"Your family really doesn't care about you anymore."

In the room next to Ning Nuonuo's, Yang Lian was packing her things. She didn't have many things; most of them were gifts from Ning Nuonuo.

"Yes, they only care about money." It's best to ignore her. "Miss, from now on, I will be your servant."

"Ah, it's a little strange. You can still call me Nuonuo."

"That won't do. A servant is a servant and should be self-aware. In the future, we will have more servants in our household. When that time comes, I can be the head maid."

Yang Lian smiled, her face showing no trace of gloom.

"Let me tell you, I was sold once too."

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian immediately perked up. "The young master is willing to sell you?"

"How could that be? My brother loves me so much. It was my uncle who knocked my brother unconscious and sold me while he was unconscious. He sold me to that kind of filthy place."

"Huh?" Yang Lian's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Then...?"

“However, I was lucky and met many helpful people along the way.” Ning Nuonuo grinned. “On the first day I was sold to a brothel, I was taken away and became a servant of the Fang family. But later, my brother found me and redeemed me.”

Yang Lian had no idea that Ning Nuonuo had this past.

Indeed, every family has its own troubles.

On the third day after Ning Hongze returned home, a strange matchmaker came to her house.

Unlike the matchmakers in the countryside, this matchmaker had a kind smile and dressed quite normally. Although she was also dressed in festive bright red, her outfit was not as exaggerated.

"Auntie, have you come to propose marriage? But I don't want to get married right now; I want to continue my exams."

This was his excuse; he would refuse almost anyone who came to his door, so as not to offend the matchmaker or have to go through the process of finding a match.

"You jest, sir. I'm not here to arrange a marriage for you, but for your sister."

“I still won’t marry her. My sister is still young, and I want to stay a few more years.”

"Don't be so quick to refuse, sir. You know this young master." Hearing Ning Hongze's words, the matchmaker smiled faintly. Just as the young master had said, Master Ning would definitely refuse outright.

Thinking of how Young Master Han had asked her to say a few good words for him, the matchmaker's smile deepened.

Does he know him?

Ning Hongze's mind immediately conjured up Han Tianbao's chubby face.

"Is it Han Tianbao?"

"That's right, it's Master Han who passed the imperial examination."

A sixteen-year-old boy, whose pubic hair hasn't even fully grown in yet, was being addressed as "Master" by this matchmaker. Thinking of Han Tianbao's face, Ning Hong couldn't help but chuckle.

"Do the Han family know about this?"

Han Tianbao's attire was exquisite, and he was accompanied by servants and pageboys, suggesting that his family was wealthy. If it were just a matter of money, his family might not lose to the Han family. However, the problem was that the Han family was a powerful and influential clan, and such a family would certainly look down on his family.

"Master Ning is really joking." The matchmaker chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her handkerchief. "I am an official matchmaker, under the jurisdiction of the government. Although I have no power or influence, I am quite serious about my work. I would never do something like allowing people to exchange gifts privately."

The matchmaker admired her even more.

If it were an ordinary family, upon hearing that the top scholar of this year's imperial examination wanted to arrange a marriage with them, especially since Han Tianbao was still young, handsome, had a bright future, and came from a fairly good family, they would probably have agreed immediately. They wouldn't have thought so much like this Master Ning.

It is evident that the scholar-official of the Ning family truly loved his younger sister.

"It was Master Han, the real old man, who came to our door and asked me to propose marriage."

"Mr. Han? And Mrs. Han?"

My younger sister lives in the backyard and spends more time with her mother-in-law, making the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship even more important.

"Mrs. Han was naturally happy to agree."

The matchmaker, however, showed no sign of annoyance and spoke again.

"Sir, would you like to inquire about my sister's opinion as well?"

"That's natural."

Ning Hong didn't mind being teased like that by the matchmaker.

He nodded to the matchmaker and went inside to inquire about Ning Nuonuo. Their house in the countryside wasn't big, just a few rooms in the front and back, but the courtyard was very large, with high walls and a sturdy layout.

When Ning Hongze reappeared before the matchmaker, his expression was somewhat stiff.

He nodded to the matchmaker.

"My sister doesn't object to this marriage. I'd appreciate your help with the rest, Auntie."

"That's natural; it's our duty as official media."

The matchmaker went back to report with a smile.

Ning Hong entered Ning Nuonuo's room with a slightly stiff expression.

He never expected that Nuonuo would agree to marry Han Tianbao.

They've only met a few times?

Could it be that Han Tianbao secretly came to see Nuonuo?

"Brother, don't worry about it. I haven't met with Young Master Han in private. I remember everything you said." A woman should be strong and self-respecting. She must love herself first before she is qualified to love others.

You should especially not easily believe a man's lies.

"Brother knows you're sensible, but how could you agree to this marriage?"

What's wrong with this marriage?

Ning Nuonuo asked in return?

"No, Han Tianbao has a good temperament and should be a good husband. Besides, it was the Han family who invited the official matchmaker to your home, so they should all be satisfied with you."

It's not easy to invite official matchmakers, so the fact that they value Nuonuo so much suggests that her life after marriage should be quite good.

"That works too."

The life she experienced back then still left many shadows on Ning Nuonuo, especially her father's abandonment. The type of man she hates most now is tall and handsome like her father. She doesn't feel as safe as Han Tianbao, who has a round face.

"I quite like Young Master Han."

"really?"

"That's true. Seeing Young Master Han makes me really hungry."

“???????”

Is this beauty enough to feed us?

Upon hearing the official media's response, Han Tianbao was so happy he almost jumped for joy.

"She agreed? She really agreed?"

He knew that Ning Nuonuo must also have some feelings for him.

"How do you know it was Ning Nuonuo who agreed to your marriage, and not her brother?" Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. With parents gone, the eldest brother is like a father, so the marriage can be decided by her brother.

"It must be Nuonuo's consent. Brother Ning will definitely ask Nuonuo before deciding on her marriage."

There is no doubt about that.

Grand Tutor Han looked at the official media.

The official media nodded. "That's right. They not only asked Miss Ning for her opinion, but also asked me if you had agreed to this marriage. I suppose if even one of you disagreed, the Ning family's scholar would not have agreed to the marriage."