Chapter 96: Marriage Proposal
The Su family hired a matchmaker and set a date. The shop was closed for a day, and Cheng Yingzhen brought Mother Dong and Su Ruojin and gifts to the Lu family to propose marriage.
Logically, given Shu Tong's status, it would only take Mother Dong to bring a matchmaker, and Cheng Yingzhen, as the hostess, did not have to go. However, Shu Tong had accompanied the Su family from poverty to where they are today, and even if he had no merits, he had worked hard.
Su Yanli and his wife decided to go in person to propose the marriage. Mother Dong was the host, and the young master Su Ruojin followed. Dashi and Ershi carried the gifts and other things. The group was quite a large one.
The Lu family had no worries about food and clothing because of the Su family. When they learned that Mrs. Su had come to propose marriage in person, they were very happy and nervous. They started cleaning early. Not only did they make the house spotless, they also specially bought decent tables, chairs, and food. In order to make it lively and festive, Lu Zhitian also invited a few helpers, some to help set off firecrackers when guests came, some to help, and some to serve tea and water and set the table.
In short, the Lu family did their best to receive Mrs. Su and her entourage with the highest standards.
Having been to the Lu family before, the group was familiar with the place. When they arrived at the alley, they saw Lu Zhitian and his wife waiting in new clothes. When they saw them, they came up to them warmly, "Hello, Madam—"
The two were respectful and warm, which made Cheng Yingzhen, who suffered from social anxiety, very uncomfortable. But fortunately, when she didn't know how to respond, she smiled when she should smile and nodded when she should nod. On the surface, she looked like a wealthy and respectable official's wife.
Seeing the lady's smiling and friendly attitude, the Lu couple felt relieved and quickly signaled their helpers to set off firecrackers and welcomed the guests into the house in a lively manner.
The sound of firecrackers resounded throughout the alley, attracting people in the alley to come and watch the fun. Some people were jealous and said, "I didn't expect that the most shabby courtyard in the past has now become the cleanest and richest place."
"Who said it wasn't true? I used to think the alley entrance was dirty and messy, and there were petty thieves there. I didn't expect that people would make a fortune by using the alley entrance. It's really..."
…
Amid the sound of firecrackers, neither the Su family nor the Lu family heard the gossip in the alley, but Lu's wife knew that some people in the alley were jealous, so when they arrived at the gate of the courtyard, she deliberately asked the hangers-on to throw handfuls of candy. All the children in the alley rushed over to grab the candy, and the scene was extremely festive and lively.
After feeling proud, Mrs. Lu quickly invited Mrs. Su to the seat of honor. After the formalities, it was the matchmaker and Mrs. Dong's turn. They talked with the Lu family, from Shu Tong to Lu Dani, about all the details of the marriage, including the betrothal gift, engagement, and marriage.
Su Ruojin sat beside her mother and listened to the ancient marriage process with great interest. Cheng Yingzhen saw that her daughter's big eyes did not blink, and could not help but whisper in her ear, "This is the marriage rules for ordinary people. The rules for officials and young ladies are different."
Su Ruojin thought to herself that of course she knew they were different. If they were all the same, there would be no class distinction in this world.
When they were discussing how to give gifts for the engagement in October, Lu Zhitian's parents, brother and sister-in-law came over.
Before the mother of Naru entered the main hall, she said sharply, "We don't agree."
Su Ruojin frowned instantly, but they were members of the Lu family after all, and since their niece had been proposed to, they were qualified to come and take a look.
Obviously, when they arrived, Lu's parents, brother and sister-in-law were not there, which meant that either Lu Zhitian did not invite them, or they were too arrogant. According to the ancient blood clan relationship, when his daughter was proposed to, it was impossible for Lu Zhitian not to invite his parents, brother and sister-in-law, which meant they were too arrogant.
Lu's father and others were indeed arrogant and waited until the matchmaker arrived before coming over slowly, but Lu Zhitian and his wife hoped that they would wait until noon to come, so that they would not have to interfere in their daughter's marriage and could have lunch with her, which would save face for everyone.
Unexpectedly, they arrived when we were discussing the crucial moment of engagement.
The matchmaker was proposing the marriage for the official, so he was very confident and spoke in a haughty tone: "Oh, isn't this the butcher Lu Qian? I heard that only the customers can choose the meat. How can a butcher complain about the customers? Don't you want to do this business?"
The matchmaker made a lot of indirect accusations, which made Su Ruojin exclaim that it was too much, and that the matchmaker was better at speaking.
Lu Qian was bullied as soon as she came in. If it were an ordinary person, she would have blushed long ago. It turned out that she had practiced on the stalls. Her heart was not beating and her face was not red. She walked in and attacked her second son, "Are you so eager to marry your daughter off? When the time comes, Da Ni will be squeezed and twisted like a cow by others..."
Before she finished speaking, Lu Zhitian's wife could not help but get angry and said, "I am willing to work like a cow and a horse for the Su family. They give me silver and gold. I work like a cow and a horse for you, but I can't even fill my stomach. How dare you say this?"
Mother Lu was not infuriated by the matchmaker. She never expected that the second daughter-in-law, who had never dared to fart before, would point at her nose and yell, "This is rebellion, this is really against the will of heaven..."
Are you trying to use filial piety to pressure others? It was a good proposal, but a bad apple spoiled the whole pot of soup.
Su Ruojin couldn't help but stand up and said to Old Man Lu, "Mr. Lu, I haven't settled the score with you for breaking the contract yet, but you jumped out first."
As soon as her voice came out, the main hall suddenly became quiet.
Lu's mother looked at the man.
Old Man Lu had the support of the Chenghou Mansion's business, so he was not scared by Su Ruojin. He was smug. Before he could say anything, Su Ruojin interrupted him quietly, "My father is now the tutor of the youngest son of the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Pingyang. As long as he goes to the Prince of Pingyang to make a fuss, do you think the Chenghou Mansion can protect you?"
"I..." Old Man Lu didn't believe it: "Madam Yao is Madam Su's elder sister!"
Old man Lu knows everything about the legitimate sister oppressing the illegitimate daughter. It seems that Cheng Yuzhu has been doing bad things outside.
Hua Ping, who was pulled by Su Ruojin to drive the mule cart, was leaning against the outer wall to bask in the sun. Hearing this, he looked at the helpers hired by the Lu family in the yard and secretly hooked his finger at one of them. The helper came forward and he took out two taels of silver from his sleeve pocket and said, "You guys drive these four out of the door. After you drive them out, I'll give you another two taels."
The hanger-on was a little hesitant.
"Don't be afraid, I'll cover you."
I don't know if it was Hua Ping's money that worked, or if Hua Ping himself was a convincing person, but the few hangers-on invited by Lu Zhitian and his wife came in quietly, and each one pulled one, and instantly took Lu's parents, brother and sister-in-law away.
Everyone: ...No one understands what's going on.
Su Ruojin's eyes suddenly met Hua Ping's, and he raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Oh! She understood instantly.
She was just thinking about how to get rid of these four annoying guys, but she didn't expect that Uncle Hua Ping used a few hangers-on.
Old Man Lu and others didn't respond at all. By the time they reacted, the second son's yard door had been closed.
Lu Zhitian was panicking and confused. Was he being disrespectful to his parents and elders? He was about to open the door, but Hua Ping stopped him. He signaled the smartest hanger-on to shout outside the door.
(End of this chapter)
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