Chapter 182: Victory And Defeat
Can’t think about it anymore.
It was simply the darkest moment in Yang Huai’s life.
He got beaten badly, and his left leg was kicked hard. In the next horse race match, his left leg was weak, so his horse’s speed naturally slowed down. How could he outrun Pei Yan?
Pei Qinghe walked up, smiling as she asked: “Young General Yang, are you alright? Shall I have Doctor Bao take a look at you?”
Yang Huai was very prideful and immediately said: “No need. They’re just minor superficial wounds. I have excellent medicine myself.”
Pei Qinghe didn’t press and politely asked: “Would you like to have another match another day?”
Yang Huai instinctively looked toward Pei Yan.
Under the blazing sun, Miss Pei Yan with her disheveled black hair grinned smugly, her fists clenched with cracking sounds.
Yang Huai felt a surge of hot blood in his chest, unsure if it was anger or some other emotion. After a moment of silence, he said through Zhang Kou: “No need for another match. I lost, and I’m convinced.”
“Please have Sixth Sister write a letter, and I’ll take it back.”
Marriage alliance is no small matter; it needs formal discussion with General Yang.
Pei Qinghe nodded: “Very well, I’ll write the letter tonight. You set off tomorrow back to the Guangning Army.”
Yang Huai cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
Pei Qinghe gave Pei Yan a look. Pei Yan strode over casually. Pei Qinghe smiled: “Young General Yang is heading back to the Guangning Army tomorrow. See him off.”
Pei Yan: “Oh!”
Pei Qinghe added: “Go get a bottle of medicine and give it to Young General Yang.”
Pei Yan: “Oh!”
Fierce as a tigress, Pei Yan was exceptionally obedient in front of Pei Qinghe. Yang Huai couldn’t help but fantasize; if Pei Yan were like this in front of him, being her son-in-law wouldn’t be so bad…
“What are you dawdling for? Get going.”
Yang Huai snapped out of his daydream, cupped his hands to Pei Qinghe, and left only after she smiled and nodded.
He limped back to his house.
A personal soldier wanted to follow inside to serve and apply medicine. The other personal soldiers held him back: “Miss Pei Yan is getting the medicine. We’ll wait outside; no need to go in.”
Moments later, Pei Yan brought Lu Family Medicine over.
Yang Huai had just taken off his upper clothes and was grimacing at the bruises on his body. When Pei Yan came in, he quickly put his clothes back on: “Hey! How did you come in without knocking! Don’t you know men and women should keep their distance!”
Pei Yan said impatiently: “If Cousin Sister Qinghe hadn’t specifically instructed me, I wouldn’t bother applying medicine for you.”
“Besides, in waging war, I’ve seen countless wounded soldiers. If you’re a man, stop dithering.”
Yang Huai was full of anger and simply took off his upper clothes.
As expected, Pei Yan showed no shyness or hesitation, applying the medicine vigorously.
Yang Huai felt heartbroken: “Use less. This Lu Family Medicine is very expensive; one bottle costs ten taels of silver. That’s enough to buy two shi of grain.”
Pei Yan rolled her eyes: “Shut up. After you marry in as a son-in-law, learn from Brother-in-law Zhao Hai. He listens to Sister-in-law Shulan about everything and never nags with nonsense.”
Yang Huai was so angry he shut his mouth.
The medicine was slick, and Pei Yan’s palm was somewhat rough, probably from using too much strength. Yang Huai’s body soon turned red, and even his dark face took on a dark red hue.
The brash Pei Yan didn’t notice at all. After applying the medicine, she told Yang Huai to take off his pants. Yang Huai laughed in anger and snatched the medicine: “I’ll do the rest myself.”
Pei Yan magnanimously didn’t argue with him: “I’ll be off if that’s all.”
She turned to leave.
Yang Huai twitched his mouth and called out to Pei Yan: “Wait. We two still have things to clarify.”
Pei Yan stopped, turned her head, looking puzzled: “I won the horse race, so you become my son-in-law. From now on, the Pei Family Army and Guangning Army form an alliance for mutual assistance. It’s all clear; what’s unclear about it?”
Yang Huai was choked up: “Is that all you’ve thought of? Nothing else?”
Pei Yan was baffled: “What else is there to think about?”
Yang Huai took a deep breath, silently telling himself in his mind not to argue with the clueless blockhead. After repeating it seven or eight times, he finally calmed down a bit: “Once you and I marry, we’ll be husband and wife. We’ll share honor and disgrace, life and death.”
“Our Pei Family doesn’t have that rule.” Pei Yan interrupted Yang Huai: “If life isn’t good, we can divorce. Cancel the marriage certificate and drive the man out of Pei Family Village.”
Yang Huai: “…”
Yang Huai was angry again.
Pei Yan pursed her lips: “Your temper is far worse than Zhao Hai’s. Compared to Shi Yan, you’re even further behind.”
Yang Huai snorted: “If you’re so dissatisfied with me, why did you fight to the death to beat me during the match and had to win?”
Pei Yan also snorted: “Of course because we can’t lose a thousand shi of grain! And I can’t lose face for Pei Yan!”
Yang Huai’s anger surged: “Pei Yan! You’re taking this way too lightly!”
“How can you, a man, be so nagging.” Pei Yan’s patience was exhausted, and she clenched her fist in warning: “Cousin Sister Qinghe isn’t reckless; she suddenly proposed the bet because General Yang hinted at marriage. You’re General Yang’s nephew, and I’m Sixth Sister Pei’s cousin sister. Our marriage is a marriage alliance between Pei and Yang families, the most reliable alliance.”
“It’s a win-win good thing. Where’s the frivolity?”
“Worst case, if we husband and wife don’t get along, we can still divorce. I won’t cling to you. What are you afraid of?”
Yang Huai was speechless.
Pei Yan wasn’t stupid at all.
He was the stupid one.
He had actually fantasized that Pei Yan liked him even a little…
“Actually, you’re fairly handsome, and your body is tall and sturdy.” Pei Yan said: “You’re barely worthy of me.”
Yang Huai was amused by the anger again: “You’ve got some nerve.”
Pei Yan grinned: “You know it.”
After bantering and leaving Yang Huai’s handsome face flushed black and red, Pei Yan left satisfied.
The personal soldiers crowded in, chattering: “Young Master, are you really going to be Miss Pei Yan’s son-in-law?”
“When is the marriage?”
“When do we go to Pei Family Village?”
“We’re all your personal soldiers; we have to follow you there, right? After that, which side do we belong to? If a girl takes a liking to me, can I marry in as a son-in-law?”
Yang Huai, holding back his pent-up anger all afternoon, coldly snorted: “If you’re so eager, just stay here; no need to go back with me.”
The personal soldiers laughed awkwardly: “Young Master, don’t be angry. We’re rough men; we speak without thinking.”
“We were too nosy; I’ll slap myself.”
They lightly pretended to slap both sides of their faces.
Yang Huai was annoyed and directly shooed them away: “Get out, all of you get out!”
Inside the house, Pei Qinghe softly said to Pei Yan: “General Yang has always wanted to form a marriage alliance with our Pei Clan. He wrote several times before, but I politely refused each time. Shi Yan abandoned his family and career to follow me wholeheartedly; I can’t betray him.”
“This time, General Yang sent Yang Huai over and said in the letter he wants Yang Huai to be your son-in-law. I was actually a bit hesitant.”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to force you.”
“In today’s horse race, I gave you the decision. If you’re willing, you’d find every method to win the bet. If not, the thousand shi of grain would be compensation gift to General Yang.”
Give some monthly votes to celebrate the bickering couple mua!(*╯3╰)
