"Getting married, huh …"
Cheng Hao's eyes showed a trace of confusion. He casually picked up the rice wine on the table and took a sip.
His alcohol tolerance was not good. He would get drunk after two cups, but he still liked to take a sip occasionally. It could be considered one of his few hobbies.
"Cai 'er, do you think anyone would want someone like me?"
"Uncle, don't find excuses. In terms of status, although you haven't become a Grand Scholar, you are still a High Scholar. In terms of talent and appearance, even if you are old, you are still a person with both talent and appearance. If you want to get married, there may not be a chance for a girl from a big family, but there are many pretty girls from small families. How could no one want you?"
Perhaps it was because she read and wrote a lot. Although Cai 'er was not old, she matured much earlier than other girls. She could even see through many things more clearly than some adults.
"Cai 'er, don't ask him anymore."
The old man who had been eating silently all this time could not help but sigh and shake his head. He looked a little helpless.
"I've brought up the matter of Hao 'er getting married many times, but he always found all sorts of excuses to refuse. He just doesn't want to get married … I don't have any children, and I treat Hao' er as my own son. In a few years, when my legs die, I'll leave this shop to him.
Although I can't leave him a big family business, he still has some family property. With his conditions, many girls in the suburbs of the capital want to marry him. A few years ago, many matchmakers came, but unfortunately, Hao 'er is stubborn and proud. If he doesn't become a Grand Scholar, he won't get married. No matter who tries to persuade him, it's useless! "
When the old man talked about this, he looked quite helpless. He knew that he did not have many years left to live. He wanted to see Cheng Hao get married and have children before he passed away. That way, he could be at ease. Unfortunately, this kid did not follow the rules.
"Old man, uncle is not proud. He has someone in his heart … Uncle, did you have an engagement with another girl before?" Lan Cai 'er's face was full of curiosity.
"No, don't make wild guesses. I don't have an engagement, and I don't have any other woman in my heart. I just don't want to marry."
Cheng Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't like women, but he always dreamed that he was an immortal. Moreover, he was the kind of immortal who could fly in the sky, burrow into the earth, and pluck the stars and the moon. When he thought of marrying a mortal woman, he couldn't help but feel irritated.
"Uncle, don't tell me you're still thinking about the immortal in your dreams. No matter how good the immortal in your dreams is, it's still just a dream."
Lan Caier knew that Cheng Hao often dreamed that he had become an immortal. She used to treat it as a joke, but now it seemed that this matter had become her uncle's inner demon.
Cheng Hao chuckled and didn't reply. He picked up the rice wine on the table and took a big gulp. Afterwards, he walked to the table and continued to paint as if there was no one around. It was as if he didn't want to marry and have children.
Seeing this, Lan Cai 'er and the old man looked at each other and didn't try to persuade him anymore. After cleaning up the table, Cai' er walked to Cheng Hao and looked at the immortals in the painting with an infatuated expression.
"Uncle, your painting skills have improved again!"
.....
Time passed quickly, and another three years passed.
Cheng Hao was still undefeated. However, although he seemed to have no fate with an official career, his achievements in painting and calligraphy were getting better and better. In the suburbs of the capital, his painting and calligraphy were already quite famous. Many officials and scholarly families would send people here just to buy one of Cheng Hao's paintings and calligraphy.
In the past few years, the price of Cheng Hao's paintings and calligraphy had been constantly increasing. It went from one tael of silver to gold, and in the end, it was worth twenty gold.
Not only that, but Cheng Hao's rules for selling his paintings and calligraphy had become stricter and stricter. He would only sell one painting at the beginning of every month and would not sell any other time.
However, the more it was like this, the more people were willing to pay a high price for a painting and calligraphy. It was said that the paintings and calligraphy that Cheng Hao sold in his early years had now been sold for a hundred gold. Gradually, Cheng Hao even had the title of Painting Immortal.
In his paintings, whether it was the mountains and rivers, flowers and birds, or various people, they all gave off an immortal aura. To mortals who yearned for the life of immortals, even if they couldn't become immortals, buying a painting and calligraphy of Cheng Hao and keeping it at home was excellent.
The current Lan Caier was already a thirteen year old girl. Moreover, she was a talented girl who was famous throughout the suburbs of the capital. There was an endless stream of people who came to propose marriage. In order to avoid arousing suspicion, Cai Er came to Cheng Hao's shop less and less. She probably wouldn't have the opportunity to come again after she got married.
In this regard, Cheng Hao felt that it was a pity. He had practically watched this child grow up. Although she was young, she had great talent in painting and calligraphy. If she could study under him for a few more years, she would very likely become a great master of painting and calligraphy in the future. However, as a woman, she couldn't avoid marriage in the end. This made Cheng Hao feel that it was a pity.
Slowly walking to the door, Cheng Hao drank a mouthful of wine. Looking at the street outside the shop, he moved a stool and sat quietly by the door.
It was already winter. At this moment, some snowflakes gradually drifted down from the sky. Slowly, the snowflakes became heavier and heavier. The first snow of the year silently fell from the sky.
The temperature immediately dropped.
When the snowflakes landed on Cheng Hao's face, they quickly melted into ice water. He raised his head to look at the hazy sky. After a long while, a perplexed expression appeared on his face.
Over the past few years, although he had lived his ordinary life day after day, for some reason, he always felt that it was unreal. He always felt that he didn't belong here. The boundless sky seemed to be the place where he should go.
Perhaps it was because of the cold weather and snow, but the matchmakers in the shop next door had all disappeared today. After drinking two mouthfuls of wine, Cheng Hao was about to enter the shop when he discovered Lan Caier walking towards him with red eyes.
"Uncle!" Cai Er's voice carried a sobbing tone. Before she even reached him, her tears had already fallen.
"What's wrong? Did your parents scold you?"
"No … But they betrothed me to someone else! I'm only thirteen, and I don't want to get married yet. I want to stay by uncle's side and study for a few more years! " Cai Er seemed to feel very wronged. She felt some resentment towards her parents for betrothing her to someone else without her consent.
"Is that so … Which family's young talent were you betrothed to?" Cheng Hao sighed. After all, this was someone else's family matter. Although he had some status in the capital now, this wasn't something he could casually interfere with.
"I don't know. This morning, I accidentally heard my father say to those matchmakers that I've already been betrothed to someone else, so they don't have to come anymore!"
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