Chapter 469: Day 34 into the Farming Story

Chapter 469: Day 34 in the Farming Story

"Oh my! It really is An Yi! My dear nephew! I'm your Third Aunt! When your folks were still alive, we used to visit each other often. I even held you when you were little! Look, look! You've grown so handsome, so successful! You've done the An family proud!"

As she spoke, she looked An Yi up and down with exaggerated scrutiny, like she was examining a rare treasure: "Nephew, now that you're settled in the county seat, you got yourself a fiancée yet? Let me tell you, my mother's side has a niece, just turned sixteen this year, decent-looking, hardworking, great at embroidery—praised all over the villages! If you haven't already..."

Before she could finish, Di Qingji, who'd been standing quietly at An Yi's side with a composed smile, suddenly let out a soft "ahem."

It cut off the auntie's nonstop chatter.

Interrupted, the auntie felt a bit annoyed and instinctively turned to look at Di Qingji.

She saw that this tall, heroic companion of An Yi's still had a smile on his face, even a hint of well-timed apology, as if he just had a tickle in his throat.

He naturally stepped half a step forward, turning slightly to wedge himself between An Yi and the auntie, and cut in in a tone that left no room for argument:

"Auntie, today is Master Fu and Manager Liu's big day. We've come from far away as guests—it's only right that we focus our attention and blessings on the newlyweds, don't you think?"

He paused, his smile deepening meaningfully, "As for An Yi's personal matters... no need for you to worry about them."

The auntie was taken aback. Looking at Di Qingji's seemingly gentle yet subtly intimidating smile, she thought to herself: Who is this guy? Why's he so nosy? A friend of An Yi's?

An Yi glanced at Di Qingji, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

He turned to the auntie, speaking calmly but distantly: "Exactly. Today is Master Fu and Manager Liu's big day. Let's not steal the spotlight—what matters is wishing the newlyweds well."

He raised his still-untouched cup of wine, gestured toward Fu Cong, and steered the conversation back on track: "Master Fu, another toast—wishing you both everlasting love and smooth sailing in all things."

With that, he drained his cup in one go.

Fu Cong quickly composed himself, suppressing his astonishment, and raised his own cup to drink, smiling: "Thank you for the kind words, Boss An!"

The auntie whose matchmaking attempt had failed, seeing An Yi's clear stance and Di Qingji's watchful presence, could only purse her lips in chagrin and reluctantly retreat to her own table, muttering under her breath about "getting too big for his britches" and "climbing high and forgetting poor relatives."

Elder Li, the village chief, watching this scene, walked over to An Yi and asked in a low voice: "An lad, this is...?" His gaze shifted to Di Qingji with inquiry.

An Yi smiled slightly, turned sideways, and introduced him: "Village Chief, this is Di Qingji."

He paused, his gaze meeting Di Qingji's for a fleeting moment, catching the hint of anticipation and nervousness in the other's eyes. His smile deepened as he said frankly:

"He's the one I've chosen for life."

The one he's chosen for life?

What does that mean?

For most villagers, the term was unfamiliar, its meaning unclear.

The villagers who'd been eavesdropping exchanged bewildered looks, faces full of confusion.

A student of Fu Cong's sitting at a nearby table, seeing this, lowered his voice to explain to his tablemates: "That phrase... it's a term for a spouse or beloved partner—like a soulmate. Basically, a deeply loved partner, I guess?"

The crowd suddenly understood, but then grew even more puzzled.

A deeply loved partner? So that means he's taken, right? So An Yi already has someone! No wonder that guy was blocking the matchmaking earlier!

But...

The villagers turned their gazes back to Di Qingji, looking him up and down.

This... this tall man, even more robust and heroic than An Yi, with broad shoulders, a thick chest, a straight back, and strong, defined features—wasn't he clearly a man? A... gē'er (a third-gender term in this world)?

But don't all gē'er have that red mole on their forehead? This man's forehead was smooth and bare—nothing there!

And his build, his bearing, the way he walked—no sign of the delicate softness you'd expect from a gē'er. He looked like he could knock out an ox with one punch!

His voice was deep and resonant too—nothing like a gē'er's.

Could he be... a gē'er with a disability?

The villagers suddenly looked at Di Qingji with sympathy and a touch of pity.

Poor thing!

So tall and handsome, clearly built for hard work, yet a gē'er with a flaw—missing even the most obvious sign.

Could he even have kids properly?

What's An Yi thinking, marrying a gē'er like that? Just for the hard work?

Or... does An Yi have his own problems, so he settled for someone with a flaw?

Di Qingji, of course, had no clue the villagers had cooked up such a wild story in their heads.

He only cared about An Yi's words—"the one I've chosen for life." His face lit up with a radiant smile for a moment, then he quickly forced it back into that composed look.

He shifted a little, moving closer to An Yi, his posture intimate and natural, as if proving An Yi's words through action.

He was the one An Yi had introduced to the villagers as his partner!

Legitimately, out in the open!

But... An Yi was from the same village as Master Fu and Boss Jiang? Why'd he never mention that before?

And from how they acted earlier, they clearly weren't old friends.

A flicker of doubt crossed Di Qingji's mind, but he quickly brushed it off.

Never mind. It didn't matter.

An Yi's past—he'd share it when he was ready.

Since he was introducing him so openly to the villagers now, that was enough for him.

Because Di Qingji could see An Yi didn't seem to care much about these old acquaintances or his past—his demeanor was as calm as ever.

Fu Cong, who had already finished toasting that table and moved to the next, naturally heard An Yi's declaration of "the one I've chosen for life."

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, then understanding.

Having spent more time with An Yi and Di Qingji, he knew full well that Di Qingji was no "gē'er"—he was a real, seasoned escort, a martial artist who'd traveled far and wide.

When An Yi said "chosen for life," he meant... the two of them were men in love, committed to each other, bound for life.

This realization shook Fu Cong inside.

Men loving men... not unheard of, but certainly rare in this world.

But... everyone has their own path. Love in this world comes in all shapes and forms—you can't box it into simple rules and conventions.

Two hearts in harmony, cherishing each other, never leaving—that's what matters most.

Whether man or gē'er, male or female—what does it matter?