I Am This Type of Woman

his …..

Anyhow, this Marquis Jingting actually still had a strong sense of right and wrong.

—

“Sis,” On the lively main street, Ban Heng pointed afar, “Isn’t that Father and Left Minister Yan, why are they going into that teahouse?”

His face abruptly changed, he turned to Ban Hua, “Could it be that Father and Minister Yan are discussing yours and Yan Zhen’s marriage?”

Yan Zhen the bookworm, how was he worthy of his sister? Today he was accompanying his sister shopping, he didn’t expect to come across this.

“Let’s go, let’s follow and listen.”

Ban Heng couldn’t help worrying.
Yan Hui must be very smart to be able to become the Left Minister.
In case he twisted his words and made Father confused so he agreed to the marriage, what to do?

“What is there to listen.” Ban Hua wasn’t anxious at all, “Father wouldn’t want me marry into Yan family.”

“I know he doesn’t, but Minister Yan is good at scheming, I am afraid Father will fall for his scheme.” Ban Heng was deeply suspicious of his father’s level of intelligence, but as the son he couldn’t say it out.
“Sis, hurry, come with me.”

Ban family guards standing at the entrance of the teahouse could only stare as their family’s heir and Junzhu sneaked past, they had to pretend they didn’t see anything.

Ban Heng asked the waiter to take them to the next room so they could eavesdrop on this super important matter.

Ban Hua felt this was a nonsense, but as a good elder sister who loved her younger brother, she was willing to indulge him in his nonsense.
She even followed his example, sticking her ears to the screen.

Yan Hui and Ban Huai didn’t know two wanbei‘s were eavesdropping from the next door room.
After some small talks, they got on the main topic.

“Marquis, my dog son and your precious daughter…..”

“Minister, my dog daughter is still young, she has nothing to do with your precious son.” Ban Huai sipped a bit of tea then shook his head, “Probably Minister doesn’t know, my dog daughter is spoiled rotten by her mother.
She really is not worthy to be Yan family daughter-in-law.
Please Minister do not mention this matter again.”

“Does Master Marquis feel my dog son won’t treat your precious daughter well?” Yan Hui felt what Ban Huai said was unacceptable, but remembering how his youngest son lost his soul, he could only thicken his face, “Yan-mou can guarantee, if Marquis would let your precious daughter marry into our humble family, noone in the family will mistreat her, not even an inch.”

“This is not about treat or mistreat.” Ban Huai sighed with difficulty, “Minister, a marriage is the matter of attraction and willingness.
My dog daughter and your precious son are not fated, therefore it is not to be forced.”

* 你情我愿 = you are attracted and I am willing, basically a mutual thing.

Yan Hui didn’t expect such a blunt rejection, there was not even a little room to manouvre.
This was the same as saying ‘my daughter doesn’t like your son, so of course she won’t marry him, heh heh heh.’

He wouldn’t be able to swallow this anger had this been anyone else, but this was Ban Huai the famous most  absurd person in the whole Capital.
In truth, Yan Hui also felt his youngest son insisting on marrying Fule Junzhu was an exceedingly absurd thing.

The talk was going nowhere, Yan Hui dropped the smile on his face, he stood up, “In that case, Yan-mou will take my leave.”

How on earth that such an absurd person was allowed to have that beautiful daughter.
Wasn’t it dangerous for all the good young men of the Capital?

“Farewell.” Ban Huai rose to return Yan Hui’s salute, he was all smiles as if he hadn’t seen the other party’s displeasure.

After Yan Hui was gone, Ban Huai hummed a little tune, drank most of the tea in his cup with a loud gulp.
These so-called cultured people were so sophisticated that their teacups were of the size of a thumb, even an ant wouldn’t drown in such a cup.
It was pointless.

“Father.” The door was pulled open from outside, Ban Heng and Ban Hua squeezed in and sat in front of their father.

“How come you two are here?” Ban Huai put the cup down, picked up the teapot and directly pour into his mouth.
His meat cake this morning was too dry, he had been longing for big gulps of drink.

“We saw you and Minister Yan.
Sister and I followed you.” Ban Heng moved the teacup in front of him aside, “Sister and I heard what you said when you were rejecting Minister Yan.
You are like this.”

Ban Heng kissed up to him with a big thumb up.

“Hmph.” Ban Huai proudly straightened his back, he turned to Ban Hua, “Don’t worry, my good girl.
Father won’t force you to marry anyone you don’t want to marry.”

Ban Hua gave him a sweet smile.
She had known from the beginning that Father and Mother wouldn’t just let her marry anyone.

—

Being rejected so unceremoniously, Yan Hui’s face was inevitably a little ugly.
He was about to get into his palanquin when he saw Rong Xia coming over on a horseback, he unbent his waist to wait.

“Minister Yan.” Rong Xia jumped down from the horse and bowed to Yan Hui.
“Aren’t you with Marquis Ban for a talk, how come…..”

“It didn’t go well.” Yan Hui’s tone wasn’t very good, “No need to talk more.”

Rong Xia only stood on the side, smiling without a response.

Yan Hui suddenly realised he shouldn’t have shown a sulking face to an unrelated person, he hastily offered a salute to Rong Xia and bent to enter the palanquin.

“Minister, farewell.” Rong Xia stepped back a little, respectfully bowed to the palanquin.

Yan Hui lifted the palanquin’s curtain, looking at the respectful Rong Xia, his stuffed chest felt significantly better.
The Capital needed more people like Count Rong.

As for that flop Ban Huai…….

Hmph!

Du Jiu saw his master getting on the horseback, he asked in lowered voice, “Master, aren’t you going to drink tea?”

“There is no need, go back.”

Rong Xia glanced up to the first floor of the teahouse, he pulled the rein once, the horse turned around to the direction of his residence.

T/N – 不为五斗米折腰 (lit.
not bowing for five pecks of rice) was uttered by a recluse poet from Jin dynasty called Tao Yuanming.
Due to his family’s hardship, he took up a position as a county magistrate despite his disgust of the corrupt government.
One day a tyrannical and arrogant inspector was sent to his county, this bully demanded that Tao Yuanming came to pay respect to him.
Tao Yuanming refused to change to official uniform for the visit, so an attendant reminded him that the inspector would be upset.
Tao Yuanming couldn’t bear it anymore, he said “I’d rather die than bowing to a lowlife for the sake of five pecks of rice.” (five pecks of rice was the salary from the government).
He then resigned for good.

How do you think Ban Huai compared to Tao Yuanming….
similar?

T/N –嫁汉嫁汉，穿衣吃饭 (lit.
marry someone, marry someone, wear clothing and eat food).
I can’t find the exact translation, but inferring from the articles found, it is the traditional view on marriage in which the husband provide financially for the family, while the wife is responsible for domestic tasks.

I can’t relate it to this story because Yan Zhen this rice pot wasn’t exactly a provider type.