Chapter 386 Engagement
November 18th is an auspicious day; all things are suitable.
The old woman, full of energy, had been preparing all morning. When she heard from Granny Wu that the person had arrived, she immediately went to greet them.
A woman with a large mole on her face, a big red velvet flower tucked into her hair, and a mandarin duck handkerchief twirling in her hand walked quickly over with small, quick steps.
She was none other than Liu, the most popular matchmaker in the capital.
She smiled before she even spoke, her expression very joyful.
"Madam, congratulations! What a wonderful match you are, a perfect couple, today is a joyous occasion for your household!"
Hearing this, the old lady was delighted, but she still cautiously said, "Today we went to the Meng family to propose marriage, but we don't know if they will agree. We should offer our congratulations later."
"You're too modest, ma'am." Matchmaker Liu smiled so broadly her eyes disappeared, and she kept waving her mandarin duck handkerchief.
"This marriage between the Gu and Meng families is the talk of the town, and everyone is hoping for it. How could it not work out? You just love to joke."
Matchmaker Liu has been keeping an eye on Guyan's marriage for two or three years. All the matchmakers in the capital know that Guyan is the object of affection for many young ladies in the capital, but Old Madam Gu is the most troublesome parent of the groom for both the matchmakers and the young ladies.
For a young man like Guyan, who is accomplished at a young age and possesses both talent and good looks, finding a spouse should be the easiest thing for him. But unfortunately, he has such a troublesome and overly strict grandmother, which has kept him single for two or three years despite his matchmaking efforts.
But everyone knows that although the old lady is picky, if someone manages to arrange a marriage for her grandson, the reward she gives is definitely a considerable sum of money.
Previously, it was rumored that Gu Yan was impotent, and Matchmaker Liu was disappointed that no one could claim the money. Unexpectedly, this unexpected joy still fell on her head, and she didn't have to put in any effort to make the marriage happen.
Thinking that she could earn a sum of money for free without lifting a finger, and that doing this job well would further solidify her reputation as the number one matchmaker in the capital, Liu the matchmaker's smile became even more sincere.
The old woman narrowed her eyes, her lips twitched slightly, and she quietly led the matchmaker, Liu, into the room.
As rumors in the capital intensified and the Meng family failed to clarify the situation, the old lady knew that the Meng family had tacitly approved of the matter. Therefore, the Meng family naturally also tacitly approved of the marriage between Gu Yan and Meng Xiyao.
This incident gave the old lady some confidence, allowing her to begin planning today's engagement. However, while the Meng family tacitly approved of the matter, the Gu family was eager for this marriage and had longed for it.
She dared not let her guard down until the matter was resolved.
To ensure she could secure the marriage, the old lady not only hired the most skilled matchmaker in the capital, but also prepared an exceptionally generous engagement gift.
Upon entering the hall, one can immediately see a pair of pure gold geese, gold and silver book weights, several pairs of gold hairpins and silver bracelets, a whole box of cash gifts, twelve bolts of top-quality Suzhou brocade, and several tea and jade carvings on the table.
Even though Liu, the matchmaker, was very knowledgeable, she was still shocked by her extravagant spending.
"Oh my, Madam, those who know will know it's an engagement gift, but those who don't might think it's a betrothal gift. Not to mention in recent years, I haven't seen an engagement gift more presentable than yours."
Matchmaker Liu was not exaggerating.
Ordinary families prepare engagement gifts such as wedding cakes, custom-made utensils, and live geese. Wealthy families may prepare a small amount of cash and jewelry, while those who prepare gold and jade carvings are few and far between.
The engagement gift is not elaborate because no matter how much engagement gift is prepared, the betrothal gift is always several times more expensive than the engagement gift.
If the old lady has prepared such a generous engagement gift, one can only imagine that if the engagement is successful today, the betrothal gift in the future will be even more astonishing.
The Gu family is descended from a family of loyal martyrs. Gu Yan's father and brothers earned great military achievements and received many rewards while they were alive. When they died, the court also issued a large amount of compensation to appease the loyal martyrs.
But over the years, the old lady has been raising her only grandson and supporting the entire household, which has cost a considerable amount of money. The fact that the engagement gift is so generous shows that the Gu family truly wants to become in-laws with the Meng family.
The elderly woman beamed with joy upon hearing this.
“Yan’er is the only junior in my family. Everything in this mansion will belong to him in the future. Miss Meng is the girl Yan’er admires. As long as this marriage can be arranged, I will not hesitate to give away the entire mansion, let alone these gifts.”
This engagement is not like a betrothal where the marriage is already a sure thing. If there is even the slightest unpleasantness between the two parties during the engagement, the marriage is very likely to fall through.
The old lady was determined to eliminate any possibility of failure. She was determined that not only would the gift she brought be impeccable, but her attitude would also be flawless.
Matchmaker Liu never expected that the old, lonely woman who used to be the most troublesome would be so eager and satisfied with this marriage.
The old lady, accompanied by the matchmaker and numerous servants carrying the betrothal gifts, made a grand procession to the Meng residence.
The passerby attracted everyone's attention. Upon learning that he was the most talked-about person in the capital recently, the love-obsessed Captain Gu, whose family was going to the Meng family to arrange a marriage, everyone followed from a distance, wanting to witness the scene of lovers finally becoming a couple.
Upon receiving the news, Meng Xingyuan personally welcomed the person inside.
"Lord Meng, I have come today to ask for my grandson Gu Yan's hand in marriage with your third daughter, Meng Xi Yao. Please forgive my intrusion. I truly admire your family's upright character, and my son Yan is deeply in love with Miss Meng. I have come with a matchmaker to formally present the betrothal gifts. I earnestly hope that your family will not reject my request."
After the servants brought in the gifts, the old lady hurriedly stepped forward to explain her purpose to Meng Xingyuan.
In the past, she always acted calmly and patiently to avoid revealing her thoughts and being controlled by others. Today, however, she abandoned all methods and schemes, only wanting the Meng family to see her sincerity and to use her true heart to reunite her grandson with his new marriage.
Seeing that the old lady was so anxious and had already spoken her part, the matchmaker Liu covered her mouth and laughed, "Oh, Madam, please sit down. At least give me a chance to speak and introduce Captain Gu to Lord Meng, won't you?"
Meng Xingyuan and Gu Yan both served as officials in the court, and he had long known Gu Yan's character. Coupled with the commotion Gu Yan had caused a few days ago, it was difficult for Meng Xingyuan not to understand.
But Lord Meng's understanding is one thing, the procedure still needs to be followed.
As the matchmaker for this happy occasion, Liu the matchmaker already felt somewhat undeserving of the reward. If she hadn't done anything to help, she wouldn't feel at ease accepting the money.
Matchmaker Liu spoke loudly and smiled brightly, waving her mandarin duck handkerchief incessantly. Her words immediately eased the tense atmosphere in the room and added a touch of joy.
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