Chapter 8: Proposing Marriage

Zhou Guiyun was in a good mood and planned to visit her sister-in-law in Han Family Village the next day.

However, before she could make her way to her sister-in-law’s house, early the next morning, Matchmaker Zhang was already knocking on her door, eager to speak with her.

Zhou Guiyun had things to attend to and didn’t want to waste time listening to Matchmaker Zhang’s rambling. “Why are you here so early? What’s the matter?”

Time was precious, and Matchmaker Zhang didn’t hesitate, “After I left your house yesterday, I went straight to find my son and had him take me to Han Family Village to speak with the old Han family!”

Zhou Guiyun thought to herself, Isn’t this just the perfect timing?

“Please, sit down,” Zhou Guiyun invited Matchmaker Zhang to take a seat, then turned to her eldest daughter-in-law with a smile. “Make a cup of brown sugar water for Matchmaker Zhang, and add extra sugar.”

Zhao Aiying went to make the brown sugar water, adding plenty of sugar.

Seeing Zhou Guiyun’s warm and hospitable attitude, Matchmaker Zhang felt reassured in her heart.

However, she didn’t waste time. Even before she could take a sip of the brown sugar water, she quickly recounted the information she had gathered about the previous day’s events: “Your Second Uncle and his wife went to the old Han family yesterday to break off the engagement. They said Han Shiguo is too busy and worried that their daughter would be mistreated in the future, so they wanted to call off the marriage. The Han family tried to keep the engagement, saying that Han Shiguo would return soon and that they should meet before making a final decision. But your Second Uncle and his wife were firm about breaking the engagement. Although the Han family was reluctant, having arranged the engagement for three years, they also knew they were in the wrong. Seeing your Second Uncle and his wife’s determination, they had no choice but to agree to the cancellation.”

This was the detail about how Second Uncle Jiang and his wife went to the old Han family to break off the engagement.

But Zhou Guiyun wasn’t interested in the specifics. She only asked, “Han Shiguo is coming back?”

Upon hearing this, Matchmaker Zhang became even more excited. With a broad smile, she replied, “He’s already back! Your brother and his wife just broke off the engagement, and right after that, Han Shiguo returned! You wouldn’t believe it, I saw him yesterday when I went over. He’s really something! In all my years of matchmaking, I’ve seen many fine young men, but I’ve never seen one like him, with such a manly presence! His looks and his bearing, they put all the others I’ve seen to shame! If I were thirty years younger, and not for those young girls, I would’ve gone after him myself!”

She ended her sentence with a light-hearted joke.

Zhou Guiyun chuckled and jokingly scolded, “Well, that’s only if he’d actually notice you!”

Zhao Aiying, Zhao Aifeng, and Su Zhiran, her sisters-in-law, couldn’t help but laugh as well.

As for Jiang Shouhai, Jiang Shoutao, and Jiang Shouhe, the brothers had already set off early in the morning, carrying provisions with them to gather firewood in the mountains for the winter. They weren’t at home.

Seeing the atmosphere relax, Matchmaker Zhang finally took a sip of the sweet brown sugar water and said, “Really, I’m not joking with you. I’m not speaking as a matchmaker, but as a mother-in-law looking at things. A young man like Han Shiguo? I’m sure Guiyun would be happy with him. If I had a daughter, I’d send her to marry him right away—no bride price needed! I’d even pay him to take her!”

“That’s quite an exaggeration,” Zhao Aifeng said with a laugh.

“Exactly, paying them? I’ve never heard of a mother doing this. Are you trying to sell your daughter or what?” Zhao Aiying added.

It was true—while a small bride price was customary, paying extra was excessive.

Which family would make their daughter pay to marry off? How embarrassing that would be!

“I’m not exaggerating!” Matchmaker Zhang quickly responded. “Compared to Han Shiguo, that young man from the Wang family doesn’t even come close. His height is average, his looks are ordinary, and at his workplace, he’s just a runner—not some high-ranking official!”

“But Han Shiguo is already a batallion commander! His future is truly limitless!”

“And he has an older sister who lives in the county party compound in the city. Even if he retires, he’ll definitely have plenty of opportunities lined up for him!”

“Looking at him, I can tell he’s bound to do well in the future!”

“If Qian marries him, she’ll be living a life of luxury!”

“This time, listen to me. Let’s arrange a meeting, just one meeting. I’ll stake my reputation as a matchmaker of decades on it. If you’re not satisfied with Han Shiguo, I will quit being a matchmaker!”

“……”

When Zhou Guiyun heard that he was already a battalion commander, her satisfaction grew even more. But when she heard the matchmaker boldly make such a promise, her mind couldn’t help but race with thoughts.

After all, it was Jiang’s little aunt who had rushed back home to arrange a marriage for her niece, fearful that someone else might beat her to it!

But Zhou Guiyun didn’t speak up. It was Zhao Aiying, the eldest daughter-in-law, who broke the silence, saying, “You matchmakers are all full of nonsense. After all that talk, you haven’t even told us how old the man is? If he’s too old, no matter how good he is, we won’t accept him.”

“Otherwise, how could she be a matchmaker? Her ability to flatter people is rare,” Zhou Guiyun thought to herself.

Hearing these praises, Zhou Guiyun couldn’t help but feel a little moved. She had planned to go to Han Family Village to talk to her sister-in-law about it today.

However, despite what was going on in her mind, Zhou Guiyun showed no signs of it on her face.

“My second uncle’s family just called off the engagement with the Han family yesterday,” Zhao Aiying, along with her sister-in-law Zhao Aifeng, knew Zhou Guiyun well. When they saw that she hadn’t said anything, they quickly took over the conversation.

Matchmaker Zhang understood the concerns of the Jiang family. As a matchmaker, her job was to address those concerns and eliminate any doubts about the match.

She wasn’t someone who would take on an uncertain task!

Immediately, she reassured them, “You can rest easy about this. When I visited the Han family yesterday, their mother was extremely enthusiastic in hosting me. She was eager to arrange a match for her son. I heard her say that Han Shiguo only has ten days off and doesn’t have much time to waste, but he’s very selective. He doesn’t look at just anyone. When I mentioned your daughter, Jiang Qian, the eyes of the Han family’s madam lit up. She immediately grabbed my hand and asked if she was the Jiang family’s eldest daughter, the teacher at the town’s primary school.”

“I was surprised and asked her if she had met Jiang Qian.”

“When the Han family’s madam heard that it was your daughter, Jiang Qian, she was so happy. She said she had met her before. A while ago, during the off-season, she came to the town to visit relatives. She didn’t notice when she twisted her ankle, and at that moment, no one helped her except for Jiang Qian, the teacher at the town primary school, who helped her up!”

“Really?” Zhou Guiyun and the other three sisters-in-law turned to look at Jiang Qian, who had just woken up and was heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Jiang Qian, who had just stepped out, overheard their conversation. She paused for a moment, thinking back, and indeed remembered that such an incident had occurred.