“Did something happen to you?” Ma Xiuniang personally poured Yu Tang a cup of tea and sat beside her, asking with concern, “If there’s anything I can help with, just say so. Don’t stand on ceremony with me—we’re good sisters!”

Yu Tang cupped her hands around the teacup. The lukewarm tea was just like Ma Xiuniang herself—sincere and warm.

Her lips parted slightly. She wanted to tell Ma Xiuniang the words she’d rehearsed a thousand times on the way here, but now that the moment had come, looking at Ma Xiuniang’s worried expression, she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Yu Tang hesitated, words on the tip of her tongue.

Ma Xiuniang’s heart skipped a beat. Her intuition told her Yu Tang had encountered something major.

Then she needed to stay calm even more—she couldn’t panic and frighten Yu Tang.

So she smiled as if casually and brought up the Dragon Boat Festival: “My husband heard at the private school the other day that the newly appointed prefectural office is holding dragon boat races this year, with the Pei family providing the prizes. Will you come watch the dragon boat races with me?”

The Pei family was paying?

In the past, if Yu Tang heard anything about the Pei family, she would merely listen as an interesting tidbit. But now, the Pei family seemed to have suddenly formed an extraordinary connection with her, making her blush upon hearing about them. Her voice involuntarily dropped several notches: “I, I don’t know yet. I’ll have to see if my mother will let me go.”

Ma Xiuniang was secretly surprised.

Such opportunities were rare. Besides, they weren’t daughters of wealthy noble families who lived by strict rules. Of course, it wasn’t that they had no rules—it was just that compared to rules, they valued eating more.

These thoughts flashed through her mind. She suddenly thought of a possibility and couldn’t help feeling happy for Yu Tang. Smiling, she said, “Could it be that Aunt Yu has arranged a marriage for you, and you need to stay home embroidering your wedding clothes during the Dragon Boat Festival?”

“Ah!” Now it was Yu Tang’s turn to be surprised. But beyond her surprise, she couldn’t help admiring Ma Xiuniang’s perceptiveness.

Though she hadn’t guessed correctly, but… she had just been thinking exactly that. If Pei Yan ran to her family to propose marriage before the Dragon Boat Festival, whether the match succeeded or not, her mother definitely wouldn’t let her participate in these Pei family-sponsored activities anymore.

“I really guessed right!” Ma Xiuniang exclaimed, her smile spilling from her eyes. “Quick, quick, tell me what’s going on! Who arranged the match? Which family’s young man is it? Have you met him? Is he good-looking? Are you marrying out or is he marrying in?”

She fired off a barrage of questions.

Yu Tang was so embarrassed she could barely raise her head.

Seeing this, Ma Xiuniang couldn’t help sighing, “I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, you’d be getting married too!”

Yu Tang’s face burned like fire.

Other people’s marriage prospects were still in the air, but for her—she didn’t even know if the match could be written down.

If Ma Xiuniang misunderstood, it would be troublesome.

Anxious, the words she’d been too embarrassed to say suddenly came tumbling out like beans from a bamboo tube: “No, it’s not an ordinary match. It’s the Pei family, Third Master Pei. A few days ago, he accompanied me back to my hometown…”

Yu Tang stumbled through telling Ma Xiuniang what had happened.

Ma Xiuniang couldn’t hide her shock. She shot to her feet, eyes wide, speaking incoherently to Yu Tang: “I didn’t hear wrong, did I? Third Master Pei—the Third Master Pei we know? He actually asked you to your face whether you were willing to have your name written in their family genealogy? You, you’re not exaggerating, are you? He’s the head master of the Pei household!”

Yu Tang wasn’t usually someone who talked big!

But to believe that Pei Yan wanted to marry Yu Tang—she couldn’t imagine it even in her dreams… no, even if it wasn’t a dream, she still couldn’t imagine it.

Thinking this, Ma Xiuniang immediately rushed back to sit beside Yu Tang, carefully verifying: “A’Tang, did Third Master Pei say he wants to marry you? Has he hired a matchmaker, taken his birth date and hour card to your family to propose?”

Could there be another method?

Yu Tang didn’t understand at first, looking somewhat puzzled.

Ma Xiuniang pinched her fiercely in frustration: “You usually seem so clever—how did you become so confused when it comes to important matters? Did he actually say propose marriage or take you in? How could you not even ask clearly at the time?”

She’d been so flustered and panicked then—how could she ask for details?

But what did Sister Ma mean?

Propose marriage or take her in?

Yu Tang suddenly understood.

Sister Ma was asking whether Pei Yan wanted to marry her as a wife or take her as a concubine, right?

Without thinking, Yu Tang replied, “I’m not someone without family to make decisions for me. How could he just take me in?”

Ma Xiuniang looked at her with an expression that said “you’re truly confused.”

Yu Tang immediately felt indignant. She said, “Though our family isn’t as good as the Pei family, we’re not the kind of family that can’t move our legs when we see wealth. Besides, he’s not that kind of person. Since he brought it up, he must surely intend a proper marriage alliance.”

Ma Xiuniang couldn’t really judge, but hearing Yu Tang’s words made her face heat up. She smiled at Yu Tang somewhat embarrassedly: “As long as you understand in your heart.”

Though she didn’t know why Yu Tang was so confident, she believed Yu Tang wasn’t someone without sense. Since Yu Tang said so, Pei Yan was probably eighty or ninety percent intending to marry Yu Tang as his wife.

Ma Xiuniang’s thoughts raced as she moved closer to Yu Tang, saying quietly, “So you came to find me about this matter?”

Her voice contained a few notes of good-natured teasing, making Yu Tang’s face flush as if it could drip blood. She hummed acknowledgment with a voice barely louder than a mosquito.

Having received confirmation, Ma Xiuniang became excited.

She pushed Yu Tang playfully, chiding with a smile: “Such a wonderful thing—what are you hesitating about? Afraid Old Madam Pei won’t agree? The Pei family is a prominent household here. If Old Madam Pei didn’t agree, Third Master Pei definitely wouldn’t come to propose. Otherwise, if the Pei family had internal disputes, wouldn’t they become the after-dinner gossip of Lin’an city? Neither Third Master Pei nor Old Madam Pei would let such a thing happen. You can rest easy. If Third Master Pei dares come to your family to propose, the Pei family definitely won’t have any rumors spreading.

“Speaking of which,” she let out a long sigh, half teasing and half admiring, “I never imagined that a sister beside me would have the chance to marry into the Pei family and become the head mistress of the Pei household. This truly proves that life is unpredictable and anything is possible!”

Yu Tang couldn’t help saying, “I, I haven’t agreed yet!”

Actually, she knew in her heart that unless she personally refused Pei Yan in the next couple of days, given Pei Yan’s character, he would definitely start arranging to propose to her family.

Ma Xiuniang gaped in surprise, then showed an incredulous expression as she said in a low voice, “That’s the Pei family, Third Master Pei—what more could you want? You dare to be so picky, dare not to marry him? Aren’t you afraid of ruining such a good match?”

Yu Tang lowered her head without making a sound.

She truly was afraid of ruining this match.

But not because of the Pei household.

Because of Pei Yan.

Pei Yan… was truly so good-looking!

The first time she saw Pei Yan, she couldn’t quite look away.

Though his personality was a bit difficult.

But still within what she could tolerate.

She didn’t want to give Pei Yan to someone else.

Ma Xiuniang couldn’t help speculating, “Could it be you’re afraid you won’t adapt after marrying into the Pei family?” Ever since learning that Pei Yan wanted to marry Yu Tang, she’d been somewhat excited, thinking this match was wonderful. Fearing Yu Tang might refuse without thinking it through, she began persuading her, “Think about it—even if you don’t marry into the Pei family, whoever you marry, you’ll be going to a stranger’s household. You’ll need to please your mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. The Pei family at least has no sisters-in-law, so your life will be easier than in families with them. Of course, I’m just talking nonsense here. Forget that Third Master Pei has no sisters—even if he had sisters, the Pei family’s young ladies have always been well-bred. They mostly wouldn’t be like those from small households who can’t stand having their sister-in-law run family affairs and must cause some trouble. Perhaps the Pei family people are even better than ordinary families. The Pei family’s inner quarters ladies have all seen the world—their horizons are probably higher than others.

“So I’m saying marrying into any family is the same. What you’d encounter in the Pei family, you’d encounter in other families too.

“If you married into another family, you still wouldn’t know how your husband would treat you. The Pei family is better than others in this regard. This match was chosen by Third Master Pei himself. If he didn’t protect you, wouldn’t he be slapping his own face?”

Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She understood all these principles.

What she worried about was… Pei Yan didn’t really know her. Would he regret marrying her?

But Pei Yan had also said he felt they were suitable, not because she was pretty.

Perhaps she was worrying too much.

Yu Tang quietly told Ma Xiuniang her concerns.

Ma Xiuniang wished she could take a stick and crack open her head. Somewhat frustrated at her lack of fighting spirit, she said, “I think you’re just too idle! Where did your former boldness go? He dares to marry—are you saying you don’t dare to be married? Afraid he’ll regret it? Just make sure he doesn’t regret it. Who can see their future clearly when living their life? When Lady Lin married into the Li family, did she know the Li family would decline because they treated human life carelessly? When Old Madam Pei married Old Master Pei, did she know Old Master Pei would pass before her? We can’t stop living well just because we can’t see the road ahead! I only ask you one thing: right now, do you want to marry Third Master Pei or not?”

Yu Tang felt as if she’d heard morning bells and evening drums.

That’s right!

Who knows what will happen in the future?

When she first married into the Li family, would she have imagined the Li family harbored ill intentions toward the Yu family? Would she have imagined that Elder Cousin-in-law Li Duan would harbor evil thoughts toward her, his widowed younger sister-in-law? Would she have imagined she could endure for five or six years and escape from the Li family to avenge her family?

She didn’t know!

But she still relied on herself to crawl out of that quagmire.

Since she could do it in her previous life, there was no reason that after living again, she should be worse than before—becoming someone without opinions, without resolve, weak and incompetent!

“Sister Ma, you truly are my good sister!” Yu Tang grasped Ma Xiuniang’s hand. Because she’d made up her mind and gained courage, her eyes shone brilliantly. Like a dusty pearl freed of all dust, she became spirited and radiant, extraordinarily beautiful.