Dao Of The Salted Fish

85. Honest marriage

The next morning, Sun Fuyu helped attach the jade pendant so that it hung off Wen-ge’s waist, and he tied his own too. He also arranged Wen-ge’s hair into the golden hair crown, and adjusted the right lapel so that the robes fell neatly.

Wen Zhihao stood dociley throughout, a little chagrined about his usual way of dress. His excuse was that the original owner’s memories were hazy, so he didn’t know exactly how to wear hanfu! There were just so many fiddly bits…

After Sun Fuyu was finished, he looked at Wen-ge with shining eyes. “Handsome!”

Wen Zhihao immediately shook his head. “No, Xiao Yu is handsome!”

Sun Fuyu lowered his head bashfully. He reached out and held Wen-ge’s hand.

The children were very smart and had gotten ready by themselves, and had already climbed into the flying cart. Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu sat at the front, and took the children to the kitchen.

Sun Fuyu walked alongside Wen-ge with his head held high. Xiao Bai, walking alongside Wen Zhihao, couldn’t help but look at the jade cats hanging from his Uncle Wen’s waist.

“A good morning?” Aunty Liu asked warmly.

Wen Zhihao grinned. “Look at our matching jade pendants! Xiao Yu gifted them!”

Aunty Liu’s eyes narrowed slightly. That look was quickly replaced with a smile at Sun Fuyu. “Xiao Yu, they look lovely.”

“Very beautiful!”

“How cute and adorable!”

“Ahh, Xiao Fuyu, they’re very romantic!”

Sun Fuyu beamed brighter as Aunty Liu Jing and the other kitchen staff praised the matching jade pendants.

While Wen Zhihao was eating, Aunty Liu Jing unceremoniously dragged Wen Zhihao to a private corner, while telling Sun Fuyu to stay put.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Fuyu, I just need to speak with your Wen-ge briefly,” Aunty Liu said kindly to Sun Fuyu, before pulling Wen Zhihao away.

Wen Zhihao pouted to show his displeasure. He became more serious when Aunty Liu activated one of the quietening talismans he gave her.

“Matching love tokens?” she asked first.

Wen Zhihao perked up. “Do you want to take a closer look?” he asked, lifting up the jade cats.

“No, that isn’t what I meant. While I know that you cultivators form Dao companionships and have dual cultivation, I would prefer to see you honestly marry my son, Xiao Fuyu. You are, aren’t you?”

Wen Zhihao blinked. Dual cultivation! Ah, I forgot about dual cultivation! What is dual cultivation in this world? Wait, what else was it that Aunty Liu said—

“Marry?” Wen Zhihao suddenly had visions of all the planning involved to pull off a wedding, all the formal rituals and processes, and the cost it took...And this was an Ancient China style world! So the rituals would be different!

Wen Zhihao rubbed his forehead. “Aunty Liu, I honestly don’t know what the traditions are. What kind of preparations? Is there a groom price? A dowry?” He looked at Aunty Liu earnestly. “Can I and Xiao Yu elope?”

Aunty Liu crossed her arms. “Don’t even joke.”

“I really don’t know, Aunty.” All that work...

Then Wen Zhihao smiled slightly. “But I’m sure Sun Fuyu would like any happy event. It would be exactly the same as a birthday dinner party, except Sun Fuyu and I are wearing red clothing…”

Aunty Liu’s forehead throbbed. Don’t think she didn’t know what Wen Zhihao was trying to do! “As your aunty, I will make most of the preparations.”

Wen Zhihao grinned. “I’m sure Xiao Yu would be relieved to know that the wedding is in your capable hands. I still have some money to finance the preparations.” To show his sincerity, Wen Zhihao immediately handed over the leftover mortal money from that ridiculous stack of silver banknotes Cheng Yahui had given him over a month ago.

Aunty Liu accepted the money. “I’ll need your eight characters1.”

“...I don’t know.” Wen Zhihao apologetically clasped his hands together. “We don’t need them anyway, since Aunty Liu agrees to the marriage, yes? Can Aunty Liu let me go back to eating again? Look, I think Xiao Yu is starting to get anxious!”

“...”

Liu Jing’s momentary sadness at the reminder that Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu didn’t have biological parents was quickly wiped away by Xiao Wen’s cheekiness.

 

 

After the morning school run, Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu went to visit Sword Crafter Lin Jixuan, who had a large workshop at the edge of the sect.

Lin Jixuan’s defensive arrays alerted her of the visitors. She placed a half-forged sword into a time-stop array and grumpily stomped out to meet them, not even bothering to take off her thick apron.

“You’re the one that Huang Jialing sent?” Lin Jixuan asked. Without giving them time to answer, she continued, “Sword. Payment.”

Sun Fuyu respectfully presented his sword with two hands, while Wen Zhihao passed over his old spatial ring filled with spiritual stones.

Lin Jixuan transferred the pile of stones without emotion. Her lips pursed as she examined Sun Fuyu’s sword, and then examined Sun Fuyu himself.

“You shouldn’t have left it so long before upgrading,” she said. “Don’t leave it so long next time, understand? Come back next week.”

With that, she closed the door on them and headed back to her forge.

Sun Fuyu lingered as his sword went further and further away from him. But he could feel that his sword was respectful of Senior Lin Jixuan, even if it was a tiny bit scared. He took a deep breath and decisively turned away. His sword would be fine.

“Wen-ge, can I borrow your sword again?”

“Of course.”

Wen-ge’s sword sleepily greeted Sun Fuyu, though it slowly woke up some more when Sun Fuyu attached it to his waist. “What does Wen-ge want to do? I’ll follow!”

With his sword now in Lin Jixuan’s hands, Sun Fuyu couldn’t go on any missions. With Wen-ge’s sword in his hands, he needed to accompany Wen-ge in order to protect him!

Ah, Wen Zhihao thought. This is awkward… “Let’s go to the library.”

“The Outer Sect one or the Inner Sect one?”

“The...Inner Sect one? Xiao Yu would have to lead.”—Since Wen Zhihao didn’t even know there was an Inner Sect Library, let alone its location.

Sun Fuyu nodded seriously. “En, then let’s go.” He reached out and took Wen-ge’s hand. “What does Wen-ge want to find in the library? I’ll help!”

Wen Zhihao coughed. “I want to research something…”

“Mn?”

Sun Fuyu’s gaze was bright and open; he looked so eager to help Wen Zhihao.

Wen Zhihao inwardly sighed. Aiya, aiya, I should be honest too…But he couldn’t just say that he had no idea what dual cultivation was (in this world)...

“I want to research about different methods of dual cultivation,” Wen Zhihao said. There had to be more than one way, right?

“!!!”

Sun Fuyu’s eyes widened. Wen-ge wants to read about different dual cultivation methods? He’s holding my hand! He wants to dual cultivate too?

A fire ignited in Sun Fuyu’s eyes. “Come on, Wen-ge, the library is this way!”

85. Honest marriage

The next morning, Sun Fuyu helped attach the jade pendant so that it hung off Wen-ge’s waist, and he tied his own too. He also arranged Wen-ge’s hair into the golden hair crown, and adjusted the right lapel so that the robes fell neatly.

Wen Zhihao stood dociley throughout, a little chagrined about his usual way of dress. His excuse was that the original owner’s memories were hazy, so he didn’t know exactly how to wear hanfu! There were just so many fiddly bits…

After Sun Fuyu was finished, he looked at Wen-ge with shining eyes. “Handsome!”

Wen Zhihao immediately shook his head. “No, Xiao Yu is handsome!”

Sun Fuyu lowered his head bashfully. He reached out and held Wen-ge’s hand.

The children were very smart and had gotten ready by themselves, and had already climbed into the flying cart. Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu sat at the front, and took the children to the kitchen.

Sun Fuyu walked alongside Wen-ge with his head held high. Xiao Bai, walking alongside Wen Zhihao, couldn’t help but look at the jade cats hanging from his Uncle Wen’s waist.

“A good morning?” Aunty Liu asked warmly.

Wen Zhihao grinned. “Look at our matching jade pendants! Xiao Yu gifted them!”

Aunty Liu’s eyes narrowed slightly. That look was quickly replaced with a smile at Sun Fuyu. “Xiao Yu, they look lovely.”

“Very beautiful!”

“How cute and adorable!”

“Ahh, Xiao Fuyu, they’re very romantic!”

Sun Fuyu beamed brighter as Aunty Liu Jing and the other kitchen staff praised the matching jade pendants.

While Wen Zhihao was eating, Aunty Liu Jing unceremoniously dragged Wen Zhihao to a private corner, while telling Sun Fuyu to stay put.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Fuyu, I just need to speak with your Wen-ge briefly,” Aunty Liu said kindly to Sun Fuyu, before pulling Wen Zhihao away.

Wen Zhihao pouted to show his displeasure. He became more serious when Aunty Liu activated one of the quietening talismans he gave her.

“Matching love tokens?” she asked first.

Wen Zhihao perked up. “Do you want to take a closer look?” he asked, lifting up the jade cats.

“No, that isn’t what I meant. While I know that you cultivators form Dao companionships and have dual cultivation, I would prefer to see you honestly marry my son, Xiao Fuyu. You are, aren’t you?”

Wen Zhihao blinked. Dual cultivation! Ah, I forgot about dual cultivation! What is dual cultivation in this world? Wait, what else was it that Aunty Liu said—

“Marry?” Wen Zhihao suddenly had visions of all the planning involved to pull off a wedding, all the formal rituals and processes, and the cost it took...And this was an Ancient China style world! So the rituals would be different!

Wen Zhihao rubbed his forehead. “Aunty Liu, I honestly don’t know what the traditions are. What kind of preparations? Is there a groom price? A dowry?” He looked at Aunty Liu earnestly. “Can I and Xiao Yu elope?”

Aunty Liu crossed her arms. “Don’t even joke.”

“I really don’t know, Aunty.” All that work...

Then Wen Zhihao smiled slightly. “But I’m sure Sun Fuyu would like any happy event. It would be exactly the same as a birthday dinner party, except Sun Fuyu and I are wearing red clothing…”

Aunty Liu’s forehead throbbed. Don’t think she didn’t know what Wen Zhihao was trying to do! “As your aunty, I will make most of the preparations.”

Wen Zhihao grinned. “I’m sure Xiao Yu would be relieved to know that the wedding is in your capable hands. I still have some money to finance the preparations.” To show his sincerity, Wen Zhihao immediately handed over the leftover mortal money from that ridiculous stack of silver banknotes Cheng Yahui had given him over a month ago.

Aunty Liu accepted the money. “I’ll need your eight characters1.”

“...I don’t know.” Wen Zhihao apologetically clasped his hands together. “We don’t need them anyway, since Aunty Liu agrees to the marriage, yes? Can Aunty Liu let me go back to eating again? Look, I think Xiao Yu is starting to get anxious!”

“...”

Liu Jing’s momentary sadness at the reminder that Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu didn’t have biological parents was quickly wiped away by Xiao Wen’s cheekiness.

 

 

After the morning school run, Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu went to visit Sword Crafter Lin Jixuan, who had a large workshop at the edge of the sect.

Lin Jixuan’s defensive arrays alerted her of the visitors. She placed a half-forged sword into a time-stop array and grumpily stomped out to meet them, not even bothering to take off her thick apron.

“You’re the one that Huang Jialing sent?” Lin Jixuan asked. Without giving them time to answer, she continued, “Sword. Payment.”

Sun Fuyu respectfully presented his sword with two hands, while Wen Zhihao passed over his old spatial ring filled with spiritual stones.

Lin Jixuan transferred the pile of stones without emotion. Her lips pursed as she examined Sun Fuyu’s sword, and then examined Sun Fuyu himself.

“You shouldn’t have left it so long before upgrading,” she said. “Don’t leave it so long next time, understand? Come back next week.”

With that, she closed the door on them and headed back to her forge.

Sun Fuyu lingered as his sword went further and further away from him. But he could feel that his sword was respectful of Senior Lin Jixuan, even if it was a tiny bit scared. He took a deep breath and decisively turned away. His sword would be fine.

“Wen-ge, can I borrow your sword again?”

“Of course.”

Wen-ge’s sword sleepily greeted Sun Fuyu, though it slowly woke up some more when Sun Fuyu attached it to his waist. “What does Wen-ge want to do? I’ll follow!”

With his sword now in Lin Jixuan’s hands, Sun Fuyu couldn’t go on any missions. With Wen-ge’s sword in his hands, he needed to accompany Wen-ge in order to protect him!

Ah, Wen Zhihao thought. This is awkward… “Let’s go to the library.”

“The Outer Sect one or the Inner Sect one?”

“The...Inner Sect one? Xiao Yu would have to lead.”—Since Wen Zhihao didn’t even know there was an Inner Sect Library, let alone its location.

Sun Fuyu nodded seriously. “En, then let’s go.” He reached out and took Wen-ge’s hand. “What does Wen-ge want to find in the library? I’ll help!”

Wen Zhihao coughed. “I want to research something…”

“Mn?”

Sun Fuyu’s gaze was bright and open; he looked so eager to help Wen Zhihao.

Wen Zhihao inwardly sighed. Aiya, aiya, I should be honest too…But he couldn’t just say that he had no idea what dual cultivation was (in this world)...

“I want to research about different methods of dual cultivation,” Wen Zhihao said. There had to be more than one way, right?

“!!!”

Sun Fuyu’s eyes widened. Wen-ge wants to read about different dual cultivation methods? He’s holding my hand! He wants to dual cultivate too?

A fire ignited in Sun Fuyu’s eyes. “Come on, Wen-ge, the library is this way!”