Chapter 755: Extra Chapter 3: A Blunder That Hits the Mark

When Xiao Jiu and the others rushed over after hearing the news, they just happened to see Wang Fanchen slipping the engagement ring onto Yu Nian's finger.

The bank of the Wangchuan River burst into loud cheers.

Whether human or ghost, everyone was stunned by the grand proposal scene before them.

However, Xiao Jiu discovered that Yu Nian was not happy.

She didn't quite understand how Wang Fanchen suddenly pulled off something like this.

Yu Nian was still wearing the hundred-family cloth, her hair casually tied behind her head, her whole body stiff, obviously caught off guard.

Xiao Jiu suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Liu Junyan.

Liu Junyan caught Xiao Jiu's gaze and immediately said, "Xiao Jiu, do you girls all like this kind of romantic proposal ceremony? Although we already have two kids, I owe you such a grand proposal ceremony, so..."

"Liu Junyan, stop." Xiao Jiu grabbed Liu Junyan's sleeve and pulled him aside, "Come with me, I have something to ask you."

Liu Junyan obediently followed.

The two stood in a secluded spot, and Xiao Jiu asked, "A few days ago, the City God invited you for a drink—was that when you were plotting this?"

"No."

Liu Junyan recounted everything that happened that day in detail to Xiao Jiu.

After listening, Xiao Jiu fell into thought.

It seems nothing is wrong.

Where exactly did the problem occur?

After thinking it through, Xiao Jiu could only conclude one possibility: Wang Fanchen watched them pair after pair get married, felt stimulated, and thus came up with the idea of forcing a marriage.

The Wangchuan River's ten-mile red bridal procession forcing a marriage—this spectacle is unparalleled across the three realms and six paths.

This proposal ceremony ended with Wang Fanchen embracing and kissing Yu Nian.

Xiao Jiu felt uneasy all along, so the next day she invited Yu Nian to the pawnshop for a chat.

The two closed the door and talked heart-to-heart.

Xiao Jiu got straight to the point: "Yesterday on the ferry boat, I sensed you weren't happy, right?"

"I'm not unhappy," Yu Nian said, "it's just that things happened too suddenly, catching me off guard; I've actually never decided whether I should enter marriage."

Xiao Jiu couldn't understand: "The City God is so great—good looks, high status, manly demeanor, and his heart has always been only for you; such a man is hard to find even with a lantern. Senior sister, what exactly are you hesitating about?"

Yu Nian stammered, and Xiao Jiu stared at her eyes unblinking, not letting her escape.

Finally, Yu Nian sighed and said, "Xiao Jiu, I want to prove that I can become a competent ferryman."

"You are quite qualified," Xiao Jiu said firmly. "First, the ferryman's mantle isn't something just anyone can inherit; second, you succeeded on your first ferry run, proving your ability; and after that success, you still held to your original intentions, not casually being a do-gooder who ferries everyone—all of this shows you are a highly competent ferryman."

"Besides, you still have the City God and all of us; if you ever run into a tough problem, we'll help you..."

Yu Nian shrugged and said, "The problem lies right here—I don't want to keep bothering you all, nor do I want to keep relying on Wang Fanchen's identity to solve problems..."

Xiao Jiu suddenly realized and almost laughed.

But she held it back, patiently asking, "Then yesterday on the Wangchuan River, how did you end up agreeing to Wang Fanchen's proposal?"

"So many people were watching," Yu Nian said. "The esteemed City God, with a ten-mile bridal procession, knelt on one knee to propose to me; if I had refused in front of all those people, he would never be able to hold his head up before his peers."

Xiao Jiu couldn't help but laugh; it seems Wang Fanchen's clumsy attempt actually hit the mark.

Yu Nian, annoyed, went to hit Xiao Jiu to stop her from laughing at her.

Xiao Jiu collected her smile, took Yu Nian's hand, and said seriously, "Sister, you're pushing yourself into a dead end. So many people want to leverage influence, yet the vast majority who try can't actually do it."

"Being able to have so many friends and relatives help you, and to have someone as solidly supportive as Wang Fanchen, is itself a testament to your ability, as well as your personal aura and blessings."

"Don't always think of pushing this benevolent energy outward; because these never conflict with proving your own ability."

Xiao Jiu's words hit Yu Nian's heart directly.

Xiao Jiu paused, then asked, "Sister, do you think I'm a capable person?"

"Of course!" Yu Nian replied without hesitation, "Your ability is evident; you're not only strong yourself, your cohesion is also extremely strong..."

"What is cohesion?" Xiao Jiu interrupted Yu Nian, counter-questioning.

Yu Nian froze.

Xiao Jiu seized the moment: "I was brought into the pawnshop just to make a living; when I took over the pawnshop, I knew nothing; every time I caused trouble, it was a bunch of people helping me clean up the mess. But now, everyone says Xiao Jiu of the Wufu Town Pawnshop is very capable, right?"

"Sister, that's not my dark history; it's the path I've come from. I never thought leveraging influence was shameful; on the contrary, in the process of leveraging, I'm also growing rapidly, and when I become able to stand on my own, I'll become someone who is leveraged upon and relied upon—sister, you're the same."

Yu Nian's pent-up heart was instantly opened.

Xiao Jiu's words made her feel invigorated, and at the same time made her empathize.

"Yeah, does leveraging influence hinder one's growth?"

"No, it doesn't."

"Not only does it not hinder, it actually lets one grow even faster."

What Yu Nian has always feared is that, as a ferryman, offending many people is inevitable.

Marrying Wang Fanchen might bring him a lot of trouble.

After all, Wang Fanchen is the City God; she doesn't want to one day make a big mistake that would implicate him.

But now thinking about it, having Wang Fanchen's status as a deterrent might not be a bad thing.

In everything, there's a measure; perhaps she won't really make a mistake after all.

On the contrary, always being a timid turtle ends up trapping herself and even driving Wang Fanchen crazy.

Yu Nian finally figured it out, and her mood improved.

Xiao Jiu had originally planned to take her out for shopping, but Wang Fanchen had already chased over to pick her up.

Xiao Jiu laughed helplessly and urged Yu Nian to go have a good talk with Wang Fanchen.

Just as Yu Nian left, Xiao Jiu was resting her chin on one hand, thinking about Wang Fanchen and Yu Nian's wedding and what gift to give, when Liu Junyan arrived.

Just as Xiao Jiu was about to pull him in to discuss, Liu Junyan leaned against the door with arms crossed, looking at Xiao Jiu with a half-smile.

Xiao Jiu felt creeped out by his stare and asked, "What's with that look? What are you trying to do?"

"Good looks, high status, and always holding someone in his heart," Liu Junyan said sarcastically, "Such a man is hard to find even with a lantern."

Xiao Jiu rolled their eyes at the sky.

Liu Junyan stepped forward a few steps, cupped Xiao Jiu's face, and demanded, "Xiao Jiu, do you even have a heart?!"