Chapter 378 Jiang Tongmu's Engagement
"As we chatted, we found that her daughter was just the right age for you, so we thought of bringing you here to meet her. Look, you liked her right away. When we have free time, your father and I will go over and discuss the details. We'll arrange it for you guys as soon as possible. It would be best if you get married by the end of the year, so that I can have a grandson next winter."
Wan Xian started to daydream.
It was as if she was already holding a chubby grandson.
"Mom, don't you think something is wrong?" Kong Mingxue sneered.
He looked directly at his mother.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? What are you talking about?" Wan Xian was confused by what her son said.
"What did those two women want to do by stopping you, or what did they say?"
Kong Mingxue asked again.
"He didn't say anything, just that he wouldn't let us leave. He was mumbling something and I couldn't hear him clearly. I think he must be mentally ill."
Seeing her son's serious expression, Wan Xian also recalled it carefully.
"Well, it's just a coincidence that you are entangled by the old woman, and the Gao family just comes to your rescue. Mother, I don't like Gao Rou." Kong Ming learned to be lazy and said nothing more, and directly refused to get engaged to the Gao family.
"Maybe there are just such coincidences in the world. Why did your thoughts change after you went to Gao's house? What happened?"
Even if Wan Xian was dumb, she should have guessed it.
She asked her son anxiously.
"The Gao family is not what they seem. When I picked up the jade pendant just now, I heard what they said with my own ears. They had already found out about my relationship with Bujiu, so they sent people to monitor our house.
Mother, think carefully, were you stopped by the old woman when you were going down the mountain? The old woman went up the mountain, and the Gao family who saved you were also on the way up the mountain.
After Kong Mingxue finished speaking, Wan Xian's expression suddenly became solemn: "Yes, I was indeed entangled by two women who came up the mountain when I was going down the mountain. Then, after more than a quarter of an hour, the Gao family came up the mountain and rescued me."
"Well, that's right, mother. Don't bother with the Gao family anymore. They are such treacherous people. Just now, a maid looked at me for a second longer, and Gao Rou wanted to scratch her face. She was so vicious. I wanted to go in and save her, but who would I use to save her? I might as well kill this little maid. I'll just leave."
There was a hint of disgust and reluctance in Kong Mingxue's eyes.
What good can it be to raise a child with such character?
"Okay, I'll listen to you. I'm afraid you're right. The Gao family wants to use us to curry favor with the county magistrate. Fortunately, you went back, otherwise I would have pushed you into the fire pit. If the Gao family gets into trouble in the future, how will you and Bujiu get along?"
Wan Xian figured it out, so she looked remorseful.
She was so worried about her son's marriage that she became stupid.
I was actually plotted against.
If the son does not come back.
I really married a wolf.
The kind that eats people.
The mother and son returned to Lianshan Town and never had any contact with the Gao family again.
After sending three letters but having them rejected by the concierge each time, the Gao family came to Lianshan Town in person a month later.
In the end, I didn't even see him.
"What on earth are the Kongs trying to do? They hide from me, don't write letters, and don't receive them. They don't come to discuss the date for the engagement, but always drag it out. What kind of talk is that?"
Just as the Gao family was getting ready to get on the carriage and leave.
The door opened.
Wan Xian walked out from inside.
The eyes of several people in the Gao family lit up.
They were about to speak when Wan Xian spoke first.
"Don't say anything. I didn't want to see you, but it's not good if I don't make it clear. My son is preparing for the imperial examination and is busy studying. He really doesn't have time to get married. Your daughter is good in every way, but I'm really embarrassed to drag you down, so let's call it quits."
Wan Xian was too lazy to even fake a smile, and after saying this, she closed the door again.
The Gao family was stunned.
"What does this mean? No engagement? What does the imperial examination have to do with marriage? Why can't we get married?"
"I think he is just making up an excuse. How could it change out of nowhere? It was fine at first, wasn't it? It's really strange."
"Could it be that someone told them something?"
The whole family sat in the carriage, making wild guesses.
When I got home, I questioned the person and found out the truth.
It turns out that Kong Mingxue had actually turned back before.
So, he heard those words?
That night, Gao's doorman was beaten half to death.
Early September.
The fragrance of osmanthus flowers wafts everywhere in the city.
Jiang Tongmu and Wanyu got engaged and paid the bride price.
Because the family circumstances are different from before.
So the bride price increased from two taels to fifty taels.
After all, the Wan family’s dowry was frighteningly large.
Fearing that Qian Xile would be jealous, Zhang Jinlan secretly gave her some silver, saying that it was fair to give her fifty taels each.
Qian Xile refused to accept it.
It was not until Zhang Jinlan pretended to be angry that she reluctantly accepted it. The next day, she used the money to buy a gift for everyone in the family.
Jiang Fubao's gift was a small scale used to weigh medicinal herbs.
She likes it very much.
Jiang Wangyou loves embroidery, so she received a lot of beautiful threads and cloth.
Jiang Ruyi likes to cook, and she received several recipes passed down from wealthy families.
Jiang Huanyu loves to eat and play, and received an exquisitely crafted wood sculpture and a bag of cakes.
Everyone receives the gift they want.
Zhang Jinlan became more and more satisfied with Qian Xile.
As the autumn harvest approaches, Jiang Shoujia returns to the village every three days.
When I came back this time, I brought a bamboo basket of chestnuts.
There are also people selling sugar-roasted chestnuts in the town.
But it is expensive and only wealthy families can afford it.
After all, sugar is precious.
Jiang Fubao loves to eat this.
"This is a gift from your Grandpa Chen. I mentioned before that you like to eat the chestnuts he got from the mountains. It turns out that he got this many this year."
The Grandpa Chen that Jiang Shoujia mentioned is the old Chen from Jiangjia Village.
Jiang Fubao wanted to take the bamboo basket, but he couldn't lift it.
It's really too heavy.
At least several dozen kilograms.
"How can you, kid, lift it? Ask the servants to come. Do you want to fry these chestnuts like last year? Or braise them with chicken?"
Jiang Shoujia waved to the servants.
A servant came immediately and took the basket to the kitchen.
"Well, use half for roasting chicken, and keep the other half for me. I want to make chestnut pancakes!" Jiang Fubao's mouth was watering at the thought of roasting chicken with chestnuts.
The braised chicken itself is delicious.
Add chestnuts and the taste will be doubled.
The roasted chestnuts are soft and tender, coated with a salty and slightly spicy sauce. When you take a bite, you can taste the sweet, salty and spicy flavors.
It's soft and sticky, and tastes better than the chicken inside.
Not just chestnut grilled chicken.
Braised duck with chestnuts is also delicious.
Unfortunately, it is only available at this time of year.
Jiang Fubao decided to use the sand storage method to preserve chestnuts this year.
This method can keep chestnuts fresh for more than three months, or even four months.
This way you can eat it during the Chinese New Year.
She felt happy when she thought of the whole family nestling in the warm main room, listening to grandpa telling stories about the past, roasting fire, drinking hot drinks and eating roasted chestnuts.