CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 141: OF COURSE THE MAN SHOULD PROPOSE FIRST

Meng Zhu blinked, looking at Qian Zhenzhen, then at Meng Yao.

Completely puzzled.

What did this girl just say?

Did she hear the word ’proposal’?

This girl, is she a matchmaker?

Oh my, it’s the first time she’s seen such a young and beautiful matchmaker!

Proposal, proposing for whom? Is it for Chang’an or Changning?

Li Baixia: The daughter of Dahe’s scholar turned out to be a matchmaker! Aren’t daughters of scholarly families supposed to be skilled in the four arts? It’s just strange.

Qian Zhenzhen felt a bit at a loss, finding the reaction of the Li elders a bit strange.

"Miss Qian, may I ask which family entrusted you to come to our house to propose? And for which of our children?" Meng Zhu asked.

"Ah, yes, I didn’t make that clear. Let me say it again, I’m here to propose for myself." Qian Zhenzhen said.

First Meng Zhu was shocked, then overjoyed.

The dilemma that had troubled her for several years was about to be solved?

Although she hadn’t heard of any girl proposing for herself before, this girl was very pretty, with cute big round eyes. Plus, her father was a scholar in Dahe, a scholarly family indeed.

With these conditions, she was satisfied in every way.

Good, very good.

Meng Zhu gave Meng Yao a look as if to say "you’re reliable", then lovingly grabbed Qian Zhenzhen’s hand, "Zhenzhen, right? Come, let’s sit down and talk. Such a lovely girl, the more I look the more I like you."

"Dear, don’t just stand there, quickly bring the snacks Madam Wang brought yesterday. Changning, go heat up some water and make a pot of rose tea," Meng Zhu cheerfully instructed.

Li Baixia and Li Changning hurried off to get busy.

Meng Yao was amused and helpless, his elder sister was too happy to even give Qian Zhenzhen a chance to speak.

"Zhenzhen, I liked you at first sight, which shows we’re destined to be family," Meng Zhu affectionately said, "However, regarding the proposal, I can’t agree to it."

Qian Zhenzhen: ???

Was she being rejected?

But without marriage, it wouldn’t be convenient to take care of things.

"Auntie—" Qian Zhenzhen thought to explain properly to Meng Zhu.

"Of course, the proposal should be initiated by the man," Meng Zhu said earnestly, "Your willingness to marry into our family is already a blessing for us. We must not fail to recognize our good fortune. Rest assured, I will arrange the proposal in a grand manner for you."

Qian Zhenzhen opened her mouth, "Auntie, no, that’s not it..."

"Nonsense, this is how it should be, trust me on this," Meng Zhu interrupted Qian Zhenzhen, then turned to complain to Meng Yao, "You too, for such a big matter, you should have informed me in advance. Hasn’t Chang’an bullied Zhenzhen? When I wasn’t around, you should be keeping an eye on him properly as her uncle."

After speaking, she cheerfully told Qian Zhenzhen, "Don’t take it to heart with Li Chang’an, rest assured, I’ll give him a piece of my mind for you."

Meng Yao had the opportunity to explain, but he chose not to.

He wanted to see how Li Chang’an would handle Meng Zhu and Li Baixia.

Li Chang’an would never have imagined that his pranking could lead to such serious consequences, serious enough to get himself involved.

***

Li Chang’an was in the yard playing with Ren Zi’an.

When he heard the sound of hoofbeats outside, he went to check it out.

The Li Family had a dedicated driver, so Li Baixia, Meng Zhu, and Li Changning arrived at the Zhao Family before Meng Yao and Qian Zhenzhen.

"Dad, mom, Ah Ning, why are you here?" Li Chang’an was a bit surprised.

Meng Zhu’s eyes and brows were all smiles, "Son, how could you hide such a big thing from us? I know I’ve been nagging you over the years and you may be annoyed by it, but you can’t let that be the reason to not tell us! You’re a man, so you might not mind, but you can’t treat a young lady like this."

A sense of unease rose in Li Chang’an’s heart. A girl, what girl was his mother talking about?

It’s not that Li Chang’an was slow to react, he simply couldn’t imagine that Qian Zhenzhen, a girl, would act so differently.

So, Li Chang’an automatically interpreted Meng Zhu’s words as hearing some rumor about a girl liking him.

Such things had happened occasionally in the past few years.

"Mom, who went to our house spreading baseless rumors again?" Li Chang’an asked as he helped Meng Zhu, "Please don’t worry about this matter, your health is of utmost importance since you’re expecting."

To Meng Zhu’s ears, Li Chang’an’s words sounded like he wasn’t planning to take responsibility for Qian Zhenzhen.

How could she have raised such a heartless son?

Meng Zhu was furious, raising her foot to give Li Chang’an a kick.

Li Chang’an staggered from the kick, bewildered and at a loss.

How did things escalate so quickly?

To vent her anger, Meng Zhu twisted Li Baixia’s ear, "Look at you, how did you raise such a brat? Are you trying to infuriate me?"

Li Baixia shouted "Ouch, ouch," "My dear, be gentle with your hand. Don’t be angry, think of the child you’re carrying, calm down, calm down."

"Who knows if the one inside is going to be just as troublesome. Why have kids if they cause so much worry? I must have wronged the heavens in my past life to end up so tormented by you all!" Meng Zhu exclaimed, "Look at how upset you made your mom, quickly apologize to her."

Li Baixia scolded Li Chang’an, "Each day you grow older, but you’re not becoming any less troublesome."

"Apologize to you, apologize to me? He should be apologizing to that poor girl!" Meng Zhu said angrily.

Li Chang’an, intending to calm them down first, bowed slightly with an apologetic expression, "I’ll do exactly as mom says, whatever you say, I’ll do. Please don’t be mad, let’s talk things through."

Meng Yao and Qian Zhenzhen entered to see: Li Chang’an bent over in submission, while Meng Zhu stood tall and proud.

Qian Zhenzhen: Li Chang’an seems so pitiful, he’s not even thinking straight, and yet, Auntie Li is still scolding him.

Should she protect him a bit?

Before Qian Zhenzhen could say anything, Meng Zhu saw her and her demeanor changed instantly.

From a stormy expression to a calm and gentle one.

"Zhenzhen, come over, Auntie has already given you justice." Meng Zhu said tenderly, "With me here today, for whatever he did to bully you before, you can pay it back to him tenfold."

Li Chang’an: What is going on? How does my mom know Qian Zhenzhen?

Qian Zhenzhen, confused, said, "Auntie, he didn’t bully me. And even if he did, his mind’s not all there, I wouldn’t hold it against him."

Li Chang’an: Who’s not right in the head here, are you being polite? You’re the one who’s not right, your whole family is not right.

"Zhenzhen, you’re truly a generous and good girl!" Meng Zhu praised repeatedly while holding Qian Zhenzhen’s hand, "Li Chang’an is lucky to meet such a splendid girl like you."

Qian Zhenzhen was quite happy too, Auntie Li kept praising her, making her a bit shy.