"Bah!" Mrs. Chen listened without joy, instead she began to scold: "Those who send themselves over, can they be anything good? Each one of them dreams of marrying into a prestigious family. I tell them, stop dreaming. Since Brother Xing has already become a student, once he passes the college examination in June, he will be a Scholar. It would be impossible for him to marry a village girl, he must marry an officialâs daughter!"
If Mrs. Chen didnât feel that the family foundation wasnât thick enough yet, she wouldâve already said, Gu Dexing wonât marry anyone but an officialâs daughter.
Third Grandma glanced at her and scolded: "You look down on village girls, yet isnât Brother Xing just a village boy? Whatâs wrong with marrying a village girl?"
"Nothingâs wrong, but itâs just not possible!" Mrs. Chen is quite persistent: "Previously, he wasnât a student, and the family wasnât as wealthy as it is now, saying he would marry an officialâs daughter was a dream. But now the child has become promising, why not let him marry someone good?"
If casually finding him a village girl, what if Sister-in-law Dashan and Sister Mei come at night and haunt her?
Mrs. Chen loves to climb the social ladder; as long as thereâs a chance, sheâll put her foot on the ladder and climb, so sheâs determined to find a rich officialâs daughter for Gu Dexing as a bride.
She refuses to believe that Heâan Prefecture is so large, yet she canât find a rich officialâs daughter for Gu Dexing.
When Third Grandma saw that she wouldnât give up, she thought Mrs. Chen also meant well for Gu Dexing, and only reminded her: "You can aspire to climb the social ladder, but you should investigate clearly. Look for someone with a good moral character. Donât get confused by an officialâs daughter who comes knocking, and be fooled by families with unsavory backgrounds."
Mrs. Chen chuckled and said: "I will surely investigate clearly. Those young girls want to fool this old woman, theyâre still too green."
After finishing the matter of Gu Dexing, her gaze shifted to Mrs. Cui, sneaking over playfully and asking: "Sister-in-law Dashan, are you really going to wait for Good Brother An to become a scholar before discussing marriage for him? You canât drag it out that long, by the time he becomes a scholar, Good Brother An will be old!"
She continued: "Although Good Brother Anâs academic performance is good, I hear that itâs particularly difficult to pass the scholar exam. Itâs the Scholars from all over Jianghuai vying for the title, scarier than a thousand troops crossing a single log bridge. Some people take the test all the way to their coffins without ever passing."
"Bah, Mrs. Chen, what are you saying? Your mouth has no door, Iâll sew it shut with needle and thread!" Third Grandma was quite furious; Mrs. Chen, the shrew, is really restless, always blurting out such ominous things.
Mrs. Chen apologized with a smile: "Third Aunt, Iâm just worried, besides, the scholar exam is indeed hard."
Mrs. Cui said: "According to Master Ouyang, my Good Brother Anâs academic performance wouldnât be a problem for the scholar exam, whereas Brother Xing is slightly lacking."
Mrs. Chen was stunned, looking at Mrs. Cui in disbelief. She, she, she was actually rebuffed by Mrs. Cui, something that had never happened before. Is Mrs. Cui getting carried away because her son became the top of the county?
With a smack, Gu Jinli placed a notebook full of ink in front of Mrs. Chen and said: "Not acceptable, rewrite."
Mrs. Chen looked at the notebook and shivered: "Why, why do I have to rewrite again? Iâve rewritten it three times already."
Gu Jinli: "The notebook is too dirty, write neatly next time, otherwise donât even think about opening a shop."
She continued: "And make sure itâs okay before giving it to me. Iâm really busy, after returning I have to take care of the pharmaceutical workshop, plant medicinal herbs and make soy sauce, I donât have time to look at your ghost talismans all day."
Mrs. Chen immediately wimped out, promising: "Alright, Aunt, Iâll definitely write it well next time, the shop must be opened."
If she doesnât open it, how will she make money? How will she become a rich lady? Relying on her two silly sons, Mrs. Chen thought about it and felt she would be waiting for her death before they ever amounted to something.
However, Mrs. Chen still looked at Gu Jinli and asked: "Xiao Yu, youâre not angry because Aunt talked about your brother, deliberately giving Aunt a hard time, are you?"
Gu Jinli chuckled, the corners of her mouth curved, giving her a very pretty smile: "Youâre overthinking."
But her tone was entirely suggesting that Mrs. Chen was right!
Mrs. Chen understood, daring not to mock Gu Jinâanâs marriage anymore. But she is forgetful, at most good for two days, by the third day sheâll definitely stir up trouble again, the families have all gotten used to it.
Mrs. Chen took the notebook and went to find Gu Dagui, continuing to write about her ideas for opening a shop.
Third Grandma then asked Ms. Chu: "Has the escort agency returned? Have the people blocking the road left?"
Ms. Chu shook her head: "Nope, letâs head back a bit later, the escort agency said that the people from ten miles and eight villages are already waiting for Good Brother Anâs return home, they wonât easily let them pass."
Everyone loves scholars, especially those with official positions, believing that with an official position, one can definitely become an official in the future.
And having a relative in the government benefits the whole family, the whole village, so everyone is racking their brains, wanting to have Gu Jinâan as a son-in-law, blocking the road, hoping to intercept Gu Jinâan.
Third Grandma frowned as she listened: "Why are there so many people? If we knew there were so many people eyeing Good Brother An, we shouldnât have let him come back, should have let him study in the Prefecture, and just go directly to Linhe Prefecture for the exam when the time comes."
Mrs. Cui said: "He needs to come back to pay respects to Lord County Magistrate, otherwise, theyâd say heâs arrogant, he canât not come back."
Third Grandma sighed upon hearing that, and could only follow Mrs. Cui and Ms. Chu to prepare for the betrothal ceremony of Luo Wu and Gu Jinxiu, Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli.
Luo Wu and Qin San Lang are in a hurry, not wanting any delays, wishing to quickly conduct the betrothal ceremony, letting the people from ten miles and eight villages know they are engaged.
Mrs. Cui, because the coming-of-age ceremony of her two daughters wasnât handled well, didnât want to wrong them anymore, so she wanted to properly handle their betrothals, exhausting herself but persevering with Ms. Chu and Third Grandma to discuss how to manage the betrothal ceremonies.
Gu Jinli felt it unnecessary, she said: "Mom, Brother Qin and mineâs betrothal ceremony can be simple, marriage is about the people, not about such things."
Besides, Brother Qinâs silver is held by her, thereâs no need to conduct betrothal ceremonies just to see the betrothal jewelry from the groom.
Mrs. Cui insisted: "No, the betrothal ceremony must be well done, it canât be casual. Donât worry about it, just cooperate on the betrothal day."
Gu Jinli listened and said no more, called Xiao Ji, and began reviewing the account books from this period.
They stayed at the Luo Family Escort Agency until it was completely dark before taking the mule cart to leave.
Qin San Lang said: "There were too many people on the road, many stayed until dark, reluctantly heading home."
Luckily, he is the Company Commander of the Military Office, with a badge to open the city gates, otherwise they wouldnât have been able to leave after dark.
Gu Jinli laughed: "Didnât expect my brother to be so popular, a golden son-in-law from ten miles and eight villages."
She then glanced at Qin San Lang, under the torchlight, his strong outfit and tall, solid physique looked agile as a beast, exuding a strong invasive beauty.
Gu Jinli clicked her tongue: "My Brother Qin isnât bad either, also a golden son-in-law from ten miles and eight villages."
Qin San Lang blushed upon hearing this, looked around, seeing Mrs. Cui and others hadnât arrived, he leaned into Gu Jinli and whispered: "My Xiao Yu is also the greatest girl in Great Chu."