Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Time passed quickly.

Shen Qinglan's wedding date was already set, while the young ladies and lads of the Second and Third Branches, who had their engagements long arranged, as well as his younger brother Shen Qingquan, naturally married before him.

Shen Qingshuang's future husband was the legitimate second son of the Vice Minister of Personnel, from the household of a third-rank official;

Shen Qingbai's future husband was the heir of the State-Assisting General, a member of the imperial clan;

Both betrothals were originally carefully chosen by Madam Shen for her own sons. No matter the internal reality, on the surface they boasted excellent family backgrounds, and the wedding processions were naturally conducted with great splendor.

However, Shen Qinglan was not envious at all.

Because his mother had told him everything...

Madam Shen said, "Your Third Sister snatched away the legitimate second son of the Vice Minister of Personnel. Although it's a third-rank official's mansion, his situation is similar to yours—spoiled by his mother since childhood. Now he's just a wastrel, truly skilled in nothing but eating, drinking, and amusement."

"I chose him back then largely because he had no real ambition. Given your temperament, handling a husband who is too outstanding would be difficult. But he has one good trait: he listens to his mother."

"His mother and I are sworn sisters. With Madam Fan overseeing things from above and you having a generous dowry, if he wants a good life, he'll have to rely on you as his husband. Both of you are idle pleasures-seekers, so you can get along well."

"...But your Third Sister is different. Madam Fan won't help her control her son, and her dowry is only the official portion. When the Fan family eventually divides the household, her husband has neither talent nor the means to support a family, and no official rank—he's a commoner. Her days will be tough."

Madam Shen continued, "As for your Fourth Younger Brother's husband, the heir of the State-Assisting General... as a member of the imperial clan with a noble title, his status is indeed stable and honorable—but this family is short on money!"

"I originally thought that since they lacked money and we had money, we could complement each other. If you married into the imperial clan, you'd be secure no matter what... but I never expected that the heir of the State-Assisting General would be so indiscriminate as to hook up with your Fourth Younger Brother."

"I would never use my own dowry to support Bai Geer for the sake of the Shen family's face, so Bai Geer's future is easy to predict."

"And the sons of the Second and Third Branches are just as cold-hearted as your elder brother. Once Shuang Jieer and Bai Geer are useless in their husbands' homes, those two children will absolutely not care about sibling bonds..."

Both thought they had snatched good things, but marriage is not an object; the outcome is full of uncertainties.

Knowing that after their marriages they wouldn't have good days and would reap what they sowed, Madam Shen didn't stop their betrothals and allowed Shen Father to compensate and smooth things over.

Only Shen Qingquan's marriage...

Madam Shen looked at Shen Qinglan guiltily: "The Jinyang Earl's manor has wealth and influence. Even if the heir is a bit flirtatious, as long as one is open-minded, life can be good. Such a good marriage was snatched away by Quan Geer... it's such a shame for you... I'm sorry."

Quan Geer was also her own son. Even if she was disappointed and angry at his actions, the most she could do was compensate Lan Geer with what was originally intended for Quan Geer.

As for truly punishing Quan Geer, how could she, as a mother, be so hard-hearted?

Shen Qinglan understood his mother's difficulty. That his mother could stop caring about Fifth Younger Brother for his sake already satisfied him; things aren't always black and white.

"Mother, after what Fifth Younger Brother did to me, our brotherly bond is severed. From now on, we are strangers. Whether he ends up well or ill, and whether I end up well or ill, I don't care and don't want to compare. Let it be."

"Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. After all, I never liked the Jinyang heir anyway..."

"Mother, didn't you have the fabric shop and embroiderers make me a particularly beautiful wedding dress? Let's go see how the embroidery is coming along..."

Shen Qinglan changed the subject to comfort his mother's wounded heart.

He truly didn't care about any of that.

In the past, he might have hesitated between wealth and honor, and Han Zhang.

But since the day Han Zhang was willing to lay down his life for him, he never hesitated again.

As long as he has Brother Han, whether it's simple meals or plain clothes and a humble room, he would be content.

Compared to envying his siblings' glorious marriages,

what he cared about now was this—

"Really, Brother Han... after we got engaged, why doesn't he come to see me? He just sends letters all day long, and doesn't even bother to come visit me..."

Shen Qinglan clutched a pile of letters and muttered softly, full of grievance.

Before the engagement, Brother Han had even dared to climb walls to see him. But after the engagement, Brother Han's courage seemed to shrink—why didn't he climb that wall to see him again!

He missed Brother Han so much; didn't Brother Han miss him too?

Shen Qinglan wilted, feeling like he was about to fall apart from missing Han Zhang...

But speak of the devil!

Knowing that the Shen family had been celebrating weddings these days, and worried that all the young ladies and lads of the Shen family had married up in splendor while only his own young husband had married down, Han Zhang was worried his young husband might run away due to the gap in status, so he came to paint another rosy picture for his young husband.

Qiao Dong rushed back from the front courtyard, breathless: "Young Master, Master Han has come to visit, saying he wants to see you. Your father has allowed it. Please go to the front courtyard quickly; Master Han is waiting for you."

"Really? I knew Brother Han must miss me too! Great minds think alike!"

The young lad who had been complaining was instantly soothed, his mood clearing like a rainstorm giving way to sunshine. He smiled joyfully and hurried off to meet him.

No disparity.

And no running away either.

Shen Qinglan, that little drama queen, was such a lovesick fool—his whole mind was filled with only Han Zhang.

"Brother Han, why did you take so long to come see me? Do you know how much I've missed you these days..."

As soon as they met, once he made sure no one was around, the young lad flung himself happily into Han Zhang's arms.

Still the same spoiled little crybaby.

Han Zhang's hands obediently pulled him close, but he said with a smile, "Throwing yourself into my arms like this in broad daylight—what if Uncle Shen sees and finds out about us? How would that be?"

"Let him find out! We've already exchanged betrothal certificates and set the wedding date. If my father wants to back out now—no way."

Shen Qinglan raised his little face, extremely proud.

Seeing that smug little expression on his face, it was clear that his siblings' splendid marriages hadn't affected him in the least!

His young husband had such a good attitude.

But he still needed to show off.

"Knowing you love pastries, I've been experimenting with some new snacks in my spare time. Try them and see how they taste. This is meat floss bread, this is snow woman cake, this is mille-feuille cake, and this is small cream cake..."

Han Zhang opened the food box he brought, boldly presenting these modern pastries as his own creations to take credit.

But he was quite confident about it.

After all, many modern food ingredients didn't exist in this era. To recreate these modern pastries, he had racked his brain to find various substitutes, working his tail off.

The taste certainly wasn't as perfect as the modern version, but the novel flavors were enough to win over the tastes of the people of this time.

"Really? Did you really come up with all these for me? Let me try... Mmm, so delicious!"

Shen Qinglan was full of surprise, and first picked up the prettiest cream mini-cake to taste.

The melt-in-the-mouth cream, the tender, fluffy cake—the young man, tasting this kind of pastry for the first time, absolutely loved it.

Then he moved on to the meat floss bread, the snow skin mochi, the thousand-layer cake...

Fortunately, Han Zhang had considered that these pastries wouldn't keep well and had made each piece small in size; otherwise, with how much he was eating, he'd definitely have been stuffed.

Shen Qinglan, the glutton, finally was wide-eyed with delight: "Delicious! Every single one is so delicious—truly out of this world!"

Actually, it wasn't that exaggerated.

It's mainly because pastries of the time were greasy and sugary, made with lard, and eating too much would easily make one feel greasy.

In comparison, these modern pastries were fresher and more delicate.

Shen Qinglan looked at Han Zhang with eyes full of admiration: "Brother Han, how can you be this amazing? Not only do you excel in your studies and grow flowers so well, but you also know how to make pastries—no matter what you do, you do it perfectly!"

"Because where there's a will, there's a way. For you, my dear brother, I would even learn embroidery and make a success of it, so I won't disappoint your high opinion of me."

Han Zhang's sweet talk came easily.

It made Shen Qinglan's brows curve with joy, his heart blooming with happiness, and he couldn't help but hug him and act spoiled:

"Brother Han, I don't want you to learn embroidery; I want you to pass the imperial examinations and become a high official in the future, so I can be a high official's husband, make everyone envy me, and let me show off to my heart's content."

Han Zhang: ...Can we not talk about passing the imperial examinations?

For him, let alone becoming the top scholar, even passing the second-tier exam was already very nerve-wracking.

Han Zhang decisively changed the subject: "Qinglan, since you think these pastries are good, after we get married, how about I have my parents and uncles rent a shop in town and open a pastry shop?"

"Although it won't earn much money, it should be enough to supplement the household expenses. Right now, I can't give you wealth and glory, but I can't rely on my husband's dowry to support the family, can I?"

"Also, after we're married, you definitely won't be used to village life, so we'll rent a small courtyard near the academy. You'll stay in town with me while I study—that'll be easier and more comfortable. As for my parents, I'll talk to them..."

"What kind of small courtyard do you like? I'll rent it ahead of time and arrange it. After the third-day return visit, you and I will move directly into town..."

The classic spiel of a man riding on his wife's coattails: making empty promises about a bright future.

Shen Qinglan, the gullible one, happily swallowed the pipe dream again, nodding with excitement and giving his opinion:

"Rent a shop? A small courtyard? How wasteful! I have silver—let's buy them outright!"

"Brother Han, after we're married, we'll be married—a single unit. Why draw such a line? You support me, I support you—isn't that the same?"

The innocent young master, unaware of the world's ways, once again shredded Han Zhang's dignity as a poor man.

Han Zhang: ...

Forget it, oh well.

"My husband, you're lucky you met me."

Han Zhang sighed helplessly and could only pull the person tightly into his arms.