Chapter 37: A Verbal Agreement

“Alright, I’ll go pour it now.” Sun Pingmei didn’t delay and immediately went into the kitchen.

At the same time—

Zhu Yingqiu came back from the fields with her eldest son.

“You go change your clothes first. Look at you, your trouser legs are covered in mud. You can’t meet a girl for the first time looking this sloppy. Change into something clean. Only if you’re neat will the girl take a liking to you.”

The two of them didn’t head straight into the main hall.

Zhu Yingqiu pushed her son back to their room.

Forced him to change into clean clothes.

The hall door wasn’t closed.

Facing the main gate, Zhang Jinlan could see everything clearly.

She pretended not to notice, and continued chatting with the matchmaker and the others.

The young man was quick.

In less than fifteen minutes, he was dressed neatly, and the mother and son entered the main hall.

“Mother, I brought Tongjin back,” Zhu Yingqiu said.

“Oh my, so tall—more than a full head taller than me. And so handsome too. You must be Tongjin? Your grandmother mentioned you before, said you were honest, hardworking, and filial. And you look even better than she described. Seeing you today proves her right.

Here, this is Yuanyuan. She’s about the same age as you. It’s her first time here in Jiangjia Village, why don’t you take her around the courtyard for a walk? Just right—your elders will be talking about matters that aren’t convenient for you youngsters to hear. Go on.”

Before Zhang Jinlan could speak, the matchmaker naturally took Zhou Yuanyuan by the hand and brought her to Jiang Tongjin.

Then she pushed the two of them out of the main hall.

Jiang Fubao stayed put.

She sat quietly in the corner, wanting to overhear the conversation.

“Jinlan, you know my temperament—I’ll be straightforward. Zhou sister-in-law’s grandson recently took a liking to a girl. The two families already made a verbal agreement. The girl is a bit older and anxious to marry. But Yuanyuan is the eldest sister—how could her younger brother marry before her, right?

So when you asked me to play matchmaker that day, I thought—Yuanyuan and Tongjin are the same age, and Zhou Village and Jiangjia Village are close. Isn’t this a perfect match? I went to Zhou sister-in-law’s house that very day. She thought it was suitable too. Today just happened to be free, so I brought them over to meet. If you think it’s fine, let’s settle this engagement quickly so the marriage can happen soon.”

This was something Zhou Chenshi should have said herself.

But as the girl’s family, if she pushed for marriage—
that would look too eager.

So it was left for the matchmaker to say it aloud.

“As for the date, I don’t mind. The sooner the marriage, the happier I’ll be. But most importantly, it depends on whether the children are willing. We’re not the kind of family to force things, right?”

Zhang Jinlan still felt something was off.

So she didn’t immediately agree.

But she also didn’t refuse.

Her words were vague.

“Yes yes, Jinlan is right. Even though marriage is usually decided by the elders, children nowadays are pampered. We should follow their wishes. Otherwise, even if the girl marries in, she won’t live happily. Let’s see how the two of them talk first. No need to rush. Zhou sister-in-law, you and Jinlan talk, I won’t interrupt.”

The matchmaker handed the floor to Zhou Chenshi.

At that moment—

Sun Pingmei walked in with a tray.

On it were five cups.

Four of them had a little malt sugar dissolved in hot water, turning the liquid faintly yellow.

The last one was for her mother-in-law—
no sugar needed.

“Auntie, have some water.” She handed them out, then sat beside her mother-in-law.

Now there were seven people in the room:

Matchmaker Zhou, Zhou Chenshi and her daughter-in-law, plus Zhang Jinlan, her daughter-in-law, and Jiang Fubao.

Two groups, chatting together.

Meanwhile in the courtyard, Jiang Tongjin was talking with Zhou Yuanyuan.

His ears flushed red.

He seemed shy and a little nervous.

After all, it was his first time meeting a girl in this way. He had no experience.

“Brother Jiang, when is your birthday?” Zhou Yuanyuan spoke softly. She was petite and slender—
a girl who naturally stirred the urge to protect.

Jiang Tongjin unconsciously lowered his voice.

“In the spring.” Strictly speaking, his birthday was in less than a month.

But farming families never celebrated birthdays.

Last year, on his birthday, he was given just a little more porridge than usual.

Nothing else.

“Then you’re older than me. I was born in the autumn.” Zhou Yuanyuan clearly cared about age. Hearing he was a few months older, she instantly relaxed.

The two of them exchanged another four or five sentences before being called back in by the matchmaker.

After all, a boy and girl alone together for too long was improper.

“Tongjin, what do you think of Yuanyuan? She’s famous for her beauty in Zhou Village. Not long ago, many families came to propose marriage, but Yuanyuan didn’t accept any of them. You’re lucky—your very first meeting, and it’s with her. Isn’t that fate?”

The matchmaker’s words made Jiang Fubao frown.

She was deliberately creating the illusion that Zhou Yuanyuan was highly sought after, trying to make her eldest cousin nervous.

Truly an old fox, with rich experience.

“She’s… very nice.”

Jiang Tongjin was only fifteen. In modern times, he’d still be a clueless teenager.

How could he possibly see through the matchmaker’s ploys?

Hearing Yuanyuan had so many suitors, he blurted out his answer without thinking.

“And Yuanyuan?” The matchmaker smiled knowingly, sensing a match.

“My marriage is for my grandmother to decide.” Though she said that, Zhou Yuanyuan glanced at Jiang Tongjin.

Their eyes met—
both faces flushed red.

“Good, good! Looks like I’ll be drinking wedding wine soon.” The matchmaker’s wrinkled face blossomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum.

Sealing this marriage meant generous matchmaker gifts from both families.

Of course she was thrilled.

Two hours later, the guests left Jiang’s house.

“Grandma, is big brother going to marry that sister?”

From their conversation, it seemed already decided.

Jiang Fubao tilted her head and asked.

“Yes, the day after tomorrow we’ll go to Zhou Village to discuss the betrothal gifts. If all goes well, your eldest cousin will be married soon.”

Zhang Jinlan picked up her granddaughter.

Beaming with joy.

She hadn’t expected her grandson’s marriage to be settled so quickly.

When fate comes, it can’t be stopped.

At dinner that evening, the house was filled with laughter.

Everyone teased Jiang Tongjin about getting married—
saying maybe by this time next year, he’d already be a father.

Tongjin’s face turned scarlet.

---

Day turned to night.

The village fell silent.

Once again, Jiang Fubao crept into the backyard under cover of darkness to “deposit” eggs.

This time she only placed ten.

Because two hens were going to lay naturally.

As for the rooster that had pecked her yesterday—
right now it was dozing with eyes half-shut.

Fubao silently cursed it twice before going back to bed.

---

The next morning—

Jiang Dahe and his wife set off early for town.

The day after tomorrow they would be visiting Zhou Village.

They couldn’t go empty-handed.

Especially now that the marriage had been verbally agreed—
they had to show generosity.

Don’t be fooled by Zhang Jinlan’s usual stinginess.

When it came to major family matters, she was always generous.