Wants to Marry a Wife

"Brother Shirong, let's go toast Third Uncle!"

Beside him, Su Lanxiang was holding her cup properly, patting Su Shirong's arm.

Su Shirong finally came to his senses, clearing his throat to hide his awkwardness, holding his wine cup with a smile: "Alright, Lanxiang, let's go congratulate Fourth Uncle properly."

"I'm going too!" Yuan Ling jumped up.

"Take me along, I want to toast Father too!" Yindou followed suit.

The four youngsters each held a cup of wine and walked to the table where Yuan Jie sat. Su Shirong's cheeks flushed red as he said to Yuan Jie, "Nephew congratulates Fourth Uncle!"

Lanxiang also said, "Lanxiang congratulates Fourth Uncle!"

Yuan Ling raised his cup: "Congratulations, Father!"

Yindou smiled happily and snuggled into Yuan Jie's arms, making Yuan Jie laugh heartily. He hugged his daughter, drank the toasts from the youngsters, then patted Yuan Ling's head, saying, "Ling'er, although your father has become the head of the Wutong Academy branch, you must not slack off. You must study even harder to pass the imperial exams and not disappoint the family's expectations. Don't think that just because your father is a dean, you can rest easy, understand?"

Yuan Ling nodded: "I understand, Ling'er will study hard."

"Good child, go back and sit!" Yuan Jie patted his son's head and spoke to his children and nephews and nieces.

The four youngsters returned to their own table. Su Lanxiang and Yindou, two cousins, gathered together, chatting and laughing. Su Shirong's gaze drifted to Bailu, and he listened carefully to the sounds from her side.

Bailu and Yuan Yu were both stewards of the two families and were familiar with each other, so they sat close. Bailu was chatting happily with Yuan Yu, though Su Shirong didn't know what they were talking about.

Su Shirong silently watched Bailu's lively expression and her familiar conversation with Steward Yuan, feeling a pang of jealousy rising in his heart.

Su Shirong drank silently, perhaps emboldened by the wine. After getting half-drunk, he grew bolder and carried his wine cup to find Bailu.

"Young Master Shirong." Bailu quickly stood up when she saw Su Shirong approaching.

"Come, Bailu, I toast you a cup. Thank you for teaching me business these days." Su Shirong stared at Bailu with burning eyes.

Yuan Yu next to them keenly noticed Su Shirong's unusual gaze and quietly stood up, watching the two.

Bailu was unaware and simply thought Su Shirong was toasting her, so she raised her cup graciously and smiled, "It's just a small favor, Young Master Shirong, no need to be so polite."

Then Bailu raised her cup and drank it all in one go. Seeing Bailu being so polite, Su Shirong was extremely happy and downed his wine in one gulp. He felt as sweet as if he had drunk honey. Holding his wine cup, he walked back as if treading on cotton, floating as if in a trance.

"Oh dear, Brother Shirong, you're drunk. Look at your face, so red." Su Lanxiang noticed her brother's odd behavior and quickly called for Mrs. Sun: "Mother, Brother drank too much."

Mrs. Sun came over and saw that Su Shirong was indeed a bit drunk. She laughed and scolded, "This child, looks like he's happy for his Fourth Uncle and drank too much. Such a shame!"

Su Shirong was dazed and heard his mother talking. He waved his arms randomly, grabbed Mrs. Sun's hand, and smiled: "Mother, I'm not drunk."

"Pah, talking nonsense." Mrs. Sun laughed and spat, then called a maid to fetch some servants to send Su Shirong home.

"Mother, I'm really not drunk, I just... want to get married..."

Su Shirong said this, then tilted his head and fell sound asleep in Mrs. Sun's arms.