Chapter 147 - 97: Advancing to the 4th Lotus Realm
But Xu Lei just smiled. "Chun’er, Yiyi, don’t worry.
Now that you’re marrying me, I promise I’ll give you a good life.
I won’t let you suffer."
Upon hearing Xu Lei’s assurances, Su Chun’s family was naturally delighted.
In short, now that Xu Lei had returned to secular life, the matter of his marriage was settled.
「The next day.」
As it happened, the next day was an auspicious one.
So Xu Lei had the betrothal gifts delivered immediately.
Box after box of betrothal gifts arrived, giving a tremendous amount of face to both Chun’er and Yiyi.
Sister-in-law Lin was, of course, very pleased as well.
Having arranged such a good marriage for her little sister, her own standing with her family had improved considerably.
However, regarding the matter of praying for a child, Sister-in-law Lin said she was still hesitant. She hadn’t even told her husband yet and didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Xu Lei didn’t feel it was his place to press her further on the matter.
’It doesn’t matter. I’m about to have a younger version of Sister-in-law Lin as a wife, after all.’
Xu Lei no longer cared whether Sister-in-law Lin went to pray for a child or not.
Delivering the betrothal gifts only finalized the engagement; they weren’t formally married yet.
But in the Great Shang, it wasn’t as if men and women could only meet after marriage.
So that day, Xu Lei took Chun’er and Yiyi on an outing to get to know each other better.
As for how he would make a living with this new identity, Xu Lei already had a plan.
He planned to open a restaurant in town.
He would then introduce some of Earth’s delicacies as his signature dishes.
The point was to establish a legitimate source of income for himself.
That would be enough to give him some status and influence in the local community.
Xu Lei had been steadily working on these plans over the past few days.
’Of course, since I’m sitting on a fortune, it’s just a simple investment.’
Xu Lei was in no particular hurry.
"Xu Shan!"
What Xu Lei hadn’t expected, however, was that while they were out walking, a beautiful young madam with her hair in a bun, accompanied by a maid, suddenly spotted him. Her gaze hardened as she called out, "You’re back?"
Beside him, the expressions of both Chun’er and Yiyi changed slightly.
They had heard from Sister-in-law Lin that the reason Xu Shan had become a monk all those years ago was because he’d had his heart broken by a woman during his first brush with love.
This woman had been Xu Shan’s childhood sweetheart, someone he thought he would spend the rest of his life with.
But his sweetheart ended up marrying into a wealthier family instead.
Completely heartbroken, Xu Shan had renounced the world and entered a monastery.
"Greetings, Madam."
Of course, Xu Lei merely nodded at the young madam. "Chun’er, Yiyi, let’s go," he said.
After all, Xu Lei had none of the real Xu Shan’s memories, so he couldn’t be bothered to exchange pleasantries with this woman, let alone explain his amnesia.
He had never planned on meeting her, so bumping into her on the outskirts of town was unexpected.
"Xu Shan, it wasn’t me who wronged you!"
But when Xu Lei ignored her, she ran over to block his path. "It’s because you had no prospects!
I couldn’t marry you!
And even so, couldn’t we have just been ordinary friends?
Why are you pretending you don’t know me?"
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, making her look terribly aggrieved.
"I’m not pretending. I was injured in an earthquake and hurt my head."
Xu Lei’s brow furrowed, but he still explained, "I have amnesia, Madam.
Of course, based on what you’ve said, I can guess who you are.
But the past is the past, let’s leave it be. There’s no point in discussing it further."
"Madam Li!"
Su Chun spoke up then as well. "Please stop harassing Brother Xu Shan. He’s my fiancé now!"
"What? Amnesia?
Does that sort of thing really happen?
Xu Shan, are you really going to be this heartless?"
Madam Li was stunned. She then turned to Su Chun, her eyes widening. "You? Aren’t you little sister Chun’er from the Su Family?
You’re really going to marry Xu Shan?
You’re actually marrying *him*?
An over-the-hill monk who just left his monastery?"
"Our affairs are none of your concern, Madam Li!"
Su Chun’s pretty face had gone cold. "I suggest you focus on your own husband, Madam Li!" she said sharply.
"Worry about your own husband! And stay away from other women’s fiancés!"
Xu Lei was rather surprised.
’I didn’t expect the gentle, delicate-looking Chun’er to have such a sharp side to her.’
Madam Li’s face stiffened at her words.
After all, the fact that her husband had taken a concubine because she couldn’t bear him a child was already common gossip.
"Xu Shan is just my cast-off!"
Stung by Su Chun’s retort, she grew angry and shot back, "Su Chun, you’re picking up a man I didn’t want and treating him like a treasure! What’s there to be so smug about!"
With that, she turned and stormed off.
Xu Lei was left speechless.
After a moment, Xu Lei quickly comforted her. "Chun’er, are you alright? Don’t be angry."
"Brother Xu Shan, are *you* alright?" Su Chun asked at the same time.
He was worried she was angry, while she was worried that the amnesiac Xu Lei’s old feelings would be rekindled upon seeing his former flame.
After all, the Su Family was not in a good position, making it difficult for her to find a good husband.
With her looks, she could have easily found a decent family to marry into as a concubine.
But of course, she didn’t want to be a concubine. And to be a principal wife, most families insisted on a match of equal social standing.
Moreover, Xu Lei was handsome, and she had a good feeling about him after spending time together, so she was naturally afraid of losing him.
After all, Xu Shan had been so heartbroken over Madam Li back then that he had joined a monastery.
"Of course I’m alright."
Xu Lei smiled. "I couldn’t care less about her. The most important person in my heart now is you!"
Hearing this, a sweet expression blossomed on Su Chun’s face.
「A dozen or so days later.」
Xu Lei and Su Chun were married.