Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 139 Backing You Up (Part 1)

Wang Xun laughed all day, and his face was a little sore.

Looking at his energetic nephew, Wang Xun couldn't help but sigh: "I, as your uncle, will not support your heavy investment in Miss Pei. But you shouldn't have fallen out with your grandfather and even been expelled from the family. Now that Old Master Shi has adopted Shi Li, the Shi family's business will all fall to the collateral branches."

“If you regret it, there’s still room for negotiation. As your uncle, I’ll step in and mediate, and we can get you back to the Shi family…”

“Uncle,” Shi Yan interrupted Wang Xun, “Now that I’ve left the Shi family, I will never look back.”

Wang Xun frowned: "You really want to be Miss Pei's son-in-law?"

Shi Yan replied frankly, "Yes. My grandfather insists that I marry and have children to carry on the Shi family line. I admire Miss Pei Liu and want to follow her. You can't have your cake and eat it too. I have made my choice. No matter what the outcome is in the future, I will never regret it."

Wang Xun was startled again: "What do you mean by that? You've gone to such lengths, does it mean that Miss Pei still won't accept you as her son-in-law?"

Shi Yan patiently explained, "I came here seeking refuge, and the Sixth Miss entrusted me with the management of the money and grain storehouse, showing me trust and respect. As for matters of the heart, they cannot be judged by that. The Sixth Miss has lofty ambitions and her aspirations are not in matters of love. Perhaps one day she will find a son-in-law to marry into the family, and I will have my chance."

"What if the Sixth Miss doesn't want a son-in-law?" Wang Xun pressed.

Shi Yan said, "Then I will continue to follow her."

Just like fireflies chasing after light.

Wang Xun's expression was complicated. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Your mother was a romantic, but you are even more so."

After Shi Yan's father passed away, his mother fell seriously ill and also passed away. Wang Xun was heartbroken by his sister's early death and always took good care of his nephew.

Shi Yan also respected and was close to Wang Xun, and said with a low smile, "Uncle, you don't need to worry about me. I'm doing very well here, and I'm happy every day."

What else could Wang Xun say? He could only sigh, "Fine! You've always been headstrong since you were little. I can't stop you from doing what you want. If you ever need the Wang family's help in the future, just ask. Don't be shy."

Shi Yan smiled and said, "My uncle's personal visit to Pei Family Village has already been a great help to me."

Wang Xun understood immediately and laughed: "I'll set an example for the wealthy families in Youzhou first. And I'll also give you some support."

This joke was rather poignant.

Marriage between men and women is the proper way. But the Pei family doesn't follow this custom; they take all the women into their family as sons-in-law. If Shi Yan had someone else in his heart, there might have been a chance for him to marry into the family, but the woman he admires is Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe quelled bandits, recruited refugees to train an army, and occupied Changping and Anle counties. Quanzhou and Yongnu counties also sent generous gifts seeking protection. With such ambition, how could she possibly marry into the Shi family?
Shi Yan has already been delivered to our door, but it still depends on what the Sixth Miss likes!
The old master was still angry, and as his uncle, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Shi Yan felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "My uncle is so good to me, and I, as his nephew, have no way to repay him. I am truly ashamed."

Wang Xun glanced at his nephew: "I wanted to strengthen our family ties by making you a son-in-law of the Wang family, but you refused."

Shi Yan replied solemnly, “My cousin and I are as close as siblings. If I were to marry her, I would be ruining her life. My cousin Shi Li has always admired my cousin. If the Wang family is willing to form a marriage alliance with the Shi family, I, your uncle, can agree to the marriage. If my cousin is unwilling, I, your uncle, should not force her. Marriage is a lifelong commitment and cannot be settled casually.”

Wang Xun glanced at her again: "Your grandfather did indeed come to propose marriage, but I'm still considering it. I'll give you an answer in a few days."

Therefore, Wang Xun specially brought Wang Mengyi to Peijia Village, hoping to give Shi Yan one last chance to turn back.

Shi Yan was deeply moved. He grasped Wang Xun's hand and solemnly said, "I will definitely take good care of my uncle from now on."

Wang Xun sighed: "Stop using your uncle as an example. Just let the Wang family bleed themselves dry."

Shi Yan grinned and said, "As expected, my uncle understands me best."

After exchanging a few jokes, Wang Xun said, "Mengyi wants to speak with you alone for a few minutes. You wait here." Shi Yan nodded.

After Wang Xun left, his cousin Wang Mengyi arrived.

The two cousins ​​sat quietly facing each other, their eyes locked.

Wang Mengyi looked at Shi Yan quietly for a long time before speaking: "My father originally forbade me to come, but I insisted on coming to ask you in person."

"Cousin, if it weren't for Miss Pei, would you have married me?"

Shi Yan replied gently, "Cousin, there are no 'what ifs' in this world."

From the moment he met Pei Qinghe, no one else came into his eyes.

Wang Mengyi felt a lump in her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes. She turned her head to the side, and after a moment, she turned back, her pretty face now calm: "When you achieve great success in the future, cousin, don't forget to help the Wang family."

Without saying a word, Shi Yan nodded in agreement.

Wang Mengyi added, "I will not agree to this marriage proposal from the Shi family."

"My cousin is unwilling to settle, and so am I."

Shi Yan said with some regret, "It's Shi Li who's not lucky."

Wang Mengyi felt a little better: "Why doesn't my cousin persuade me to marry Shi Li? Shi Li is handsome, healthy, and of good character. He is also the young master of the Shi family. He is good enough for me."

"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You should marry someone you love." Shi Yan said softly, "Shi Li is a good man, but if you don't like him, how can you marry him?"

A thin layer of tears welled up in Wang Mengyi's eyes again: "If I marry Shi Li, the Wang family and the Shi family will be of one mind, advancing and retreating together, and I will always be your support. Aren't you going to try to dissuade me?"

Shi Yan looked at Wang Mengyi and said, "Cousin, I hope you and your loved one will grow old together and live a happy and peaceful life."

Wang Mengyi held back her tears and whispered, "I've said everything I wanted to say. Cousin, you should go back now!"

Shi Yan had no choice but to get up and leave.

The tears that Wang Mengyi had been holding back finally fell.

Wang Xun quietly entered, looking at her daughter who was silently shedding tears, and felt quite sorry for her: "Don't cry. That scoundrel Shi Yan is blind. He doesn't know how to cherish such a good girl like you. He'll regret it later."

Wang Mengyi cried, "He gave up his family business and was willing to become a live-in son-in-law for the sake of the Sixth Miss. His heart and eyes are full of the Sixth Miss, how could he regret it?"

Wang Xun sighed helplessly: "You know everything in your heart, so why are you still so sad?"

Wang Mengyi covered her face with her sleeve and continued to sob. Wang Xun could only stay by her side, constantly handing her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Wang Mengyi cried until she had soaked several handkerchiefs, but finally calmed down and said, "Father, after we go back, let's agree to the marriage proposal from the Shi family!"

"I had already thought it through before I came. If my cousin kept urging me to marry Shi Li, I would refuse the marriage. But if my cousin was willing to consider my feelings, I would agree to the marriage."

"Although my cousin doesn't love me, he treats me like a younger sister. I have no regrets."

“Shi Li respects and loves me, and I am willing to marry him.”

(End of this chapter)