Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Although Han Zhang had confidence in his cousin and couldn't believe that anyone would reject him so thoroughly given the Han family's current standing and his cousin's looks.

But there were exceptions to everything—even sages couldn't please everyone, so it wasn't impossible that his cousin might be disliked by someone.

Marriage was about mutual consent; a couple forced together would inevitably have trouble down the line.

So after a moment's thought, Han Zhang said, "Third Brother, from what you've said, during your time with Liu Geer, he hasn't been cold or dismissive toward you—in fact, you've gotten along quite well in your conversations."

"These days, strict separation between men and women is emphasized. Though Liu Geer grew up in the countryside, I can see he behaves properly and isn't frivolous. When you went to see him privately several times, he never outright turned you away..."

"That alone shows that either he has feelings for you too and can't help himself, or he's deeply calculating and has ulterior motives..."

But before he could finish, Han Qinfeng couldn't hold back and hastily interrupted in defense:

"Elder Brother! Liu Geer is absolutely not that kind of person! He's straightforward and pure-hearted—he would never plot against me!"

Seeing his cousin's flushed cheeks and the fine sweat on his forehead from anxiety, Han Zhang couldn't help but chuckle softly:

"You silly lad, I hadn't even finished speaking—what's the rush? Look at you, defending him so fiercely before he's even married into the family."

"I... I just..." Han Qinfeng was momentarily at a loss for words under the teasing, his ears burning with embarrassment.

Han Zhang's eyes held deeper amusement, but his tone softened: "Alright, I'll stop teasing you. What I said wasn't meant to rain on your parade—just stating facts."

"No matter what kind of person Liu Geer is, it doesn't matter as long as you like him. If you truly love him, whatever happens after marriage, you'll accept the consequences yourself."

"There's no such thing as a perfect person in this world. Since you don't want the matches the family arranged, I won't force you either."

Hearing this, Han Qinfeng's tense heart finally relaxed a little, and he said awkwardly, "Elder Brother, don't tease me... I just think Liu Geer... he's truly wonderful."

"Though the villagers say he's sharp-tongued and too headstrong, not gentle or virtuous enough, I love that clever spark in him. I don't like gentle-natured young ladies or lads—I like someone with a mind of their own, like Liu Geer."

"Actually... I can sense that he doesn't completely dislike me either. But after I confessed my feelings, he just said I was overthinking it and immediately went to find a matchmaker to look at other matches..."

As he spoke, Han Qinfeng's shoulders sagged slightly, and he muttered doubtfully:

"Elder Brother, do you think... I'm just fooling myself?"

Han Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Third Brother, in matters of the heart, the worst thing is playing guessing games while each person hides their true feelings. Whether you're fooling yourself or not, just find the right moment to lay everything out plainly with Liu Geer."

"If he has his reasons, we'll find a way to work through them. If it truly is... one-sided affection with no reciprocation, then even if it hurts, it's better than living your whole life in confusion, tormenting yourself. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Han Qinfeng thought this made sense, but then deflated: "But... ever since I tried to confess my feelings last time, Liu Geer has been avoiding me, not even giving me a chance to say a word. I... I don't know how to ask..."

Han Zhang mused, "I can step in on your behalf, but Third Brother, are you truly sure he's the one for the rest of your life? That you won't regret it later because Liu Geer's family background doesn't measure up to the spouses your other brothers married?"

Han Qinfeng looked up at this, his gaze unwavering, and said firmly, "Elder Brother, I understand what you mean, but I'm sure—I only want Liu Geer."

"I don't have the impressive abilities you and Second Brother have, and I don't have grand ambitions. I just want to tend a few acres of land and farm steadily."

"If I married some young master or lady from a prestigious household, I wouldn't understand what they talk about, and they wouldn't care to hear what I think—wouldn't that be doing them a disservice and wronging myself too?"

"But Liu Geer is different... When I'm with him, I feel at ease, and we never run out of things to talk about."

"I'm sorry, Elder Brother... I'm being selfish. The family needs support right now, yet I'm only thinking about my own feelings and can't help at all..."

As Han Qinfeng spoke, his voice grew quieter, and his face filled with shame.

Now that the family had risen in status, his elder brother still had to continue supporting the clan, working just as hard as when he burned the midnight oil studying.

As a younger brother, he should use his marriage to strengthen the family, but here he was, only thinking about what he wanted.

He truly felt he'd let down his grandparents' teachings, his parents' worries, and his elder brother's expectations and support...

The more Han Qinfeng spoke, the more ashamed he felt, and his head sank lower.

Especially when Han Zhang said with patience and helplessness: "Third Brother, the family is important, but nothing is more important than the bond between us brothers. I'll handle the family matters—there's no need for you to sacrifice your lifelong happiness for the family's future."

Such heartfelt, profound words moved Han Qinfeng deeply.

His elder brother was so good to him!

"Elder Brother, just this once... From now on, I'll listen to you in everything. Whatever you ask, I'll do."

He choked up and made a solemn promise.

Han Zhang's expression remained gentle as he patted his shoulder: "Silly lad, why say such things between brothers? Wipe those tears—you're a grown man. If someone sees you like this, won't they laugh at you?"

"Yes, I'll listen to you, Elder Brother."

Han Qinfeng held back his tears of gratitude and nodded firmly.

Han Zhang smiled and didn't waste any time. He ordered a carriage prepared and, using the excuse of an inspection, personally headed to Jiang Family Village.

...

Meanwhile.

Jiang Family Village.

Jiang Liu sat alone under the old locust tree in the courtyard, holding several marriage proposal cards the matchmaker had brought the day before.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows across the back of his hand. His gaze rested on the paper, but he couldn't read a single word, his mind wandering in a daze.

His mother sat nearby picking vegetables, snapping green beans with crisp cracks. Watching her son's distracted state, she finally couldn't help but sigh and ask:

"Liu Geer, I've noticed you've been distracted these past few days. That Han family's Third Brother... is he still on your mind?"

Jiang Liu paused at this, then quickly lowered his gaze, hiding the sudden surge of emotion in his eyes.

"Mother, don't talk nonsense." He tried to keep his voice steady, even with a hint of forced lightness. "What's there to hold onto? Didn't I make it clear to him that day at the village entrance? From now on... we're done."

"Is that so?" His mother's voice was laced with heartache. "Then what explains how you've been these past few days? Eating so little, and when I got up at night, I saw your lamp still burning. You came from my own womb—you think I don't know what's in your heart?"

"That Han family's Third Brother is handsome and kind-natured, and most importantly, I can tell he genuinely likes you. You're young, and meeting someone like that, giving your whole heart—that's only natural."

"But Liu Geer..." His mother's eyes welled with tears as she confronted the heavy reality: "As the old saying goes, vermilion gates match vermilion gates, bamboo doors match bamboo doors. He's the Lord Prefect's own brother—and what's a Lord Prefect? An official even higher than a county magistrate!"

"But what are we? Country folk with a few mud-brick houses and a few thin acres of land..."

Her voice choked slightly: "Households like that have more rules than leaves on a tree. He likes you now, but what about the future? If he stops loving you someday, you'd be trapped in that deep mansion, calling to heaven with no answer and earth with no reply—your father and I could give our lives and still never reach that gate to help you."

"Listen to your mother's advice. Since you've already made the hard decision, stop thinking about him. We don't seek wealth or glory—just find an honest, steady man from a matching background and live a simple life. Households like that aren't for people like us..."

Looking at her son's reddening eyes, his mother's heart ached too.

As a mother, how could she not wish her son could find a well-off family?

But the Han family was simply too high, as high as snow on a mountaintop, while they were nothing but mud at its base. This wasn't just a gap anymore—it was a bottomless chasm.

For now, his son could indeed rely on Third Brother of the Han family's affection to marry up into that household, but what about the future?

Life wasn't just about the love between a married couple; it also involved the daily grind of groceries and bills. The Jiang family couldn't even prepare a proper dowry. If Liu Geer truly entered that household, just the weight of other people's stares and the quiet comparisons behind his back would be enough to suffocate him.

A gift from heaven sounds great, but if you can't catch it, it'll land on your head and kill you!

Jiang Liu understood these truths well, which was why he had rejected the feelings Han Qinfeng had revealed. But reason was one thing, and emotion was another.

He bit his lower lip and grabbed one of the matchmaker's betrothal cards at random, saying in a low voice, his eyes red:

"Mother, everything you've said... I understand. That's why I've been asking the matchmaker to find me a match, right? This guy from Li Family Village next door seems fine to me—he's got fields and an ox, and he's a decent, honest guy..."

But even as he said this, his words and his heart were full of nothing but a bitterness he couldn't shake.

He liked Third Brother of the Han family, but he wasn't worthy of him.

That was the Lord Prefect's own younger brother, living in a grand mansion in the city, while he was nothing more than a country boy with a bit of looks, a bad reputation, and a whole pile of family baggage.

Even if Third Brother didn't mind him, what about the rest of Third Brother's family?

Better to give up now than end up bitter and resentful later, keep some beautiful memories, so they wouldn't end up as bitter enemies once Third Brother eventually changed his mind.

But even as he thought this, Jiang Liu's heart ached unbearably.

And just then, the sound of a carriage stopping came from outside the courtyard gate, along with Jiang Father's flustered voice:

"L-Lord Han, why have you come? Please, please come inside and sit!"

Han Zhang smiled affably and said, "Uncle Jiang, no need to stand on ceremony. I'm just here on an inspection today, and I wanted to ask Liu Geer about the experimental fields."