.

The date was set in the twelfth month, when Cui Fei was still staying at Cui Wei and hadn’t gone home for the New Year yet.

Cui Wu Niang sent a letter explaining the time and place, asking him to go directly from the academy—after all, it was a “coincidental” meeting of their young men and women, and the adults from both families would not be present.

Cui Fei was at a loss, holding the letter, completely unsure of how to go there alone.

He was in a dilemma, and he couldn’t hide it, so Mu Er Pang and the others naturally asked about it.

Cui Fei explained the situation, and Shen Cui and Lao Buyu couldn’t help but laugh, while only Mu Er Pang asked in confusion, “Isn’t the garden near our academy? It’s only a quarter of an hour’s walk, and Ah Fei and Miss Sun have already met, right? They’re about to be engaged, not strangers. Why is Ah Fei in trouble?”

Shen Cui helplessly covered his mouth. “Can you say a little less? They’re about to get married, so that’s why your brother Fei is in trouble.”

Cui Fei felt that his performance in front of his fiancee last time was not good, so letting him go alone to meet her made him even more uncertain.

“Or let someone from our academy accompany you?” Shen Cui tentatively suggested. “The elders won’t be there, so it should be okay for peers?”

Cui Fei nodded. “My sister also said that Miss Sun is going with her sisters.”

Shen Cui nodded, and the next question was who would accompany Cui Fei.

It was impossible for everyone to go, as a group of six would be too conspicuous.

Wei Shu and Wei Xi were ruled out first. The two brothers had been talented since they were young, and now they were handsome and well-built.

Although Cui Fei and Miss Sun were in love, there was no need to worry about the awkward situation of being noticed by the other party during the blind date, but Cui Fei was the protagonist after all, and they couldn’t let someone steal his limelight.

Shen Aoshuang was also not suitable. After leaving the academy, his senses would gradually diminish, so going to such a strange garden, he would need to be taken care of.

They all knew their own situations, so they didn’t suggest going.

That left only Mei Ruochu and Mu Er Pang.

Mei Ruochu had a good temperament, but he was only considered handsome, not outstandingly so. It was not like letting him go to write poetry or prose, so they weren’t worried he would overshadow Cui Fei.

Moreover, he was the most calm and methodical among the students, and with him there, it was like having a half-elder accompanying him, which would put Cui Fei’s mind at ease.

Mu Er Pang was even more convenient.

He still had a childish look on his face and was completely like a semi-adolescent.

After it was decided, the three of them set out on the agreed day.

Cui Fei had dressed carefully.

Previously, in the academy or the prefectural school, some students were rich and some were poor, so he didn’t want to stand out too much.

His daily attire was mostly a thin cotton scholar’s robe.

Today, he changed into a new royal blue silk-lined jacket made by Cui Wu Niang for him.

With his weight now down to 85kg, he looked slightly more robust than ordinary people.

Mu Er Pang and Mei Ruochu naturally dressed as usual, willingly being his accompaniment.

These days the snow had stopped, so traveling was no longer difficult.

Although there were no unusual sights in the garden, there were quite a few people visiting.

Cui Fei arrived at the appointed tree and waited.

It didn’t take long for him to see Miss Sun coming with her two sisters.

Cui Fei had been mentally preparing for a long time, and with someone accompanying him, he thought he had adjusted his mindset.

But when he saw Miss Sun, he was still a bit stunned, just staring at her blankly as he bowed.

Miss Sun returned the gesture with a slight bow.

Since they had “coincidentally” met, the two of them could now stroll through the garden alone.

“Do you finally know who I am this time? Can’t you take a stroll with me unless I tell you?” Miss Sun smiled when she saw him, then continued, “But after I went back last time, the maids told my mother about it. My mother said I was the one, that you didn’t recognize me, which shows that you were very proper when you came to my house, not peeking around. It was me who shouldn’t have recognized you but didn’t point it out, just teasing you in front of everyone. In the end, it was the maid who couldn’t bear to see it anymore and reminded you. It was really my fault. I apologize to you.”

She spoke as she bowed to Cui Fei, who tried to stop her from apologizing while saying, “No need,” subconsciously reaching out to stop her.

As his hand extended, Cui Fei realized it was inappropriate and quickly stopped himself, saying, “No need, it’s my own lack of cleverness. How can I blame you?”

“I heard you became a scholar at fifteen or sixteen, isn’t that clever?”

Cui Fei nodded. “It depends on who you compare me to. Compared to my classmates in the academy where I am now, my talent is really average.”

“You’re too modest. Although there are not many brothers in my family, there are also several who study. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, none of them have passed the perfectural examinations.”

Cui Fei reiterated, “Really, all my classmates in the academy are exceptional talents…”

As the second in command of Cui Wei’s propaganda, when it came to Cui Wei, he really went on and on.

Unknowingly, he talked for almost half an hour by himself, and when he realized it, he regretted it deeply. “I shouldn’t have kept talking like this. Did I bore you?”

Miss Sun said she wasn’t bored. “In the past, I rarely left home, rarely saw people or heard things outside. What you said was all new and interesting to me.”

“Then in the future, you can also come out more and see more as you wish.”

“Really?” Miss Sun’s eyes sparkled even more. “I can come out more in the future?”

Cui Fei nodded with a smile. “I’ll still be in the academy in the future. Are you bored at home alone? You can come out with my sister more often.”

Miss Sun laughed heartily.

With her appearance and family background, she was naturally not worried about getting married.

As early as when she had just turned twelve, countless matchmakers had come to their door.

But her family loved her and wanted to keep her a little longer.

Until two years ago, when she had her own ideas, she didn’t like ordinary families.

Until the Cui family also sent a matchmaker, although the Cui family was not considered a wealthy merchant family in the capital, they were well known for Cui Wuniang, who succeeded as the head of the family as a woman.

Some people might think that Cui Wuniang became the head of the family because the men in the Cui family were not competent enough.

But Miss Sun didn’t think so. She thought it must be because Cui Wuniang was exceptionally outstanding, and the family style of the Cui family must also be very open-minded.

Before she got to know Cui Fei in person, what Miss Sun valued most was this.

However, now it seems that Miss Sun’s thoughts have changed a bit, and she seems to value something else more.

“Last time you saw me being rude, didn’t you think I was too fierce? My family often says that my temperament won’t please my future husband, and they ask me to be more restrained in the future. The letter I wrote to you before was also changed and changed by my mother, and the tone is not like me at all.” Miss Sun was still smiling, but if you looked closely, you would see a hint of nervousness and unease in her eyes.

Cui Fei naturally said no, but he was not good at sweet talk. He just said seriously, “You are very good as you are, there is no need to change or restrain yourself.”

Her smile then became even more beautiful, and she turned her head and asked, “We keep talking about the future, but when exactly is the future?”

Cui Fei continued, “Naturally, it’s our wedding…”

At this point, he suddenly stopped, realizing that Miss Sun was teasing him again.

His face flushed, like a ripe persimmon.

The garden was not big, and Cui Fei had been with Miss Sun for less than half an hour when they had already finished walking around.

Since they were not yet married, it was not convenient to stay longer, so they parted ways and went to find their respective companions.

After they returned, the Cui and Sun families began the process of the Three Letters and Six Etiquettes, finally setting the wedding date for that summer.

The Sun family originally wanted to keep Miss Sun for a while longer, preferably until she was eighteen before letting her out.

However, the provincial exam would be held in a year and a half, so the Cui family naturally hoped to get married earlier, so that Cui Fei could focus on studying after one year.

There was a disagreement between the two sides on this matter, but in the end, Miss Sun persuaded the elders in her family, saying, “Marriage is important, but isn’t the provincial exam also important? If he can focus on studying for the exam, it will be good for him, for me, and for our family. Besides, Sister Wuniang also said that I can come back to visit my family often after marriage.”

Finally, the elders in the Sun family agreed to set the wedding date.

This was another thing that refreshed Cui Fei’s understanding.

Miss Sun was not only lively and likable in character, but also had her own opinions.

He made up his mind that he would be good to her in the future and would work even harder in his studies, so as not to disappoint her hopes.