The matchmaker, Zou, picked up her teacup, took a sip of the sweet water, and continued speaking.

"You have no idea how extravagant that girl's dowry is. She said she'd bring five servants with her as part of her dowry. She said she wouldn't do any housework and wouldn't be allowed to touch the kitchen. After the wedding, these servants would serve her exclusively. Although Sister Song's family isn't short of money, she can't just waste money like this. They're already married, and it's impossible for that girl to use her family's money to support servants. It's all Sister Song who has to pay for it. Supporting five servants all at once, no one can bear that."

The matchmaker, Zou, spoke and gestured like she was performing in an opera.

"We're just an ordinary family. We just want a peaceful and harmonious life. If we marry someone from a family that's not well-matched, there will inevitably be conflicts later. My sister Song is kind and gentle; she's not the kind of person to torment her daughter-in-law. Seeing her troubled expression, she took it upon herself to bring them to Baihua Village. With such a fine young man, I naturally want to keep him for Xiaoxue. After all, I grew up in Baihua Village myself..."

His heartfelt words touched Bai Lizheng.

But the two companies hadn't even gotten to know each other properly before making a decision so quickly...

Just as he was about to suggest taking a break, Bai Ruixue appeared out of nowhere.

Maybe she never left at all.

He had been eavesdropping outside the door.

"Dad, I'm willing. You know I'm already nineteen. If I delay any longer, I'll be twenty. By then, I'll be marrying a guy with kids, and he might not even be interested in me. Dad, I... I'm willing to settle down with Brother Xiaotian."

Being a young lady, she ran away shyly after saying that.

The village head was left embarrassed, unsure of what to do.

What kind of girl would rush to get engaged? Bai Lizheng felt his face burning.

That brat! I'm going to give her a good scolding after the guests leave!

"Haha, Xiaoxue is so lively and straightforward! Village head, don't hesitate any longer. What if Xiaotian gets snatched away by that girl if we keep dragging this out?"

Matchmaker Zou curled her lip. She looked down on this kind of unreserved girl, but matchmakers always talked nonsense with their eyes closed, so she naturally had to praise her.

Sister Song said that if this marriage goes through, she will receive two taels of silver as a referral fee.

Don't be fooled by her living in town and her seemingly glamorous life; her family is struggling financially, otherwise she wouldn't be working as a matchmaker to supplement their income.

Her good-for-nothing husband only knows how to drink with women and fight crickets all day long.

If it weren't for the money her parents-in-law left behind after their deaths, her family would have been starving.

"No, Xiaotian is a filial son. He would never marry a girl I don't like. I think Xiaoxue is perfect for me. I'm very satisfied with her. It's just that it's getting late. If you really don't like our Xiaotian, then we'll head back now. A forced marriage isn't a good idea. Xiaotian, let's go."

Mrs. Song put down the cup in her hand, took her son's hand, and walked towards the door.

"Oh dear, Sister Song, why are you leaving so abruptly? Bai Lizheng, say something! We've come all this way to meet you, and you still won't give us a straight answer. It's a waste that I picked the best young man for your Xiaoxue. If you keep acting like this, how can I dare to introduce you to anyone else in the future?"

The two of them played opposite roles, one good cop and the other bad cop.

The matchmaker, Zou, also made veiled threats.

Bai Lizheng was no match for him.

Just as he was at a loss, Bai Lizheng's wife returned.

"Honey, I've dug up a lot of wild vegetables. Let's have wild vegetable dumplings tonight! Oh, isn't this Huahua? What brings you back? What are you doing here? Hmm? And who is this?"

She looked at the people in the room, her face full of confusion.

"Little Xue's mother, didn't I introduce a young man to your Little Xue? Look how handsome he is! His family is extremely well-off; they're from the city, with a huge mansion, a whole courtyard, bigger than ours! Xiao Tian is also educated and will be pursuing the imperial examinations someday. If Little Xue marries him, she might become a scholar's wife someday! Ever since the village head mentioned this to me, I've been thinking about Little Xue's marriage every day. I chose the best young man for her, but Village Head Bai just won't agree and won't make a decision..."

"................."

The matchmaker, Zou, finally saw that she had found a breakthrough.

He dragged the village head's wife into a long lecture.

The marriage was arranged in less than twenty minutes.

Bai Lizheng didn't even have a chance to interrupt. Although he was the one who made the decisions outside, he listened to his wife very much at home.

They agreed to come tomorrow to propose marriage and discuss matters such as betrothal gifts and dowry.

The matchmaker, Zou, then left with the mother and son.

They rented a horse-drawn carriage and were waiting outside the village.

"Look at you, you made a decision without even discussing it with me. How can you be so hasty? I haven't even asked anyone if what Zou Shi said is true. What if the Song family has some secrets? Wouldn't our Xiaoxue have fallen into a wolf's den?"

His fair and upright beard was almost standing on end.

“There are no secrets. I trust Zou Huahua. From the oldest to the youngest, everyone in the Zou family is honest and upright. You ask them for help, and you don’t trust them? Why did you ask them in the first place? They came all the way from town to see your daughter, and you were so arrogant. If you offend the Song family, this great marriage will be ruined. I’d like to see how you explain that to your daughter.”

"you--"

"You're absolutely unreasonable—"

He's so upright and honest.

But he dared not scold his wife.

We could only stare helplessly.

"Father, Mother, please stop arguing. I like him. Brother Xiaotian is so good. I just don't like that farmer. He's all dark-skinned and does nothing but eat, sleep, and work. He's just like my older brother. He's so boring and has no interest at all. Besides, I don't want to live in the village. I want to marry into the town and live a good life like Aunt Yan. After I give birth to Brother Xiaotian's son, I'll come back to visit you by carriage and make you proud."

If you were to ask Bai Ruixue who she envied the most, it would definitely be Chen Guihua and Chen Lamei.

In the past, she was picky because she didn't want to get married. After all, at home, she only needed to help her sister-in-law occasionally, ate well, slept well, and didn't have to suffer any mistreatment. Her parents doted on her. If she got married, she might have to take on all the responsibilities of her husband's family. Since she hadn't met a suitable person yet, she kept putting it off.

Seeing that Aunt Yan's family had become wealthy, Chen Guihua and Chen Lamei wore silk clothes and light gauze skirts that she could only dream of, and were adorned with all kinds of gold hairpins and jade bracelets, with countless pieces of jewelry.

It changes every time I see it.

There are no duplicates.

Bai Ruixue was incredibly jealous.

Then an idea came to her mind.

She's going to marry someone from the town.

They also had to wear silk clothes and gold jewelry.

Unlike her now, who holds the lipstick her nephew gave her like a precious treasure and is reluctant to use it.

Compared to osmanthus and wintersweet, it looks incredibly shabby.