Chapter 279: Missing the Bride?

"You know very well how important a wife’s family’s support is, don’t be foolish, those who recognize the times are wise." Qin Er Lang was really afraid that after spending too much time with a bunch of country bumpkins, he would forget these things.

Rich and powerful nobles, Zanying families, all have marriages of alliance, why? Isn’t it for the strength of in-laws?

They had fallen into poverty, and to rise again, they needed to marry a capable wife, rely on the strength of her family, raise soldiers, and seek revenge. Marrying a rustic village girl would be self-destructive.

"The strength of a wife’s family?" Qin San Lang laughed and asked Qin Er Lang: "Second Brother, when our two families and three clans were destroyed, did the in-laws help in saving anyone?"

Except for a few, most of them distanced themselves from them.

"That Third Miss from the Duke Ying Mansion was indeed a rare support, but alas, she has now become the Emperor’s consort."

"Shut up!" Qin Er Lang’s eyes turned red with anger, glaring at Qin San Lang: "For the sake of a village girl, you really had to expose my scars!"

Qin San Lang shook his head: "I’m just reminding Second Brother that whether a wife’s family is helpful or not depends on whether the person you marry has a conscience. Otherwise, it’s already good enough if they don’t stab you in the back."

Besides.

"The men of the Qin family rely on their abilities to make a name for themselves, never on women." After Qin San Lang finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Qin Er Lang and entered Elder Qin’s room.

Elder Qin knew they were arguing but did not intervene... Er Lang and San Lang were different individuals, Er Lang was impulsive and eager for revenge, and San Lang needed to prick at him, preventing him from becoming too hotheaded.

Qin San Lang placed the quilt on the bed, untied a cloth bag from his waist, and handed it to Elder Qin: "I bought you some salted meat pancakes and asked the shop owner to add extra fatty meat."

Grandfather was always vigilant; when they made such a commotion outside, he must have woken up long ago.

Upon hearing this, Elder Qin no longer pretended to be asleep, turned over and sat up, took the bag, saw there were four salted meat pancakes inside, took out two, gave one to Qin San Lang, and ate the other himself.

He bought lotus leaf wrapped chicken for Little Xiao Yu, but for himself, just a few salted meat pancakes to eat.

After Qin San Lang made the bed, he sat on the edge of it, eating a salted meat pancake, and as he heard Qin Er Lang’s footsteps heading towards the kitchen, he said: "Grandfather, can you take charge of my marriage from now on, is that okay?"

Elder Qin paused, swallowed the pancake in his mouth, and asked: "Why suddenly talk about this? Are you thinking of getting a wife?"

Well, he’s nearly fifteen, in the past, discussions of marriage would have already begun by now.

Qin San Lang’s ears turned slightly red: "I’m not thinking about a wife, it’s just that Second Brother suddenly brought up the matter of a wife’s family today, reminding me. Uncle is still alive, and his thinking should be similar to Second Brother’s. I don’t want my marriage to become a bargaining chip for their alliances, so I’m hoping Grandfather can take charge and say it’s my father’s dying wish that he left with you."

The kind of arranged marriage Second Brother talked about was something he disliked; he wanted to be like his own father, marry a wife he loved, and live a simple life with a few kids, avoiding too much strife in the household.

"Is this appropriate?" Elder Qin got up, poured a bowl of water, took a couple of gulps, and continued eating the salted meat pancake.

Qin San Lang replied: "It’s appropriate, after all, you’re the elder."

Even though he wasn’t his biological grandfather, his own father had great respect for this grandfather. As long as he made the decision, it wouldn’t be possible for Second Brother and Uncle to use him for a marriage alliance.

"Alright, I’ll agree to this." Elder Qin thought of Qin San Lang’s parents, who had a good life, and it was normal for San Lang, having been influenced deeply by them, to want a similar life.

Qin San Lang smiled: "Thank you, Grandfather."

Elder Qin looked at his delighted expression and asked: "It’s not because of Little Xiao Yu, is it?"

"Why are you and Second Brother both like this, loving to let your imaginations run wild." Qin San Lang denied it, quickening his pace of eating the pancake.

Elder Qin looked at him, smiled, and said: "Still haven’t opened up."

Actually, Little Xiao Yu wasn’t young anymore, she was eleven by actual age, and twelve by nominal age. In the Capital, girls of this age had already begun to meet potential suitors, get engaged over the next two years, and marry after coming of age.

Qin San Lang did not reply; if they continued talking, who knows where the conversation might lead.

After he finished eating the salted meat pancake, Elder Qin asked Qin San Lang: "Why did you return on horseback?"

Qin San Lang told Elder Qin about achieving the second and third places in the competition at the Military Office.

Elder Qin frowned: "Winning the top three in the first month is too impulsive. Was it your Second Brother’s idea? I’ll have to scold him later; it’s too aggressive."

Excelling too soon and having too much talent would draw attention, what would they do if others started to investigate them thoroughly?

Before long, after Qin Er Lang finished his bath and returned, Elder Qin went to the main room to question him about why he won the competition.

Qin Er Lang said: "As a lowly soldier, it’s too difficult to obtain useful information; I must be promoted to gain access to crucial intelligence."

If he followed the usual procedures step by step, who knows how long he’d have to wait to exact revenge?

"But have you considered that rising too quickly will draw the attention of others? When they investigate you, can you withstand a thorough examination?" Elder Qin was very angry: "You’re too impulsive, too anxious, it’s a major taboo in the military!"

Elder Qin didn’t give Qin Er Lang a chance to retort, wanting to punish him with the staff, but fearing injuries on his body would be discovered by people from the Military Office, he only had him kneel in the main room all night.

Meanwhile, Qin San Lang had a good night’s sleep.

...

Gu Jinli tiptoed back to the room, opened a lotus leaf-wrapped chicken, tore off a drumstick, and took a big bite, savoring the flavor of meat in her mouth.

After a few bites, she tore off another drumstick and playfully waved it in front of Gu Jinxiu’s nose.

Unfortunately, Gu Jinxiu was in a deep sleep and didn’t wake up.

Gu Jinli had to give up, finished the drumstick, washed her hands, and went to sleep.

The next day at dawn, Brother Cheng came running, shaking the still-sleeping Gu Jinli, shouting: "Second Sister, Second Sister, get up, Brother San Lang and the others are back. They said they’re taking me to catch fish, I’m leaving now."

Gu Jinxiu was already awake, getting dressed as she asked: "San Lang and the others are back?"

"Uh-huh, I just got to the courtyard and saw Brother San Lang fetching water; he said he’d take me to catch fish later and we’d come back to feast at noon." Brother Cheng’s little hands rummaged through his sister’s room to find two bags made of coarse linen, tied them around his waist: "Let’s also dig some shepherd’s purse along the way, to make dumplings. Third Grandma said shepherd’s purse dumplings are the best this time of year."

Gu Jinli, wrapped in a quilt, lay in bed, waving her hand with her eyes closed, said: "Go, go, catch a few big fish so we can have grilled fish today."

Qin San Lang seemed to like eating grilled fish.

"Uh-huh, I’ll tell Brother San Lang." Brother Cheng said as he ran off, going to Gu Dafu’s family to call Gu Dewang and Gu Defa, then to Gu Damu’s family to call Gu Qingxi. The little boys all went to the Qin family together.