The father and daughters exchanged puzzled glances.

Taotao became extremely alert—was it that person who had come?

Wait, something didn’t seem quite right. The voice calling from the door was a woman’s?

Bai Lili responded, “My dad’s home. Who’s looking for him?” Then, she quickly ran outside. Not long after, she led someone inside.

The visitor was a middle-aged woman, smiling warmly. She looked unfamiliar and clearly wasn’t from Ruyi village. Her clothes were clean and neat, making her appear ordinary, but she wore a bright red velvet flower the size of an egg at her temple, which seemed a bit out of place.

“Dongsheng’s dad, I’m a daughter-in-law from Zhangjia Village. Just call me Xiujuan!”

As she spoke, Xiujuan began inspecting the Bai family’s house. She looked around while offering compliments. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, the moment I stepped into this village today, I asked where Dongsheng’s family lived. Everyone said, ‘Look for the grandest house in the village, and that’s where Dongsheng’s family is!’ I took one look and immediately knew—oh my, your family is the grandest in the whole village!”

Her voice was loud, her attitude enthusiastic, and her words exaggerated.

After praising the house, she complimented the yard, then the tables, then the cabinets. Finally, she even managed to praise a pair of worn-out shoes with holes in them, placed in front of the kang, saying the holes looked just like copper coins. She claimed that only Bai Zhengqian’s shoes could wear out in such a unique way, as expected of the Bai family.

While throwing out compliments, Xiujuan’s eyes turned toward Bai Lili and Taotao. She smiled and said, “I heard long ago that Dongsheng has three sisters who are as beautiful as fairies! Isn’t that right?”

Then, she carefully examined the two sisters an dpointed at Bai Lili first. “This one’s the third sister!” She pointed at Taotao next. “And this one’s the fourth sister! Am I right?”

Both Lizi and Taozi nodded.

Xiujuan clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Oh my, Dongsheng’s dad, how did you raise such beautiful daughters?” Her gaze remained fixed on Bai Lili, examining her closely.

Bai Zhengqian stared at the large red flower at Xiujuan’s temple for a while, then glanced at his two daughters.

Feeling embarrassed, Bai Lili yanked Taotao off the brick bed and dragged her outside.

Taotao was confused—what was going on?!

Bai Lili pulled Taotao all the way to the kitchen, where they caught their breath for a long while before Bai Lili finally calmed down, pressing her hand against her chest.

Taotao asked curiously, “Third Sister, what’s wrong?”

Bai Lili waved her hand, poured a few cups of tea, then went into her eldest brother’s room to call Tan Fenghui out. She whispered a few words to her.

Tan Fenghui followed Bai Lili into the kitchen, supporting her waist with one hand and balancing the enamel tray of tea cups with the other. She smiled and said, “What’s the big deal? Girls grow up, and eventually, they have to get married! Don’t worry. I’ll go over and check things out for you. Let’s see who’s set their eyes on our little fairy!”

Bai Lili blushed deeply and looked at Tan Fenghui’s big belly with concern. “Sister-in-law, can you carry that tray?”

Tan Fenghui laughed. “What’s the problem? I was born into a capitalist family’s mansion, after all!” With that, she carried the tray and left.

Taotao suddenly understood. “That Xiujuan with the big red flower—is she a matchmaker?”

Bai Lili nodded.

Taotao was stunned. “Third Sister, do you like someone?”

Bai Lili’s face turned red as she fidgeted nervously, twisting the hem of her clothes and sneaking glances toward the main house.

“Third Sister, do you like someone or not?” Taotao pressed.

Bai Lili bit her lip and, after a long pause, barely nodded.

Taotao asked, “Who is it?”

“What are you asking that for?” Bai Lili replied shyly.

Taotao said, “I just want to see if I know them.”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Then it must be someone I know!”

“You—you…”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll start guessing randomly!”

“Taotao, don’t talk nonsense!”

“Is it Jiang Hongzhi?”

Bai Lili’s eyes widened in shock. “How—how did you know?”

Taotao was stunned too. “It’s really Jiang Hongzhi???”

She had just taken a wild guess, but somehow, she hit the mark.

Then again, it wasn’t too surprising. In the village, the young men of marriageable age all looked practically the same—farmers who didn’t pay much attention to their appearance. They had grown up together since they were kids, so they were all too familiar with each other.

Jiang Hongzhi was one of the two most handsome young men in the village.

Song Zhi was the best-looking, but he was cold and spoke little, always keeping others at a distance—especially young women.

Jiang Hongzhi, on the other hand, was warm and outgoing, able to chat with anyone… a true friend of women. Perhaps because of that, most of the village girls liked Jiang Hongzhi.

Taotao guessed that maybe sister Lizi liked him too, just because everyone else did.

After all, sister Lizi didn’t seem to pay much attention to Jiang Hongzhi.

But then—

Bai Lili shyly said, “He’s a really nice person. Once, when we were working, I cut my hand on some grass… Us farmers don’t care about stuff like that! It was just a small cut—it hurt for a bit and then went away. But he said a girl getting hurt is still getting hurt and insisted I had to rest. He even helped me walk, like cutting my hand suddenly made my legs stop working…”

Recalling the incident, Bai Lili’s face turned bright red.

Taotao’s internal alarm bells went off!

As the former Saint of the Meizong Sect, Taotao had seen more men than she could count. In the cultivation world, the ratio of men to women was about 99 to 1, and she had encountered men of every age, appearance, style, and personality. She had also spent her life learning how to deal with men.

Since coming to this world, aside from her own father and brothers, who were pleasing enough to look at, the only man she found barely acceptable was Song Zhi.

Now, hearing that her third sister liked someone as greasy as Jiang Hongzhi?

Taotao fell into deep thought—was it because Bai Lili had been stuck in this small village, with her view of the world limited, that she hadn’t seen any better men? This wouldn’t do. She needed to find a way to broaden her sisters’ horizons.

Meanwhile, Bai Lili nervously asked, “Taotao, do you think… that matchmaker… did Jiang Hongzhi send her?”

Taotao sighed.

Silly sister! Didn’t you hear the matchmaker say she’s from Zhangjia Tun? If Jiang Hongzhi was really interested, he’d have sent someone from their own village.

Besides, Jiang Hongzhi was still young. For something as serious as marriage, he would probably rely on a matchmaker. Sending one to visit like this was typical of how people in this area handled things.

Wait a minute…

Jiang Hongzhi was from the city, so he would marry a rural girl. Moreover, Jiang Hongzhi had been fawning over Yan Naqian for a long time. Although, in Taotao’s eyes, her third sister looked prettier than Yan Naqian, in terms of overall quality, Yan Naqian was indeed superior.

Taotao thought that Sister Lizi might end up disappointed.

Soon, Tan Fenghui came over, supporting her waist as she walked.

Bai Lili looked nervous, her delicate face flushed red.

Tan Fenghui felt a little awkward and smiled. “It’s someone from Zhangjia Village, coming over to… propose to Taotao.”

Lizi and Taozi were both stunned!

Bai Taotao nearly jumped three feet high. “Who’s so tired of living—mmph!”

Startled, Lizi quickly covered Bai Taotao’s mouth and pleaded, “My little ancestor! They haven’t even left yet—could you calm down a bit?”

Taotao was furious!

She had spent two lifetimes before finally finding such a good family, where everyone loved each other dearly. Yet, in just two months, someone had set their sights on her?

Hmph, it better not be that guy who crawled into the cornfield that day. Otherwise, she’d beat him so badly that even the rats in his house wouldn’t recognize him!

Bai Lili found the whole thing dull and lowered her head, muttering, “When is that matchmaker leaving? I still need to cook!”

Taotao grabbed Tan Fenghui’s hand insistently, her tone fierce yet sweet. “Sister-in-law, tell me—who came to propose to me?” I swear I’ll beat him to death!

Tan Fenghui felt helpless. “You don’t even know him! You haven’t been out of the house…”

“I have been out! I’ve been to town!” Bai Taotao stubbornly demanded, “Sister-in-law, just tell me—who came to propose to me?”

Left with no choice, Tan Fenghui said, “It should be Zhang Jianzhang’s eldest son from Zhangjia Village.”

Bai Taotao was completely confused.

Tan Fenghui added, “See? I told you that you don’t know him!”

“If he knows me, why would he even come to propose?” Bai Taotao’s face lit up with joy.

Tan Fenghui couldn’t help but laugh. “Even though it’s a new era now, blind marriages and mute weddings are still common! But Taotao, don’t worry—this marriage won’t happen!”

Bai Taotao was still very happy. “But what if he loves me to death?”

Bai Lili: …
Tan Fenghui: …

After a moment, Tan Fenghui finally spoke with difficulty. “Taozi, as young ladies, we need to be more reserved. This… this kind of talk about love—just say it less in the future.”

“Can’t I love my sister-in-law too?” Taotao pouted.

Tan Fenghui’s heart softened immediately. “Of course! Of course! Sister-in-law loves Taotao too!”

However, Bai Lili asked, “Sister-in-law, why is this marriage impossible?”

Tan Fenghui explained, “You girls just don’t understand. The other family’s son is the eldest, so could our Taotao be the eldest sister-in-law?”

Bai Lili: …
Bai Taotao: …

Oh. Understood instantly.

After a while, Bai Zhengqian shouted from the main room, “Hui’er! Hui’er? Come here and see Aunt Xiujian off for me!”

“Yes, I’m coming!”

Tan Fenghui supported her waist and slowly walked out.

By lunchtime, everyone had returned. Bai Zhengqian brought up the matter at the dining table.

“…Today, Zhang Jianzhang from Zhangjia Village sent a matchmaker over to propose…”

Everyone turned to look at Bai Lili.

“…for our Taotao,” Bai Zhengqian continued.