BYBOTE Chapter 12: Exchanging Tokens

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Luo Fei mentally reminded himself twice, I am Xi Yanqing’s fiancée today. Then, he adjusted his expression and sat inside the house, while Xi Yanqing was already approaching the Luo family’s entrance.

By now, the Luo family courtyard was filled with onlookers. Some even held farm tools, seemingly planning to watch the fun before heading to work.

Since Xi Yanqing wasn’t getting married today, the Luo family wasn’t hosting a feast. However, following tradition, they had hung a long string of firecrackers at the entrance, and inside the courtyard, two plates of peanuts and sunflower seeds were set out to entertain the guests. Many people who regularly interacted with the Luo family—or simply loved excitement—entered the courtyard, offering their well-wishes.

When Luo Yi saw Xi Yanqing approaching, his eyes lit up, and he called out, "Second Brother! Brother Xi is here!"

At that moment, Luo Ji lit the firecrackers, and a loud bang erupted, echoing after the firecrackers that had been set off earlier at Xi’s house. However, this time, the firecrackers were twice as long.

This was a local custom: the family receiving the betrothal gifts had to set off firecrackers twice as long as the groom’s side, symbolizing reciprocity.

"Wow, that’s a lot of betrothal gifts!" Aunt Han Yang, who had come to watch, noticed the loaded ox cart and immediately struck up a conversation with Li Yuehua. "Luo Fei’s mother, your son is really fortunate!"

"I told you, Xi Yanqing wouldn’t have spent all those years as a soldier for nothing! That was service to the country—do you think the government wouldn’t pay him?" Some people who knew about military wages speculated, "I bet Xi Yanqing isn’t a poor boy anymore. If you ask me, Luo Fei is going to have a great life from now on!"

"That’s right, look at that wine, and all that pork—six whole slabs! Has anyone in our village ever received that much for a betrothal?" A full feast was expected for a wedding, but very few families gave so much just for an engagement. Most only offered two slabs of pork—if any at all.

"Wow, I don’t know if this is the first time," Li Yuehua said with a smile, "but Xi Yanqing truly treats my Erbao well. I have no worries at all about my child marrying into his family."

"Uncle Luo, Aunt Luo," Xi Yanqing stepped forward and bowed. "I have prepared some humble gifts. Though their value is nowhere near how precious Luo Fei is to me, they represent my sincere intentions. I hope you will allow me to take care of him from now on. Please rest assured—I will share every blessing with him, and when hardships come, I will bear them alone. I will never let him suffer." He stood tall and respectful as he faced Luo Fei’s parents.

"Good! Good! What a fine young man!" Luo Tian gave Xi Yanqing a firm pat on the shoulder. "I approve of you as my son-in-law!" Then he called to his youngest son, "Sibao, go tell your second brother to come out and exchange tokens."

"Got it!" Luo Yi rushed inside. "Second Brother, come out! Brother Xi is here!"

"Okay!" Damn it, I don’t have a token to exchange! Why did nobody tell me about this?! No, he couldn’t panic now!

As he walked out, he reminded himself to first look for Xi Yanqing in the crowd—to show that he cared about him the most! And then…

Holy crap!

The first thing he saw was the ox cart loaded with chickens, fish, and—pork!

Meat! So much meat!

No, he couldn’t stare! Luo Fei, don’t be so weak-willed! It’s just some meat!

But his eyes were still glued to the betrothal gifts. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and touch them to make sure they were real. Fortunately, his professional instincts kicked in, and he quickly pulled himself back together. He bit his lip lightly and shyly lowered his head, letting his dark hair cascade over his shoulders, partially covering his fair, rosy cheeks.

For a moment, even the sound of sunflower seeds being cracked stopped. Everyone was stunned—had Luo Erbao always been this beautiful?

Was Zhang Yangfan blind? How could he not marry someone this stunning?!

Xi Yanqing was also momentarily dazed. Luo Fei was wearing nothing but a simple cotton robe, yet he looked like this. What would he look like in wedding attire...?

"Oh my, look at them! He’s getting all shy now!" someone teased.

"Ahem. He’s just too beautiful." Xi Yanqing didn’t hesitate to praise him. He stepped closer and took out a finely crafted wooden comb from his sleeve, handing it to Luo Fei—a symbol of growing old together. Then, he gazed at Luo Fei without looking away.

Luo Fei… was still Luo Fei. But somehow, today, he seemed different. He was… incredibly endearing, making Xi Yanqing’s heart itch.

Luo Fei accepted the comb and gave him a playful smile. In just those few seconds, everyone saw the love and anticipation in his eyes.

Wait… wasn’t he in love with Zhang Yangfan? The onlookers were dumbfounded. They had expected resistance, but instead, Luo Fei had already fallen for Xi Yanqing?!

"What about yours?" Xi Yanqing reached out to ask.

"Mine..." Luo Fei thought to himself, Where the hell would I have one?! But it would be too unreasonable not to give something in return. With so many people watching, if he didn’t prepare something this important, what would others think? They’d surely assume he didn’t care about Xi Yanqing, which would be a terrible impression! But he really had nothing suitable to give. If he had known, he would have stayed up last night to make something!

"Luo Fei, where's your token?" someone asked.

"Yeah, Luo Erbao, what's your token? Let us have a look!" The villagers meant no harm, but they were curious.

"Ahem, just take this." Luo Fei decided to go all in. Xi Yanqing, you better not throw up on me! He untied the small pouch from his waist and handed it directly to Xi Yanqing.

Xi Yanqing had thought Luo Fei would have something prepared, but when he opened it, he found the porcelain dish he had given him!

"Pfft!" Luo Ru couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Isn't that Second Brother's chamber... ah!" Luo Yi didn’t get to finish before Luo Ru stomped on his foot hard. He gasped from the pain, realizing he had almost blurted out something that would embarrass his brother.

Luo Fei didn’t dare to look into Xi Yanqing’s eyes because he knew Xi Yanqing definitely understood what he had been using that dish for. After all, Xi Yanqing had made it clear when he first gifted it. But aside from this, Luo Fei truly had nothing else to give!

To Luo Fei’s surprise, Xi Yanqing didn’t even change his expression. He naturally accepted the item and even smiled… indulgently! This made Luo Fei feel even more embarrassed.

Luo Yi finally caught his breath, clutching his forehead as he muttered, "My Second Brother, you really... wow!"

Luo Fei didn’t hear this. He absentmindedly took the wooden comb that Xi Yanqing had given him, flipping it over to find an engraving of a tilapia fish.

Was this a coincidence or intentional?

Luo Fei couldn't figure it out for the moment. But soon, his attention was drawn back to the betrothal gifts on the ox cart.

Pork! And chicken and fish!

Luo Fei quickly put the comb away, his gaze flickering between the betrothal gifts and the guests. He wasn't interested in the guests at all right now, but he absolutely could not let his expression reveal how much he wanted to rush over and devour that pork!

Xi Yanqing, you really know how to buy things!

Luo Fei forced himself to look away from the meat. As his gaze wandered, it unintentionally landed on the doorway—where he spotted a figure that shouldn’t have been there: Zhang Yangfan.

Zhang Yangfan had only learned about Xi Yanqing's betrothal visit from his mother. He had already married and had nothing to do with Luo Fei anymore, so he shouldn’t care. But for some reason, hearing about Xi Yanqing going to the Luo family made him inexplicably irritated. Without thinking, he made up an excuse and, as if possessed, ended up here.

He saw Luo Fei. He saw Xi Yanqing. And he saw the way Luo Fei looked at Xi Yanqing—with unmistakable affection in his eyes.

A feeling of jealousy suddenly consumed Zhang Yangfan. He was shocked to realize that he still had feelings for Luo Fei.

If his family hadn’t opposed it back then, he definitely would have married Luo Fei. After all, Luo Fei was much better-looking than Jiang Baining—especially today, looking like he had stepped out of a painting. Every movement exuded a natural elegance and beauty. And compared to Jiang Baining, Luo Fei was much gentler in temperament. But now, it was too late to regret.

If only I had insisted on being with Luo Fei back then, Zhang Yangfan thought. Even if he couldn’t bear children, at least I would have given us a chance. And if he really couldn’t have kids… well, I could have divorced him later anyway.

Regret flooded Zhang Yangfan as he watched Xi Yanqing say something that made Luo Fei laugh endlessly. Xi Yanqing is really an eyesore.

Someone stepped out of the Luo family's courtyard and noticed him. "Zhang Yangfan? What are you doing here?"

Zhang Yangfan's expression stiffened. Instinctively, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction. "Just passing by."

The person clearly didn’t believe him. They had never liked Zhang Yangfan’s arrogant attitude and smirked. "If you were just passing by, why not go inside and sit for a while? Uncle Luo isn't the type to turn guests away."

Zhang Yangfan frowned. "I said I was just passing by. Besides, Yun Jie, you know that just recently, Erbao… Given our history, why are you saying this? What are you trying to imply?"

Chang Yunjie chuckled. "I just think it’s a pity. If you hadn’t been so greedy and short-sighted, would you have let Xi Yanqing take advantage of the situation? Don’t tell me you've completely given up on Luo Erbao. Someone that beautiful—you really don’t want to take him back?"

"I already have Baining. Watch your words, Yun Jie." Zhang Yangfan replied before hastily leaving, as if afraid of being seen by others.

"Tch! Acting all high and mighty!" Chang Yunjie spat in Zhang Yangfan’s direction, hoisting his hoe onto his shoulder. He had never liked Zhang Yangfan’s snobbish ways. Just a scholar, what’s so great about that? He still remembered how Zhang Yangfan used to bully him as a kid.

"Is what you said true?"

Chang Yunjie had just walked a few steps when he overheard someone speaking in a surprised tone.

"That Jiang Baining tricked the Zhang family?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" The person who had spoken first looked panicked. Seeing Chang Yunjie nearby, they quickly straightened up and stopped talking.

"Aunt Zhou, what were you saying that’s so secretive?" Chang Yunjie asked with a grin.

"Oh, nothing. Just gossip."

"Are you heading to the fields?"

"Yeah, got to plow the land."

Chang Yunjie couldn’t get any more information out of them, so he continued on his way. But the words lingered in his mind: That Jiang Baining tricked the Zhang family?

Tricked them how?

—

Tl Notes:

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