Lu Yanping turned his face to the side and snorted coldly.
Li looked embarrassed and winked at Lu Lao Er: "Take him away, so he won't get in Qingqing's way here."
That brat! We clearly agreed on this at home, but who is he trying to impress with this behavior? We can't let him ruin this marriage; Master Huang is offering a dowry of twenty taels of silver.
Lu Lao Er understood immediately, grabbed Lu Yanping by the collar, and warned him in a cold voice, "Don't cause me any trouble, or get out of the house." He then dragged him out.
Li stepped forward, took Huang Qingqing's hand, and hurriedly comforted her: "Qingqing, don't take it to heart. He's young and doesn't know any better. He's been spoiled at home. I thought that since Qingqing is older than him, she can help me discipline him."
Huang Qingqing quickly withdrew her hand and lowered her eyelids: "I can't make this decision. I'll leave everything to Father's arrangements."
Upon hearing that there was hope, Madam Li beamed with joy: "Alright then, since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Your father has already agreed to this marriage, so why don't we set a date today?"
Madam Li was anxious, fearing that things might change. She knew her own son's character perfectly well; he went to see Yang Meiqin whenever he had free time, assuming she was unaware. As a result, Madam Li felt disgusted by any woman with a glamorous and alluring appearance, but she found Huang Qingqing's looks increasingly appealing.
The dowry offered by Madam Li was reasonable; it was the same as the going rate for other families. Thinking of this, Madam Li couldn't help but feel smug. In this respect, she was better off than Lu Yanzhao's family. Thinking of Lu's mother's meager snacks, how could she possibly offer anything decent? Madam Li felt a wave of disdain; the whole family were just freeloaders.
Master Huang was eager to marry off his daughter, and after discussing it, the two set the date for the beginning of next month.
Master Huang was in a state of confusion. He was worried because his daughter couldn't get married, but if she did get married, he was afraid that Huang Qingqing would be mistreated.
Huang Qingqing is diligent and intelligent, but she's not pretty. Fortunately, the Lu family doesn't care about looks, so she should be able to make a good life after marrying into the family. Master Huang sighed softly, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart. Perhaps every father feels this way: worried about not being able to marry her off, yet reluctant to let her go once she's married.
Master Huang looked worried, but Huang Qingqing didn't think much of it. After the two families finalized the marriage and Lu Yanping's family left, Huang Qingqing went out somewhat excitedly.
She was finally getting married, and to a good-looking man who was younger than her. This was better than most of the girls in the alley getting married, and now no one would dare to laugh at her anymore.
As for what her father was worried about, she could guess perfectly well—wasn't he just worried she'd be mistreated? Her father was overthinking it. She wouldn't let the Lu family control her. Was she unmarriageable simply because she was ugly? No, she had an incredibly fiery temper, completely like her mother, and everyone avoided her. She only restrained herself when she went to the Lu family.
As Huang Qingqing wandered around, she arrived at Jiaoniang Pavilion, where Gu Nanjiao happened to be helping out that day.
"Huh? Isn't this the beautiful woman who recommended Jiaoniang Pavilion to her the other day?" Huang Qingqing asked, taking the initiative, "Are you here to have your clothes made too?"
Gu Nanjiao turned around and looked at her, puzzled: "Who are you?"
Huang Qingqing said excitedly, "It's me, the one in yellow who almost knocked you over the other day."
Gu Nanjiao suddenly realized: "It's you..." She looked Huang Qingqing up and down, and clicked her tongue twice: "I didn't expect you to have changed so much. You really have a lot more temperament now."
Huang Qingqing was overjoyed, touched her cheek, and her eyes lit up: "Really?"
"More real than real gold!" But...? Gu Nanjiao changed the subject: "Still a little lacking in confidence."
Huang Qingqing asked in confusion: "Confidence?"
Gu Nanjiao smiled and, with her head held high, struck a pose that made her look her most beautiful, saying to Huang Qingqing, "You need to look your most beautiful, with a firm gaze, and don't walk with your head down or your back swaying."
Huang Qingqing nodded as if she understood, and followed Gu Nanjiao's example. Although it was a bit stiff, Gu Nanjiao could tell that Huang Qingqing was indeed a good prospect. If she were in modern times, she could be a fashion model. It was a pity that her face was chubby and not the kind of high-fashion face.
"By the way, are you here at Jiaoniang Pavilion to have clothes custom-made? Would you like me to help you with some research?"
Huang Qingqing smiled shyly and said, "I'm getting married. The date is set for next month, and I'd like to have a wedding dress made."
Gu Nanjiao looked up at Huang Qingqing and sincerely congratulated her.
Huang Qingqing stuck out her tongue and asked Gu Nanjiao, "Aren't you curious about which family I'll marry into?"
Which one?
"It's that auntie you met last time, the one where you almost got into a fight."
"Lu Yanping?" Gu Nanjiao was taken aback. She hadn't expected Huang Qingqing to be so humiliated by him, yet she still wanted to marry Lu Yanping. She thought Lu Yanping was utterly despicable. She herself couldn't accept it. She knew that Li Shi was petty and not an easy person to get along with. However, Gu Nanjiao didn't say any of this to Huang Qingqing. The couple was about to have their wedding, and she didn't want to be the one to break them up.
Huang Qingqing quickly explained, "I know there was some unpleasantness between you two, but it won't change my feelings. I like you very much."
Gu Nanjiao chuckled and patted Huang Qingqing's shoulder: "Oh, do you think I'm such a petty person? That Lu Yanping is my husband's cousin. We might become sisters-in-law in the future."
Huang Qingqing seemed straightforward and kind-hearted, unlike Li Shi, so Gu Nanjiao wouldn't hold a grudge against her because of this. But she would never forgive Li Shi.
Huang Qingqing ordered a custom-made wedding dress; the price didn't need to be too high, a simple style would suffice. Gu Nanjiao picked up paper and pen and designed one herself based on Huang Qingqing's appearance.
Huang Qingqing's eyes lit up: "Wow, the style is simple and elegant, and this design is quite slimming, it even hides my tummy. How are you so amazing? Do you own this Jiaoniang Pavilion?"
"I don't have that much ability, I'm just a laborer." Gu Nanjiao didn't want to reveal too much, after all, they weren't very familiar with each other.
Huang Qingqing said with envy, "That's really impressive. These days, how many women go out to earn money? I want to learn from you."
Gu Nanjiao smiled and didn't say anything.
After seeing Huang Qingqing off, Gu Nanjiao idly sat in the shop, fiddling with the plain silver hairpin in her hand. Looking at the hairpin, she inexplicably thought of Lu Yanzhao's silky, moon-like black hair, always tied up with a ribbon—simple and plain, which was a bit of a pity. If it were adorned with a hairpin, it would look absolutely stunning.
Scholars are often refined and appreciate the noble qualities of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. Lu Yanzhao's birthday is approaching, and his mother says it's in the next few days. Why not give him a bamboo hairpin—refined, pure, and elegant?
But what material is a bamboo hairpin made of? It can't be made of bamboo, can it? If it were made of jade, it would be even more beautiful—"A stranger as beautiful as jade, a peerless gentleman, how fitting!"
Having just bought the back mountain, Gu Nanjiao was penniless and couldn't afford jade at all. She decided to make one for him out of bamboo instead.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com