"Bita, tell Aunt, what do you think of the conditions of the Old Mu Family?"
Matchmaker Sun picked up the umbrella from the ground and handed it to Huang Bita.
Huang Bita held the umbrella, feeling sowhat lost for a mont.
Matchmaker Sun had already started to make so calculations in her heart.
This little girl probably wasn’t interested in the unseen Mu Danian, but in this Mu Dalang.
Matchmaker Sun was pleased. She was the type who only cared about making successful matches, regardless of whether it was for an uncle or a nephew.
"Bita, since Aunt has taken the matchmaker’s fee from your mother, whatever I do, I have to keep it confidential for you. Otherwise, my reputation as the top matchmaker would be ruined, wouldn’t it?"
Matchmaker Sun particularly valued her reputation. Although she was gossipy, she mostly spread rumors that were hard to confirm, drawing people in but leaving them with nothing concrete to grasp.
This was how Matchmaker Sun managed to expand her business, covering the matchmaking needs of several nearby villages.
However, her only failure was with Mu Dashan’s daughter.
Thinking of her, Matchmaker Sun still felt a twinge of pain.
She was a difficult person to deal with, very harsh.
"Aunt Sun, please return it to , I don’t like this family, let’s look at another one,"
Huang Bita shook her head and expressed her wish.
"What? Don’t like them? What’s not to like? Could it be the old lady’s favoritism towards the youngest girl? Honestly, I don’t like it either, but that girl is soone else’s daughter, no matter how much she’s spoiled, she’s still soone else’s."
"Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Old Mu Family isn’t very glorious right now. They have a son participating in the Autumn Examination. If he passes, the whole family will move to the county. Won’t your brothers be able to afford a bride then?"
Matchmaker Sun carefully analyzed the pros and cons for Huang Bita, casually addressing her main concern.
Huang Bita had three brothers who were all getting on in years.
The eldest was thirty, and the other two were sixteen and twenty. At this age, in any village, they were seen as undesirable and unwanted.
The eldest could barely marry soone who was physically disabled or had been divorced several tis.
The second brother was in a similar situation, while the third, at twenty, still had hope. If they had money, he could marry a decent girl.
Seeing that Huang Bita remained silent, Matchmaker Sun decided to use a trump card.
"Bita, what do you think about this Mu Dalang? Although he’s Mu the Fifth’s nephew, the man is unmarried and the woman is unwed. It’s just a matter of my word as Matchmaker Sun.
Besides, Mu Dalang is good-looking and whatever else is comndable, the umbrella was given to you by him.
Mu Dalang works as an apprentice in town, raising sheep, milking them, and shearing wool, which is a money-earning job.
Those without money wear cotton clothes, while those with money wear animal fur. That black fur is precious nowadays, costing over a hundred taels per garnt!
This ti he said he would raise sheep in the village and sell wool and milk once he got married.
Think about it, how much could one sheep sell for? And think about it, other wives go out to farm and work, but you just have to cook at ho."
You have to admit, when it cos to persuasion, Matchmaker Sun was an expert, able to talk as if the dead were alive.
Huang Bita was indeed tempted. She knew that if not for Mu Dalang, she would have to see many people, and no matter what, she had to find soone to marry.
Perhaps it would be an old gambling addict.
Perhaps it would be an abusive widower.
Perhaps it would be a lowly man.
Otherwise, her brothers wouldn’t be able to marry wives at all.
Rather than being passive in the future, it was better to take this opportunity to find soone reliable, who could support her, and whom she could help in return.
However, Huang Bita still knew how to be polite.
"But I’m older than him."
Mu Dalang seed only sixteen or seventeen, while Huang Bita was eighteen.
"Not by much, I asked, he’s seventeen by traditional age, and you’re eighteen. You’re close in age, and an older woman brings fortune, marrying you is a good thing for him."
"But..." Huang Bita still appeared troubled.
"But what? Aunt will make the decision for you. I guarantee we’ll settle this matter. I’ll send you back to the Huang Family Village first, and you just wait to beco the bride!"
Matchmaker Sun swayed her hips and led the way ahead.
Mu Dalang still didn’t know that he had beco another target of Matchmaker Sun. When he returned ho, he happened to hear his family discussing Huang Bita.
"Wife, what do you think of the Huang family’s girl?" Mr. Mu asked.
"What do you an, ’what do I think?’ It’s not my daughter-in-law. We still have to ask the Fifth’s opinion. If he agrees to marry her, then we will, otherwise, what can we do?"
Despite saying this, Old Mrs. Mu didn’t like Huang Bita at heart.
Huang Bita was quite pretty, with an air of fragile beauty, thin build, fair skin, and a waist as slim as a willow branch.
Just her face alone was prettier than Mu’s daughter Xiangxiang, and Old Mrs. Mu didn’t want a daughter-in-law who was prettier than her own daughter.
"Old Three, what do you think?" Mr. Mu deliberately asked for opinions, of course.
Mu Dashan had no objections. "Dad, I think she’s nice, seems like a sensible girl. With her support, the Fifth will definitely do well!"
"Yes, Dad, I feel the girl is simple-minded, a perfect match for Fifth!" Yu Si Niang added.
Mr. Mu thought the sa in his heart.
But since it was a big matter, he decided to ask a few more people.
"Old Four, Old Four’s wife..." Mr. Mu called out, then realized that Old Four’s family was still at the stove because they didn’t have new clothes.
"Second, go see if Old Four’s family has eaten. Old Four’s wife, it’s been tough cooking today!" Mr. Mu instructed.
"Dad, you haven’t asked what I think about that Huang girl!"
Old Three and Old Four had been asked, so Mu Dazhong, as the elder brother, couldn’t hold back and spoke up as well.
"Just go, why so much nonsense!" Mr. Mu glared at Mu Dazhong.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, I’ve returned!" Mu Dalang suddenly ca in and spoke.
"Where’s the umbrella in your hand?" Old Mrs. Mu asked sharply.
She clearly saw that Dalang left with the umbrella, and now it was gone. Could it have been given to that flirtatious girl?
"Dalang, the old lady asked you, why aren’t you answering?" Old Mrs. Mu shouted angrily at Mu Dalang.
At this mont, half of her face was sowhat twisted, and as she spoke, the loose skin on her face kept shaking.
"Speak! Did you give it to that flirtatious girl? I knew that girl was no good. She hadn’t even entered the door, yet she was already seducing the nephew.
If she enters, how will it be? I’m making it clear today, such a vixen isn’t allowed to enter our Old Mu Family’s doors!"
"Grandmother, what did Miss Huang do to offend you? It’s just an umbrella, I can compensate you ten tis over. Is it necessary to speak so ill of her?"
Mu Dalang couldn’t bear Huang Bita being wronged and spoke to Old Mrs. Mu with resentnt.
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