Chapter 229 Eight Matchmakers

Yao Qingling is currently entertaining a group of the most famous matchmakers in the capital at the Hui Ba Fang event.

The eight matchmakers each had their own successful matchmaking stories.

Some married off a cripple to the young master of a martial arts school, some married off a blind woman to the young master of an embroidery workshop, and some married off a woman who was infertile to a man who had been the only son in three generations...

Eight matchmakers, their mouths never stopping as they talked about their "glorious achievements".

Yao Qingling held a teacup and cracked melon seeds, listening intently to their storytelling as if it were a storyteller, her eyes sparkling.

The news that Yao Qingling had met with eight matchmakers in the backyard quickly spread to the front building.

People were coming and going in the front building, and soon all those who came to buy things heard that Yao Qingling was planning to get married.

Sheng Dahe entered the gate of Hui Bafang and, seeing the lively atmosphere inside, became excited.

He mingled among the customers, listening to them compare goods, when he suddenly overheard Yao Qingling getting married.

"What? My sister is getting married? Her baby hasn't even had a 100-day celebration yet, who is she going to marry?" Sheng Dahe's loud voice made the store even more lively.

Xiao Pingfeng has finished repairing the warehouse and returned to Hui Ba Fang. He now manages Hui Ba Fang together with Xia Chan and Manager Liu. Manager Liu is in charge of the front yard and accounting, Xia Chan is in charge of receiving and distributing goods and also manages four grain and oil shops, and Xiao Pingfeng, as before, mainly maintains order and oversees the back yard warehouse.

He now has more subordinates than before, and everyone calls him Steward Xiao.

Manager Xiao had no idea what Yao Qingling meant by this. She was just giving people gossip material for no reason. The shop was noisy, and the customers who bought things didn't leave. They just kept chatting. Xiao Pingfeng really wanted to open a teahouse on the spot and invite all these people to chat slowly.

Manager Xiao frowned as soon as he saw Sheng Dahe.

He pushed through the crowd and pulled Sheng Dahe to a less crowded corner: "Boss Sheng, aren't you just making things worse!"

Sheng Dahe, always eager for a good show, chuckled, "Is Madam Yao really planning to get married? Hey, is she trying to find a father for her child?"

Xiao Pingfeng stared at him speechlessly. Sheng Dahe's eyes darted around, and he nudged Xiao Pingfeng with his elbow before looking down and straightening his clothes and hair: "What do you think of me?"

"She knows me quite well. If I marry her, I will never look down on her son. I—"

Xiao Pingfeng's eyes were almost completely rolled back, and he really wanted to say, "Why don't you take a piss and look in the mirror?"

Xiao Pingfeng, unable to contain himself any longer, forced out the words through gritted teeth to interrupt him: "Boss Sheng, what exactly are you here for!"

Xia Chan, carrying a tray of tea and snacks, walked through the corridor and spotted Sheng Dahe immediately. Sheng Dahe also saw her and immediately abandoned Xiao Pingfeng, running over with a grin: "Xia Chan, little girl—"

Xia Chan rolled her eyes at him, completely ignoring him, and carried the plate straight to the private room.

Sheng Dahe, thick-skinned and unconcerned about being snubbed, followed her eagerly, saying, "Miss Xia Chan, are you serving tea?"

Xia Chan glanced at him sideways: "What are you doing here? Are you here to cause trouble for my young lady again?"

"Hey, Miss Xia Chan, I've come today to apologize to her. If you don't believe me, go and see what's piled up on the oxcart outside—it's all rare stuff that you can't find in the capital!"

"My young lady doesn't care." After saying that, Xia Chan raised her chin and walked forward arrogantly, ignoring Sheng Dahe no matter what he said.

Sheng Dahe didn't mind and followed them all the way to the flower hall.

Upon seeing the matchmakers, his eyes widened in surprise.

The matchmaker, dressed in gaudy clothes, with flowers in her hair, a round fan in her hand, and bright red lipstick, stared at him as if he were a piece of fine meat, making one's scalp tingle just by looking at her.

What good men can these old fogies recommend?

Sheng Dahe strode in: "Let's go, let's all go."

He chased everyone away, then plopped down in the chair next to Yao Qingling. "If you want to find a husband, just come to me. Why waste your money on these old hags?"

He casually picked up a large apple and took a bite.

Yao Qingling had received news a few days earlier that Sheng Dahe's ship was about to dock, so seeing him at this time was not surprising.

Yao Qingling was too lazy to speak and slowly peeled peanuts.

Peanut shells were scattered all over the ground, and even some crumbs were stuck to her skirt. She raised her hand to dust them off and continued to admire the plum blossoms outside the courtyard.

Seeing her lukewarm attitude, Sheng Dahe knew she was still angry, so he coughed and said, "Little sister, I'm sorry about what happened before. I've come to apologize sincerely. Please forgive me this time, and I will follow your lead from now on."

Sheng Dahe would never have said such a thing before. He was wary of Yao Qingling, who was trying to steal his money and his person, and he was even more unwilling to be led by the nose by a woman.

But after all these events, he was convinced.

Yao Qingling sneered: "I wouldn't dare."

Sheng Dahe picked up the teapot to refill her tea, then held the teacup in both hands and handed it to her, saying, "You dare, you dare."

He thought to himself: In this world, I have never seen a woman with more courage than Yao Qingling.

Yao Qingling glanced at the teacup indifferently and did not take it.

Sheng Dahe was clearly not a patient person. He held the cup for a while, then put it down and started making small talk: "Looking for a father for your child?"

He dared to talk nonsense in front of Xiao Pingfeng, but when faced with that delicate face, his heart pounded and he didn't dare to step forward.

Yao Qingling asked, "What do you think of the warehouse at the dock?"

Seeing that she was finally willing to talk to him, Sheng Dahe said repeatedly, "Good, good, very good!"

"Since you agree, then pay the remaining balance."

Sheng Dahe: "..."

He ultimately didn't get a good look from Yao Qingling, but luckily he had some silver notes in his pocket, so he awkwardly handed them over.

Qingling called for the cicadas to see the guests off.

Sheng Dahe arrived full of excitement, but left dejected and humiliated.

Xiao Pingfeng brought the oxcart in through the back door, and several people gathered around it, looking at what was on the oxcart.

Manager Liu picked up a red-glazed vase, examined it carefully, and said with a solemn expression, "This is... porcelain from the Yizhou official kiln."

Imperial porcelain was reserved for royalty and nobility.

Lou Yue grew angry: "This Sheng Dahe, how could he cause trouble so easily? If people find out, Miss will be—"

She cursed a few times, then realized everyone was watching her, so she covered her mouth and dared not say anything more.

Yao Qingling took the vase from Manager Liu. It was smooth to the touch, as red as fire, and without a single flaw. No wonder it was a tribute item.

“Sheng Dahe was eager to apologize to me and try to please me. In his opinion, he would give me whatever was good. He wasn’t afraid of the royal family, otherwise he wouldn’t have done that in the first place.”

Her tone was calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

Xia Chan asked, "Miss, what should we do?"

No matter where this kind of thing is hidden, it's like hiding a deadly weapon. The only fear is that someone who knows its value will recognize it and bring disaster upon themselves.

But it would be a pity to smash it on the spot or throw it into the river to destroy the evidence.

Only one of these items is produced per kiln per year. It is the result of countless artisans devoting years of painstaking effort and using countless materials to create it.

A fine piece produced at the kiln was often regarded as an auspicious omen and presented to the emperor for use.

Having witnessed the shady dealings within the palace, Qingling no longer believed that everything the Emperor used was of the highest quality.

The fact that even Sheng Dahe could get his hands on this shows that it was no longer a rare item among powerful families, officials, and nobles.

"Manager Liu, look again and see if there's anything that's a tribute item. Pick it out and let me know in a bit."