Chapter 138

Grandma Fu agreed to find a husband for Gu Ran, so naturally she had to look around the area, no, she even had to use her connections to go to the county town or the provincial capital to look for a suitable family. This would take some time, so she didn't come back to see Gu Ran soon.

Gu Ran had thrown out the bait, and he was not in a hurry. He stayed in the small house these days, living a leisurely life.

Playing with cats, browsing the market, and cooking some delicious dishes when the mood strikes, there's nothing wrong with it.

However, the Gu family's small house is now the focus of many families in the village. Many people have seen Fu Po coming to the Gu family's small house, and some people in the village can't help but discuss whether Fu Po wants to arrange marriages for the two ladies in the small house.

Two or three days later, people who went to Donglin Township heard that Fu Po was going to introduce a husband to Gu Dongjia, and there was even more discussion. The rumor spread to Xiaxi Village, and soon everyone in the village knew that Gu Dongjia from their village was going to look for a husband.

Village Chief Wu and his family also found out about it. Then one day, Village Chief Wu and Mrs. Lin came to ask about it and test Gu Ran's attitude.

Gu Ran didn't deny it and nodded with a smile: "That's right. Wasn't the village chief worried about me being alone before? Now that my mood has improved, it's a good time to find a husband, so I asked Fu Po for help."

"That's good, Second Mother, you've come to terms with it. Find a companion, and you won't be afraid of living alone in the future." Second Sister Lin was very positive.

Pei Liu, who was also sitting nearby drinking tea and chatting, immediately became displeased and glanced coldly at Mrs. Lin: "Why are you lonely? Don't you still have me?"

"How are they the same?" Mrs. Lin waved her hand.

Now that Pei Liu has been in the village for a few years, he has had more interactions with Lin Ersao. Lin Erlang has taken on an assignment on Dunzi Island and has said a lot about Pei Liuniang, so now Lin Ersao feels familiar with her and speaks more casually.

"Why is it different? Wherever Er Niang goes, I go with her. When did she become lonely?"

"Of course it's different, Liuniang. You're good to Erniang, but it's not the kindness of sisters. Now that Erniang has a husband, it's the kindness between husband and wife. Do you dare to say it's still the same?" Second Sister Lin glanced at Pei Liuniang, looking like an experienced person, and patted her shoulder: "Hey, you're still young, there are many things you don't understand."

Pei Liu's face turned black.

Who is still young? Who doesn't understand?

"Right, Liu Niang?" Lin Ersao went back to check on Gu Er Niang.

Gu Ran smiled and nodded.

"Oh, that's okay. That Fu Po is going to find a husband for you anyway, so why not let her find one for Liu Niang as well?" said Lin Ersao. "Liu Niang is not young anymore, so she should be married, right?"

"That's right, Sixth Mother, if you also like him, and you get married on the same day as Second Mother, it will be a beautiful story between sisters." Village Chief Wu also thought this was a good idea.

Pei Liu held his forehead with his hand.

Gu Ran, who had already guessed Pei Liu's identity, couldn't help but laugh. She was overjoyed, but she didn't let him off the hook. "That's right, Liu Niang, why don't you settle the marriage as well? The two of us sisters can book the banquet together and make the wedding dress together. How wonderful!"

Pei Liu glanced at Gu Ran, feeling embarrassed and angry, and said, "I don't want to get married yet."

"It doesn't matter. Once Second Mother gets married, Sixth Mother will definitely feel lonely. By then, even if others don't say anything, she will also think it's a good thing to get married." Second Mother Lin disagreed.

"Second Mother, you're getting married, so what's going to happen to the orange grove?" Village Chief Wu suppressed his smile and asked, "Will you still live in Xiaxi Village after you get married?"

"Of course, you follow your husband wherever he goes." Gu Ran glanced at Pei Liu and said, "But this house in the village and my Dunzi Island are all mine. They will all be considered my dowry. I will live my life the way I want to live, and I will never let anyone else interfere."

"So don't worry, Liu Niang. Even if I get married, I will still take good care of your huge orange grove and won't let you suffer any loss."

"If Liu Niang finds a husband she likes, she can get married with peace of mind."

"That's right."

Pei Liu's face turned pale and blue.

After finally patiently seeing off Village Chief Wu and her daughter-in-law, and watching Gu Ran happily humming a tune while clearing away the teacups, Pei Liu leaned over and asked, "Do you really have to get married?"

"If I can find a family I like, of course I will marry them!" Gu Ran said with a smile.

"Isn't it good to be like this now?"

Gu Ran was stunned and slowly looked up at Pei Liu.

"Even if you don't marry, we're living well, and I'm not treating you badly." Pei Liu complained, "Why do you have to find another husband?"

"Sixth Sister, I know we are sisters, you can't bear to leave me!" Gu Ran subconsciously reached out and wanted to pat Pei Liu's shoulder, but then remembered that this Sixth Sister was Liu Lang, hesitated, but finally patted her gently, "But, we sisters still have to find our own marriages in the end, and I can't keep you by my side, right?"

"You can do it."

"What if someone else brings this up? How am I going to explain it?" Gu Ran sighed. "Actually, I also think you're a good person, Liu Niang. You have good character and are good at martial arts. It's really comfortable to live with you."

"Really?" Pei Liu's expression brightened a little when he heard Gu Ran's praise, and he felt particularly comfortable in his heart.

"Really, especially when you walk with me outside, you look like a handsome young man, so handsome." Gu Ran praised, his ears slightly reddened, and then he regained his composure: "It's a pity that you are a fake young man, otherwise, I really want to..."

Gu Ran quickly raised his head and glanced at Pei Liu, reached out and patted him on the chest, then quickly turned his head away to prevent him from noticing the embarrassment on his face, and then shook his head heavily: "Oh!" He took a few quick steps and entered the kitchen with the teacup.

Pei Liu didn't notice anything unusual at all. His mind was filled with Gu Erniang's words: It's a pity that you're a fake husband, otherwise, I really want to...

What is she really thinking?

Could it be?

Pei Liu's lips curled up when he thought of Er Niang's reaction when he deliberately approached her and wanted to be more intimate with her.

What Er Niang meant was definitely that if he was a real man, she would really want to marry him.

Pei Liu laughed silently, but was afraid of being seen by Gu Ran, so he quickly covered the lower half of his face with his hands and coughed dryly.

If I really told Er Niang that I was actually a man, I wouldn't be afraid of Er Niang blaming me.

Then, find a good opportunity to tell her?

Before Pei Liu could decide when to reveal his true life story, Grandma Fu came to Xiaxi Village to look for Gu Dongjia again.

This time, Fortune Lady came prepared, holding a stack of portraits of gentlemen in her hands. She sat under the osmanthus tree, drinking tea with Mrs. Gu while she took a portrait and told her in detail about the family background, identity, and name of the gentleman in the portrait.

Pei Liu did not avoid Fu Po as she did last time. Instead, she sat next to Gu Ran and looked at the portrait that Fu Po handed to her.

"This is the fifth son of the Liu family in Donglin Township. He is eighteen years old, handsome and upright. It just so happens that his family also grows fruit trees, just like you, Mr. Gu."

"The Liu family of Donglin Township?"

Before Gu Ran could speak, Pei Liu glanced at the portrait and frowned.

"ah!"

"Is it the Liu family who planted oranges a few years ago?" Pei Liu asked directly.

When Gu Ran heard this, he also looked at Grandma Fu.

"That's right, Mr. Gu. This Liu Wulang is none other than the young master of the Liu family who used to run the orange orchard. His orange orchard ran into problems and is gone, but the Liu family is very wealthy. Even with their orange grove, they still grow other fruits, like lychees, pomeloes, carambolas, and loquats. I happen to be in the same business as you. If you marry into the Liu family in the future, you can ask them for their experience in growing other fruits. Maybe you can even plant a few more fruit trees on your island?"

"I think it's not Second Mother asking them for advice, but rather them asking Second Mother for advice and experience," Pei Liu said disdainfully. "I'm afraid the Liu family will swallow up our orange grove under the guise of seeking advice."

"Hey, Liu Niang, how can you...you can't think so badly of people!" Fu Po argued, "The Liu family is rich and powerful!"

"The family is large and prosperous, but the Liu family has many sons. I remember that the Liu family has a total of nine sons. I'm afraid that such a large family fortune divided into the hands of the fifth son won't be much, right?" Pei Liu glanced at Gu Ran and said, "Our Second Mother has an entire orange grove on her hands. Does the fifth son have an orchard? A lychee orchard? A loquat grove?"

"This..." The old lady was stunned.

Gu Ran smiled and put Liu Wulang's portrait aside, then reached out to pick up the portrait of the second young man.

Mrs. Fu immediately cheered up.

"This one is the third son of the Gao family in our prefecture. The Gao family is a family of officials. Mr. Gao is the Tongzhi of Jianzhou Prefecture. The third son of Gao is twenty years old this year. He just passed the examination for the title of Xiucai and is planning to take the examination for Juren. This third son of Gao has an immeasurable future. If Mrs. Gu marries him, she will become the wife of a Juren in the future."

Gu Ran looked at the portrait of Gao Sanlang and nodded.

Seeing that Gu Ran remained silent, Grandma Fu smiled and pointed at Gao Sanlang's portrait, saying, "This Gao Sanlang is well-educated and handsome. He and you, Master Gu, are a perfect match."

Pei Liu glanced at Gu Ran.

"This year's new scholar?"

"Yes, I remember the examination for the scholar was held at the beginning of the year, in March, right?"

"That's right."

"Since Mr. Gao has passed the examination for the scholar degree, and we can still count on him passing the examination for the juren degree, he must be extremely talented and well-known. Such a brilliant student, already in his early twenties, has not had anyone propose marriage to him early on because of his immeasurable future. Instead, they have to wait until the end of this year to discuss the marriage. Is there something hidden?"

"This..." Mrs. Fu was stunned by the question.

Gu Ran looked at the lucky woman and said, "Yes, Gao Sanlang is handsome, well-educated, and a native of the capital. Why is he still single?"

"It's because Gao Sanlang has high expectations for his wife that things have been delayed until now. Originally, he wanted to pass the imperial examination to discuss marriage..."

"In that case, we should wait until Gao Sanlang passes the imperial examination before discussing marriage." General Pei Liu snatched the portrait from Gu Ran's hand and placed it on the table with a thud. "Next."

Gu Ran's lips curled up slightly, but he tried his best to suppress his smile and picked up the next portrait.

It was obvious that every time the fortune lady came, this person would stay away from her for fear of arranging a marriage for her. But today, she came over on her own initiative, so she knew that things were not that simple. So, she wanted to find fault with the family that the fortune lady chose for her!

As expected, every man that Fu Po brought was rejected by Pei Liu. In the end, Fu Po became annoyed: "Pei Liu Niang, don't rely on your status to be so demanding. How can you find a man if you are so picky? Besides, I'm choosing for Er Niang, not for you. Why are you so anxious?"

Pei Liu opened his mouth, glanced at Gu Ran who lowered his head, and said nothing.

"Second Mother, Master Gu, what do you think?"

Gu Ran looked up and glanced at Pei Liu, grabbed the pile of portraits, searched for a while, and picked out Gao Sanlang's portrait.

Pei Liu took a quick glance and clenched his fists: "Second Mother?"

"Are you attracted to the third son of the Gao family?" Mrs. Fu was surprised.

"It's rare that Lady Fu has visited so many families for me. As for Gao Sanlang, I think he's okay." Gu Ran said shyly.

Pei Liu coughed dryly, and was about to say something when Grandma Fu interrupted him with a hand. "Since Master Gu is interested, I can contact the Gao family and arrange a meeting for you two. If we can come to an agreement and you think this marriage is suitable, I will have the Gao family formally propose the marriage. How do you think?"

Gu Ran pinched the portrait and nodded vigorously.

"Second Mother, do you really think Gao Sanlang is a good person?" Pei Liu was anxious.

"Okay, why not? Mr. Gao has a good family background, is well-educated, and has a handsome appearance. What's wrong with him?" Fu Po was afraid that Gu Ran would regret it, so she grabbed the other portraits and stood up to say goodbye. "Then I will go back first. Master Gu, you can wait for my letter with peace of mind!"

Gu Ran nodded to the rich lady.

"Second mother?"

"I can't help it. It's hard to find a man as handsome as you, Liuniang, in this world. I'll just have to make do with what I have!" Gu Ran said, grabbing Mr. Gao's portrait, and stood up, going straight into the house. "Sixniang, please help me put away the teacups. I'll go pick out some clothes for when I meet Mr. Gao."

Pei Liu looked at the table full of teapots and pastries, and his face immediately became long.

Does she really want to meet that Mr. Gao?

What if, by some chance, Mr. Gao really deceived Er Niang into marrying him with his sweet words?

No, why should Er Niang settle for less? She wants to find a husband as handsome as herself. Isn’t he such a handsome husband?

Even if he had deceived Er Niang for so many years, but considering their friendship over the years and the fact that Er Niang had a happy face, if he confessed, then Er Niang would not blame him too much, right?

We can't delay any longer.

If he delays any longer, and Er Niang falls in love with someone else, it will be too late for him to win her back.

Thinking of the scene where Er Niang was staring at Mr. Gao's portrait, Pei Liu finally made up his mind.

This night, although the winter wind was a little bit cold, the temperature was very suitable, and it was a good night for sleep.

Gu Ran deliberately pretended to ignore Pei Liu and went into the wing. When she felt that she had been left alone long enough, she came out to fetch water and take a bath. Then she used the workshop to move the remaining water to the backyard and dumped it. After that, she washed her hands, hugged her fur coat and went back into her wing to prepare for another battle the next day. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Pei Liu had entered her wing at some point and was leaning on the couch.

Gu Ran's eyelids jumped: "Sixth Mother?"

Pei Liu had already heard her footsteps approaching, and when he heard her calling him, he slowly turned around and looked over.

The first thing Gu Ran saw was his silky black hair, the second she saw his open shirt, and immediately saw his flat chest. She covered her mouth, seemingly frightened, but in fact she was screaming like a groundhog in her heart: Ah ah ah, she was right, Liu Niang is really Liu Lang!

Pei Liu looked at Gu Ran who seemed to be frightened silly. He turned over and sat up, "Ran Ran, I am Liu Niang. Don't be afraid. I have something to confess to you."