Chen waited anxiously for Yu Tang to come home. Without waiting for Yu Tang to get out of the hired sedan chair and stand steadily, she took her daughter's hand and went to the living room.

As they walked, she instructed Shuangtao: "Cut one of the melons trapped in the well and bring it over. Fetch some water and help the young lady wash and change her clothes."

Shuangtao left immediately.

Yu Tang was forced by his mother to sit on the armchair in the hall.

Seeing that her hair was wet with sweat, Chen felt so distressed that she turned around and took out a round fan from somewhere, and sat beside her and fanned her: "Tell me what happened today? Why did you let Ah Tiao bring me such a message in the middle of the journey? I was so scared that I couldn't sit still, fearing that something had happened to you."

Yu Tang didn't expect this.

She quickly apologized to her mother and said, "I felt that Mrs. Tang was as sticky as a piece of taffy. I was afraid that she would talk nonsense and that Mom and Dad would be moved by her words."

Chen said angrily: "Your father and mother are so confused!"

Yu Tang chuckled.

Chen said seriously, "Is there something wrong with the second young master of the Li family?"

Although her daughter's reason for going out was vague, she had experienced more than her daughter after all. She thought that Yu Tang was probably worried about her marriage with the Li family and wanted to see what the second young master of the Li family looked like. Their family was not a wealthy family with many rules, nor was it a large family with many children. The couple only wanted their daughter to live a happy life in the future. They thought that if they were attracted to each other, wouldn't it be a perfect marriage? That's why she turned a blind eye and let Ah Tiao accompany Yu Tang out.

Seeing that her daughter couldn't wait to come back, she sent Ah Tiao to bring a letter to her. How could she not worry?

Yu Tang told Chen everything about what happened today when he met Li Jun.

Chen was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth for a long time. It was not until Shuang Tao came in with the melon and helped Yu Tang wash and change clothes before leaving that she seemed to find her voice and asked Yu Tang, who was eating the melon, carefully: "In other words, the second young master of the Li family doesn't know you at all, and Madam Li's words of marriage proposal were all whitewashed?"

Yu Tang nodded, thinking that the melon was particularly sweet today. He stuffed a bite into his mother's mouth and told her his doubts: "I just think they must want something from us. Unfortunately, I can't think of anything in our family that they would covet."

Chen couldn't help feeling proud as she looked at her daughter's face, which looked as if covered with glaze even in the dimly lit room.

There are probably not many girls as pretty as Atang in their family, not to mention in Lin'an City, even in Hangzhou Prefecture.

Could it be that he was attracted by their girl Atang’s beauty?

Although Chen thought so, he knew it was not realistic.

She said, "I have sent someone to give your father a message, asking him to come back early today. After all, your father is a scholar, and he is more knowledgeable than us. He has to make the decision on this matter."

Three heads are better than one Zhuge Liang.

Yu Tang likes to talk about things with his family.

She asked, "Did Dad go to the dock today?"

Pei Man, the new chief steward of the Pei family, is efficient in his work. The reconstruction of Changxing Street has already begun before the old lady of the Pei family has passed away. She had heard from Ah Tiao before that the Pei family bought several ships of bricks and tiles from Hangzhou, which would be shipped to Tiaoxi Wharf in the next two days. Yu Wen has been with Yu Bo these days.

Chen hummed, thinking that the melon this time was indeed sweeter than usual, and said to Yu Tang, "Leave some for your father! This is all the melon left."

Yu Tang blinked at his mother, and Yu Wen came back.

Chen hurried forward and helped Yu Wen wash his face and hands.

Yu Tang stood up and called out "Dad", and waited for Yu Wen to finish cleaning before serving him a melon.

Yu Wen praised his daughter and asked Chen: "What's the matter that has me rushing back? I wanted to invite Tong the shopkeeper to Zhang Er Fish Restaurant for a drink today! Eating fish is the best thing in this season."

Chen smiled and said, "I was wondering why you took so long. Did the brick and tile work go smoothly?"

"It went well." Yu Wen said, "What happened at home?"

Chen told the story of Yu Tang's visit to Zhaoming Temple.

Yu Wen was very carefree and said, "Who cares what they want to do? We just don't agree to it."

Chen frowned and said, "But if they do this, I'm afraid they have big plans. If this thing doesn't happen, they can come up with something else. We can't guard against it."

Yu Wen smiled and said, "Except for the fact that our Atang has entrusted his trust to the wrong person, what else is there to worry about? Even if you spend all your money, you can still get it back!"

"That's right." Chen said unhappily, "I'm just afraid that they will disrupt our Ah Tang's marriage."

"Don't worry about this matter," Yu Wen said, "I have my own ideas."

Yu Tang felt his scalp tingling when he heard this.

Ever since the incident of Lu Xin selling his paintings, she has had a completely new understanding of her father.

She was not at all reassured by his opinion.

Yu Tang shook her mother's arm and said coquettishly, "Mom, look at Dad, he doesn't care about me at all. This is the most important thing in my life, but he wants to decide it without consulting anyone. How can he do that? Even if he wants to buy a table, he has to look at it several times!"

"What are you talking about, kid?" Yu Wen glared at his daughter and said, "Is choosing a husband like buying a table? Do you think I'm not in a hurry about your matter? Aren't there any good candidates? I know you are afraid that I will marry you to the Li family. Don't worry, without your consent, no one else will agree."

Yu Tang exclaimed with joy, and servilely handed the plate of fruits to Yu Wen, saying flatteringly: "Dad, you are the best person in the world to me, and you are also the best father in the world!"

"That's right!" Although Yu Wen felt that his daughter's words were a bit exaggerated, he still couldn't help but smile and felt happy.

Chen shook his head.

Early the next morning, she sent someone to write back to Mrs. Tang, saying that their family had decided to find a concubine for Yu Tang and they might not be able to marry into the Li family.

Mrs. Tang rushed over immediately after receiving the news. She panted and said to Chen with a wry smile, "We also know that your family is looking for a son-in-law. We have also told the second young master of the Li family, but we didn't expect that the second young master of the Li family would rather pay a dowry to marry your daughter. Now, the eldest young master of their family knows about this and has locked the second young master at home and even wrote a letter to Lord Li. The second young master is determined not to comply and has already started a hunger strike.

"Mrs. Li loves the child the most. She is afraid that something bad will happen to the Second Young Master, and she is also afraid that Lord Li will be angry if he finds out. As soon as your people left, she came right after them. She asked me to help their Second Young Master make this trip no matter what. She said that their child really likes your young lady, and asked you to give their Second Young Master a chance no matter what, and not rush to arrange a marriage for your young lady. Whether the marriage can be completed or not, they will give you a definite answer in three months at most."

After she finished speaking, she sighed, took Chen's hand and said, "I envy you, the most famous scholar in the city. Your husband is devoted to you, and he even raised a daughter to make you proud. You tell me, what kind of family is the Li family? He gave up being the second young master and came to be your son-in-law. Regardless of whether this marriage is successful or not, your life is worth it."

Both Chen and Yu Tang were stunned by this sudden change.

I didn't expect that the conditions proposed by the Yu family were so harsh, but the Li family would actually consider it.

This made Yu Tang even more jealous of this marriage and the Li family. She also felt that all of this was because she had secretly gone to see Li Jun yesterday...

Yu Tang felt complicated.

By the afternoon, she just wanted to slap herself a few times and turn back time.

Chen Yao invited a matchmaker to propose marriage.

Chen was stunned and asked Mrs. Chen: "Where did this person come from?"

Mrs. Chen was also a little dizzy from what had happened recently. She said, "She said she was studying at the county school. When she went to Zhaoming Temple yesterday, she ran into our young lady. She couldn't stop thinking about her, so she informed her parents and specially sent someone to propose marriage."

Chen asked, "Does he know that our family is looking for a son-in-law?"

Mrs. Chen said, "She said she knew. She also said that he was the third of five sons in her family, and her family agreed to let him marry into the family."

Yu Tang rubbed his temples and had to come out to clean up the mess. He told his mother how he met Chen Yao in Zhaoming Temple and said, "This Chen Yao is useless. He has a bad character."

Chen had never thought of such a thing. She asked Yu Tang curiously, "Did Chen Yao really only meet you once?"

"He really only met me once!" Yu Tang had a headache, "How many more times do you want him to meet me?"

"Don't worry, don't worry." Chen comforted her daughter and said, "I just didn't expect that someone would come to our house to propose marriage after meeting you once."

Why did Yu Tang feel that there was a hint of pride in his mother's tone?

She said weakly, "Can you please send the matchmaker away first? She is blocking our door with all these things. I am afraid that everyone will think I am in a hurry to get out of the house!"

Yu Tang's words reminded Chen, and she hurriedly said to Mrs. Chen, "Quick, go and get the matchmaker to leave, and tell her that our Atang's father has already made up his mind about her marriage, so don't discuss this matter for now."

Mrs. Chen responded and left.

But my face is filled with spring breeze.

Obviously, he was very happy that someone came to his house to propose marriage.

Yu Tang thought that the matter was over.

Unexpectedly, two days later, Fu Xiaowan also asked a matchmaker to propose marriage.

But when the Fu family found out that the Yu family was looking for a son-in-law, they left in disappointment.

At least there is a normal person!

Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

But her reputation for beauty spread because of this.

By the time the Yu family found out, it was already time to give gifts during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Aunt Wang laughed and teased Chen: "Our Atang is so lucky. A girl is sought after by many families. I have only read about this in books, but this is the first time I have seen it with my own eyes."

Chen was worried and talked to Wang in private: "Am I too timid? A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Why do I feel that it is not a good thing for Atang to have such a reputation? My heart is pounding when I think about it!"

Wang was stunned and said, "Our Atang has brothers to protect her and a father who is a scholar. She is not a poor family with no one to rely on. There is nothing to be afraid of. However, a girl's reputation is more important than a good reputation. Atang's marriage should be settled quickly."