Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

The Xu family came to visit the next day. Several oxcarts were parked outside the Chen family's courtyard gate, and the boxes on the carts were all tied with red silk. They were being unloaded one by one.

Xu Yun brought the matchmaker in. Granny Chen and Madam Hu were sitting in the main room. Chen Xiaoxiao was called out and sat at the lower end of the table, her head slightly lowered, dressed in old, casual clothes.

Xu Yun first bowed to Granny Chen and Madam Hu before explaining his purpose: "Aunt Chen, Grandma Chen, the Xu family has come today to settle the matter of the past two days. I, Xu Yun, am not capable, but I cannot allow the Second Miss's reputation to be ruined for nothing. I wish to marry Xiaoxiao, and I ask if you are willing. If you are, my Xu family will come to fetch the bride in three days. The betrothal gifts, wedding customs, and the traditional matchmaking will all be complete, and even more so than before."

Granny Chen did not respond immediately. She looked at Xu Yun and saw that although he was young, he spoke frankly and without hesitation.

She called Chen Xiaoxiao over: "Xiaoxiao, what do you say?"

Chen Xiaoxiao looked up at Xu Yun, who was also looking at her with a calm and gentle gaze. She said softly, "I do."

Granny Chen nodded: "Then let's set it for three days from now. The Xu family will follow the rules, and my Chen family will not wrong Xiaoxiao. It is her own good fortune to have you value her so much."

When the news reached Chen Sumei, she was sitting in front of her dressing table picking out earrings.

When Madam Hu pushed open the door, she only said that the Xu family had come to offer betrothal gifts to Xiaoxiao. The wedding would be held in three days, and the betrothal gifts would be more than before.

The earring in Chen Sumei's hand fell to the table with a thud. She stood up abruptly: "He really wants to marry Xiaoxiao? In three days?"

Hu said, "Didn't you ask for this yourself? What, you don't believe it anymore?" Chen Sumei's face turned ashen, and she bit her lip without saying a word.

Hu ignored her and turned to leave. Chen Sumei sat alone in the room, listening to the sounds of the betrothal gifts being moved outside. She felt as if a burning coal was stuck in her chest, both painful and congested.

She slowly walked to the door and pushed it open a crack. Red silk fluttered in the courtyard, and chests of betrothal gifts were piled up like small mountains. Xu Yun stood in the sunlight, talking to Granny Chen, his smile gentle and distant.

He seemed to sense something and suddenly glanced in her direction. That glance was so quick, yet it sent a chill down Chen Sumei's spine.

That look had a chilling indifference, as if to say: What you don't care about, someone else does.

Three days later, the Xu family held a wedding procession.

When the Chen family got married, several households from the end of the village came to help. Zhang, along with Xiao Fang and Qing Ye, went there early in the morning. Aunt Wang was steaming wedding cakes in the kitchen, Shen was helping to set up the tables and chairs, and Widow Sun was sweeping the floor and laying out red paper with several children.

As the bride, her head veiled, was helped out, Aunt Wang exclaimed "Huh?" and nudged Shen with her elbow: "Isn't this Xiaoxiao? Why isn't it Sumei getting married?"

Shen was also stunned. She shook her head, pulled her aside and whispered, "The one the Xu family came to marry seems to be Xiaoxiao." Several women craned their necks to look. Someone went to ask Hu, who stammered that it was arranged by both families.

Jiang Xing, standing to the side, was also somewhat surprised, and looked towards Zhang's direction.

Finding a moment, Zhang pulled her behind the kitchen and, in a low voice, briefly explained the matter.

After listening, Jiang Xing only said, "Chen Sumei is hopeless."

Zhang sighed, "That's right, Xiaoxiao is also unfortunate to have such an older sister."

"Life may have been tough in the past, but things may not be so in the future," Jiang Xing said.

Chen Xiaoxiao sat in the room, and the matchmaker did her makeup.

Today she is wearing a bright red wedding dress sent by the Xu family. The fabric is of the finest quality, and the cuffs and collar are embroidered with lotus patterns.

Her hair was neatly combed and adorned with two gold hairpins given to her by the Xu family.

The matchmaker praised, "The second daughter is so beautiful," to which Chen Xiaoxiao simply chuckled softly and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

When Xu Yun led his wedding procession to the door, a large crowd had already gathered on the village road.

He rode on horseback, wearing a deep red wedding robe with a large silk flower on his chest, which made him look more spirited.

Behind them, a band of musicians played their instruments with great effort, while several mule carts carrying betrothal gifts, tied with red silk ribbons, shone brightly in the morning light.

Granny Chen stood at the door, nodded to Xu Yun, and then turned around to send someone to invite the bride.

When Chen Xiaoxiao was helped out by the matchmaker, Xu Yun dismounted, stepped forward, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'll hold your hand." Chen Xiaoxiao's head was covered by a veil, so she couldn't see anything. She just followed his voice and put her hand in his palm.

Chen Sumei stood at the door of her house, her wedding dress so bright red it was almost blinding. The betrothal gifts were much more than when she was engaged. The sound of the suona horn flooded her ears like a tidal wave.

She saw Xu Yun holding Chen Xiaoxiao's hand, and then she saw the matchmaker shout "Lift the sedan chair!" Immediately afterwards, firecrackers crackled and popped.

She finally couldn't resist and flung the door open. All the red ribbons and smiling faces in the courtyard rushed toward her, but she only felt a chill run through her body.

Xu Yun's wedding was exceptionally grand, as if he was doing it on purpose to impress someone. The wedding procession was accompanied by deafening music, and several extra tables were set up for the banquet.

He also specially sent invitations to Su Yan and Xu Wanning.

Su Yan was stunned for a moment when he received the invitation, then said to Xu Wanning, "Brother Xu really married the second daughter of the Chen family." Xu Wanning was also surprised: "The one who fell into the water at the literary gathering the other day?"

Su Yan nodded: "Yes. Since he has invited me, I will go and offer my congratulations."

Xu Wanning didn't say much, but simply asked someone to prepare a congratulatory gift.

On the day of the wedding banquet, Su Yan indeed brought Xu Wanning with him. The two attracted a lot of attention as soon as they entered.

Chen Sumei stood under the eaves not far from the Xu family's house. She hadn't wanted to come, but when she heard that Su Yan would be coming, she decided to come anyway to see Xiaoxiao off at her wedding.

She wore a new light red dress, her face lightly powdered, but her eyes seemed to be drawn to Su Yan as if on a string.

Su Yan was exchanging greetings with Xu Yun when Xu Wanning took his arm, smiling gently.

As Xu Yun returned the greeting, he glanced at Chen Sumei seemingly unintentionally. Chen Sumei looked away as if burned, but after a moment, she couldn't help but look over again.

She saw Su Yan lower his head and talk to Xu Wanning, his eyes as gentle as water in March.

Her heart ached with a bittersweet pain, as if someone had squeezed her chest, making it hard to even breathe.

Xu Yun took all of her actions into account.

He picked up his wine glass, walked over to Su Yan, and said with a smile, "With Brother Su here, my wedding banquet is truly complete."

Su Yan also raised his glass: "Brother Xu, it's a great joy to have you here. Your wife is gentle and virtuous, a perfect match for you."

Xu Yun said, "Yes, it is my blessing to be able to marry her." When he said "her", his gaze drifted to Chen Sumei again, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly.

That move was light and quick, as if it had revealed Chen Sumei's thoughts to everyone.