Chapter 314 Acceptance

Not to mention that Dou Zhao and Song Mo were mixing honey and oil, Song Yan was tossing and turning, without closing his eyes all night.

He thought of the care his clansmen had given him when he was a child, the bowl of steaming porridge his aunt prepared for him in the back street in the middle of winter, and the summer cloth jacket his aunt had made for him in the hot summer.

My uncle had four sons. When he went to Zhending to be a teacher, he originally planned to bring his youngest son with him so that he could study and save on one person's expenses. But in the end he took him with him.

His aunt said nothing and prepared warm and cold clothes for him for all seasons.

In the past two years, my aunt had wanted to find him a marriage partner, but because his family had no permanent property and no legitimate business, the better families would ask for a high bride price. My uncle's third and fourth cousins ​​married one after another, and the family was temporarily unable to make ends meet. Those who were willing to marry their daughters to him were either their daughters with problems or rogue families who coveted their daughters' bride price. In fact, my aunt could have just gone with the flow and arranged a marriage for him, and even earned a reputation as a "virtuous wife." But my aunt insisted on finding someone who could make a living for him...

Song Yan's eyes suddenly became moist.

At daybreak, he ignored the strange looks from the maids and knelt in front of Song Yumin's door.

Song Yumin pushed open the door and saw the dew on Song Yan's hair. He stood at the door for a moment.

After a while, he said hoarsely: "You already know?"

Song Yan nodded and whispered, "Uncle, I want to accept this marriage!" His eyes and eyebrows were filled with shame that could not be concealed.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Song Yumin hurriedly pulled Song Yan up, "We raised you to this age, is it just for you to be someone's son-in-law? From now on, never mention such words again! I can take care of the Prince of the Duke of Ying's Mansion... At worst, I can go back and stay in the palace for a few more years!"

"No." Song Yan defended hastily, "I'm not scared because the Prince of England came to talk about it. I want to go myself."

The eldest brother of my uncle's family is already a successful candidate, the third brother has also passed the imperial examination, and the eldest nephew will soon be the same. There are still many places to spend money. In the past, there was a salary from the Dou family, but now it is all gone. Many orphans like him have already starved to death or frozen to death. He was able to grow up and study with his uncle. What else is there to be dissatisfied with?

It’s a pity that I can’t pass the imperial examination and repay the kindness of my uncle and clansmen.

Song Yumin didn't believe it.

The two of them were still discussing how to register at the government office and take the examination for young men after returning to Quzhou the day before yesterday. How come they changed their minds in the blink of an eye?

"Uncle!" Song Yan knelt at Song Yumin's feet. "Lord Zhao and Mrs. Zhao are both good people. They will not treat their nephew unfairly. Just agree to it!"

Then he knelt in front of Song Yumin and was unwilling to get up.

Song Yumin was in tears.

Song Yumin's friend's surname was Zheng and his name was Jiuyan.

I heard from the maid that the uncle and nephew were kneeling there talking. I didn't know what had happened, so I hurried over.

Hearing that it was for Song Yan's marriage, Zheng Jiuyan couldn't help but laugh, and pushed Song Yumin: "You are also an old fool. The Zhao family is a scholarly family, so naturally they hope that their son-in-law can understand poetry and prose, otherwise, I'm afraid they wouldn't keep their daughter until this age. If your nephew marries into the Zhao family, he will definitely have to serve Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao is a dignified Jinshi from the two lists of Jinshi. Isn't it a hundred times better to study with Lord Zhao than with you? Even your descendants have the Dou family as a big tree, are you still afraid that they will have no support? If you really love your nephew, you can often visit the Zhao family in the future and don't tarnish their reputation." He teased Song Yumin again, "Is there anyone in your family who covets the Zhao family's money?"

These words made Song Yumin laugh and cry.

Zheng Jiuyan took the opportunity to say, "How about I be the matchmaker?"

Song Yumin said nothing.

Song Yan quickly stood up and thanked him.

Zheng Jiuyan smiled and said, "That's right! A real man should act uprightly. Now that you have made up your mind, just do it uprightly!"

Song Yan nodded repeatedly.

Song Yumin sighed, turned around and went into the house.

Zheng Jiuyan winked at Song Yan and said, "You will live with the Zhao family in the future. Your uncle treats you as his own child. Even if he knows that you are living a good life, he must be reluctant to let you go. Go and talk to your uncle."

Song Yan bowed to Zheng Jiuyan again with gratitude.

Zheng Jiuyan smiled and waved his hand. As soon as he came out of the Chuihua Gate, he sent someone to inquire about Dou Shiying's whereabouts. He prepared twelve-colored gift boxes and went to Jing'an Temple Hutong at the time when Dou Shiying was leaving the government office.

When Dou Shiying heard the purpose of Zheng Jiuyan's visit, he opened his mouth in surprise and it took him a while to react.

He carefully asked for confirmation: "You are right, right? To be the matchmaker between Song Qianli and my cousin's daughter? My eldest uncle's family is looking for a son-in-law!"

"Yes!" Zheng Jiuyan said with a smile, "I have long heard that your cousin is quiet and elegant. Young Master Song has been working in your house with Mr. Song for a few years. You know his appearance, character, and knowledge..."

Before he could finish his words, Dou Shiying was already excited. He hurriedly called Dou Zhengchang to accompany the guest and went to the guest room in a flash.

My aunt also did not sleep all night.

Will the Song family agree?

If I don't agree, what will happen to Zhangru's marriage?

I've asked all the relatives and friends who should be asked, and I've looked at all the children who should be looked at. Where can I find the right person?

If this matter were to get out, would people think that the Zhao family was in a hurry to marry off their daughter and looked down on Zhangru?

Why didn’t I think of Song Yan earlier?

If this matter had been brought up at a truly decisive time, the success or failure would have been determined, and there would not have been a need to bring it to Kyoto.

There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. It is still okay for Maoer Hutong, but if the people in Huaishu Hutong knew about it, wouldn’t they secretly be happy about the misfortune? And the Wang family also lived in Kyoto...

She got a headache just thinking about it and felt listless the whole day.

Seeing Dou Shiying coming over excitedly, the aunt was shocked.

Dou Shiying didn't wait for her to speak, and said to the servants beside her: "All of you go down, I have something to say to my aunt."

The maids hurriedly retreated.

Dou Shiying told his aunt the purpose of Zheng Jiuyan's visit.

My aunt was in a daze for a long time. As soon as she came to her senses, she couldn't help but put her hands together and chanted "Amitabha". She said, "I have never seen a child like Yantang who is more steady than him!"

"What's going on with this Guan Yantang?" Dou Shiying was stunned.

The aunt told Dou Shiying that Dou Zhao and Song Mo came to discuss Zhao Zhangru's marriage with her yesterday.

Dou Shiying was stunned, and finally understood why Song Mo wanted to test Song Yan.

He couldn't help but smile, and told his aunt what happened in the flower hall yesterday: "... You said this child, not only is he steady, but he is also careful and thoughtful. The most important thing is that he is successful at a young age and doesn't put on airs... Tell me, how did our Shougu marry such a good son-in-law?" Then he thought of Zhao Zhangru and Dou Zhao, who both had twists and turns in their marriages. They stayed and came back, and ended up being old maids at home. He comforted his aunt, "As the saying goes, those who stay behind will have the soup to drink. Our Shougu can marry so well, and our Zhangru will definitely marry just as well!"

My aunt nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Thank you for your good wishes."

This was the first time since Zhao Guqiu's death that his aunt had spoken to Dou Shiying so calmly. Dou Shiying could not help but grow a little bolder and said, "Do you think you should write a letter to your uncle? Ask him what he thinks..."

"Of course!" said my aunt. "If we propose marriage to the Song family, I'm afraid we'll have to stay in Jing'an Temple Hutong for a while longer..."

"You take care of it! You take care of it!" Dou Shiying hurriedly said a few polite words, went to the flower hall, invited Zheng Jiuyan to have dinner at home, and tactfully conveyed to Zheng Jiuyan the Zhao family's willingness to marry.

This was just like a blind man eating glutinous rice balls, and everyone knew what was going on. However, for the sake of the Zhao family's face, the Song family was the first to propose termination.

Zheng Jiuyan and Dou Shiying were served by Dou Zhengchang, and they toasted each other and had a very pleasant conversation.

The aunt immediately sent someone to tell Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao held Song Mo's face and kissed him several times: "You are really great!" Then he called the maid in to help her put on makeup again and went to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Song Mo touched his face, smiled as he sat aside and watched Dou Zhao dress up, and said, "This daughter-in-law hasn't even been married yet, and I, the matchmaker, have been thrown over the wall. You're too cruel!"

Dou Zhao smiled at him radiantly, pretending to be superior and said: "You are allowed to go back to my parents' home with me!"

Song Mo laughed out loud.

I really followed Dou Zhao to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Gao Sheng saw that the fourth aunt and the fourth aunt had returned. He immediately went to report and hurriedly ordered the stove: "Quick! Re-set the table, the fourth aunt is coming!"

The maids all started to move.

Dou Shiying, who was in high spirits after drinking, pulled Song Mo to sit down in the flower hall without saying anything, and sent Dou Zhao away: "Go, go play with your aunt!"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but smile and went to his aunt's place.

"My son!" The aunt held Dou Zhao's hand, tears flashing in her eyes, "You still care about your cousin." Then she asked carefully about Song Yan.

Dou Zhao knew that her cousin Zhangru's marriage was very important to the Zhao family, but she never expected that her aunt, who in her impression could handle the pressure calmly, would be under such great pressure.

If she had known this, she should have mixed it in earlier.

No matter what happened in the previous life, isn’t it enough to make my uncle, aunt and cousins ​​happy in this life!

Dou Zhao blushed and answered his aunt's questions carefully and seriously.

A maid came in and said, "Aunt, I have given the letter to the senior manager. The senior manager said that it is a bit late today, so someone will be sent to the post station early tomorrow morning."

Dou Zhaoqi asked, "What letter?"

"It's a letter to your uncle," said the aunt with a smile. "It's such a big deal, I have to tell him about it."

"The northwest is thousands of miles away from here. It will take until after the New Year to go there and back." Dou Zhao said, "Let me ask the prince to help you think of a solution. It will take at most 20 days to get there from the Ministry of War."

"Okay!" The aunt was not hypocritical. Without a definite letter from her husband, they couldn't exchange engagement letters. It was almost the New Year, and the uncle and nephew of the Song family were staying at a friend's house. They couldn't just keep everyone in Kyoto, right? "Talk to Yantang."

Song Mo must handle this small matter properly.

The Ministry of War put the letter in an urgent letter to the Gansu General's Office and sent it to Qingyang overnight.

Now, the entire Northwest knows that Zhao Si’s nephew-in-law is the prince of the Duke of Yingguo’s Mansion!

Of course, this is a later story.

Since the Zhao and Song families were planning an alliance, Song Yumin had no choice but to write a letter back to tell his family.

Quzhou has water transportation, so letters can be exchanged faster. Song Yumin's wife quickly replied to the letter, asking where the wedding would be held and whether anyone was needed to help. She also brought fifty taels of silver, saying that it was a sum of money from the clan for Song Yan to use for his marriage.