Liu nodded shyly and quickly walked out.
Jiang Yuwei watched her hurried figure and shook her head helplessly.
"Now you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."
After saying that, Jiang Yuwei instructed Yun Qing, who was standing outside:
"Go upstairs and replace Yao Guang. Tell him I have something to ask him."
Yun Qing nodded hurriedly and went upstairs to the second floor. A moment later, Yao Guang ran to the backyard.
"Madam, Madam, what brings you here? Is it Liu Shi...?"
Jiang Yuwei looked at Yao Guang, who was sweating profusely with anxiety, and shook her head helplessly.
"Liu is collecting the money in front. Didn't you see her when you came in?"
Yao Guang looked back and saw that Liu was indeed standing safely in front, so he felt relieved and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Jiang Yuwei couldn't help but burst out laughing when she saw his expression.
"Why are you so concerned about Liu? What is your relationship with her?"
Yao Guang hurriedly waved his hand nervously and said:
"No, no, it's not what you think, Madam. I have no relationship with her whatsoever, I just..."
Jiang Yuwei impatiently waved her hand to interrupt him.
“I remember you are unmarried, and this Liu is also unmarried. I think the two of you are quite a good match.”
Yao Guang stared wide-eyed at Jiang Yuwei, his mouth agape in disbelief. He then lowered his head, nervously fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, and muttered:
"I...I can't bear to think about it..."
Jiang Yuwei smiled.
"What's there to be afraid of? Today I'll ask you whether you have feelings for the Liu family?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Yao Guang abruptly looked up, stared intently at her, and then nodded repeatedly as if he had made up his mind.
"I like Liu. Seeing her makes me happy and gives me hope for the future. I look forward to seeing her every morning and saying hello to her. That would be enough for me."
Jiang Yuwei picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.
"You're so easily satisfied. What are you standing there for? Didn't you see my teacup is empty? Don't you even have the basic sense to pour me, your matchmaker, a cup of tea?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Yao Guang instinctively stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and poured tea for her. However, it wasn't until halfway through the pouring that Yao Guang realized the meaning behind Jiang Yuwei's earlier words.
Holding the teapot suspended in mid-air, he stared blankly at Jiang Yuwei.
"Madam, what... what did you just say?"
Jiang Yuwei glanced sideways at the overflowing tea on the table and smiled:
"Are you worried I'm too thirsty, and you'd like to pour out the whole pot of tea?"
Yao Guang glanced down at the teapot in his hand, quickly put it down, and wiped the tea that had spilled onto the table with his sleeve. He then nervously began to speak:
"No, no, I didn't mean to..."
Jiang Yuwei waved her hand.
"Alright, stop wiping. Your sleeves will be all wet, how are you going to entertain guests then?"
Yao Guang awkwardly withdrew his hand and scratched his head sheepishly.
"Madam, did you just say you wanted to act as a matchmaker for me and Liu?"
"Hmm, what? You don't want to?"
"No, no, I'm willing, I'm a hundred times willing, madam, I, I thank you!"
As he spoke, Yao Guang was about to kneel down before Jiang Yuwei, but Jiang Yuwei quickly reached out to stop him.
"You two are really alike, always wanting to kneel down."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei looked at Yao Guang and said solemnly:
"Since you have such feelings for Liu, I will grant your wish. But you must promise me that you will treat her well, cherish her, and love her for the rest of your life, and never let her suffer any injustice."
Yao Guang nodded vigorously.
"Yes, I will definitely treat her well, you can rest assured, Madam!"
Jiang Yuwei nodded in satisfaction.
"Okay, you can go ahead and do your work."
Yao Guang happily agreed and left.
Jiang Yuwei felt relieved that Liu's matter was resolved. Now that Liu had found a home, she would prepare a dowry for her, just like a typical bride would for a married woman.
As for Yao Guang's betrothal gifts, he would naturally have to pay for them himself, and whether it was more or less was entirely up to Liu.
Jiang Yuwei went to help out at the shop for a while, and as soon as she had a free moment, she leaned closer to Liu and said:
“Yao Guang said he wants to marry you. I will prepare your dowry. Just tell me how much betrothal gift you want, and I will go and tell Yao Guang to prepare it himself.”
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Liu's eyes lit up, but then she blushed and lowered her head.
“I am now a second-marriage woman. I don’t need you, my wife, to prepare any dowry for me, nor do I need Yao Guang’s betrothal gifts. We can just live together as a couple.”
Jiang Yuwei glared at Liu Shi.
"How can you say that? A second marriage is still a marriage, and the proper etiquette must be observed. You don't need to worry about the dowry; I will prepare everything for you. I don't think Yao Guang is a wealthy man, so why not just ask him for a tael of silver as a lucky charm?"
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei looked at Liu and asked:
Is this okay with you?
Liu nodded shyly.
"Madam, I... I'll do whatever you say."
Seeing that she had agreed, Jiang Yuwei went upstairs to the second floor and found Yao Guang, saying:
"I just asked Liu Shi for you. She agreed to the marriage and will bring her dowry. However, you need to prepare a betrothal gift of one tael of silver for her. Do you have any objections?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Yao Guang immediately jumped up with joy.
"Yes, madam, no problem. I can give you two taels of silver, let alone one!"
Seeing that Yao Guang was a sensible person, Jiang Yuwei didn't say anything more. She simply told him to go back to his hometown of Shili Pu on the outskirts of the city in the next few days to prepare for the wedding and then tell his mother the good news.
Jiang Yuwei was worried that Yao Guang's stall would be left unattended for the next few days, so she asked Tie Zhu to come to the store to help out.
Then Jiang Yuwei asked Ning Daya and Liu to work together at the counter to collect money. This way, the money collection would be faster, and if either of them had an emergency, there would always be someone watching over the counter.
After arranging things here, Jiang Yuwei took Xia Yue to the general store to prepare Liu's dowry. The dowry for a wedding in a farming family was very simple. It usually consisted of a camphor wood chest, two buckets for fertility, and a few new quilts.
In addition to these, Jiang Yuwei also selected a simple and elegant set of silver jewelry for Liu, as well as a set of ready-made clothes and some daily necessities, which would make up an excellent dowry.
After buying the items, Jiang Yuwei had the shopkeeper deliver them directly to the General's Mansion. Jiang Yuwei planned to have Liu Shi get married at the General's Mansion. Shili Pu in the suburbs was not far from the capital, so she could just use the mansion's carriage to take her there.
The wedding should still take place in their own home; after all, she is someone else's bride.
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