The next day, Mo Xiaolin started preparing for the marriage proposal. Her older brother Mo Xiaofeng and Zheng Chunhong also came over. Learning that it was for Mo Siyu’s marriage proposal, everyone provided their suggestions, discussing aspects that should be considered during the proposal.
The date for the proposal was set for two days later. Although the time was somewhat tight, with the help of her sisters-in-law, Mo Xiaolin managed to organize and purchase everything needed for the proposal efficiently.
As the mediator, Mo Siyu thought of Tang Mingli. Had it not been for Tang Mingli, he wouldn’t have met Tang Yue.
When Mo Siyu mentioned the marriage proposal to Tang Mingli, who was drinking water at the time, he spat out the water and exclaimed, "You are going to propose?"
"That’s not right, my Xiao Yue is only nineteen, isn’t it too early?" Tang Mingli expressed his disagreement.
"First secure the engagement and then have Xiao Yue get married when she turns twenty," Mo Siyu replied, wishing he could skip the engagement and get married directly.
Xiao Yue was so outstanding; once she reached university, with his status, how could he openly fend off those who clung around Xiao Yue?
Tang Mingli was left speechless.
Not only had he thought through the engagement, but he had also settled on the age for marriage.
"This month I happen to have some time off. If I don’t use this opportunity to get engaged, should I wait until I’m busy? Wouldn’t that be too unfair to Xiao Yue?" Mo Siyu reasoned convincingly.
Tang Mingli was utterly unwilling to have Tang Yue married off so early, although she was only his niece, she was no different from a daughter or sister in his heart.
"Mingli, just think about it, Xiao Yue is starting university in Jing City soon. Are you comfortable with her being there alone? Surely not," Mo Siyu didn’t wait for his reply and answered for him. He continued, "Jing City is also close to the motorcade. I could visit her every week. Then, if anyone bullies Xiao Yue, I’ll know exactly what’s going on."
"Once we are engaged, I, as her fiancé, can legitimately check on her. But if we aren’t engaged, think about how that would affect Xiao Yue’s reputation?" Mo Siyu appealed both emotionally and logically. If Tang Mingli, the mediator, disagreed, then Tang’s parents would definitely not agree to the proposal either.
Mo Siyu was counting on Tang Mingli to persuade Mr. Tang and Mrs. Tang.
"That seems reasonable." Tang Mingli nodded in agreement. Although the exam results were not yet out, given Xiao Yue’s usual performance, even if unstable, she would easily secure a place at an ordinary university.
Not to mention, Xiao Yue was intelligent; she might even get into a top university.
Then, once Xiao Yue was alone in Jing City, as Mo Siyu said, having the engagement settled beforehand would make his visits to see Tang Yue more appropriate and justified.
"It’s indeed correct," Mo Siyu confidently stated. "Mingli, look, we are like brothers. Later on, I’ll just call you ’Little Uncle,’ haven’t you always wanted to be my brother? Now it’s perfect, you are one generation above me, more prestigious than a brother."
Tang Mingli nodded repeatedly. After seeing Mo Siyu off, Tang Mingli seriously considered the matter further. He did not rush to discuss it with Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian, but first spoke with his wife Wei Jiajia.
Wei Jiajia said pensively, "Mo Siyu and Xiao Yue are mutually in love. Once they’re in Jing City, left alone as a young man and a woman, if anything were to happen, Xiao Yue would be at a disadvantage."
Hearing this, Tang Mingli felt that the engagement definitely needed to be set.
"Mingli, what are you saying? Who wants to propose to Xiao Yue?" Tang Zhengde was completely clueless about Mo Siyu and Tang Yue’s relationship.
Zhang Hualian was somewhat prepared, aware that Mo Siyu was bound to propose, but she did not expect it to come this soon.
Xiao Yue was only nineteen years old.
Although now it’s not uncommon for someone to be engaged at nineteen and married at twenty, her family doesn’t lack a betrothal gift, nor are they in a hurry to marry off Xiao Yue. They had asked Tang Yue before because they were afraid Tang Yue might be at a disadvantage, but they never intended to marry her off so quickly.
"Mo Family, the same Mo Family that Xiao Yue saved last time, that’s the cousin, the son of the aunt’s family, Mo Siyu." Tang Mingli added: "He’s also my high school classmate."
"No." Tang Zhengde rejected the idea outright: "Xiao Yue is only nineteen now, tell him to ask for her hand next year."
Tang Zhengde really considers Tang Yue as his own daughter, he doesn’t agree with this marriage.
Zhang Hualian also said: "Yes, Xiao Yue is too young, what era are we living in now, who gets engaged so early."
"Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, I thought the same previously." Tang Mingli said seriously: "But Xiao Yue will soon go to university in Jing City, and Si Yu is also in Jing City, wouldn’t an engagement make their interactions more proper?"
"Mingli, are you Xiao Yue’s close uncle?" Tang Zhengde glanced at him and said: "Just so that they can interact, you want Xiao Yue to get engaged? Mo Family and Mo Siyu are nice, I also think highly of them, but because he’s good, doesn’t mean Xiao Yue should be married off."
"Cough." Zhang Hualian cleared her throat and added: "Zhengde, Xiao Yue and Si Yu are mutually in love."
"Ah..." Tang Zhengde looked at Zhang Hualian in shock and disbelievingly asked: "When did this happen?"
Tang Zhengde frowned, looking at Tang Mingli and said: "Mingli, are you so eager to marry off your niece? Did you play matchmaker in the middle?"
Tang Zhengde glared at Tang Mingli with wide eyes, almost as if he wanted to swallow him whole.
Tang Mingli hurriedly explained: "Second Brother, I wasn’t matchmaking them at all, I only discovered it was true when they were already together."
He said this with some guilt, as previously when there were some signs, he had just let things take their natural course.
"Zhengde, matters of the heart can’t be stopped when fate arrives." Zhang Hualian spoke: "What shall we do about this marriage situation now?"
Zhang Hualian was also hesitant, not wanting to marry her daughter off too early, yet worried about her being taken advantage of.
"Second Sister-in-law, I can vouch for Mo Siyu’s character." Tang Mingli added.
Tang Zhengde glared at him and pondered: "Hualian, what does Xiao Yue think?"
If it was normal matchmaking, then forget it.
But if it’s mutual affection, Tang Zhengde also naturally couldn’t obstruct any further, especially since, Tang Zhengde wasn’t Tang Yue’s biological father.
"Or, shall I call Xiao Yue over to ask her?" Zhang Hualian was also uncertain, later in the evening, Zhang Hualian specifically went to Tang Yue’s room.
Inside the room, Tang Yue was working on a design sketch, after the college entrance examination, she was either at home or in the clothing factory drafting.
"Xiao Yue, have some apple." Zhang Hualian came in carrying washed and cut apples.
"Thanks, Mom." Tang Yue smiled sweetly, took the apple, and continued with her work, but soon, seeing that Zhang Hualian was sitting nearby with no intention to leave, she put down her pen and asked: "Mom, what is it, do you have something to say?"