"He actually looks down on my dad because he's too old?"
The eldest son of the Xu family was incredulous. "She actually complained that my father was too old." A woman no one wanted dared to complain that his father was too old?
The people looked at each other in bewilderment. "Matchmaker Liu, did you explain to them clearly that he's my father?" Xu Wu, the second son of the Xu family, blinked.
Although his father was thirty-eight years old, he was still very popular with women.
After all, his father was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and he wasn't bad-looking either.
“I’ve already made myself perfectly clear,” the matchmaker said, clearly displeased. “If you’re still not comfortable with this, then go ahead and hire another matchmaker! In short, I’m not going again.”
"Matchmaker Liu, that's not what we meant." Seeing that Matchmaker Liu seemed a little angry, Xu Wen quickly stepped forward to appease her.
He casually slipped her twenty coins.
"Here, have a drink."
"That's more like it." Although the money wasn't much, the marriage hadn't gone through anyway. Earning twenty coins was still a pleasant surprise.
"I'd like to see what kind of man she can marry."
Throughout her life, Liu the matchmaker had arranged countless marriages, but the most frustrating one for her was the Ning family brother and sister.
The brother is unmarried, indifferent to women of all shapes and sizes, and it's unclear what kind of woman he likes. The sister is as fat as a pig, yet she's incredibly picky about her potential partner.
She also liked scholars, but how could a scholar bear her weight? She finally found one, but as soon as the scholar passed the imperial examination, he immediately turned his back on her and divorced her.
Although it was quite tragic, Liu the matchmaker felt inexplicably gloating.
However, recalling the look in the Ning family's young master's eyes, the fleeting schadenfreude that had briefly surfaced in Liu the matchmaker's heart vanished instantly. Oh dear, headache, headache! This young master of the Ning family is too terrifying.
Ning Hong saw off the fourth group of matchmakers, her brows furrowing deeply.
"Hongze, are you really not going to let Qiao'er remarry?" Ning's mother whispered.
Why must a woman get married?
Ning Hong turned to look at her.
"Nonsense! It's only natural that men should marry when they're of age and women should marry when they're of age."
"My sister is already married, but she was divorced."
"you--"
"Of course, it's not that I don't want my sister to remarry. Just look at what kind of people these are."
They were either unloved illegitimate sons or dissolute playboys who loved to indulge in pleasure.
Of course, there were also many poor scholars who came for their family's wealth.
Su Xiao gave them a good start.
Everyone wanted to be the next Su Xiao.
Ning Hong rejected everyone.
The next day, as soon as Ning Hong arrived at the pork stall, several people surrounded her.
"Young Master Ning." The one leading the group was Xu Wen from the Xu family.
"What do you want?"
Ning Hong then carefully arranged the pork pieces one by one, paying little attention to the clamoring people.
"I heard you want to find Miss Ning someone she can entrust her life to?"
"Then what?"
"I am unworthy, but I am willing to be your husband." Xu Wen bowed deeply.
He was truly fed up with his impoverished life.
Marrying this fat man from the Ning family means at least I won't have to worry about eating meat anymore.
Xu Wen's gaze fell on the meat, and he couldn't help but swallow hard. He envied Su Xiao.
If he had known, he would have proposed to her back then.
Who knows, he might be the one enjoying immense success right now.
"Your father came to propose marriage a couple of days ago, and now it's your turn?"
The Xu family is known for its scholarly and farming traditions, so why are they so fixated on his sister?
"This is a misunderstanding." Xu Wen blushed slightly when he saw everyone looking at him.
"Matchmaker Liu is mistaken. I am the one who proposed marriage. Miss Ning and I are about the same age."
At this point, Xu Wen sighed silently to himself. He was already twenty years old, but still unmarried. Although he kept saying that he would wait until he achieved official rank before getting married.
However, those who know the Xu family know that they simply cannot afford a betrothal gift.
"It's no use even if it's you. Let me tell you clearly, I don't plan to prepare a dowry for my sister this time. The only dowry is a book. Of course, no matter how much betrothal gift you give, I won't keep it. My sister will take it all back with her."
Ning Hong's words caused an uproar in the audience.
What? No dowry?
How much is a notebook worth?
"Are you kidding me?"
"This is not a joke, it's the truth." Everyone came for his sister's dowry, but once they made it big, they complained that Qiao'er was ugly.
He's laid it out there now: no dowry. Let them figure it out themselves!
"I'm not joking or talking nonsense, I really think so. Of course, even if you're taking exams or studying, I won't help you."
"Young Master Ning, are you planning to ruin your sister?"
"That's right, without a dowry, who would want to marry your sister, given her appearance?"
"So ugly."
"Alright, everyone, stop looking. They don't plan to marry off their sister; they've decided to keep her at home."
"That's true. He should know that they're only after his money and don't want to spend money on his sister now."
The leading scholars said some rather unpleasant things.
Xu Wen sighed softly, saying nothing, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and relief.
Su Xiao was indeed the luckiest.
Just as everyone was making a ruckus, a voice suddenly rang out, filled with a hint of joy and excitement.
"Brother, I've brought my elder brother here to propose marriage."
"Don't call me 'Big Brother,' it's not even close to happening yet."
Ning Hong retorted reflexively.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later, it wasn't just a matter of time," Long Yuan said with a smile.
"Sir, are you here to propose marriage as well?"
"Yes, what's wrong? Are all of you here to propose marriage?" Long Yuan's eyes immediately sharpened. Were these all his opponents?
"It used to be, but it's not anymore." Without that generous dowry, who would want to marry this fat man?
"No, that's great." Long Yuan smiled again. "Brother, you said that if I could get my family's consent, you would marry Qiao'er to me." At this point, his smile widened. "My family has already agreed, so you can't go back on your word, brother."
"Your family really agreed?" This was something Ning Hongze hadn't expected.
"Hey, are you really going to marry that fat guy? The eldest son of the Ning family said there's no dowry."
"Yes, the dowry is just a booklet, and I won't be helping you in the future."
"A notebook?" Long Yuan's brow twitched. This notebook should be in his father's hands now.
For some reason, Long Yuan felt a little guilty.
The Crown Prince smiled slightly, "Greetings, Young Master Ning. I am his elder brother."
"What?"
“My father and mother are unable to leave home for the time being, so they specifically asked me to make this trip.”
"Are you his brother?"
“It’s the real deal. I’ve brought my father’s letter, and our whole family has agreed to this.”
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