Gentleman Rich Person Sir, I'm NOT Yours!

Sweet Tidings on Soft Winds

The rustic pavilion had changed, over the years.

Refurbished in fits and starts throughout the years by various people, it had now turned into a highly favoured spot by many people for a breather or simply to drink in the soothing view of the river.

A few stunted bushes from before, haphazardly planted by untrained hands now had grown up wonderfully, under the diligent care of Xiao Yu, touched by the goodwill of others that tried soo much to cheer him up.

The spot is now a veritable fairy's bower. With a gracefully constructed structure and sweetly smelling vegetation all around.

An unexpected byproduct of his unorthodox arrival, the village had hilariously saw several of its youngsters 'accidentally apprenticed' to several tradesmen that were looking for capable understudies or successors, over their unflagging enthusiasm for the ongoing pavilion improvement project.

The village now could boast of having several young, strapping journeyman smiths, in several trades.

Not a few lady mothers and kunze stopped Xiao Yu and his grandmother, thanking fervently for providing the impetus to the careers of their children.

Initially confused with this phenomenon, he was patiently taught about the significance of quanyuan's instincts and posturing, in the face of a highly desirable kunze.

Highly amused by the alarmed expression on his face, Grandma Shan reassured Xiao Yu that nothing is to expected to come out from this.

"Both you and those quanyuans are much too young and not to be held to youthful enthusiastic gestures. When their passions have ebbed, and sober maturity comes knocking, only then shall we look deeper at their intentions."

Patting his tender hands in her palm, she snorted, "Thinking of courting my precious Yu-er with a measly shack?! Hah! I shall not let my Yu-er go for so lightly a showing!"

Thinking back over this conversation, an unconscious smile rose in his pretty face. Causing several passers-by to sigh in appreciation of the  wonderful sight.

'Grandma maybe unreasonable in some matters, but it is all for my advantage', he thought to himself.

Arriving at his destination, he was greeted by several voices. It was few maidens and kunze from the village. These young people had accustomed to gather at this space for conversations and companionship among their peers.

Earning it's current nickname, 'Pavilion of Whispering Blooms'.

Seeing their cheerful chatter brought a sweet smile to his face. Lightly ascending the stone steps to the structure, Xiao Yu caught the tail end of the current conversation.

" -too cheap, ah! After making you wait for soo long!!"

A chorus of agreement broke out. Some was even vehemently aggressive.

Xiao Yu looked towards his neighbour occupying the same bench. Raising an eyebrow in a covert request for information.

The girl, a sweetly-voiced tianyin, discreetly whispered the latest gossip.

"A-Ning jie's family received a visit from the matchmaker yesterday. The Jun household finished their mourning last week, and sent the lady over to negotiate over appropriate things."

Seeing his puzzled look, she hissed out an additional hint.

"Dowries."

"Ah!" Xiao Yu nodded knowingly.

The Jun madame was well-known for her skinflint tendencies. And now without a sensible, dignified mother-in-law to rein in her ridiculous nature, it is only to be expected that she will try to shortchange her son's future in-laws.

"Trying to cash in on the affections between Zhi-gege and you, A-Ning, this mother-in-law of yours is too shameless!"

"It can't be helped, his late grandmother's illness consumed a lot of their funds. And so was the mourning period. I'm just glad to be marrying him, finally."

"A-Ning jie, A-Yu is going to be impolite. This kindness of yours will harm you later."

All eyes went to the prettiest young kunze among them.

With an air of imparting great wisdom, he continued, " What that is obtained easily won't be treasured for long.

And small-minded people, hates having to be grateful to others the most."

All fell silent. 'Small-minded', this phrase described Jun family's madame perfectly.

"A-Ning jie, Zhi-gege better treat you right in the future. Or else all of us here will have an accounting with him."

Grim nodding accompanied this statement.

"Ah, let us not be too down. Speaking of which, Xiao Yu, I didn't know that you are so wise!" A-Ning tried to lighten the atmosphere.

And with that, Xiao Yu got caught in a round of gentle teasings.

'It won't be long before a matchmaker will be visiting you!' was the gist of most.