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Matchmaker Zhang had already returned to the Han family with a reply from the Jiang family.
That’s how it worked for matchmakers—they had to run between the two families. After all, the matchmaker’s fee wasn’t so easily earned, especially for someone like Matchmaker Zhang, who had a stellar reputation for arranging good matches. She put her heart and soul into it.
But both the Jiang and Han families were generous in their hospitality.
After having some brown sugar water at the Jiang house, she then came to the Han house, where they served her overly sweet white sugar water. Looking into the enamel cup, she could even see a thick layer of white sugar at the bottom!
Matchmaker Zhang’s smile deepened even more as she cheerfully said to Han’s mother, “You can rest assured, the Jiang family is discerning. As soon as I mentioned a fine family like yours, they were overjoyed!”
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward Han Shiguo, who was sitting quietly nearby.
Han Shiguo simply sat there listening, without saying a word.
But he was his mother’s son, and as his mother, how could she not know what was on her son’s mind?
Feeling quite satisfied, Han’s mother asked the question that was most important to her eldest son, “So, what did the Jiang family say about today’s meeting?”
Han’s mother was pleased with Jiang Qian. After all, Jiang Qian had helped her once before. However, at that time, her son already had a marriage prospect lined up, and the other family had specifically waited for him to return to get married. The Han family didn’t want to wrong anyone. Otherwise, she would have sought help to arrange the match herself.
Now that the second branch of the Jiang family had called off the engagement, her son could, of course, pursue another match.
As for Jiang Qian being Jiang Yue’s cousin, Han’s mother didn’t care at all—her son hadn’t even met the other girl!
Now that the potential bride had changed to Jiang Qian, who suited her taste even more, why wouldn’t she be happy?
Besides, the girl had caught her son’s eye too. Just look at how invested he was! He was willing to give away such expensive items—three pieces of large furniture that made noise when you turned them on!
When Matchmaker Zhang heard her question, she laughed and said, “When I told Qianqian that Shiguo had seen her yesterday, she was quite surprised and asked me if it was the soldier she met on the way home from school. As soon as I confirmed it, her face turned red. It’s clear that she’s fond of Shiguo too!”
“Really?” Han’s mother was overjoyed when she heard this and turned to look at her son, Han Shiguo.
Han Shiguo showed no particular expression on his face.
“Of course it’s true! Sister Guiyun is a straightforward woman. Since the young ones have already seen each other, she asked me to bring you over to their house for a visit and a cup of tea,” Matchmaker Zhang said with a smile, glancing at the seemingly calm Han Shiguo. She had seen this kind of reaction many times before—acting composed on the outside, but likely overjoyed on the inside upon hearing that the girl liked him back.
“Great, great! Let’s go have some tea at their house!” Han’s mother, delighted to hear that the Jiang family was so open and welcoming, quickly looked at her son and said, “Hurry, go change into your best clothes! And bring some candy and pastries with us!”
Han Shiguo didn’t waste any time. Although he appeared calm as he returned to his room to change, his movements were quick. When he came out, he looked like a spirited, handsome young man.
Not only that—aside from the candy and pastries, Han Shiguo also brought cigarettes and liquor with him.
For a first meeting, just bringing candy and pastries would have shown thoughtfulness. But to bring cigarettes and liquor too? That showed he was putting in real effort.
Han Shiguo’s older brother, Han Shimin, didn’t say anything.
However, his wife, Li Xia, couldn’t help but curl her lips when she saw all the things he was bringing.
Matchmaker Zhang didn’t pay any attention to that—she was very pleased. Han’s mother was also all smiles and said to Han Shiguo’s father, “You should come along with us too.”
Inviting the father to join them was a sign that they took this marriage proposal very seriously!
Han Shiguo’s father nodded and said to his son, “Make sure you leave a good impression.”
“I know,” Han Shiguo responded, which was rare for him.
With that, the group set off.
However, they didn’t head straight to the Wuxing Brigade. Instead, they first went to visit Jiang Xiaogu’s (Aunt Jiang’s) house in the same village.
Jiang Xiaogu was still furious about her second brother and sister-in-law coming over yesterday to break off the engagement.
She had even gone to the Han family specifically to apologize, since she was the one who had initially arranged the match. Now that her second brother and his wife had canceled it, how could she not apologize?
Although it had delayed her niece’s prospects for three years, the Han family hadn’t left them hanging intentionally. The reason was simply that they were too busy, and this had been explained when the engagement was first arranged.
Her second brother and sister-in-law had also been well aware of this.
Just when everything seemed to be on the verge of success, the engagement was suddenly called off. Jiang Xiaogu had every reason to suspect that her niece, Jiang Yue, had found someone else!
Otherwise, why would such a thing happen at this critical moment?
If the daughter didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation, surely the parents should have, right?
Fortunately, the Han family was understanding and didn’t take it to heart.
But Han’s mother knew what kind of person Jiang Xiaogu was. Jiang Xiaogu had been married into the village for over ten years and had a good reputation. Moreover, the girl they were now discussing was her niece from her maternal family.
That’s why Han’s mother specifically came to invite Jiang Xiaogu to go with them.
Jiang Xiaogu was momentarily stunned, but when she learned that Matchmaker Zhang had already communicated with her elder sister-in-law and that it was her sister-in-law who had personally agreed to the match, she was thrilled!
She quickly handed over the household chores to her son and daughter, then eagerly joined the group. On the way, she said to Han Shiguo, “Qianqian is much better than Jiang Yue. Qianqian has always been a well-behaved girl since she was little. Back when the match was arranged between you and Jiang Yue, Qianqian was only seventeen and still in school. Otherwise, I would have definitely introduced her to you instead!”
As Han Shiguo listened to Jiang Xiaogu’s words, the image of the girl he had seen the day before came to his mind.
She had a delicate, petite face, large bright eyes, and gently arched eyebrows. Everything about her seemed soft and charming. Even the way she spoke to her students had a gentle, sweet tone.
When he got home and learned that the engagement had been called off, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of disappointment, because he didn’t even know if Jiang Yue was round-faced or flat-faced, let alone have any real feelings for her.
It was his mother who had been anxious, worried that he’d end up an old bachelor as he got older, which was why she had hurriedly arranged the match.
Having the engagement called off didn’t stir any other emotions in him. In fact, he felt quite pleased.
Without giving it a second thought, he immediately wanted to ask the matchmaker to inquire about the teacher Jiang from the town’s primary school.
And then, the matchmaker herself came to his door.
Isn’t this fate?
Han Shiguo had truly taken an immediate liking to her. Hearing Jiang Xiaogu mention her niece, he responded humbly, “It’s a coincidence, really. On my way back from vacation yesterday, I happened to run into Qianqian.”
“You’ve met Qianqian?” Jiang Xiaogu exclaimed, clearly delighted to hear this.
“Yes, I have.” Han Shiguo nodded.
“Well, that really is fate.” Jiang Xiaogu smiled, clearly pleased. It was evident that Han Shigu had taken a liking to her niece!
Now, it all depended on what Qianqian thought.
The group made their way toward the Wuxing Brigade.
However, not everyone in the Han family was pleased.
Standing at the door and watching them walk away, Han Shiguo’s sister-in-law, Li Xia, couldn’t help but return inside and complain to her husband, Han Shimin. “The Jiang family is really something—first, the second branch calls off the engagement, and now the main branch is looking to match up with Shiguo!”
Han Shimin responded, “What are you talking about? The Jiang family’s main branch knows how to pick a match!”
Li Xia scoffed, “Of course they have good taste. After all, Shiguo promised a hundred in bride price, forty-eight pairs of legs, and those three pieces of large furniture. Do they think their daughter is made of gold? Even gold isn’t worth that much!”