Chapter 10: Engagement

Li Muta walked to the front of the Tian family courtyard with his hands behind his back. Tian Yun, who was squatting in the courtyard picking vegetables while humming a song, looked up and, seeing Li Muta, smiled shyly and said:

"Uncle Li!"

She then put down the vegetables in her hands, stood up quickly, and called out to the house:

"Father! Uncle Mutan is here."

"It's me."

Li Muta responded with a smile, looking Tian Yun up and down.

The girl had grown into a graceful young woman over the past three years, with a well-proportioned figure. Although not exceptionally beautiful, her features were pleasant, and her smile had a unique charm.

"Very good, very good." Li Muta lifted his hand from behind his back, revealing a large goose.

"Uncle Li, you're too polite."

Tian Yun was taken aback when she saw Li Muta carrying something, and upon a closer look, she exclaimed in surprise:

"Is this a goose?"

According to the "Rites of Zhou: The Marriage Ceremony," it is said: "In the marriage ceremony, the groom presents a goose as a token of engagement."

In the state of Yue, when a man wished to propose to a woman, he would bring a goose to her family. This ritual is known as the presentation of the goose.

For small farming families, the rules were not so strict. In Lijing Village, many people would propose without any gifts, let alone a goose. This was the first time Tian Yun had seen someone present a goose, and she only just realized what was happening.

"Do you like my Xiangping?"

Li Muta laughed heartily, teasing her.

Tian Yun's face turned red from her ears to her neck. Out of modesty and shyness, she stammered, trying to cover it up, but she was afraid Li Muta would take it seriously, so she said:

"I do!"

Tian Shuishui, who had just stepped out of the house, sighed with relief upon hearing this, feeling a heavy burden lifted from his heart.

As a father, how could he not see that his daughter's heart was already set on Li Xiangping!

However, the boy was always so reserved that it was hard to read his thoughts. Tian Shuishui was also afraid his daughter would be embarrassed, so he never said anything.

"Brother!" Tian Shuishui laughed and called out.

Tian Shuishui had followed Li Muta since he was five years old and joined the army with him at twelve. The three of them had survived together in the army, closer than brothers.

Later, they returned to the village, killed the wealthy Yuan family, and settled down to farming. Li Muta had always taken care of him, giving him land and arranging his marriage.

Tian Shuishui was now closely tied to the Li family, and he had even raised Li Changhu, treating him like his own child.

How could his daughter suffer if she married into the Li family?

Tian Yun, unaware of her father's thoughts, quickly retreated when she saw him come out, which made Li Muta laugh even more.

"Brother, besides the engagement, there's also an important matter," Tian Shuishui said, shaking his head and becoming serious.

"What is it?"

Li Muta looked up, puzzled.

"A few days ago, when I was on the mountain near the Yuan family's ancestral tomb, I heard some noise. When I turned back to look, there was nothing there."

"Are there any surviving members of the Yuan family?" Li Muta's eyebrows shot up, and he spoke with a dark tone.

"I think it's just some distant relatives secretly paying respects," Tian Shuishui said, trying to reassure himself.

"You're right," Li Muta gradually relaxed and nodded at Tian Shuishui. "We did check back then; there were only five people in the Yuan family, and no one was missed."

"Brother, I shouldn't say such ominous things on a good day!" Tian Shuishui slapped himself, making Li Muta chuckle.

Leaving the Tian family, Li Muta walked on the dirt road, his face calm as he gazed thoughtfully at Dali Mountain.

——

After discussing the engagement, Li Muta hummed and hawed as he returned to the courtyard. He crossed the front yard, where only the three brothers were chatting at a wooden table.

The youngest, Li Chijing, was meditating in his room, practicing day and night to make the most of the faint moonlight.

In the courtyard, Li Xiangping was flipping through the "Guidance Technique," the silk scroll crumpled and the ink smudged.

"Brother, be more careful," Li Tongya said with a smile, his knife and brush never stopping as he copied the text onto a wooden slip.

Li Changhu, who was calculating the land contract, raised an eyebrow and said:

"He's been at it all morning."

Li Muta crossed the steps, took a cup of clear tea from the table, and sat down on the steps, saying casually:

"I went to the Tian family to propose."

Hearing this, Li Xiangping jumped up from his chair, his face full of anxiety.

"What did the Tian family say?"

"Tian Yun said she likes you," Li Muta slowly sipped his tea and sighed contentedly.

"Good, good, that's great." Li Xiangping nodded excitedly.

"Ha ha ha ha..." The two older brothers couldn't help but laugh.

"Listen up," Li Muta, thinking of something else, put down his tea cup and said seriously:

"Although the path of immortality is wondrous, who knows what dangers and crises lie ahead? Our Li family is small. If something happens to you, who will carry on the Li name?"

Seeing the young men become serious, Li Muta waved his hand and said:

"This technique is both our family's opportunity and our curse."

"I hurried to arrange Changhu's engagement and wedding, hoping he would quickly have children, in case something happens, our Li family will still have a chance to survive."

"You too," Li Muta pointed at Li Xiangping and sighed at Li Tongya.

"As for Tongya, I'm old and can't persuade you. You have no interest in the women in the village, but you must leave some descendants..."

Li Tongya nodded silently, and after a few breaths, he said:

"Don't worry, Father, I know what to do."

"That's the best."

Li Muta rubbed the white hair at his temples, feeling very worried.

He was almost sixty, though still strong and well-fed, but life is unpredictable. He should arrange the family affairs as soon as possible!

"Father!"

A clear voice broke the somewhat oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard. Li Chijing rushed out of the house and stood before his brothers.

"I'm about to gather eighty-one strands of moonlight and form the Xuanjing Wheel!" Li Chijing said proudly, lifting his head.

"Our Chijing is amazing."

Li Muta, who had heard his youngest son talk about the Xuanjing Wheel, hugged him with joy and laughed heartily.

The brothers were also infected by the joyful atmosphere and smiled. Li Changhu even pinched Li Chijing's cheeks, only letting go when the child complained.

"The next Guidance Symbol will be on the summer solstice."

Li Tongya smiled at the joyful scene in the courtyard and thought:

"We missed the new moon, so the next one will be on the summer solstice, in a few days."

"The path of immortality, Li Tongya is here."

He quietly carved the "Guidance Technique" on the wooden slip, his heart surging with excitement.

(End of Chapter)