"I’m telling you, don’t agree to anything foolish this ti, or else, watch out or I’ll scratch your face," Mrs. Lv threatened Mr. Gu.
She knew that the old man and Gu Xiu were about the sa age and had been playing together since childhood, so their bond was special. However, Gu Xiu wasn’t soone easy to like; not only did he look down on the poor and fawn over the rich, but he also loved taking advantages.
Mr. Gu repeatedly nodded, though in truth, he was quite annoyed with his elder sister too, while Gu Wan stood by, smiling silently.
"Hey! Is anyone ho at Changqing’s?"
At this ti, a stranger’s voice was heard in the yard, and even though Gu Chengyu was in his own room, he heard it. The voice was unfamiliar, indicating it was soone they didn’t know.
He walked to the window and glanced into the yard, spotting a flamboyantly dressed woman. She seed around her forties, dressed in bright reds and greens, wearing fine cotton, with her face powdered white. She was holding a handkerchief and frequently touched a silver hairpin in her hair; Gu Chengyu deduced that her family lived quite well from the looks of her corpulent stature.
"Who is it? Co in!" Mrs. Lv couldn’t recognize the voice, but since it called out their family’s na, it must have been an acquaintance. She replied while pushing the lattice window open wider to see who it was in the yard.
Upon seeing clearly, she realized who it was. The woman was already almost at the main room, so Mrs. Lv hastily asked Gu Wan to put away her needlework and go do it in her own room.
"Mom! Who is it?" Gu Wan asked curiously, particularly because her mother wanted her to avoid the visitor.
"What is a young girl asking around for? Go back to your room. Weren’t you learning the rules with Dumb Granny? Isn’t it ti yet?" In the morning, she learned needlework, and in the afternoon, she would learn writing and rules.
Gu Wan had no choice but to pack up her things and headed towards the door, where she bumped into the woman head-on.
"Oh! Is this Gu family’s Wan girl? You’ve grown up! Getting prettier by the day!" The woman glanced over Gu Wan from head to toe, her eyes showing a hint of regret, as it was a pity she was already betrothed.
Upon recognizing the woman, Gu Wan realized her purpose, called out "Aunt Tao," blushing, and fled back to her own room as if escaping.
"What are you shy about, girl? Running away faster than a rabbit when you see your aunt," Aunt Tao teased and then entered the main room.
"So it’s Aunt Tao! Co, sit on the heated brick bed, have so tea!" Mrs. Lv quickly offered a spot when she saw who it was.
Seeing this, Mr. Gu had no choice but to stand up, "You two chat; I’ll go check on the fields." With won arriving, he felt it was inappropriate to linger in the house.
Aunt Tao wasted no ti and plopped down on the bed, imdiately starting to complain, "You’re not being fair! How co you don’t rember when there are good matches?"
"What are you saying? Didn’t we ask you regarding the weddings of our third son and Wan? We’ve known each other for so long, and I like dealing with you because you’re straightforward, but recently no one in our family’s looking to get married!"
Turns out, this woman was a matchmaker, known for her good reputation in Shangling Village and surrounding areas, with her matches often aligning well with reality.
Indeed, Gu Family’s two matrimonial affairs were opportunities snatched up by Granny Tao. In ancient tis, formal agreents required a go-between.
So although the two weddings were settled through self-arrangent, they still needed an official matchmaker.
"Who said so? Your elder child is having soone arrange marriages for your eldest granddaughter and grandson!"
Aunt Tao took a sip of tea, clicking her tongue in admiration! Gu Family’s living quite well, indeed! This tea must not be cheap, although she couldn’t say exactly why, the taste was superb, the best tea she ever drank.
Actually, it was tea that Gu Chengyu brought out from his personal stash, roasted by himself, and anything from his space was bound to taste extraordinary.
Mrs. Lv was a bit surprised; she wasn’t aware her eldest son was arranging matches outside. Yet, even if she did know, she’d mind her own business; she didn’t know any good young n or girls anyway, plus the eldest branch might not trust her.
"You’re misunderstanding ; the eldest family has split from ours. If they’re arranging a match, I can’t interfere, can I? You know, I’m just the stepmother; I can’t manage the affairs of the first and second branches. If you truly want to do this business, feel free to approach the eldest branch directly!"
Mrs. Lv didn’t wish to interfere; agreeing was fine, but if the match turned out poorly, she’d be blad. She had no reason to get herself involved needlessly!
Aunt Tao wasn’t bothered by this, "I’m aware of your situation; I’m just speaking casually. I’m here mainly to talk about a match for your youngest son. Isn’t your fourth son fourteen already? Are you not planning to arrange sothing for him?"
Aunt Tao’s visit wasn’t for the eldest branch; there were still three unattached mbers in the Gu family! While Gu Wan wasn’t a prospect anymore, there were still two others. Besides, she ca on a special request today.
"My fourth son is learning dicine under Doctor Li, who said he has a family acquaintance with a daughter he’d like to propose for my fourth son, though we’re unsure if it’ll work out."
In fact, Doctor Li was offering a match with his son-in-law’s second aunt’s daughter who just turned thirteen. The family was to co over to et soon.
Doctor Li’s son-in-law’s second aunt’s family was well-off with thirty to forty acres of land, considered affluent, and Mrs. Lv was currently quite satisfied; however, they had to et first.
"What? That’s great news!" Granny Tao was a bit surprised; she hadn’t expected Gu family’s fourth son to already be under consideration.
"We don’t know if it’ll work yet, don’t go spreading the word outside. If not, I’ll have to ask you to diate."
Mrs. Lv was cautious about Granny Tao lingering if she didn’t say anything, but also worried she’d gossip if she said too much, so she offered a sweet carrot to keep her in check.
Whether it would happen, it wasn’t her decision to make, right? But since Doctor Li vouched for the girl, having a good temperant and being intelligent, Mrs. Lv trusted him.
Granny Tao readily agreed, then added, "Your fourth son’s match is being arranged, but hasn’t your young Scholar yet?"
"What? Xiao Bao is still young, only eight years old, how could you think about arranging a match for him already? Are you joking?"
Mrs. Lv was utterly surprised, feeling that Granny Tao was determined to talk about marriage today, setting her sights on Xiao Bao?
"What’s wrong with arranging an engagent early? I have a good candidate!" Granny Tao circled around so much, and after being refused twice by Mrs. Lv, she felt it was ti to seal the deal with this suggestion. Though the Gu family was not what it used to be, the family she had in mind wasn’t bad either!
Hearing this, Mrs. Lv finally realized Granny Tao had her eyes on Xiao Bao, but she wouldn’t allow it.
"I won’t hide it from you; my Xiao Bao is still young! I can’t marry him off so soon, lest it change his nature. Besides, truly, Xiao Bao is focusing on his studies and has hope for the future; I absolutely won’t find a wife for him until he’s eighteen."
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