Chapter 518 The He Family Takes a Fulfillment of Cheng Zhao
The weather has been excellent these past few days during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Cheng Wanwan's family makes all sorts of delicious food, then packs it into boxes as New Year's gifts for visiting relatives and friends.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Wu Hui Niang and Zhao Dashan took Xiao Zhuzhu back to her parents' home, while Cao Yingying and Zhao Ergou went to Cao's home. Since Zhao Sanniu was not there, Cheng Wanwan took her youngest son to the Shen's home to pay New Year's greetings.
The Shen family was not from Huzhou. It was only after Magistrate Shen was transferred here to serve as an official that the family of three moved here. During the Spring Festival, there were no relatives visiting. The yamen runners at the gate had all gone home for the holiday, making the county government office seem particularly deserted.
Cheng Wanwan brought Zhao Sidan with her, and Ning Lan followed behind to serve her. The arrival of three people added some popularity to the Shen family.
"Wanwan, why are you here?" Old Madam Shen beamed. "It's only been a while since I last saw Sidan, and he's grown so tall... It's cold outside, come in and sit down. Someone, bring some hot tea."
The room was warm with a charcoal fire, and after drinking hot tea, the chill in my body immediately dissipated.
“Grandma Shen, a lot of people have been buying land and building houses in our village lately,” Zhao Sidan said, holding his teacup. “Didn’t Brother Zheng say before that he was also buying land in Dahe Village to build a house for Grandma Shen to live in her old age?”
Madam Shen snorted: "That boy is all talk. He just babbles on and on and then stops talking. Let's forget about building the house... Dongming will be going to the capital to report for duty at the end of next year. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be promoted. He doesn't have a capable wife by his side. Once he's grown up, he'll fly away. As his mother, I have to accompany him. Wherever he takes up his post, I'll go there too."
Cheng Wanwan nodded. As a woman, she was not subject to any restrictions on promotion. However, the promotion of civil officials had a very strict process. They had to report on their performance every three years, and only those with outstanding achievements could be promoted. Magistrate Shen had already achieved a good record, so it was only a matter of time before he was promoted.
“I’m not worried about Dongming, but the main thing is Zheng’er. He’s eighteen this year, and it’s time to find him a wife.” Old Madam Shen held Cheng Wanwan’s hand. “Your vision is broader than this old woman’s. As Zheng’er’s godmother, you have to help with Zheng’er’s marriage.”
Just then, the curtain was lifted, and Magistrate Shen walked in. Seeing Cheng Wanwan there, he smiled and said, "I was just about to go to Dahe Village."
He sat down in the seat next to him, took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over. “This is a letter from my fellow townsman in the capital. I asked him to take care of Zheng’er and Zhao’er. He writes to me every now and then to tell me about the two children. Everything is fine with their studies, so there’s no need to say more. This letter is mainly about Zhao’er’s marriage. You, as the second aunt, should take a look first.”
Cheng Wanwan quickly took the letter.
When men write to each other, there isn't much small talk. They get straight to the point and are done in just a few words.
The letter mainly discussed Zhao'er's marriage. Because of the incident in Yuncheng where hundreds of scholars were disqualified, Cheng Zhao's reputation spread. Even in the capital, many literati came to befriend him, and he even gained the favor of many officials in the capital, who invited him to private banquets. Of course, Cheng Zhao refused them all.
If he were to attend the banquet, he might be looked down upon, but by refusing without hesitation, he would be viewed with greater respect, thus enhancing his reputation.
He looks very reliable, cultured and gentle, giving people a sense of dependability. Many people in the capital believe that he will definitely become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and some even predict that he will definitely participate in the palace examination. Even if he doesn't get into the first class, he will at least be in the top three of the second class.
As a result, many people asked Magistrate Shen's fellow townsmen to act as matchmakers.
"Two years ago, Zhao'er received a jade locust bestowed by the emperor, and with such an outstanding aunt as Sui'an Ren, he can be said to be the most outstanding student in this year's cohort. The second-rank official, Lord He, wants Zhao'er to become his son-in-law," Magistrate Shen said with a smile. "The He family has a sixteen-year-old daughter, about the same age as Zhao'er. If Sui'an Ren has no objections, then..."
"I have a problem with that."
Cheng Wanwan refused outright.
Lord He, a second-rank official, isn't that He Xiao's biological father? He Ling, the eldest son of the He family, is He Xiao's brother. What kind of good person would dare to hunt down and kill his own brother?
If Zhao'er becomes the son-in-law of the He family, she will inevitably have to deal with people from the He family, which is like a piece of white jade being put into a big dye vat.
"Are the people of Sui'an worried that the He family's official position is too high and that Zhao'er will be overshadowed?" Magistrate Shen said. "The people of Sui'an can rest assured about this. With Zhao'er's talent, she should be able to enter the Hanlin Academy after the imperial examination. Even if she is unlucky, she will still have an official position in the capital. The daughter that the He family wants to marry is born out of wedlock. For an illegitimate daughter to marry a promising scholar-official, in the long run, it is the He family who is climbing the social ladder."
Madam Shen also thought the marriage was a good match: "The daughter of a second-rank official should have no problem with her character and upbringing, and it will also benefit Zhao'er's future. Wanwan, what are your specific thoughts?"
Cheng Wanwan shook her head: "The He family is a scholarly family in the capital. It is difficult for Zhao'er, who comes from a humble background, to cope with such a family that has been established for hundreds of years. Not to mention the infighting, the relationship between the legitimate and illegitimate children is enough to give him a headache. Zhao'er's mind is on his studies. I don't want him to waste his energy on these interpersonal relationships. I secretly hope that he can start a simple family."
Judging from her expression, Magistrate Shen vaguely guessed that she seemed to have other worries, but since she was unwilling to say, he naturally wouldn't ask any further.
He sighed and said, "Although the He family is only of the second rank, because Elder He is a veteran of three reigns, they have a large number of advisors and their influence in the capital is very wide. Even if they refuse the marriage now, once Zhao'er becomes a Jinshi, the He family will probably request the Emperor to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage..."
These words made Cheng Wanwan a little worried.
In He Xiao, she had already seen the intrigue and backstabbing within powerful families. The struggles in the imperial court were one thing, but the internal strife and infighting between families was another. Given Zhao'er's temperament, she would never get involved in these things. If she really became related to the He family by marriage, Zhao'er's future career would be in jeopardy.
She thought for a moment and then said, "Then let's finalize Zhao'er's marriage before the results of the imperial examination are released."
She would rather help find a girl from a humble family than let Zhao'er have any connection with the He family.
Magistrate Shen nodded: "Then I will write back to my fellow villager now, telling him to refuse all marriage proposals and only say that his family is already making plans, how about that?"
“Then I’ll have to trouble you, sir.” Cheng Wanwan stood up. “Today is the day to visit one’s maternal home for the New Year. Madam Lin is from the capital, so she probably has nowhere to go. It’s still early, so I’ll go to the Lin residence. Sidan, you stay here and have dinner with Grandma Chen. I’ll come to pick you up later.”
Zhao Sidan knew his mother had something very important to do, so he obediently nodded in agreement.
Cheng Wanwan bid farewell to Ninglan and took a carriage straight to the Lin residence in Hekou County.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
