Chapter 825: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 825: Threats (2)
The materials for the second phase of the winery project arrived within a month, and with the temperature rising each day, Master Lu brought his team to start work on the 16th of February.
In the study, Mo Yan was bent over the desk, calculating the accounts for the construction site, when Mo Qingze walked in, holding a stack of bright red invitations.
"Yan'er, today is already the 20th of February, and there’s less than half a month until your coming-of-age ceremony. You should send out the invitations now. Take a look and see if anyone is missing or if there’s anyone you don’t want to invite," Mo Qingze said, handing over the invitations along with a drafted guest list.
Mo Yan put down her pen, picked up the list, and glanced over it. Seeing that everyone who should be invited was on the list, she nodded and said, "Father, let’s go with this. But what about the main guest and the assistant?"
For a girl's coming-of-age ceremony, the main guest, known as the "Zhengbin," is a female elder of virtue and talent. The assistant, or "Zanzhe," helps the main guest with the ceremony and is usually a close friend or sister of the person coming-of-age.
Mo Qingze pointed to two names on the list and said, "I plan to ask Aunt Han to be the main guest, and for the assistant, let’s have Lan girl. Xin’er is still too young."
"Mm!" Mo Yan nodded, which was pretty much what she had expected.
Looking at his eldest daughter, who was about to come of age, Mo Qingze felt a flood of emotions. It seemed like just yesterday that she was a small, soft child, and now, in the blink of an eye, she had grown up.
The scenes from the past flashed in his mind, and he thought about how, while he had been away at the academy for years, his eldest daughter had shouldered all the household responsibilities. She had been both a sister and a mother, taking care of her younger brother and sister. His heart ached, like it was soaked in brine, sour and bitter.
The hardships his children had endured, especially his eldest daughter, who had worked so hard, only for the family to find peace and stability after fleeing to the capital—he felt deeply guilty for all the struggles she had faced. It was through her efforts that the family had been able to live better lives, and he had more time to make up for the past.
However, all of this had been achieved through his daughter’s hard work. As a father, he felt like he had benefited from her success. It was because of her that he had been able to continue his studies, otherwise, he would never have been able to achieve his academic goals, let alone attend the upcoming spring examination.
No matter how good life had become, he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt toward his eldest daughter. He wanted to give her the best and hoped a man would appear who could cherish her, take care of her, and bring her happiness, keeping her free from sorrow or hardship.
"Yan'er, on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, that young man will bring the matchmaker to offer the wedding contract. Once that happens, this engagement will be set in stone. It cannot be easily undone! If you have any doubts, tell me. After all, this is your lifetime matter, and I don’t want you to regret it or suffer," Mo Qingze said gently, his loving face revealing a touch of sadness as he stroked his daughter’s head.
Mo Yan took her father’s hand and, with a firm expression, said, "Father, I believe that happiness is in my hands. Marrying Brother Xiao is my happiness. I believe he won’t disappoint me. Father, you believe in him too, don’t you?"
Mo Qingze’s eyes seemed to be suddenly constricted, and tears began to well up in them. His voice slightly trembled as he replied, "Yes, I believe in him. I believe he will take good care of you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage! You’re right—happiness is in your hands. Remember this always. Do whatever you want to do. I only hope that you can be happy."
Mo Qingze’s reaction seemed as though Mo Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t an engagement but as if she was about to be married off and leave him forever.
"Mm!" Mo Yan nodded vigorously, choking on her words as she buried her face in her father’s chest, unable to speak for a long time.
...
As the Shangsi Festival approached, Xiao Ruiyuan had spent several days in the government office, finally finishing his urgent matters on the first day of March.
(The End of This Chapter)
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