Treading on the damp earth, Wang Fugui descended the mountain.
Compared to the gloom of his arrival, his mood was much improved. Despite being exhausted from a night's toil, his steps were still light and airy.
Breathing in the fragrant scent of flowers and grass, and listening to the chirping of birds, Wang Fugui walked to his horse, untied the reins, and galloped back to his home in the capital.
"You unfilial son, where were you yesterday? You didn't even bring guards. Do you know how dangerous it is out there? If you were captured by villains, kidnapping and ransom would be the least of it. What if they flayed you alive and tore out your sinews?
Your father has served in the court for many years and has offended countless people. How many scoundrels are waiting to harm our entire family? You're nearly thirty years old, how can you still be so thoughtless!"
Minister Wang glared at his unfilial son before him, gnashing his teeth in disappointment.
"Oh, husband, speak a little less. Fugui is in a bad mood, what's wrong with him going out for a stroll? He's back safe and sound, isn't he?"
Lady Wang, standing nearby, felt her heart ache at her son's helpless and wronged expression, and she repeatedly tried to placate her husband.
"Hmph, you useless and misguided son. You were meant to pursue scholarly success, yet you couldn't even pass the provincial examination.
You were meant to cultivate, yet you're still only at the second layer of the Initial Strength Realm.
You were meant to do business; you finally earned some money, and you squandered it all on women. You can't do anything right and you're a drain on resources.
When I die, you'll starve to death!"
"I won't starve, and even if I did, you wouldn't be able to control it."
Wang Fugui straightened his neck and rolled his eyes towards the sky.
"You... alas, forget it. No matter what, you are my only son. While I am still alive and still hold the position of Minister of Revenue, I have found a good match for you.
The eldest daughter of the Qi family, who has been well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood, understands the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, is skilled in Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. You two have known each other since childhood, and you are well-matched. It is a union made in heaven...
Even if it were a match made in heaven, you wouldn't be worthy of her. I, with my thick skin, went to their home and begged for this marriage. With the Qi family as your backing, you won't necessarily become rich and noble, but at least you'll be well-fed and clothed.
Yesterday, I sent the betrothal gifts and discussed the wedding date with the Qi family. It will be on the fifth of next month. You will be married then."
"What?!"
Wang Fugui's eyes widened.
"It was just an engagement before, why are we getting married so soon? This is my affair, why wasn't my consent sought? Why should I marry a woman I've never even seen?!"
"Hmph, parents' command and a matchmaker's word, why do you need to agree? Don't run around these few days; stay home and focus on your wedding."
"Today is the twenty-eighth, and the fifth of next month is only seven days away. I can't accept this. Do I know that woman? Do I know what she looks like?
If I don't marry, you marry her yourself."
With that, Wang Fugui stormed out of the hall and headed towards his room.
"Unfilial son! Unfilial son!!!"
Back in his room, Wang Fugui threw himself onto the bed, groaned and rolled around a few times, then suddenly sat up and took out the Drunken Immortal Brew he had treasured for many years and was reluctant to drink.
This Drunken Immortal Brew was something he had tasted by chance in Qishan Commandery when he was doing business in the southern Lanling Kingdom. After just one sip, he was completely captivated by the aroma of the wine.
When he left Qishan Commandery later, he even brought back a cartload of Drunken Immortal Brew to savor slowly.
Wang Fugui drank while sighing and lamenting, smashing things in the room in his distress.
It wasn't that he disliked the eldest daughter of the Qi family; he simply disliked arranged marriages.
He had traveled far and wide, encountering all sorts of ideas. He believed in freedom of love and freedom of marriage, and he had sworn that he would marry a woman he truly loved.
His resistance was not against this particular marriage, but against the customs of the world.
Although, he had not yet met the woman who truly captured his heart.
Soon, Wang Fugui got drunk and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
"Daoist priestess, we have come to pray and divine."
A pair of plainly dressed middle-aged couple knelt on the prayer mat, devoutly bowing to the statue.
"What divination do the two benefactors seek?"
The young Daoist priestess knelt beside the couple and took out a set of specially made bronze coins.
"We want to divine for our son. He's already over twenty years old and still hasn't found a wife. We want to know..."
The middle-aged man chuckled awkwardly,
"When will he find a wife."
"Divining for marriage, understood."
The young Daoist priestess smiled, cupped a handful of bronze coins in her palm, and began to shake them.
Divining for marriage required four bronze coins, to be randomly cast, and then interpreted based on heads and tails and auspicious symbols.
The middle-aged man sighed and looked at his wife,
"Comparing oneself to others is enough to make one die of envy. I heard that Young Master Wang Fugui, the son of the Minister of Revenue, is engaged to the eldest daughter of the wealthy Qi merchant family. Truly, with their family background, they can have any woman they want. Pitifully, we farmers would have to spend all our savings just to find a bride..."
Clatter, clatter, clatter...
The young Daoist priestess's hand suddenly trembled, and the coins scattered all over the floor.
"What's wrong, Daoist priestess?"
The young Daoist priestess was momentarily stunned. The tears in her eyes quickly receded as she hastily said,
"The coins have scattered, this is an omen of abundance of gold and jade. Your son will not only marry a good wife, but that wife will also bring him prosperity. He will surely become rich and noble in the future."
"Alas, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Daoist priestess, thank you, Daoist priestess. Here is the divination fee."
After watching the couple leave, the young Daoist priestess picked up the scattered coins one by one, smiled self-mockingly, and looked out of the Taoist temple with a profound gaze.
It was dark.
Wang Fugui woke up with a throbbing headache.
Drunken Immortal Brew was delicious, but it was too potent.
He walked to the table, picked up the water jug, and gulped down several mouthfuls.
The dryness in his throat was relieved. Wang Fugui walked to the bedside, intending to undress and then fall into a comfortable sleep with the residual effects of the alcohol.
Sleep, and dream of all things.
As soon as he unfastened his outer robe, a letter fluttered down, landing on the bed.
Wang Fugui frowned. What was this?
He bent down to pick it up and opened it.
"This humble maiden, lacking talent, has not gained the young master's favor and has disturbed the young master for a long time. I hope the young master will not blame me.
The young master walks north, and this humble maiden looks south. Our paths diverge here in this life, and I cannot forget you.
May your winters be warm, and your springs not cold. May you have a light when it is dark, and an umbrella when it rains.
May you be well, may you meet a good person, and may your remaining years be filled with warmth and good company.
All my admiration is confined to my lips, hidden by time, and concealed for the future.
There is no fate between us in this life, please do not worry about me. The rain beats the plantain leaves, and there is nothing... nothing to be done."
This was written by the young Daoist priestess. He realized that she must have slipped it in while he was getting dressed in the morning.
She knew I didn't like her, she knew I only wanted a fleeting romance, she knew everything I said was false.
She wasn't that stupid; she was very intelligent.
She knew everything.