Yang Ruxin naturally didn’t oppose such matters. Luo Qiaoqiao was already twenty, practically an old maid in this era. Previously, when she visited Luo Da and Luo Er, their greatest wish was for Luo Qiaoqiao to have a good match.

Ma Laiwang himself is quite decent. If they really get married, they can just live separately at worst.

To Yang Ruxin’s surprise, Zhao Xinghua volunteered to help by asking Luo Qiaoqiao what she thought.

"Your Aunt Xinghua is really losing it," Wang Hehua whispered in Yang Ruxin’s ear. "She has two motives for going."

Yang Ruxin blinked: "Two motives?"

"To ask Luo Qiaoqiao what she thinks. If she really likes Ma Laiwang, then Xinghua will have done a good deed and can play matchmaker. If not, just watch, she’ll definitely try to introduce her own son."

Yang Ruxin giggled. Is this really okay? Truly, parents’ hearts are always concerned for their children.

On the first of March, the transport team set off. The villagers happily sent their families away because going out meant earning silver, and the silver from one trip could sustain a family’s expenses for a year.

As the accompanying Black Hawk cried out and flew away, everyone chatted and laughed. One said they would build a house this year, another said they would get married. There was joy and cheer all around.

Guan Qingshu also joined the convoy going to Beijing, bearing all the hopes of the Guan Family.

"Big cousin," Yang Rusong came to the Yang Family in the afternoon, looking as if he had something to say but hesitated.

"What’s up?" Yang Ruxin gave him a curious look. "Did Yang Baihe make trouble again?"

Yang Rusong shook his head: "She didn’t." She couldn’t make more trouble, having cried and shouted while rejecting Ma Laiwang’s proposal then heading to the town, only to find that the Tian Family was gone entirely, whereabouts unknown. Without silver and connections, Baihe could only return and fuss about her father arranging a marriage for her, but Yang Peili simply ignored her.

In fact, he couldn’t find a family meeting her conditions. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Then what’s bothering you?"

"Someone proposed to me."

Yang Ruxin nodded: "And then?"

"I want you to help me decide." Yang Rusong hesitated. "My parents feel that since I’m not continuing with civil service exams, maybe getting married early to carry on the Yang Family lineage would be good..."

"And what do you think?" Yang Ruxin frowned.

"I don’t want to marry now." Yang Rusong shook his head.

"But you’re not young anymore; it’s an age suitable for marriage, too."

"Big cousin, to be honest, with everything that’s happened, I’ve been thinking a lot." Yang Rusong’s eyes grew bright. "These days, I teach at the academy, but many times I learn from other instructors, chat with them, and realize more deeply that there are always greater people beyond oneself."

"At home before, everyone praised me because I could read, making me feel superior. Now I realize I’m nothing special; compared to them, I’m quite inadequate. Wan Youde is a gardener, yet he crafts various handicrafts excellently; Xu Shifei has great martial skills and can play the flute and paint; Mr. Chu An writes beautifully, and his chess skills are outstanding."

"Whereas I seem to know nothing other than reciting a few literary phrases."

"Well, you’ve gained quite insightful experiences." Yang Ruxin found it somewhat surprising.