Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 702: Chapter 475: Truly Fated

Seeing Little Rice hurriedly returning to her room, Wei Ziang raised an eyebrow, somewhat understanding.

It seems Little Rice has been enlightened by someone and is finally starting to consider the matter.

Wei Ziang wasn’t in a hurry; as long as Little Rice had even a small inkling in her heart, he could just wait patiently for her to catch on.

Moreover, what he said before wasn’t a lie to Little Rice.

If Little Rice truly decided not to marry, not to wed anyone, he definitely wouldn’t marry anyone else either.

The two of them tacitly maintained silence about this matter, as if nothing had happened.

Even their interactions showed no change, at least, no one noticed any difference from before.

Of course, right now, everyone seemed too occupied to care about the pair.

”Running away from marriage? You’ve reached this age and still not married? And you’re running away from marriage?”

It was the first time Jiang Yu acted so rudely, widening his eyes in disbelief at the older girl before him.

The one devouring food in front of him was Yingying, a girl he hadn’t seen for many years since meeting her in Nanyang Prefecture.

Yingying was only a year younger than Jiang Yu, meaning she was twenty this year.

Moreover, she was the daughter of a wealthy family, not just any wealthy family, but that of the Hu family with many estates and a large ranch.

No wonder Jiang Yu was so shocked that their young miss was still unmarried at twenty.

Their journey to Nanyang Prefecture was supposed to begin in a couple of days, with a prepared courtyard for their stay.

With the township examination more than two months away, it would take them half a month to reach Nanyang Prefecture. Jiang Yu could use the remaining time to study and exchange insights with other scholars.

What they didn’t expect was that, right after learning the large ship was docking outside Cheng County, Yingying rushed over.

It’s been six years since they last met, and she somehow managed to find Xiangmu Village.

Just as Jiang Yu finished speaking, his mother knocked him on the head: ”What are you saying, talking to a girl like that?”

Jiang Yu rubbed his head, still feeling shocked, considering he was twenty-one with no bride yet, which seemed incredible.

Fortunately, Yingying wasn’t bothered; probably heard similar comments from others over the years, not just Jiang Yu.

Yingying continued to eat spicy fried potatoes, smiling at Aunt Jiang saying, ”Aunt Jiang, it’s fine. My situation is indeed unusual, but I don’t want to marry just anyone.”

Ignoring his mother’s signals, Jiang Yu curiously asked, ”Then isn’t your family pressuring you? I see many families forcing daughters to marry.”

Who would’ve known Yingying would lift her chin proudly, ”They wouldn’t dare; you see, I have a fiancé with a particularly distinguished status.”

That statement left everyone baffled.

Like Yingying, Little Rice had a bowl of spicy fried potatoes. Over the years, the yield of rapeseed oil increased, and techniques for squeezing oil from soybeans and peanuts matured, broadening the table beyond animal fat.

Hearing Yingying’s claim, Little Rice was curious too: ”Yingying sis, since you have a fiancé, why not marry?”

This made Yingying suddenly feel a bit guilty.

”Well, it’s quite a story. My engagement with that fiancé ended long ago; the token of betrothal was given to Little Rice and Little Wei.”

Everyone froze upon hearing this.

Besides Jiang Hu and Jiang Wei in the fields, and Liu Ze with his wife Xiao Xue taking Little Bun to town, everyone else was home.

Little Rice wanted spicy potato fries, and Second Aunt had someone prepare them. Coincidentally, Yingying came over; both girls have always been carefree.

So she shared half the spicy potato fries with Little Rice and ate with no reservations, not surprising at all.

But hearing Yingying’s statement left everyone momentarily stunned.

They all knew she referred to the Jade Safety Buckle.

Among those present, aside from Yingying herself, only Second Aunt didn’t know Wei Ziang’s peculiar reaction when Yingying sent the gift.

Perhaps worried about misunderstandings, Yingying quickly clarified.

”Let me put it this way, have you heard of our Duke Protector?”

Everyone nodded collectively, having been briefed by palace emissaries recently. The Duke Protector was renowned for his battlefield prowess during the Xu Yu dynasty’s turmoil at the borders, his father and he were credited for saving the empire.

But they also knew the Duke Protector had only one son, who met an untimely fate due to treachery years ago.

Hearing this brought Yingying’s appetite down.

”Ah, my mother was like sisters with the Duke’s son’s wife, though I’ve never met her, my mother still keeps the gifts given by her.”

”The Duke Protector had only one son and one grandson, younger than me by a year.”

”Their families arranged our betrothal since childhood; those two Jade Safety Buckles were our tokens.”

”But fourteen years ago, during the nationwide drought with rebels rising everywhere, Duke Protector’s son, General Wei, was ordered to suppress the rebellion, only to fall prey to villains, with his wife and child abducted.”

Sighing, Yingying continued.

”Alas, what misfortune—the Duke Protector lost his only son and grandson. The Duke’s mansion was left with only an old man, who stayed at the border, unwilling to return.”

”Worst was the betrayal of General Wei by his subordinates, leading to his tragedy. Although the conspirators were executed, his abducted wife and little boy were never found.”

With palpable discomfort in their expressions, Yingying remained unaware, thinking it was empathy in response to Duke Protector’s plight.

”Eventually, the Duke sent the Jade Safety Buckle to my family, telling us his grandson was missing, annulling our marriage, freeing me to marry as I pleased, no longer waiting for his grandson.”

Then she laughed: ”Funny enough, when pondering gifts for you, I came across those two Jade Safety Buckles. It felt perfect, given you were in Cheng County, and Little Rice and Little Wei are twins, one for each, identical.”

Little Rice chuckled dryly, unsure what to say.

Wei Ziang calmly remarked, ”Certainly seems it’s fate.”

Though what this truly meant, each had their own thoughts.