Chapter 398: Chapter 407: Who Knows What Spell He Cast on You
It’s a pity, Zheng Qianyu only managed to arrive after the whole farce had ended.
Shen Hua was carrying a rabbit that had been washed clean yet its fur was still dusty. Upon learning of her late arrival, Zheng Qianyu couldn’t help feeling frustrated.
"Shen Hua, it was not easy for me to slip out of the house!"
Shen Hua glanced up, then suddenly said.
"I’m free now."
"??"
Shen Hua raised her hand, straightened the corner of her clothing with great propriety: "I am indeed willing to accompany you to look at suitors."
Zheng Qianyu: ?? Well, this will make them look down on me even more.
Nevertheless, she really didn’t think much of those men introduced by the matchmakers.
But thinking of Shen Hua’s miner lover, Zheng Qianyu felt it was necessary for Shen Hua to broaden her horizons so as not to be hoodwinked and left hanging on a crooked tree. What if the man brought by the matchmaker this time turns out to be decent?
"Alright."
Rabbits are timid and shy around strangers. When Shen Hua set it down, it immediately burrowed into the dirty and smelly cage.
Shen Hua had Ningzhu throw away the filthy cage and bought a new one from outside, which was very beautiful and exquisite. After she put the rabbit inside the cage, she comfortingly touched its docile ears.
Then she filled a jade ear cup in the shape of an elliptical, double-eared, purple sandalwood four-petal begonia with water. She also placed a bamboo-carved begonia-shaped plate that held freshly washed and spun cherries into the cage.
Zheng Qianyu: ...
She couldn’t resist making a sarcastic remark.
"You’re more meticulous raising rabbits than children."
"If I had children, I would be even more meticulous. It’s alright for a young man to be less refined; after all, he has to uphold the family name, and that would be his Daddy’s job to teach. A little girl, on the other hand, must be spoiled with a thousand cherishes."
It’s just that... both she and Cui Yun were very averse to the process of having children.
Especially Cui Yun, who wouldn’t even let her ask Ni Kang.
No way, no way, are you really planning to have children with a miner?
Zheng Qianyu was speechless.
"You really are unwell. I don’t know what kind of love potion he’s given you."
Shen Hua ignored her sarcastic tone. She went inside the room to change into a fresh and airy skirt. However, she took a detour and did not head over directly.
She needed to first see if those gold ingots were worth the price.
Previously, Yingwu had hinted that spreading news could be done via a secret messaging system, ensuring that the news would spread throughout Fengzhou City within half a day, not missing even the most desolate corners.
But Shen Hua did not agree.
She could manage on her own without leveraging others.
The girl was well aware that those in the secret network were hidden and they should not be dispatched for such a trivial matter on her behalf.
Moreover, with Cui Yun’s informants in Fengzhou City, what if there were other people’s informants as well? The affairs at Zou Residence and the matters of the two Yan families, all relied on this method, spreading wildly as though fearing someone would tie them all together.
The most crucial point.
Was those people from Shen Qu’s side.
Watching the situation become uncontrollable, anxious to stop it yet ending up in vain, they must be jumping with frustration by now.
Shen Hua had time. She could wait for three to five days, watching as the Shen Family’s scandals infiltrated little by little into the casual chitchat of the common people.
The carriage moved slowly.
She slightly pulled back a corner of the curtain and saw that the loud-mouthed old woman no longer had her basket with her, but was gesticulating and speaking loudly to a group of people.
— "Do you know? The Shen Family, who runs the embroidery workshop, their eldest son’s wife and her brother-in-law were very affectionate at night, up to eight times. The brother-in-law supported his waist, unable to get off the bed the next day, yet afterwards, his widowed sister-in-law was still not content. I heard there’s something not quite clear going on with her stepson. It’s quite a mess within their house."
Shen Hua nodded in satisfaction.
Zheng Qianyu felt like she understood, yet it also seemed as if she didn’t.
"What does ’eight times in one night’ mean?"
Shen Hua gave her a glance.
Her tone was not without disdain.
"Changing clothes eight times."
Shen Hua: "Quite troublesome, indeed."
Zheng Qianyu felt like something was not quite right, but couldn’t find the words to argue, so she seriously nodded in agreement.
The chatter from the other side resumed.
——"I’m not joking around, can I casually speak of things that provoke divine wrath?
——"Look now, they’ve already divided the family assets, and the second branch even moved back."
Some believed it, others didn’t, but one couldn’t deny that the topic was thrilling.
——"But I heard that Miss Shen is planning to open a shop right across from the embroidery workshop. She shouldn’t be doing this either."
Hearing this, the old auntie spat disdainfully.
——"Even the County Magistrate can’t stop her from opening the shop. What are you all blabbering about?
——"After all, she’s always been frail. In earlier years, she was probably most concerned with coffins and funeral arrangements, now she is just opening a shop she knows well to earn an honest living, nothing more."
Soon, those who had hidden gold in their pockets stepped forward.
——"This isn’t false. I heard it with my own ears. Those people were so sincere."
——"Moreover, in business, there’s a taboo. Those well-situated shops are incredibly difficult to rent or sell to a funeral attire shop or coffin shop. The restaurant that originally occupied the spot killed someone, and when it couldn’t continue, it struggled even to sell at a lower price. Who else would want to go into that shop if it opened, aside from this kind of business?"
——"The Shen Family’s adopted son bribed us to keep quiet, but we aren’t the type to be swayed by money."
Indeed, accepting favors left one beholden, effectively exonerating Shen Hua from any deliberate contrariness.
Word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred...
Shen Hua contentedly let down the curtain.
"Aren’t you afraid Shen Qu will trouble you?" Zheng Qianyu felt great, but was also worried on Shen Hua’s behalf.
The girl glanced at her coquettishly, playing coy: "If I don’t push him, I’m afraid he won’t come troubling me."
Zheng Qianyu: ...
——
This time, the Zheng Family arranged for the matchmaking meeting to be held at the restaurant next to the rice shop.
The matchmaker was already waiting early in the morning. Beside her sat a scholar.
Old Master Zheng was unsatisfied upon seeing this, but remembering Zheng Qianyu sneaking out of the house, he couldn’t well afford to lose face.
The matchmaker asked, "Where is Miss Zheng?"
The young Mrs. Zheng said, "She felt unwell today, so I came with her father. It shouldn’t be considered rude, I suppose."
The matchmaker was a smart one, quickly replied, "No problem at all, no problem at all. The parents are the ones who make decisions for marriages. Old Master Zheng is so devoted to his daughter, feel free to ask anything you wish."
Mrs. Zheng stood up slightly.
"I’ll go order some dishes."
As she spoke, she exchanged a glance with the matchmaker.
The matchmaker understood: "I’ll accompany Madam."
With that, she signaled the scholar, saying: "Be smart, the Zheng Family’s girl is a truly good match."
The scholar didn’t know if she was good or not, but he knew Zheng Qianyu’s dowry was substantial.
He was short of money.
And had racked up a mountain of debt outside.
This marriage, he was determined to secure.
Mrs. Zheng left the private room with the matchmaker, her expression darkened at once.
"The Old Master is easy-going, but I am not. Our girl may like a man of letters, but at least he should be decent-looking. With eyes so small they’re like sesame seeds, even I can’t bear to look at him, let alone our daughter!"
"You’ve taken our silver, but this is what you’ve arranged; is that right?"
Matchmaker Zhang felt somewhat guilty.
But...
She really had no suitable candidates on hand.
Scholars tend to hold themselves in high regard, not to mention child students and scholars. Who would fancy the daughter of the lowest merchants?
"Madam may not know, but this Zhao Hua sought me out particularly upon hearing of Miss Zheng’s matchmaking."
Mrs. Zheng’s brows twitched.
Could he be keen on their girl?
(Visit the Xiao Xiang Academy for updates)