NOVEL NEXT Chapter 59: Quick Decision
Chapter 59: Quick Decision
Xu Lian suddenly remembered something and said, “My first wife and I have a deep bond. She followed me through my difficult times, and her place as the main wife will never be shaken. Zhaoxi is also the legitimate daughter of the Pei family, and I don’t want to make her feel slighted. I plan to have Zhaoxi live separately in her own household. What do you think, father-in-law?”
Pei’s family head waved his hand and smiled, “These are small matters. Didn’t I already give Zhaoxi thirty houses as her dowry? You two can live wherever you want.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, “A capable man can open several households. It’s a good thing, really. It allows one to support more women, contributing to Green Bamboo Town, and adds some variety to life. For example, I have several small households outside and support some women who catch my eye. When I get bored staying at the Pei family compound, I sometimes go to one of these households to experience life. It’s quite refreshing.”
Pei Heng’s eyes widened in shock… He had no idea that his father had small households outside.
Seeing Pei Heng’s reaction, Xu Lian couldn’t help but smile. He remembered the saying: You can never understand your father’s joy.
Pei Heng began to think, If both Father and Xu Lian have small households, why shouldn’t I? I need to secretly get a few for myself as well… It’s the trend!
Pei Zhaoxi’s emotions were a mixture of joy and complexity. She was happy that the marriage agreement had been annulled, and with her family’s approval, she could finally be with Xu Lian. But it was also a bittersweet moment, as from now on, she would be entirely Xu Lian’s woman, losing the carefree life of being the Pei family’s legitimate daughter.
Xu Lian noticed the change in her mindset, from that of a young girl to a woman taking on the responsibilities of a wife. He took her hand gently and spoke softly, “Zhaoxi, don’t be afraid. You are who you are now and you will always be the same. I will always treat you well.”
Pei Zhaoxi looked at him with reddened eyes and said, “But you didn’t treat me well before!”
Xu Lian’s heart ached, and he gently pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head slightly to look seriously into her eyes. “Things are different now. You are completely my wife, and I will treat you well, I promise.”
Not yet accustomed to Xu Lian’s sudden tenderness, Pei Zhaoxi couldn’t hold back her tears. She buried her head in his chest, hitting him softly. “You have to treat me like this from now on, no more bullying me.”
Xu Lian understood that this was a crucial moment to increase her affection, so he showered her with sweet words, telling her exactly what she wanted to hear.
Of course, aside from improving her feelings, Xu Lian did like her. Aside from her occasional temper, she didn’t have many major flaws.
While Xu Lian and Zhaoxi were exchanging sweet words, Pei’s family head and Pei Heng were both confused. When did Xu Lian and Zhaoxi become so close?
The Pei family members quickly prepared some wild game and went down the mountain to cook and enjoy a barbecue.
Although it was labeled as a hunt by the three major families, it was more of a social gathering. They hadn’t expected it to end in such an awkward way.
Pei’s family patriarch and Pei Heng were both in high spirits. They were fully aware of Xu Lian’s connection to the Quarry Patrol Inspector, and they had come to an agreement regarding the marriage, which would greatly benefit the Pei family.
Even though their relationship with the Fang family had soured, they were not worried. As one of the three big families, the Pei family had no fear of the Fang family.
At noon, Xu Lian and the Pei family returned to their estate.
The Pei family prepared a barbecue with the wild game they had caught, and they all ate together.
During the meal, Xu Lian was warmly welcomed and became the center of attention.
After lunch…
The Pei family began to prepare the dowry in earnest. The Pei family estate had everything they needed, so the preparations were convenient. They also spread the word that Xu Lian would marry Pei Zhaoxi, the legitimate daughter of the Pei family.
As expected, this caused an uproar throughout Green Bamboo Town!
Xu Lian quickly became a “legendary figure” in the eyes of the common people. From a stone mover to a stone hauler, then to an assistant manager at a mine, and finally to the manager of his own mining operation, he had risen through the ranks. Now he was marrying the daughter of one of the three major families, Pei Zhaoxi. Such a dramatic rise in status was bound to resonate with the people.
In just one afternoon, the common folk had already started referring to the three major families of Green Bamboo Town as the “Four Major Families,” adding the Xu family to the list.
In the evening, adorned with a large red flower and riding a majestic steed, Xu Lian slowly made his way out of the Pei family estate. Behind him, a large bridal sedan was being carried by eight bearers, with Pei Zhaoxi sitting inside, her face covered with a red veil.
Following the sedan were numerous carts filled with dowry, stretching so far that it seemed like a long dragon. The carts carried thirty shops, thirty houses, deeds for three thousand acres of land, three thousand taels of gold, thirty thousand taels of silver, thirty carts of food, and thirty carts of various gifts, including wedding sweets, cakes, and pastries.
Behind them came the maids, nurses, servants, and attendants-each team of guards on horseback patrolling to keep order.
This was truly a grand procession, the “Ten Mile Red Wedding.”
The usual wedding customs such as ceremony and banquet were absent in Green Bamboo Town. Even the weddings of the big families had to be done quickly because they only had a short window in the evening. During the day, the bride’s attendants could not go out, and at night, the night patrol had to be taken into account, so the weddings were done quickly in the evening.
Xu Lian had the privilege of holding a purple jade token, allowing him to make the wedding a little more elaborate, but in truth, weddings among the major families followed this hurried tradition, and he saw no need to change it. He just followed the local customs.
“Congratulations to Manager Xu and Miss Pei on their wedding!”
“I wish you a prosperous and happy future!”
As Xu Lian’s procession entered the city, countless people of all ages, carrying baskets and buckets, surged forward like a black tide, shouting words of congratulations, their faces gaunt and emaciated, their eyes filled with excitement. This was a momentous day for the people of Green Bamboo Town-not just the wedding of Xu Lian and Pei Zhaoxi, but also a rare occasion when the town’s major families would distribute generous gifts.
“Distribute them!” Xu Lian waved his hand.
The Pei family’s servants began throwing sweets, pastries, and wedding cakes into the crowd. Despite thirty carts of wedding goodies, they were still not enough for such a large crowd.
Xu Lian sighed inwardly. The world was such that he could only do so much. “Distribute thirty carts of grain also,” he added.
“Is that appropriate?” One of the older attendants who had accompanied the dowry hesitated. “What if they get the grain and stop working?”
Xu Lian calmly replied, “With so many people, thirty carts of grain can only feed them for a meal. They can’t stop working. Give it out.”
“Understood.” The elderly attendant dared not argue further.
The grain was distributed to ensure that every household received some. After that, a few greedy individuals stayed behind, hoping to get some silver. The people’s desires were never satisfied.
“Kill them,” Xu Lian said in a flat tone.
The Pei family guards immediately drew their swords, scaring the would-be opportunists into fleeing. The crowd quickly dispersed.
“Zhaoxi, do you prefer to live at the edge of the street, in the middle, or further out?” Xu Lian rode up to the bridal sedan and asked Pei Zhaoxi. As part of her dowry, there were thirty houses, and they could live in any of them within the town.
Since they had not even decided where they were going to live, they had rushed the wedding.
From inside the sedan, Pei Zhaoxi’s voice came out, a bit petulant, “I don’t want to live in the city. I want to build a mansion outside, with a good view, like the Pei family estate.”
Her spoiled nature was showing again. Xu Lian replied, “This is a hasty marriage. We haven’t had time to build our own mansion yet, so you’ll have to make do with staying in the city for a while.”
Pei Zhaoxi sighed, “Then just pick a big house for us to live in.”
Xu Lian thought for a moment. With so many people accompanying her, they needed a large house. He chose the biggest house at the edge of the street for them to temporarily settle in.