Chapter 17: Resisting Unscrupulous Matchmakers, Starting with Me

"This shopkeeper Wang is not young anymore, madam, you must be a good matchmaker!"

The man glanced at Shen Yuan and thought to himself, "You, a little girl, know something and come out to meddle in her own business." But when he saw her dressed up, he swallowed the words back and forced a smile on his face, "This girl is joking. Yes, Shopkeeper Wang’s conditions are really good. He’ll be more considerate when he’s older. We ordinary people’s lives are different from yours, don’t you think so?”

When the people around heard this, many of them nodded in agreement, "That's right, the little girl is ignorant, she should marry a man to provide her with clothes and food, so what does it matter if she is a little older?"

"Is it just because of his age? I heard that he has lost three wives. How can you be a matchmaker for a man like him? And you still say you are not a bad person?"

The old woman naturally didn't agree with this, "What do you mean three daughters-in-law died? Little girl, you may have recognized the wrong person."

Lu Shuyan pulled Shen Yuan's sleeve and said, "Yuan Yuan, please stop worrying about this... We don't know what's going on either."

The separation of men and women in Dazhao was not strict. It was common for women to go out to do business. Even girls from wealthy families did not stay at home all day. Some families even raised daughters to carry on the family line. It was common for them to go out to do business. But no matter what, those were necessary social occasions. Arguing with people on the street was not appropriate for one's status.

Second Mother, who was obviously the person involved, now seemed like a spectator. Looking at the angry Shen Yuan, she chopped the knife into the chopping board, "Auntie, since we live next door to each other, I wanted to give you some face. Do you really think I don't know about your private transaction with that shopkeeper Wang? He promised you a lot of money, right? He is as old as my father, how dare you say that."

After Er Niang finished speaking, the passers-by who had been helping the old woman suddenly felt embarrassed. It was okay if she was older, but if she was the same age as the woman's father, then the matchmaking was really unethical.

Yan Siyu, who had a hot temper, immediately yelled, "You want to introduce an old man to her for money?! Aren't you a bad matchmaker?"

Shen Yuan thought that now that the woman had been exposed, she would give up. But she didn't expect that she had another trick up her sleeve.

"Don't blame me, Second Mother. I was just confused for a moment. After all, it's ten taels of silver. You also know that my eldest grandson is about to pay the dowry. Since you don't want to, I will go and report to the shopkeeper Wang."

She spoke earnestly. After all, they had been neighbors for many years. Second Mother still remembered their past friendship and did not insist. "It's okay, Auntie, don't do this again in the future. I will consider getting married myself."

After seeing this scene, Lu Shuyan and the others felt that the matter was over and were about to leave when they saw Shen Yuan still staring at the old woman.

"Second Mother, Auntie really loves you and wants to find a good family for you. I had already picked one and was about to tell you about it, but Shopkeeper Wang came to me halfway and I didn't tell you."

Er Niang frowned and didn't want to talk about getting married in such a crowded place, not to mention that she had to run a business.

"Auntie, let's talk about this after I get home. I have guests here."

"Then Second Mother, remember to come to Auntie's house when you pack up the stall. Auntie will talk to you slowly." After she said that, she left after seeing Second Mother nodded.

[Who could have known that Wang the shopkeeper was just a cover, and that the idiot son of Mr. Ding was the real one? With a betrothal gift of two hundred taels, any idiot could be served. If I had a concubine, it wouldn't be Er Niang's turn.]

Shen Yuan saw the old woman walking away, then he approached the stall and saw the few cakes left in the bamboo basket. He said, "Second Mother, I want all the remaining cakes you have."

"Yuanyuan, I was wondering why you were standing here for so long. It turns out you are hungry."

Er Niang looked up at Yan Siyu, pursed her lips and started to chop the meat. There was no reason not to do business that came to her door.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't say that. It's very clean here." Yan Siyu said embarrassedly to Er Niang. She also noticed that although the stall was small, it was very clean. The stall owner even had a cloth wrapped on his head, not even showing his hair, and he was wearing an apron that was washed white.

Er Niang didn't expect to hear an apology. The knife in her hand paused for a moment before she said "It's nothing".

While Second Lady was making cakes, Shen Yuan spoke with a tangled tone: "I think if that lady introduces you to a marriage again, you can't just agree to it. Since she can get benefits from one family, she can naturally get benefits from the second family. I heard from my father that there are many families who cheat in marriages these days. Some families have a fool son, so they deliberately find someone to replace him when they go to see a girl. Only after the girl gets married do she realize that she married a fool. You have to be more cautious."

Shen Yuan knew that what she said was quite strange, but there was nothing she could do. No one could guess that she could hear what other people were thinking, so it didn't matter if it was a little strange.

Yan Siyu wanted to make up for her outspokenness, and quickly followed Shen Yuanyuan and said, "Yuanyuan is right. Her father is from the Dali Temple. He must know a lot of things that we don't know."

"I understand. Thank you for your concern, ladies."

After the sandwiches were ready, Shen Yuan took one for herself, and she was going to let Bai Zhi take the rest, or share it with other maids and guards. She didn't mind eating outside food, and she often asked people to buy her snacks outside. But Shen Yuan didn't dare to ask the other three people to eat.

Who knew that Yan Siyu would just take one and start biting it. She had been feeling bad about what she said for a long time. She had originally wanted to give it a try, but she didn't expect her eyes to light up after taking a bite.

"It's delicious! Your cooking skills are really good, boss."

Er Niang also laughed immediately. She had never had the opportunity to interact with young ladies from wealthy families in the past. She always thought they were arrogant, but she didn't expect them to be so - straightforward and lovely.

"You two should try it too, it's really delicious."

Jiang Yunyi and Lu Shuyan were at a loss when faced with the oil-paper package they were forced to pass over. "Siyu, even if it's delicious, we can't eat it on the street."

"Whatever happened on the street, just don't let my mother know."

Lu Shuyan said politely: "Let's go first, if it's any later, the private rooms in Ruyiju might be full."

Yan Siyu agreed and quickly put away the half-eaten sandwich.

"Yuanyuan, how much is one cake? I can't eat such delicious cake for free."

Bai Zhi paid for it, Shen Yuan didn't know it, it was just a cake, so he knew it wasn't expensive. "It's just a cake, why are you being so polite to me?"

"Such a delicious cake should not be cheap, right?"

Shen Yuan looked at Bai Zhi, who immediately replied, "To answer Miss Yan's question, this cake is ten cents each."

"It's so delicious, and only costs ten cents?!"

"Ten cents, even among the people in the capital, there are many who are not willing to spend it on buying cakes every day." Jiang Yunyi has been learning how to be a housekeeper recently, and has a better understanding of these things. The few people didn't know that their every move just now was seen clearly by the people in the teahouse across the street.

After seeing those people walk away, Er Niang started to pack up her stall and prepare to go home.

While I was packing up my stall, I saw a pair of boots parked in front of me. "Sorry, we're sold out today."

After Er Niang finished speaking, she looked up and saw a young man in crimson official uniform. Er Niang didn't know if her stall had hit the jackpot today. Just after sending off a few noble ladies, a young and handsome man came. The most handsome man Er Niang had ever seen was Feng Xiucai who lived at the end of the alley. Today, after meeting this man, she realized what it meant to be better than others...

"Boss, what did the girl say to you later?"