Mo Qiaoniang also took Li Qingruo with her to the Cao family.
Last night, Mo Qiaoniang told Li Qingruo about what happened today and explained the situation at Gao Chuan's home.
“My son, you can see him tomorrow. If you don’t want to, we can see someone else. Just think of it as going to the Cao residence for fun.”
Li Qingruo agreed, but she also had her own ideas.
The Li family arrived first, which was a normal visiting procedure, and Cao Ying, as the host, received Li Qingruo.
The two children chatted in their room for a long time before the Gao family arrived.
"Miss, Young Master Gao has arrived!"
Bihe had been sent away by Cao Ying to keep an eye on when the Gao family would arrive. As soon as she saw Gao Chuan, she returned to report the news.
Li Qingruo whispered something in Cao Ying's ear, and Cao Ying nodded.
"Don't worry, sister, I'll arrange it."
————
"It's quite a coincidence, my cousin has some distinguished guests at her house today."
Madam Gao, Gao Chuan's stepmother, smiled as soon as she entered the room and spoke very politely.
Everyone knew they were there to arrange a marriage, but they couldn't be too explicit, especially the groom's side, who had to help the bride's family. From these words, Madam Cao knew that her cousin-in-law was very satisfied with the marriage.
"No problem, no problem, let's play together."
Madam Cao also stepped forward to cover it up.
"This is the wife of the second owner of the Li family workshop. She is my cousin-in-law from my maternal family. This is Gao Chuan, my nephew."
"Mrs. Gao."
"Madam Li the Second".
"Gao Chuan greets Madam Li."
"Chuan'er, go to the courtyard and find your uncle. He says he wants to test you."
After exchanging greetings, Mo Qiaoniang glanced at Gao Chuan a few times, and then Madam Cao sent him away.
Gao Chuan followed the servant out the door and saw a graceful woman slowly walking towards him from a distance. Gao Chuan stepped aside to let her pass, lowering his head and looking away from her.
Li Qingruo accepted the gesture, gave a slight bow, and passed by without saying a word.
Gao Chuan looked back and saw only a glimpse of a green skirt crossing the threshold before being hidden by the curtain and never seen again.
"Qingruo is here, sister-in-law. This is Li Qingruo, the daughter of Madam Li the Second."
"Qingruo greets Madam."
Upon entering, Madam Cao pulled Li Qingruo aside and introduced her to Madam Gao.
Madam Gao glanced at the girl first. She was quite pretty. Well, given her status, she shouldn't go too far.
"Your daughter is so lovely, I almost wanted to take her home and make her my daughter. What does she do at home now?"
"Thank you, Madam. I only do needlework and hairpins every day, and that's all I have to do."
Madam Gao nodded, having heard that she had previously earned money by doing needlework, and that was all she could do on a daily basis.
"Madam Li is so lucky. Not only is her daughter so beautiful, but she also seems to be a very well-behaved girl."
"That's right, if Ying'er were half as well-behaved as Qingruo, that would be perfect."
Madam Gao was initially drawn to Li Qingruo because of her modest family background, and since it was her sister-in-law, who was the wife of the county magistrate, who personally arranged the connection, she had to give her face.
Although Li Qingruo is prettier than I imagined, what good is being pretty?
Gao Chuan was led by a servant to the Cao family's garden, where the servant stopped at a pavilion.
"Young Master Gao, please wait a moment. The master will be here shortly."
"good."
Pastries and tea were laid out in the pavilion. Gao Chuan was a little puzzled, but he didn't react much. What problems could there be in the Cao family?
After waiting for a while, Gao Chuan became even more confused. Could it be that he really took him to the wrong place?
"Master Gao."
Takakawa turned around, this is...
"Miss Li?"
Li Qingruo smiled gently, "Yes, it's me."
Gao Chuan sat inside the pavilion, while Li Qingruo stood outside.
"This is against etiquette, Miss Li. Please stay, I will take my leave."
Seeing that the surroundings were empty and deserted, Gao Chuan knew that if the servants in the mansion saw them, it would be bad for Li Qingruo, and it would be uncertain whether their marriage would be successful. So Gao Chuan stood up and prepared to leave.
"Young master, please wait a moment. I have already asked Ying'er to clear this place. Now it's just you and me. You should understand that today is actually for a meeting."
I have a few words I'd like to say to Young Master Gao. Would you be willing to grant me some time?
"Miss Li, please speak."
Seeing the woman's sincere expression, Gao Chuan finally agreed.
"Does the young master know that I once broke off an engagement?"
"I don't know, but the engagement was called off, so what?"
Gao Chuan didn't know what Li Qingruo meant by asking this question. In the common people's society, there are still plenty of men who want to marry divorced women. It's just that the engagement was broken off. What's the big deal?
These blunt words made Li Qingruo laugh, based solely on her behavior and those words.
This young master Gao is a good person.
"Young Master Gao, my family offers no assistance to you. If we were to marry, my family would have no wealth. Would you be willing to let me support my family by making hairpins?"
Li Qingruo's words were bold; she directly brought up marriage.
Gao Chuan frowned. "If you need your wife to support the family, what use is an eight-foot-tall man like me? If making hairpins is your hobby, I have no intention of taking it away from you. I will bear all the expenses incurred at home."
"Is Young Master Gao also the kind of person who can't stand seeing his new wife's abilities? Does he believe that women should stay at home to be good wives and mothers?"
"No, if she were my future wife, she could do whatever she wanted."
His biological mother was just a concubine, who died young.
My deepest childhood memory is of my aunt telling me about her childhood days going to the market with her family. She said that showing one's face in public was just a way for women to survive. He has my aunt's blood in him, and he can't bring himself to look down on someone like her.
From Li Qingruo's questions, it was clear that this Miss Li also did needlework at home to supplement the family income.
Well then, if the marriage goes through, he will take on the responsibility of supporting the family and make sure she lives a good life.
"Young Master Gao, if you pass the imperial examination with flying colors, will you take a concubine?"
"Won't!"
Gao Chuan said resolutely, "He is an illegitimate son, and I don't want my child to suffer like this."
He grew up in a dysfunctional family. He witnessed his stepmother's hysteria as a child, and the cool, damp feeling of his aunt's tears falling on his neck still lingers in his heart.
The brothers are not brothers, and the father and son are not like father and son.
He'd had enough of all this, and he would never repeat it.
"Actually, it's okay if you do."
Which official in the world doesn't take a concubine? Even if there are, they are a minority.
"One last question, Young Master Gao, what do you think of me?"
Gao Chuan was pulled out of his emotions by the question. The woman opposite him stood there quietly, waiting for his response.
"very good."
He heard himself say it.
I don't know why, but even though I've only met someone once, I already feel that they're nice.
"How was it? How was it?"
Back in Cao Ying's room, Cao Ying approached Li Qingruo with a gossipy look on her face.
Li Qingruo blushed instantly when she was stared at like that.
"Oh~~~ It seems like there's hope."
"I can't really explain it, but I just feel that if it's someone like Young Master Gao, it's worth a try."
Meeting the man she was interested in private was incredibly audacious, and the two of them were determined to keep it a secret from their parents.
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