Fan He opened his mouth, not expecting that so many things had happened at home in just over a month since he left.

Brother Ling came back and took his elder brother to Beidu. Brother Bai continued south, and his family unexpectedly opened another toothbrush shop!

Is there anything he doesn't know?

There can't be any more, this is enough!

After answering her second son, Shui Qing noticed a mixture of envy and disappointment in Hong Daniu's eyes, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. She asked with concern, "Uncle Hong, is there something you want to say?"

Hong Daniu's lips moved, first he forced a smile, then he seemed to have made a great decision and said: "I am happy to see that Wenhua is going to propose marriage. It's just that Mancang is nineteen years old this year, and I would like to ask Madam to arrange a marriage for him."

I know things are busy and complicated right now, and I shouldn't have brought this up and added to your troubles, but..."

The marriages of their servants are arranged by the master's family, usually by the mistress of the house who appoints the candidates. They only came after the flood, and their food, lodging and clothing are provided by the master's family. They haven't done any particularly important work so far, so they shouldn't have asked for a marriage proposal.

However, after returning to the village, he heard that Fan Dazhu had gotten married and that Hu Wenhua was about to be engaged. They were both only seventeen, and Mancang was already nineteen. If they didn't hurry up, the girls would probably be even less willing to take them.

Their mother was gone, so he, as the father, had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask his mistress to make the decision.

Shui Qing realized that this was indeed an oversight on her part due to her lack of experience.

If Hong Daniu had made this request to her before they returned, she really wouldn't know where to find a suitable girl. But with Zhulin Village, it was simply the best arrangement!

In this dynasty, there were two types of indenture contracts: live contracts and dead contracts. Once redeemed under a live contract, the indenture was no longer related to the master family. Under a dead contract, the master family was responsible for everything, including birth, old age, illness, death, and even marriage. Even their parents had no right to make decisions!

So there's a reason why Hong Daniu asked him to make the decision.

She looked at Mancang and said, "I remember there are eleven unmarried men among you? Go and call them all over, and have them tell each other their thoughts in person. If they are of marriageable age and want to get married, they can get married together."

Hong Daniu was surprised by Shui Qing's efficiency, and that she not only arranged the weddings of his eldest son but also his youngest son. He was so grateful that he didn't know what to say and kept thanking her, saying, "Thank you, thank you, Madam!"

Hong Mancang quickly summoned everyone. When their family members heard that the host was going to help with the marriage arrangements, they all came over. Even the women, such as Da Ni and Zhou Yu, came along.

They were all so moved they didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, there were more than a dozen people in the courtyard. Shuiqing called them all to the main room. After she sat down in the main seat, she gestured for the others to sit on the armchairs on either side.

Hong Daniu, Feng Da, Feng Er, Da Ni, Zhou Yu, and the others thanked them and sat down happily, looking joyfully at the men standing in the middle of the hall who were about to discuss the marriage.

Hong Mancang, Hong Manku, and eleven other men stood awkwardly, a blush creeping onto their dark faces.

When they heard that Hu Wenhua was going to propose marriage while they were away, they felt both envious and excited.

Then they heard that Fan Xiaoliu's family was also going to find him a wife. When they returned, they happened to run into Fan Dazhu getting married. Everyone who was younger than them or the same age as them was getting married. It would be a lie to say that they were not envious.

However, knowing that marriage is a major event, and that the master's household had no other servants, let alone women, an arranged marriage was impossible.

Furthermore, they were servants, slaves, and bound by a death contract. They never considered redeeming themselves, and other families' daughters would never marry them. So, while they envied them, they knew in their hearts that marriage was impossible.

At least, don't even think about it for the next few years.