Old Chen quickly set down his teacup. “Little Qing, didn't you want to test your skills in a duel? When the time comes, you can help them capture Zhao Wen.”
Ning Qingzhu's eyes lit up at his words, and she nodded excitedly. She had been eager to try her hand at a real fight for a long time!
From then on, the subsequent arrangements were very simple.
Xu Qing worked through the night to purchase bridal attire, jewelry, and some spare wedding candies, while Qiu Zhiya went out to rent a small courtyard.
Early the next morning, everyone began decorating the courtyard to set the mood.
Red lanterns hung all along the eaves, and large “Double Happiness” characters were pasted on both sides of the front door. Festive cheer radiated from every corner, causing even passing pedestrians to steal a few extra glances.
“Isn't this... a bit too ostentatious?” Qiu Zhiya asked, staring blankly at the decorated courtyard.
“That's exactly the effect we want,” Old Chen said with a laugh.
He then took out a basket and hung it right over the crook of Qiu Zhiya's arm. The basket was packed to the brim with wedding candies, peanuts, and melon seeds.
“Take this basket to the streets and hand out wedding candies to everyone you see. Spread the word that you're getting married.”
Grit-toothed, Qiu Zhiya cradled the basket in her arm, let out a cold snort, and headed toward the street.
She wore light makeup today, with a touch of cinnabar accentuating the ends of her eyebrows. Her entire face instantly appeared exceptionally captivating, and her eyes held a bit more allure than usual.
“Hehe, are you getting married, young lady?”
“Congratulations! I wonder who has the good fortune to marry such a beautiful girl.”
“Yes, indeed, hahaha! She looks just like a fairy.”
The people who received the wedding candies along the way were all delighted. They offered their congratulations one after another while praising her beauty.
Qiu Zhiya's originally cold face softened, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Before long, almost every street and alley knew that a girl as beautiful as a fairy was getting married in that small courtyard. The neighborhood children also gathered in groups to ask for wedding candies.
After making a full round of the neighborhood, her once-full basket of wedding candies was completely empty.
Upon returning to the courtyard, she tossed the basket onto the table.
“The wedding candies are all gone, and everyone nearby knows I'm getting married. Is that enough?” Qiu Zhiya grumbled.
“Good, good.” Old Chen chuckled, but then his tone shifted. “However, if we're going to put on a show, we have to do it right. You're still missing a groom.”
Qiu Zhiya was dumbfounded. A groom too? Why not just consummate the marriage while they were at it?
“That's quite enough!” she barked, her face flushing with anger.
Seeing that she was truly angry, Old Chen quickly waved his hands to stop teasing her.
Knock, knock, knock.
Right then, a knock sounded at the gate. Old Chen took the opportunity to slip away and open it, lest she lose her temper and beat up an old man.
When Old Chen opened the gate and saw the scene outside, he froze.
“Qiu Zhiya, you might really need to pick a groom first,” Old Chen said with a bitter laugh.
Qiu Zhiya looked over in confusion, only to be instantly dumbfounded. Standing outside the gate were the very people she had just given wedding candies to. Now, some held vegetables and fruits, while others were even clutching live chickens.
“Young lady, we brought some things for you,” one of them said with a smile.
“Yes, yes! We figured for such a big occasion as a wedding, we neighbors should lend a hand.”
The crowd chimed in as they carried their gifts into the courtyard. Old Chen looked at the pile of goods. My goodness, there were even clothes for a newborn baby...
An elderly woman walked over and gently took Qiu Zhiya's hand.
“My dear, we won't eat your wedding candies for free. When your wedding day comes, we will all help out to bring you some good luck,” the old woman said warmly.
Qiu Zhiya could only nod with a smile. Although she was still somewhat bewildered, the smile on her face was genuine.
Once the neighbors finished placing their gifts and left, closing the gate behind them, the four of them stared at the courtyard full of items and fell into silence.
What were they supposed to do now? It felt like their fake setup had become all too real.
“I think we should have someone play the groom for now,” Old Chen suggested.
“I will!” Xu Qing blurted out. The other three immediately stared at him.
Xu Qing swallowed hard. “Cough, what I mean is, I can give it a try.”
“I think he'll do perfectly,” Old Chen agreed, nodding. One of their own was better than an outsider, and it would make coordination much easier.
“Hmph.” Qiu Zhiya let out a cold snort and retreated to her room.
“Cough, cough.” Old Chen cleared his throat. “Then it's settled. Xu Qing, go buy a groom's outfit. Get it in your size.”
“Understood.” Xu Qing nodded and turned to leave.
With only Old Chen and Ning Qingzhu left in the courtyard, the young girl, having no other tasks, sat on a stone bench and began eating some of the gifted fruit.
Old Chen sat down beside her and sighed with satisfaction. “Ah, this old man's scheme is truly killing two birds with one stone, hahaha.”
“Uncle Chen, what do you mean by 'killing two birds with one stone'? Aren't we here to catch a thief?” Ning Qingzhu asked, puzzled.
“What does a little kid like you know?” Old Chen waved his hand dismissively. That night, he had overheard every word of the conversation between Qiu Zhiya and Xu Qing when they were booking the rooms.
Even just now, when Xu Qing seemingly went to buy the bridal wear purely to complete the mission, Old Chen had clearly seen the corners of the kid's mouth twitch upward slightly in a hidden smile.
Running out so quickly, he was probably struggling to hold back his laughter, wasn't he?
A pleased, motherly grin spread across Old Chen's face.
However, he didn't expect that Xu Qing would run into some trouble on his way to buy the groom's outfit.
Rate on N.U.
