CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 354: AN ACCIDENTAL ENCOUNTER

"Scholar Wan’s family?" Mrs. Chen was startled: "Is it the Scholar Wan from the town’s private school?"

Matchmaker Zhou said: "Exactly, his family. Scholar Wan’s eldest son is seventeen this year, currently studying and planning to take the exam next year. With Young Master Wan’s learning, becoming a scholar next year is almost a certainty."

"The family runs a private school, educating many. Scholar Wan’s students are all over Qingfu Town, and his old classmates are throughout He’an Prefecture."

"Besides the private school, Wan Family also has a residence in the town, and nearly a hundred acres of land in the countryside. The family is small, just two brothers, and Scholar Wan’s wife is easy to talk to, not some common shrew. Everyone in their family is literate and refined. If your daughter marries into Wan Family, she truly wouldn’t suffer any hardships, only blessings."

Matchmaker Zhou had an honest appearance, her face free of makeup, making her quite pleasant to look at. Being an official matchmaker registered at the government office, her status was not ordinary. After showing her official matchmaker badge, Mrs. Chen trusted her quite a bit.

However, her family had already taken a fancy to Chang Errui, and were currently waiting for Yuan Family to propose.

Mrs. Chen said: "To be frank with you, matchmaker Zhou, my niece’s marriage is up to her father to decide. It’s not convenient today, as Sister Mei’s father isn’t here. You go back first, once her father returns, I’ll tell him about this."

After hearing this, matchmaker Zhou didn’t persist. She sat for a short while, left the gifts from Wan Family, and took her leave.

Gu Yumei, sitting in her room, listened with a face flushed red. The young master from Scholar Wan’s family, who also studies and is going to take the exam to become a scholar next year, and their family has a private school, residence, and over a hundred acres of land—their family conditions are indeed excellent.

As soon as Mrs. Chen entered her room, she saw her blushing and giggling, clicked her tongue, and said: "Look at you, are you pleased?"

Gu Yumei didn’t dare admit her willingness, instead, she deferred the matter to Gu Dafu: "Marriage is a major event naturally decided by my parents, it’s all up to my father."

Her father doted on her, if she begged him, he would surely agree.

"Hmm, good that you know. Be diligent and well-behaved these days, Yuan Family might visit any time now. If they see you being lazy, they will disdain you." After Mrs. Chen finished this sentence, she left the room to continue preparing spices. Seeing that Gu Yumei was slow to come out, she shouted, "Are you deaf? Your mother told you to be diligent, what are you hiding in the room for? Come out and work!"

Gu Yumei had no choice but to leave the room and continue preparing spices.

In the evening, after dinner, Mrs. Chen discussed the marriage proposal from Scholar Wan’s family.

"Scholar Wan’s family actually took a liking to our Sister Mei," Gu Dafu was quite happy, as having a sought-after daughter made her more precious.

However...

"Scholar Wan seems a bit pedantic, not very sociable, and somewhat difficult to get along with."

On the day the shop opened, Gu Dexing was very pleased with the flattery from Wan Lifang, therefore he spoke in favor of Wan Family: "Father, Scholar Wan is a laureate scholar, naturally somewhat lofty, but he is a very good person. On the day the shop opened, he helped my son understand many things. What Xu Tongsheng couldn’t teach, my son consulted him, and he explained it once and my son understood."

Seeing Gu Dafu’s face showed no displeasure, Gu Dexing added: "Father, Scholar Wan is a scholar, already part of the scholarly family, which is different from commoners. If our family could form a marriage alliance with Scholar Wan’s family, it would mean changing our social standing... Grandfather’s lifelong wish was to elevate our family status."

Gu Dafu’s eyes welled up when his own father was mentioned, yes, his father’s lifelong wish was for their children to earn official positions and transform from peasants to scholars.

Gu Dagui, seeing Gu Dafu somewhat persuaded, quickly reminded: "Big brother, we are still waiting for the news from Yuan Family."

Gu Dafu also remembered the Yuan Family’s matters. Although Scholar Wan’s family was good, he still felt that the Yuan Family was more suitable for Sister Mei. After all, the Yuan Family people were decent, and Sister Mei would not be mistreated if she married into their family.

"Second brother is right, there’s no rush with this matter. Let’s wait for the Yuan Family’s response first," Gu Dafu and Gu Dagui both intended to wait for the Yuan Family’s decision, while Gu Dexing and Gu Yumei, who preferred the Wan Family, had no choice but to give up.

Several families were surprised to hear that Scholar Wan’s family had invited an official matchmaker to propose to Gu Dafu’s family. Knowing that Gu Dafu had not agreed yet, they were quite relieved.

Third Grandpa said, "Dafu is clear-sighted. Although Scholar Wan’s family is good, the Yuan Family is more fitting for our rural family."

He had also met that Scholar Wan, who was aloof and loved to put on airs. Wan Lifang, on the other hand, was not aloof and could talk well, but Third Grandpa just didn’t like Wan Lifang and felt he was insincere and not as reliable as Chang Errui.

Third Grandma said, "Dafu has always been pragmatic. Since he has his heart set on the Yuan Family, he will wait for news from the Yuan Family and won’t change his mind halfway. You just relax."

But Gu Dafu waited and waited, and still, the Yuan Family didn’t come to propose. He was getting anxious and somewhat annoyed. What was the Yuan Family’s intention after all?

Did they not fancy his Sister Mei?

Wasn’t everything fine on the opening day of the shop?

It has been ten days since then, why haven’t they come to propose? Just two days ago, Scholar Wan’s family had again sent matchmaker Zhou over, but he had held her off and didn’t agree.

Gu Dafu was very anxious.

Mrs. Chen was also anxious. Seeing that the Yuan Family had not come to propose for such a long time, she looked at Gu Yumei with disapproval: "Did you do something that day that made the Yuan Family despise you?"

Gu Yumei felt slightly guilty, but she quickly retorted, "Second aunt, you were there that day. What could I have possibly done? Please don’t wrongly accuse me."

She then sneered, "I guess the Yuan Family thinks they are not worthy of our family, so they are embarrassed to come propose."

"Pah, with the Yuan Family’s conditions, how could they think they’re not worthy of our family? What nonsense are you talking?" Mrs. Chen spat at Gu Yumei, thinking she was too daring with her words. The Yuan Family was the village chief’s family, owned a Brick Kiln, and in this village, they had both money and status. If anyone was unworthy, it would be her family.

When Gu Dexing saw Mrs. Chen scolding Gu Yumei again, he came out of the house and said, "Mei Sister, are you ready? If you’re ready, let’s go."

"I’m ready." Gu Yumei tidied her hair and straightened her newly made summer clothes, then followed Gu Dexing out.

Mrs. Chen didn’t stop her. Today, Gu Yumei was going with Gu Dexing to the cloth shop in town to buy fabric to make pouches for the Qiqiao Festival. Once made, they would send two to the Yuan Family’s mother and daughter-in-law, which could also serve as a reminder for the Yuan Family.

After delivering the Qiqiao Festival pouches, if the Yuan Family really intended anything, they should come to propose, otherwise, they needed to give a clear answer, whether affirmative or not.

Gu Dexing and his sister walked there, taking about an hour. A mule cart stopped beside them.

Wan Lifang lifted the curtain of the cart, looking at them with a smile on his face, "Lifang thought he might have seen wrongly, but it really is Brother Gu."