The next day was Saturday. Hongdou got up late, and by the time she came out of her room, her mother and older brother were already waiting for her at the dining table.
Both wore solemn, formal expressions, clearly poised to discuss serious matters.
Sure enough, the moment she sat down, her mother spoke: “Your brother and I thought carefully last night about Mr. He’s suggestion. We feel that although this method is workable, in the end it has to be your decision. Marriage is the most important matter in a person’s life—it would hardly be worth it to gamble your whole life away just to escape a temporary disaster.”
As she spoke, her eyes carefully searched Hongdou’s face.
Hongdou just kept her head down, sipping her congee, saying nothing.
Mrs. Yu understood perfectly well in her heart, and felt all the more assured. She picked up a small piece of drunken fish with her chopsticks and placed it in her daughter’s congee bowl, saying slowly: “The first two years, the shop closed for fear of war, so the family has always kept cash and gold bars ready at all times. If we really needed to leave the city, it would be easy enough to pack up—we’d just need to ask Mr. He for help, and we could leave for Beiping or Tianjin that very night. Bai Haili may have connections in this city, but he’d be powerless to reach that far. As long as we move away, this trouble would naturally resolve itself. As for school, the professors in your department are all so fond of you—we could certainly ask Professor Yan or the department head to write a letter of introduction, and once we reach Beiping, we could find another school for you to study at.”
Hongdou stiffened and set her face sternly: “Just to avoid one petty scoundrel, we’d have to abandon the family business and leave our home behind for no good reason? I’m still waiting to see what becomes of Bai Haili.”
Mrs. Yu exchanged a glance with her son, and seized on her daughter’s words: “So you don’t want to move? If you don’t want to move, and you don’t want to suffer Bai Haili’s spiteful harassment either, then we’ll have to do as Mr. He suggested—have both families announce the engagement in the newspaper.”
Hongdou’s face instantly turned as red as a tomato, and she immediately fell silent.
By this point, how could Mrs. Yu fail to see whether her daughter had feelings for Mr. He or not: “Mr. He really has put your wishes first in all this. Yesterday he originally wanted to confirm your feelings in person, but you stayed shut up in your room and wouldn’t come out. He waited for you and you never appeared, so he simply had a brief talk with us instead. He said that as long as you don’t object, he’ll handle all the arrangements for the engagement himself. He also said his mother and younger sister are both very fond of you, and that his father had already mentioned inviting you to dine at the He family home. Although this is being done to avoid trouble, he sincerely wishes to marry you. Now your mother and brother are just waiting to hear it from your own heart—are you willing to marry He Yunqin?”
Sincerely wishes to marry her—Hongdou’s eyelashes trembled lightly, her mind filled with nothing but those words. To hide her bashfulness, she pouted and set down her bowl.
Seeing her daughter fail to respond for so long, Mrs. Yu poked her forehead in exasperation: “You have so much to say normally, but the moment it’s something important your mouth clamps shut like a sealed gourd. As for this boy He Yunqin, I’ve only met him a few times so far—there’s nothing to fault in his looks or upbringing, and he’s amiable enough. It’s just that I don’t know what he’s like behind closed doors. Last time we saw him going to the third floor to find Miss Qiu, and the papers said something about him and his sister-in-law—what if he’s the sort who dallies about outside—”
The moment these words were tossed out, Hongdou hurried to say: “He went to find Miss Qiu last time to investigate something. And the business with his sister-in-law was deliberately fabricated by someone trying to stir up conflict within the He family.”
Mrs. Yu stared wide-eyed at her daughter. Hongdou froze, only then realizing she’d reacted too strongly, and quickly fell silent.
This time even Yu Chongyi could see how much his sister cared about He Yunqin, and unable to hold back a laugh, he said to their mother: “Mr. He isn’t that sort of person. My colleagues at the police station occasionally chat about the prominent families in this city, and they all say Mr. He and his elder brother are rarely seen for their good character. Besides, I’ve been dealing with Mr. He constantly these past days—whether this man is upright or not, I have a good sense of it in my own heart. As for rumors, they’re always just shadows chasing wind, not to be trusted.”
Mrs. Yu glared at her son: “And here I am worried that Hongdou will suffer once she’s married in—it’s already marrying above her station as it is, and if on top of that she’s saddled with a philandering young master, who’s she going to turn to when she’s wronged? Your sister is stubborn and fears nothing once she digs in her heels—she’s hardly the type to swallow her grievances quietly. If the two of them end up fighting every single day, what kind of life would that be?”
Hongdou, both embarrassed and angry, said: “Mother, what are you even saying.”
Fortunately, someone knocked at the door just then. Hongdou hurried over to answer it, only to find He Yunqin standing outside. She looked up and met his eyes, her face heating unconsciously, and said flatly: “Why are you here.”
He Yunqin hadn’t expected Hongdou herself to open the door, and was momentarily startled too.
Only then did Hongdou notice he was dressed with great formality, and that several beaming household stewards trailed behind him.
At that moment Mrs. Yu came over, mildly surprised: “Mr. He? Why are you still standing there, come in and sit. And these gentlemen are?”
Only then did He Yunqin pull his gaze away from Hongdou’s face, and say to Mrs. Yu: “My father heard I was coming to formally propose marriage. First he was afraid I wouldn’t know the proper etiquette, and second, to show our family’s sincerity, he specially had several of our senior household stewards accompany me on this visit.”
The stewards indeed proved themselves well versed in propriety, bowing slightly in the manner due to the mother of the bride’s family, and said in unison to Mrs. Yu: “Greetings, Mrs. Yu.”
This made Mrs. Yu’s expression turn even more pleased. Yet even so, meeting them face to face, she showed no trace of the petty flattered manner of someone overwhelmed by the honor—she merely nodded with a smile: “Well then, please, come in and sit.”
Since the matter under discussion was her own engagement to He Yunqin, Hongdou at first pretended composure and had Sister Zhou brew tea, but eventually found it all too embarrassing and retreated back to her room.
Once inside, He Yunqin did not sit in the parlor, but after a low murmured word or two, went with her mother and brother to the study to discuss matters.
The stewards, well aware of their place, waited quietly in the parlor.
The parlor fell silent. After a long while, her mother’s voice could be heard drifting in from the hallway: “You’re quite thoughtful, thinking of everything ahead of time. There’s just one thing—I still feel next month is too rushed for the wedding.”
Though she said this, it seemed that because of their earlier conversation, an understanding had already formed between the two sides, and there was no displeasure in her mother’s tone.
Married next month? Hongdou, who had been sitting at her desk propped on her elbow in a daze, startled at this and quickly perked up her ears to listen.
Then she heard He Yunqin say, full of apology: “It truly is unfair to Hongdou. Next week when the two families formally meet, my father and mother will explain the reasons to your aunt in person.”
The stewards chimed in at the right moment: “Please rest assured, Mrs. Yu, our master and mistress have already given instructions—although the timing for the Second Young Master and Miss Yu’s wedding has been set rather tight, every single detail will be prepared to the highest standard. We will absolutely not let Miss Yu suffer the slightest injustice.”
Just then someone knocked at her bedroom door. He Yunqin spoke from outside: “Hongdou, there’s something I need to say to you in person.”
Her mother’s voice also carried through the door: “Mr. He wants to speak with you alone.”
Hongdou had indeed wanted to ask He Yunqin face to face why the engagement had inexplicably turned into a wedding, and why the date had been set so hastily. Since He Yunqin had come to her on his own initiative, so much the better—she rose at once and went to the door.
The door opened, and He Yunqin looked at her: “Hongdou.”
Hongdou looked at him silently, then stepped aside to let him in.
He Yunqin entered. Since the parlor was full of people, it wasn’t proper to close the door, so he only left it ajar.
This was the first time he had so openly entered Hongdou’s room, and in his curiosity he forgot to speak at first, hands tucked in his trouser pockets, simply standing by the door studying the furnishings.
On the desk sat a jade-colored ice-crackle brush holder, a tender green osmanthus branch leaning inside it at a slant. Above the Western-style high bed hung several homemade sachets, strung together like a cluster of bells shaped like lilac blossoms. Thinking of the fragrance that always clung to Hongdou, he guessed the sachets were filled with dried flower powder.
Looking around the room, he finally remembered his actual purpose, and turning his head, saw Hongdou glaring at him with a touch of displeasure. He walked closer and leaned against the desk by the window, the two of them standing face to face.
Perhaps because there was serious business to discuss, her expression was more composed than usual, her eyes clear as water, her cheeks glowing with a soft sweetness. As he looked and looked, that itching sensation in his palms returned.
Yet last time she was not to be touched, and this time she was temporarily not to be touched—though both amounted to the same restriction, there was a clear distinction between them, and his mood lightened inexplicably. He composed his expression: “Hongdou, you must already know of the plan we discussed. Yesterday, in front of your aunt and your brother, I already proposed marriage to you once. Now that there’s no one else here, I want to formally express my intentions to you again.”
He paused, and seeing Hongdou say nothing, could only continue on his own: “I went to study in Germany at eighteen, and only returned to China this year. Before I left, my father ordered that I wasn’t to return without a degree. To finish my studies and return early, I’ve spent these past years absorbed in my studies, with no time or thought for romance—I truly don’t know how to please a girl. But I can pledge you on my honor that if you’re willing to accept, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to you after we’re married.”
His manner was sincere, and hearing it, the faint resentment in Hongdou’s heart dissolved considerably, while shyness rose up once more in its place. She stayed quiet for a good while, and once her heart wasn’t pounding quite so fast, she finally said, with a touch of feigned annoyance: “Yesterday it was still an engagement—how did it become a wedding today.”
Though she was expressing displeasure, her attitude was already quite clear, and He Yunqin’s spirits lifted at once as if clouds had parted to reveal the sun: “The reason I came so early today is precisely for this matter. To win your mother’s and brother’s understanding, I’ve already explained the reason to them just now. Standing before you, there’s even less need to hide anything.”
And so he told her of the previous night’s events: “Because of the scandalous rumor Chen Baidie fabricated three months ago, people have long mistaken things between Duan Mingyi and me. After learning of Lu Jingheng’s scheme at the birthday banquet, the Duan family came to our house last night in a fury, demanding an explanation. Earlier, to resolve the matter of Bai Haili harassing you, I had already spoken to my parents about proposing to you. My mother knew I was fond of you, and to silence the Duan family on the spot, she acted rashly and moved up the wedding date without consulting me.”
Hongdou was startled—so that was the reason. What had happened that night in the card room had been far too memorable; it counted, in a sense, as a secret shared between her and He Yunqin. So when he mentioned the Lu and Duan families, she understood the twists and turns of it almost at once, without him needing to elaborate.
But what she hadn’t expected was that He Yunqin would be so forthright about it.
He Yunqin cleared his throat: “Though it was a hasty decision made under the circumstances, I have no wish to wrong you. The reason I came today is, first, to propose, and second, to apologize. And when we formally meet next week, my parents will apologize to your aunt again for this. In the end, everything depends on how you feel about it.” Truth be told, if Hongdou genuinely didn’t wish to be wronged, it wasn’t as though he had no other way of dealing with Bai Haili.
But that particular thought, he intended to keep buried in his heart for the rest of his life.
He had lowered himself and shown no intention of concealing the full course of events, and though Hongdou still felt some resentment in her heart, it had softened considerably. It was only maidenly reserve that kept her from readily responding.
Unable to gauge Hongdou’s feelings, He Yunqin glanced at her and fell quiet as well. After a long moment he said: “Hongdou.”
Hongdou tilted her face up slightly: “What.” He had only called her name, and said nothing more.
Her tone was soft, and how could He Yunqin fail to notice the subtle shift in her manner? He felt a stir of something like being moved, hesitated a moment, and finally, unable to suppress the longing in his heart, reached out and gently pinched her soft, rosy cheek.
Hongdou startled as if struck by electricity, hastily stepping back, feeling the spot he had just touched tingle unbearably, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat as she stamped her foot: “What are you doing.”
He Yunqin’s heart was pounding no slower than Hongdou’s, his face heating up for no reason. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, about to extricate himself somehow, when he heard Mrs. Yu knocking outside: “Mr. He.”
It seemed she’d noticed he’d been in Hongdou’s room for quite a while, and was worried the He family’s stewards might gossip about it once they returned.
Everything that needed to be laid bare between them had been laid bare. After a moment of silence, He Yunqin said to Hongdou, whose face was still flushed rosy: “Then I’ll go out and discuss the wedding arrangements with your aunt.”
Hongdou pouted and refused to look at him. His heart felt inexplicably full, like a pond brimming with spring water, and afraid she might see the laughter in his eyes, he lingered a moment before walking to the door and letting himself out.
The marriage was quickly and formally put on the agenda. Out of a sense of guilt toward their future second daughter-in-law, the He family was determined to give the Yu family great face—besides exchanging betrothal cards and selecting an auspicious date for He Yunqin and Yu Hongdou, they also followed the old customs and sent an extravagant betrothal gift to the Yu family. As for the wedding itself, considering the young couple’s preferences, they arranged it entirely in the Western style, sparing no effort to perfect every detail. After all the fuss, it wasn’t merely lavish—it verged on outright extravagance.
Compared to when the eldest son had married Miss Duan, the second son’s wedding was even grander still.
Within a few days the news spread through the Shanghai Bund like a spring breeze, and everyone knew the He family was about to marry off a St. John’s University coed in glorious style.
The papers reported: “The second son of this city’s Chamber of Commerce chairman He Mengmei, He Yunqin, courtesy name Zonglin, is to wed St. John’s honor student Miss Yu of the Yu family, Yu Hongdou, on September 12th. The wedding will be held at the Majestic Hotel, with refreshments to be served; all sectors of society are welcome to attend.”
Bai Haili, in all his calculations, had never imagined He Yunqin would actually marry Yu Hongdou. Not wishing to sting his own pride, he’d been too lazy to read the papers these past few days. That day, just as he was about to go out, a servant brought him an invitation card.
Bai Haili looked it over—it was a large red card embossed in gold, a wedding invitation. He flipped it open where the servant held it, and the words “Majestic Hotel” on the inner page struck him as glaringly offensive.
The servant said: “The He family’s Second Young Master specially had this sent over, inviting the master to drink wedding wine at the Majestic.”
After all, just a few days ago he’d boasted to his own men that Yu Hongdou would sooner or later be his. In front of his subordinates, Bai Haili felt thoroughly humiliated. He gave a cold snort, didn’t even take the card, and got into his car with a sullen face.
Author’s note: This Hong Dou Sheng Min Guo – Chapter has a red envelope.