Mrs. Yang San couldn't help but praise Tong Er, the shopkeeper, "You are really capable!"

Tong Er, the storekeeper, was honored with the honor.

Mrs. Yang San led Yu Tang and Miss Xu to decorate the house, while Yin Hao forced Pei Yan to go to the restaurant where they met the Gu family.

I don’t know how Gu Chang talked to his family, but the one who came to discuss the marriage with the Yin family was Gu Chang’s eldest uncle, the head of the Gu family, Gu Shou, but Gu Chang’s father did not show up.

When Gu looked up and saw Pei Yan, his eyes lit up. He walked forward with a smile and took the initiative to greet Pei Yan.

The last time Gu Xi and Pei Tong got engaged, it was Gu Xuan who represented the Gu family.

He said with regret: "Last time I heard that you went to Huai'an, I was still thinking, how could it be so unlucky. I was thinking of inviting you to come over in September to eat crabs and appreciate chrysanthemums, but I didn't expect that our two families were so destined to meet at the wedding in Chaoyang. It shows that our two families are destined to be in-laws."

This was said in a somewhat flattering way, and Gu Chaoyang felt very uncomfortable listening to it.

Fortunately, because of Gu Xi, Pei Yan and Gu Shou became peers, so he didn't feel too embarrassed.

Pei Yan looked down on the second branch of the Gu family, but he had a good impression of Gu Shou, who had been struggling to support the Gu family. In addition, Gu Chang's marriage would be officially decided today, and Gu Chang would definitely have a lot of trouble in the future. He was in a very good mood and was not stingy with his gentleness. He smiled and said to Gu Shou: "I didn't expect to see you here. Are you in good health? I heard from my mother a few days ago that the eldest son of your family caught a cold. Is he feeling better now?"

Of course, Gu Shou's son was fine, otherwise Pei Yan would not have brought this up. Gu Shou smiled and said, "He just didn't listen to the old man and took off his clothes too early." Then he pulled out his eldest son to greet Pei Yan.

His eldest son is more than ten years older than Pei Yan, but when he sees Pei Yan, he can only call him "uncle", which makes Pei Yan feel better.

When everyone sat down to discuss Gu Chang's marriage, Pei Yan treated himself as a decoration and said nothing. He even took time to think about the forest of Yu Tang's home.

The best way is of course to plant something else, but if Yu Tang insists and doesn't agree to change, then we can only focus on the sea buckthorn tree.

Sea buckthorn trees...are very common in the northwest, but they are almost unheard of in the south, especially in Lin'an. Can we work on them? Also, what is so special about sea buckthorn fruit that can be used to fool people? He needs to find someone to ask. It would be best if it can be used as medicine. When the time comes, we can make dried fruit or preserves, and then we should be able to sell them.

Pei Yan finally managed to finish his lunch. Thinking that they would discuss the details of the engagement in the afternoon, he decided not to wait here any longer. He wanted to go back and see what Yu Tang was doing, but Gu held him back and said, "You are not someone else. There are some things that still require your help in making decisions!"

Gu Shou was still very caring towards the son and daughter left by his cousin's first wife. Especially when Gu Chang became successful and Gu Xi was a man with his own ideas, he was more willing to lend a hand.

Gu Chang's father was unreliable. When he discussed Gu Chang's engagement with Gu Chang's father, Gu Chang's father was quite happy at first, but after listening to a few words from Gu Chang's stepmother, he began to haggle over money. He also said that their Gu family had been writing poetry for generations, and if they paid too much attention to money, they would be looked down upon by other Jiangnan families. According to ancient etiquette, for Gu Chang's engagement, it was enough to find a pair of wild geese to send, and other things like tea, wine, and snacks were just a token of appreciation, and they should be given in pairs.

He almost said that just sending a pair of wild geese would be enough.

Gu Shou knew that he could not count on Gu Chang's father in this matter. However, he could not break the family rules and spend more money on Gu Chang's marriage, nor could he use his own money to subsidize Gu Chang.

Thinking of how shabby Gu Chang looked when he got married, and then thinking of how Gu Chang always dressed himself up nicely wherever he went, in addition to feeling sad, he also wanted to help Gu Chang and Gu Xi.

The best way is to let Pei Yan be present to testify that it is not that Gu Chang neglected his in-laws, but that Gu Chang's father was shameless and unwilling to spend money on his eldest son. In this way, when Gu Xi gets married, if her dowry is not very good-looking, Pei Yan will be able to tolerate it and may even feel pity for Gu Xi and say a few good words for Gu Xi in front of Mrs. Pei. Then Gu Xi's life in the Pei family will not be too difficult.

He had considered it for a long time and was very thorough, but he still felt embarrassed. He said, "Uncle, Wang Qibao is in Hangzhou City, and Xiaguang is a bit busy these days, please don't force him." Then he said to Pei Yan, "These are all trivial matters here, and you are not an outsider, so I won't be polite to you."

When Pei Yan saw Gu Chang's forced smile, he knew that things were not going to be pretty. He didn't want others to know what role he played in the marriage between the Yin and Gu families, let alone sitting here and listening to the Yin and Gu families arguing.

He stood up and left without any courtesy.

Yin Hao must keep him.

It was the first time for him to host a wedding of a younger generation in his family, and it was also the first time that he did not have any "aunts" or "sisters" to advise him. He was afraid that he would do something inappropriate and make the Yin family a laughing stock. This was also the reason why he insisted that Pei Yan come with him.

Now Pei Yan was about to leave, and seeing that the Gu family could not keep him, he immediately stood up and said to Gu Shou: "You are the elder, I will go and see Xia Guang off." After saying that, he threw a look at Gu Chang, asking him to keep Gu Shou company.

Gu Chang nodded.

Yin Hao escorted Pei Yan out of the private room and said after just two steps, "Now that you're gone, what should I do here?"

Pei Yan glanced at Yin Hao.

No wonder people say that the men of the Yin family can do nothing but study and work as officials.

It seems that Yin Hao is also a person who has been spoiled by the "aunts" of the Yin family.

He said, "Didn't you bring a matchmaker with you? Let the matchmaker do the talking. You just nod or shake your head. Don't you even know how to do this?"

Yin Hao raised his hand and was about to pat Pei Yan on the head.

Pei Yan hurriedly took a few steps forward to avoid Yin Hao's palm, and said unhappily: "Don't be rude to me just because you are my brother. Be careful or I will abandon your family."

"Are you trying to intervene?" Yin Hao quickly caught up with Pei Yan and said, "Don't I know how to nod and shake my head? The question is not when to nod and when to shake my head. Speak to me nicely. Don't forget that you recommended this marriage. If my cousin doesn't marry well, you won't be able to live in peace."

Pei Yan did not feel guilty at all and said, "If you don't think it's good, you won't be tempted no matter how much I recommend it. Don't push everything onto me."

He also felt that Yin Hao had no redeeming qualities at all except being an official and studying. He even had a mistress and an illegitimate child. Thinking about this, he even felt a little sympathy for Madam Yin.

Yin Hao held his arm tightly and said, "Give me some advice quickly. What should I do if their betrothal gift is very expensive? Otherwise, open your private vault and let me pick out two items."

All of these old friends from aristocratic families knew that Old Lady Qian had specifically left all of his private collection to Pei Yan. For others, these rare antiques were hard to come by, but for him, it was just a matter of whether he liked them or not.

The Gu family is one of the four major families in Jiangnan after all. Although they have not been as prosperous as before in recent years, a lean camel is still stronger than a horse. If they give out antiques, calligraphy or paintings as betrothal gifts, they will definitely have to prepare corresponding things as dowry to help the ladies maintain their reputation.

It can be said that the Yin family is not worse than the Gu family, but the bad thing is that they value aunts more, so when the aunts get married, they will have a considerable dowry, and the good things in the family have been almost scattered. This is also an important reason why the Yin family gradually had some difficulties in finances when it came into the hands of Yin Hao.

Pei Yan knew everything about the Yin family. When he saw Yin Hao's intention to get his private vault, he couldn't help but say in a gloomy tone, "I was wondering why you had to ask me to come? It turns out you were waiting here! But you're overthinking. The Gu family is unlikely to give you anything particularly expensive as a betrothal gift. You don't have to worry about not being able to pay it back."

Yin Hao's heart tightened, he grabbed Pei Yan's shoulders and asked, "What do you mean?"

Pei Yan felt that since the Gu family was not honest, he could not be blamed for setting a trap for Gu Chang. Who asked him to mess with their little girl when he had nothing to do?

"My eldest sister-in-law is looking forward to my nephew getting married soon!" he said, "but Miss Gu's dowry list has not been delivered yet."

In other words, the Gu family was delaying their daughter's marriage in order to make the Pei family give in.

Yin Hao was stunned.

This is unimaginable in their Yin family.

Pei Yan saw this and felt that Yin Hao and his Pei family were both victims. He should be more lenient to Yin Hao. He could not help but say in a gentle voice, "Don't worry. Your Yin family is interested in Gu Chaoyang, not his father. Who cares what his father does? Just talk to the head of the Gu family about how to deal with my aunt's dowry. When you have a nephew in the future, will he like the uncle who is generous and buys him pens, ink, paper, inkstone, snacks and candies? Or will he like the grandfather who is stingy?"

Yin Hao felt relieved when he heard this, and couldn't help but ask Pei Yan again: "How can I negotiate with the Gu family about my aunt's dowry?"

Pei Yan wanted to roll his eyes, but he thought of Gu Chang, so he patiently said to Yin Hao: "What do the married ladies in your family have agreed with their husbands regarding their dowries?"

Yin Hao thought about it carefully and said, "There is no agreement! Since it is their dowry, it is up to them to deal with it themselves."

Alas! No wonder everyone was proud to marry a girl from the Yin family in the early years.

Pei Yan said: "Different people should be handled differently. If I met a family like the Gu family, I would make an agreement on what to do if my aunt gave her a dowry in their family? What to do if it was a divorce? What to do if there were children after the marriage? What to do if there were no children?"

In a word, we must not let the Gu family gain any benefit or take advantage.

Yin Hao, a man who never took care of household affairs, suddenly realized that Pei Yan had opened a door for him. He said eagerly, "Just watch me!"

It's like bullying someone.

However, she did go and bully people - she hadn't even married the girl yet, but she was already on guard against this and that, and it was clear that she didn't regard the Gu family as a gentleman.

Pei Yan curled his lips and decided to add more fuel to the fire: "I can't help saying this. Who made the elders of the Gu family so unreliable? I don't know how to arrange the marriage of my nephew now? Fortunately, the mourning period for the old lady has not yet ended, so I can help them cover up a little bit."

Yin Hao suddenly felt that they shared the same hatred and said to Pei Yan, “If it weren’t for Gu Chaoyang, who would have the patience to deal with such a family.”

Pei Yan smiled and said, "Who said it wasn't?"

Then he walked away.