Chapter 34: Marriage Proposal

After leaving the school, Song Yuntang was going to find Zhuzi and Zhuangzi in the mountains and collect herbs.  Passing her house, she met Liu Shi coming to find her.

“Tang’er, you’re back. I was going to look for you.”

“What’s wrong?” Song Yuntang walked over.

Liu Shi pulled Song Yuntang home, whispering in her ear, “Zhou, the matchmaker, is here. She found a match for you. The man’s family is here to see you.”

Hearing this, Song Yuntang stopped at the gate.

“Matchmaker? Marriage proposal? So fast?”

She couldn’t go home.

Song Yuntang turned and left without hesitation.

“Tang’er, where are you going?” Liu Shi quickly pulled her back. “They’re waiting. Whether it works out or not, you have to see them. Otherwise, Mother can’t explain it to the matchmaker.”

Liu Shi’s grip was strong, and she was pregnant. Song Yuntang, fearing she might hurt her, reluctantly followed her into the courtyard.

Zhao Qiao’e, seeing Song Yuntang, beckoned her with a smile.

“Tang’er, come here.”

Song Yuntang entered the hall with a blank expression.

Zhao Qiao’e pulled her hand, introducing the two women sitting there. “This is Grandma Fang and Aunt Tian. Greet them.”

Song Yuntang managed a reluctant smile.

“Grandma Fang, Aunt Tian.”

“Yes!” Fang Shi and Tian Shi exchanged glances, their eyes filled with joy.

This Zhao family girl was pretty. Their son was lucky.

“I heard Miss Song lived in a wealthy family for thirteen years. Now that you’re back, can you do housework?”

Zhao Qiao’e quickly answered, “Basically, yes.”

Song Yuntang looked at Zhao Qiao’e incredulously.

While she was more capable than the original owner, she only gathered herbs and cooked.  She hadn’t done other chores.  Zhao Shi’s “basically yes” was a huge exaggeration.

Song Yuntang touched her nose, embarrassed. “Actually, there’s a lot I can’t do.”

Zhao Shi glared at her, signaling her to stop talking.

This family, though far from Rongshu Village, seemed well-off.  The matchmaker said they were easygoing.  Importantly, they had an only son, so Song Yuntang wouldn’t have to deal with sisters-in-law, which suited her personality. Zhao Shi valued this match.

After this meeting, she would send her second son to Dongming Village to investigate. If true, she would arrange a meeting between Song Yuntang and the man.

Tian Shi and Fang Shi exchanged glances, very satisfied. “You can learn slowly. Miss Song is humble; she must have good relationships with her neighbors, right?”

Zhao Shi again quickly answered, “They’re all good, all good.”

Song Yuntang looked at her strangely.

This mother was lying through her teeth. The neighbors now considered her a plague, avoiding her as much as possible. How could that be considered a good relationship?

Seeing Song Yuntang’s expression, Liu Shi, standing in the corner, covered her lips, trying to suppress her laughter.

Song Yuntang cleared her throat.

“Actually… it’s not as good as Mother said. I’m not very sociable; I prefer to be alone.”

Her greatest wish was to earn enough money to leave Rongshu Village and travel throughout Daxia.

Fang Shi smiled. “It’s fine to be unsociable. It means Miss Song is a down-to-earth person who can live a good life at home.”

Tian Shi echoed her mother-in-law.

“Mother’s right. Our Wu Bi is also honest and hardworking. He might be two or three years older than Miss Song, but that’s not a big deal.”

Song Yuntang raised an eyebrow. These two were good at making excuses.

Zhao Shi, hearing this, beamed.

“Older men are more considerate. Two or three years is fine; any more wouldn’t work.”

Tian Shi smiled gently. “Yes, our Bi’er has been considerate since he was young. He’ll be a caring husband.”

Zhao Shi smiled at them. “As you and Aunt Fang can see, their children must also have gentle personalities.”

Three women, one play. Song Yuntang stood aside, unable to speak.

“Is this Miss Song Yuntang’s home?”

At that moment, someone knocked on the gate, and a man’s voice rang out.  Everyone in the hall fell silent.

Zhao Shi looked at Song Yuntang.

“Tang’er, is it for you?”

“I’ll go see.” Song Yuntang calmly left the hall. Opening the gate, she saw Zhuang Zian. “Why are you here?”

Zhuang Zian raised his chin. “Even though you’re no longer a Lin family member, I’m older than you. Calling me ‘Brother Zian’ isn’t too much, is it?”

Song Yuntang almost rolled her eyes.

She had never called anyone that in two lifetimes.

Zhao Shi in the hall craned her neck. “Tang’er, who is it? Since they’re here, invite them in.”

Zhuang Zian peeked through the crack. He saw the people in the hall.

He looked at Song Yuntang awkwardly. “You have guests?”

Song Yuntang didn’t answer, but stepped aside.

“Come in.”

Zhuang Zian wanted to leave, but the people inside had seen him.  It seemed impolite not to greet them.

He looked himself over, seeing nothing amiss, stepped inside, and bowed to everyone.

“I’m Zhuang Zian. When Miss Song was at the Lin family, she called me cousin. I saw her at Mr. Xu’s and wanted to see how she was doing. I didn’t expect you to have guests. I apologize.”

Zhao Shi’s eyes lit up. “You’re the Mr. Zhuang Zhuzi and Zhuangzi mentioned, right?”

Zhuang Zian smiled faintly.

“I did teach at the school for a while.”

Zhao Shi quickly offered Zhuang Zian a chair. “Mr. Zhuang, please sit. When you taught for Mr. Xu, my sons praised your knowledge.”

Zhuang Zian modestly said, “I’m no match for Mr. Xu.”

Zhao Shi smiled. “Mr. Xu is very knowledgeable, but Mr. Zhuang is also good.”

Seeing a man come for Song Yuntang, Tian Shi and Fang Shi were slightly unhappy. Hearing he was a Lin family cousin and a teacher, their unhappiness dissipated.

The people around were polite; this Miss Song must be well-mannered.

After this meeting, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were very satisfied with this match.

They looked at the matchmaker, and all three stood up.

Fang Shi said, “We’ve troubled you. It’s late; we should go.”