Son-in-law candidate
Inside Bailu Academy, a group of students were also discussing this matter.
"Hey everyone, have you heard? Boss Fu is looking for a son-in-law!"
One stone stirs up a thousand waves.
During the academy's break time, without the teacher's supervision, the entire school erupted in chaos. For the past two months, the people of Qingzhou had been talking about Fu Zhi Qiao the most during their leisure time.
"Looking for a son-in-law? I only have one son, so I won't get involved in such matters," said a fair-skinned, frail-looking student.
"It's not like you'll be chosen just because you go there. Boss Fu wouldn't even look at someone like you."
"What's wrong with my looks? My mom says I'm very handsome!"
Pan Zhennan sneered, "You've never met Boss Fu, have you? With Boss Fu's looks, there are plenty of men lining up to marry into her family. With your big mouth and flat nose, you're not even worthy of carrying Boss Fu's shoes."
Pan Zhennan's derogatory remarks made the other students laugh.
The frail-looking student was somewhat unconvinced: "What, you've met Boss Fu?"
Pan Zhennan looked somewhat smug and said, "Of course I've seen her. When my father celebrated his birthday, Boss Fu came to my house to give a gift. The moment I saw her in person, I realized that there really are people in the world who are as beautiful as angels."
Pan Zhennan's family owns a money exchange. The Baofeng Money Exchange where Fu Zhiqiao deposits her money has shares held by the Pan family. She is a major client of the money exchange, and the two families have dealings during holidays.
The students all knew that Pan Zhennan's family was wealthy, and his words carried great weight among them, so they listened intently.
"Is she really that beautiful? Even more beautiful than Xiangyi?"
"Go away, go away! Comparing Miss Xiangyi to Boss Fu is an insult."
Xiangyi is a famous entertainer in Qingzhou, skilled in music, adept at playing the zither, and possesses a beautiful voice, her singing as melodious and captivating as a lark's. However, entertainers currently hold a very low social status, belonging to the lowest class, and are considered beneath the notice of ordinary people. Comparing an entertainer to Fu Zhiqiao is indeed inappropriate.
They were all familiar with Fu Zhiqiao's name. She was called Boss Fu because her actions during the flood in Qingzhou earned her the respect of the entire city.
When Qingzhou City was in peril, she first donated over 100,000 catties of grain to resettle the disaster victims, and later developed alcohol to help cure the plague. Not to mention, she was as beautiful as a fairy...
Back when Fu Zhi Qiao opened the Tai Bai Wine Shop, she had to disguise herself as a man to interact with people, so as not to be taken advantage of by others who thought she was a woman.
Her status in Qingzhou City is now vastly different from what it used to be. Especially after the floods and plagues, the courage and compassion she displayed have earned her the respect and love of all the people of Qingzhou City.
Most of the students were in their teens or twenties, a time of youthful vigor, and they gathered together for a lively discussion.
"Zhou, the great talent, are you going or not?" The speaker was Shen Hong. He had a refined appearance, but his body was quite muscular, which made him look strangely incongruous.
"Go where?" Zhou Lizhang put down the book in his hand, looking confused.
"Boss Fu is looking for a son-in-law. Would you like to give it a try?"
Zhou Lizhang shook his head.
"Boss Fu is beautiful, kind-hearted, and extremely wealthy. Many unmarried men want to try their luck. Brother Lizhang, are you really not going?"
Zhou Lizhang brushed the wrinkles off his clothes: "I won't go. The headmaster will be giving me a test next month, and I still have some books I haven't finished reading."
Shen Hong looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating. In the end, he couldn't help but advise him, "Brother Lizhang, don't blame me for being nosy, but how much money can you make by copying books for others all day? I saw your brother last time; he was skin and bones."
Zhou Lizhang lowered his head and remained silent. Shen Hong continued to persuade him: "Now there is a chance to escape this misery right in front of you, why don't you give it a try? So what if you're a live-in son-in-law? Once you pass the imperial examination, who will dare to look down on you? Besides, Boss Fu is as beautiful as an angel, you won't suffer any losses at all!"
Zhou Lizhang said with a hint of helplessness, "I know you're doing this for my own good, but a man should be a man..."
Shen Hong interrupted him: "Don't be so old-fashioned, okay? And don't talk to me about incense offerings. Don't you have a younger brother? He can carry on the Zhou family line."
"Have you heard of Yan Xiangqing? He was a senior student who entered the academy a couple of years ago, and he married a rich girl." Shen Hong lowered his voice.
Zhou Lizhang nodded to indicate that he understood.
“Yan Xiangqing’s family situation is similar to yours. Since he got married and received help from his wife’s family, he has been living a very comfortable life. He married a wife who is ugly. There are plenty of men outside who would be willing to throw themselves at a woman like Boss Fu who is talented, beautiful and rich. You must seize this opportunity!”
Zhou Lizhang was amused by his exaggerated words, "Boss Fu is so nice, why don't you go?"
"I'd love to, but my family has already arranged a marriage for me," Shen Hong said with a helpless expression.
“Brother Lizhang, I believe that with your talent, you will surely pass the exam one day.” Shen Hong earnestly advised, “Going to the capital for the imperial examination will require a large sum of money. How can the meager earnings from copying books support you and your brother? What if you ruin your eyes by copying books day and night?”
Knowing that Shen Hong meant well, Zhou Lizhang sighed, "Brother Shen Hong, thank you for thinking of me. I will consider it."
As Shen Hong said, how could someone as poor as him even dream of marrying a woman as privileged as Boss Fu? Zhou Lizhang shook off his distracting thoughts and focused on continuing to read.
*
At the back gate of the academy, Wang the matchmaker received a stack of papers.
Are you sure they're all the best?
"Don't you trust me to handle things?" a thin man with a hunched back replied.
Matchmaker Wang took a purse out of her sleeve and stuffed it into his hand.
The skinny man weighed the purse in his hand and chuckled, "Don't forget me next time something like this happens!"
Matchmaker Wang handed the portraits she had obtained from the academy to Fu Zhiqiao, saying, "Mr. Fu, the most outstanding students from Bailu Academy are all here. Do you see if there are any suitable ones?"
There were more than twenty portraits in this stack, and the students on them had all sorts of styles: heroic, handsome, delicate, and effeminate... Fu Zhi Qiao flipped through them and thought, as expected of the elites in the academy, the quality was many times better than those rich young masters from last time. She nodded to herself and then chose one according to her own preferences.
After flipping through all the portraits, Fu Zhiqiao pulled one out.
When Wang the matchmaker saw Fu Zhiqiao pull out a portrait, her eyes crinkled with laughter. "His name is Zhou Lizhang. He entered Bailu Academy with the second-highest score in the prefectural examination. He comes from a poor family. His parents died early, and he has a younger brother. Because of his family's poverty, he has not yet married even after he turned twenty."
Fu Zhiqiao got the information she wanted from Wang the matchmaker's description: an orphan, from a poor family, with no messy romantic relationships, and a younger brother who was a burden to her family, was indeed a good candidate for a son-in-law.
Fu Zhiqiao asked, "Is this portrait realistic?"
Matchmaker Wang was taken aback. "It's real. The portrait is absolutely genuine. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to see it another day."
We should go and take a look.
The weather was very hot in July, and Bailu Academy was on holiday.
When Zhou Lizhang returned home, he was not a talkative person, but he was very diligent in carrying water and doing chores. Fu Zhiqiao happened to see Zhou Lizhang carrying water when she arrived, and seeing that he was hardworking, her satisfaction with him increased a little.
Zhou Lizhang did indeed resemble the portrait, and in fact, he possessed a more refined air in person. He had a gentle and scholarly appearance, with a pair of tender, watery eyes, and his jet-black hair was neatly combed on top of his head. He was tall and slender, and the black long robe he wore appeared somewhat loose on him.
Although he is far inferior to Xie Zhuo in appearance and demeanor, he is still quite good.
"Let's choose him!"
"It's him?" Matchmaker Wang was overjoyed. Was this going to work out? Had she really brought about Mr. Fu's marriage? She was about to become famous!
"Young Master Zhou!" Matchmaker Wang waved her handkerchief and greeted him.
Zhou Lizhang asked, somewhat puzzled, "Ma'am, what can I do for you?"
"Great news! Excellent news! I've come to propose marriage to Young Master Zhou."
Zhou Lizhang put down a bucket of water, looking surprised: "I didn't mean to arrange a marriage. Have you come to the wrong person?"
“That’s right, Young Master Zhou from Bailu Academy, you’re the one I’m looking for.”
Zhou Lizhang was puzzled again.
Matchmaker Wang gestured for him to look behind him.
"Young Master Zhou, I am Fu Zhiqiao."
A pleasant female voice came from behind him, and Zhou Lizhang subconsciously straightened his back and turned around.
She wore a plain dress, her figure was slender and graceful, and she had a faint smile on her lips. She exuded a carefree and relaxed vibe. She did not wear any expensive hairpins or jewels, but her bright eyes were captivating. She was like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
Fu Zhi Qiao? Boss Fu!
She is the legendary Boss Fu!
Pan Zhennan was indeed not exaggerating.
A look of amazement flashed across Zhou Lizhang's eyes, and he was stunned for a moment before he reacted.
Seeing this, the matchmaker immediately walked away, leaving the two of them to talk.
"This isn't the place to talk. Could we find a quieter spot?"
Zhou Limin, the younger brother, is being fostered by a neighbor and hasn't returned yet; he's currently alone at home. Although his house is in a relatively remote location, there are people coming and going in the village, and it wouldn't be good if someone saw him and gossiped about Boss Fu.
Zhou Lizhang hesitated for a moment, but still took Fu Zhiqiao home.
The Zhou family's wooden house was not very big. The yard was surrounded by a fence, and the roof was not made of tiles, but of reeds and straw.
Fu Zhi Qiao showed no disgust and walked in gracefully. She was stunned as soon as she entered the house. There was only a dilapidated table and a few stools in the main room. The table was very old, and one of the table legs was supported by a stone. There were also a few wooden boxes in the corner. Apart from a handful of decorations, there was no furniture in the house. It was practically bare.
After carrying the water to the kitchen, Zhou Lizhang immediately came over, looking a little embarrassed: "My home is simple, I hope Mr. Fu will forgive me."
After glancing at him briefly, Fu Zhiqiao looked away and said to Zhou Lizhang, "You have no parents and only a young brother. How about I take you into my household as a son-in-law? What do you think?"
Before Zhou Lizhang could answer, she continued, "Don't rush to refuse. After we get married, you and your brother can live in the Fu family. I will cover all your school expenses. After you enter my household, you will still be a free person, and you won't need to change your name. I will not interfere with your actions or friendships."
"This..." Meeting Fu Zhiqiao's gaze, Zhou Lizhang's heart raced, he was at a loss for words, stammered for a long time without being able to say anything, and his face inexplicably turned red.
"It's all so sudden, it's normal that you can't accept it right away. There's one thing I need to make clear beforehand: after we get married, we'll sleep in separate rooms. If you meet someone you love in the future, you can divorce me."
She singled out all the talk about getting married and getting divorced.
"How can such a major event as marriage be decided so hastily?" After being shy for a long time, Zhou Lizhang finally found his voice.
"No rush. If we can't get along in the future, we can always get a divorce. After the divorce, you can marry and have children, and I will never interfere."
“Divorce is bad for a woman’s reputation.” Zhou Lizhang pursed his lips.
Fu Zhiqiao chuckled inwardly. He was indeed an honest man who would consider the woman's feelings. There was another reason why she chose Zhou Lizhang after only meeting him once: there was no greed in his eyes.
Despite his impoverished background, his eyes remained clear and bright, untouched by the weariness of life. Well-educated, polite, and respectful of women—such a person couldn't be too bad, Fu Zhi Qiao trusted her judgment.
“I don’t mind,” Fu Zhi Qiao replied loudly.
Fu Zhiqiao's sudden and forceful actions left Zhou Lizhang somewhat bewildered. He swallowed hard and asked, "Mr. Fu, are you in such a hurry to get married because you've encountered some difficulties?"
As expected of a smart person, they can grasp the key point immediately.
“There’s nothing difficult about it. I need marriage, and you need money. If we get married, it can be said that we each get what we need. After we get married, we can treat each other with respect and not bother each other.”
Fu Zhi Qiao's attitude was very frank. She needed someone to help her out of her current predicament and had no intention of truly becoming husband and wife with Zhou Li Zhang forever.
Seeing that Zhou Lizhang's attitude had softened, Fu Zhiqiao took a step back, giving him some space. "Think it over carefully. You can come to the Fu residence to see me anytime."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
