Zou, the matchmaker, didn't want to help at first, but when she heard Bai Lizheng say that he had prepared five taels of silver as dowry for Ruixue...
He readily agreed.
So, having just found a suitable person, I brought him here for a meeting.
Song was her neighbor. She had only one son and one maid.
The mother and son depended on each other for survival.
They lived in a house at the end of the city, a whole courtyard long.
Although it's a bit dilapidated, it's still much better than the village.
Song's son, He Tian, is twenty-two years old this year. He should have gotten married much earlier, but his studies have delayed his marriage.
Originally, Song had planned to find a good marriage for her son after he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, but He Tian was disappointing.
He didn't even pass the preliminary examination.
I wasted so much time studying, and I'm still twenty-two.
"Xiao Tian is an honest and hardworking boy, well-versed in poetry and literature. If it weren't for his lack of luck, he could easily become a scholar or a provincial graduate. In my opinion, he should continue to take the exams. Xiao Tian is only twenty-two, not old at all. So many elderly people with gray hair are still struggling to pass the imperial examinations. Don't you agree? Bai Lizheng, look at Sister Song's clothes. This outfit is made of silk. I can't even afford it. If your Ruixue marries into that family, she can expect to enjoy a life of ease. Who knows, one day Xiao Tian will pass the imperial examinations and your Ruixue will become a scholar's wife."
The matchmaker, Zou, practically raved about He Tian to the skies.
Bai Lizheng was becoming increasingly satisfied.
Everyone has flaws.
He Tian couldn't find any fault with it.
He's reasonably good-looking, reasonably tall, from a good family, literate, and doesn't have any messy relatives.
It was as if it had been tailor-made for his daughter, Ruixue.
“Where is Ruixue? Let her come out and chat with Xiaotian in the backyard. Even if we have a good chat, the two kids still need to get along.”
"Yes, yes, you're right. Ruixue, come out."
The village head's house was not big.
It only takes a short time to call for help.
You don't even need to move.
Bai Ruixue had heard the commotion as soon as they entered the room. She immediately changed into a new set of clothes, took out the lip rouge that she usually couldn't bear to use and applied it to her lips. She also picked out a brand new wooden hairpin, combed her hair, and tied it up.
The dressing process was smooth and effortless.
She was just waiting for Bai Lizheng to call her.
Taking a few deep breaths, Bai Ruixue left her room and went to the main hall.
"Father, what's wrong?"
She lowered her voice, making it soft and delicate, and then pretended to be shy as she played with her hair.
"It's nothing. I'm your Aunt Zou, remember? I used to hold you when you were little. Look how big you've grown. Your face is so fair and delicate. People who don't know you would think you're a rich young lady. Bai Lizheng, you really know how to raise a girl."
Before the village head could answer, the matchmaker, Zou, began praising Bai Ruixue.
“What young lady? We’re just farmers who’ve been farming for generations. Xiaoxue, quickly greet them. This is Aunt Zou, that’s Aunt Song, and your Aunt Yan is here too. Look, this is Xiaotian from Aunt Song’s family. He’s a few years older than you. It’s not appropriate for us older folks to be here with you younger ones. So I thought you should take Xiaotian to the backyard for a chat, so he won’t be bored.”
Although it's normal for the man's family to visit when a couple is looking for each other, many women's families will deliberately find a reason to pretend that the other party is visiting relatives in order to protect their reputation, thus deceiving themselves.
As the village head, Bai Lizheng was naturally no exception to the custom.
"Hello Aunt Zou, hello Aunt Song, hello Aunt Yan, hello Xiao Tian... hello Brother Xiao Tian."
Bai Ruixue secretly glanced at He Tian, her cheeks instantly turning red.
Her heart was pounding.
Bai Ruixue, a single woman in her late thirties, has been on dates with quite a few men.
Compared to the farmers she had seen before, He Tian was tall and handsome. She had been eavesdropping on their conversation from behind the door and it seemed that He Tian was from the city, which meant he was very rich. He was far superior to all the men she had ever met.
If Bai Ruixue could surf the internet, she would probably know a popular internet slang term.
【Tall, rich and handsome】
Yan Xia had been watching the whole thing. She had originally intended to leave, but the group's conversation seemed endless, and she didn't want to interrupt them abruptly, so she simply stayed seated.
Now that Bai Ruixue has come out, it's not appropriate for her to stay any longer.
"Village head, I'm going home now. You guys chat, and remember what I said!"
"Okay, I won't forget."
After Yan Xia left, Bai Ruixue also took He Tian to the backyard.
The two walked past one after the other, and they looked quite well-matched.
"Brother Xiaotian, how old are you?"
Bai Ruixue assumed he was introverted because he didn't speak.
"Twenty-two"
I'm nineteen.
"Hmm." He Tian's voice was low and his tone was distant, but Bai Ruixue didn't notice at all.
"I'm getting tired of standing, let's go back."
"Huh? Oh, okay, fine."
Before they had even exchanged three rounds of conversation, He Tian wanted to go back.
So the two who had left five minutes earlier returned to the main room together.
"Why are you chatting so fast? Are you shy? Look at them, their faces are all red, haha, they must have hit it off."
Matchmaker Zou teased them, saying that since Yan Xia was gone and there were no outsiders around, she had become much more straightforward in her speech.
Bai Ruixue's face was indeed flushed with embarrassment, but He Tian's was not.
He didn't want to come at all; he was forced to.
So all that anger showed on his face.
Her face turned red with anger.
"Xiaoxue, go back to your room. Didn't you get a big job recently? Make sure you finish embroidering that handkerchief."
"Yes, Father."
Bai Li was chasing his daughter away, but he didn't forget to praise her. The implication was that his daughter could embroider and even earn money.
The group chatted for another half hour.
Song gave the matchmaker Zou a wink.
Matchmaker Zou immediately said, "Bai Lizheng, now that we've talked this far, are you satisfied with Xiaotian? You know it's not easy for us to come all this way. If he's suitable, let's make a decision sooner rather than later, so we don't have to go back and forth so much and get all tired."
He Tian panicked when he heard this.
Just as he was about to refuse, his mother grabbed his thigh tightly.
"tear--"
He cried out in pain.
Everyone looked at him.
“Child, drink your water slowly, why did you bite your tongue? Bai Lizheng, I agree with Sister Zou, your Xiaoxue is beautiful and well-behaved, I'm very satisfied. The two young people are not young anymore, if you have no objections, let's settle it as soon as possible.”
Song laughed and cursed a couple of times.
The conversation continued.
She had to arrange a marriage for her son as soon as possible.
After that incident, they couldn't wait any longer.
Ideally, we should be able to bring our daughter-in-law into the family this month.
"This...so fast?"
Bai Lizheng looked somewhat dazed; it was the first time he had seen someone even more anxious than himself.
Besides, how can you decide on something the first time you meet?
"Village head, I'm not bragging, but our Xiao Tian is really popular. Yesterday, I even took Sister Song to meet the daughter of the town's pharmacy owner. That girl is only 16, and she's absolutely stunning. Her family is well-off, and she took a liking to Xiao Tian at first sight. Logically speaking, with this connection, I wouldn't need to bring Xiao Tian to meet you..."
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