The matchmaker finally went to LiHua Town the next day. The Shen family waited anxiously at home for the whole day. During the time they waited, they were absent-minded even when doing things, hoping that the matchmaker would bring back the good news.
Seeing that the two elders were so worried, Shen JunXi comforted them that everything would go well.
Yang Shi also nodded and said, “Yes, they took the lead in this marriage, there is no reason to break off halfway. It’ll definitely be alright.”
Shen DongMing, who was sitting on the threshold, looked at the yellow mud road outside the courtyard and smoked the tobacco pipe, which chugged with smoke.
After noon, after waiting for at least two more shichen, the matchmaker Huang appeared in the courtyard of the eldest son of the Shen family. She said, “It’s done!”
The whole family’s heart, after worrying the whole day, could be said to fall into place.
The Shen family couple looked at each other and said, “Tomorrow, shall we send the betrothal gifts?”
Shen JunXi nodded to his parents: En, let’s send the betrothal gifts.
At the crack of dawn, the next day, Father Shen, Mother Shen, and Shen JunXi put on the most decent clothes they had at home, and drove the ox cart borrowed from the village on the road.
Father Shen was driving the cart in front, and Shen JunXi and Yang Shi were sitting in the back, surrounded by the betrothal gifts for the bride, including a pair of wild geese caught overnight by Shen JunXi, some carefully packed local specialties, and finally five catties of fine tea. That’s right, those tea leaves were originally going to be sold for money. Shen DongMing decided not to sell them, but gave them to his in-laws to drink.
Although these five catties of tea were nothing to the Song family, for the eldest son’s family of the Shen family, it was a wealth worth several months. If they used it sparingly, they could manage and use it for half a year.
At this time on the road, the family of three was in a nervous and excited mood. Even if people said they were all after the Song family’s money, they couldn’t help being excited. That was the richest family in LiHua Town, and its name alone was significant enough. In the future, everyone would say that they were the in-laws of Song Mansion in LiHua Town, which definitely was a wonderful feeling.
After thinking about it, Shen DongMing burst into laughter. He laughed ‘haha’ and said: “Our Xi ge is so promising and he found such a good wife.”
After hearing this, Yang Shi was also happy and said, “Isn’t it?” But in her heart, she was always uneasy and worried about the rumors in the village. She worriedly said: “I wonder what the temperament of the young master of the Song family is. Will he be angry? Does he really like our family?” They were going to send the betrothal gifts today, but she still felt unreal.
The same goes for Shen DongMing. He was driving an ox cart, but he felt like he was sitting on the clouds. He said, “Why do you think so much? We will do our best.”
Only Shen JunXi knew in his heart that things were not at all like what his parents thought. When his parents looked at him, his eyebrows curved with a smile, and he seemed calmer than ever, except that the palms of his hands in his sleeves were sweating.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Seeing that her son was so calm, Yang Shi felt relieved, and said, “Since you two are so confident, then I’m also relieved. No matter whether it succeeds or not…”
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LiZhi went to bring the breakfast, while GuiYuan helped Song JingWei wash his face. After seeing his master rinsing his mouth, he quickly twisted on a clean handkerchief and handed it over.
Song JingWei was stunned for a moment, then he took it and washed it again. He then wrung it out before using it.
GuiYuan was wailing in his heart and looked sad. His young master had changed since he (GY) was borrowed by the eldest young lady and came back this time. He no longer showed closeness to them, nor talked to them much, and did not even allow them to get too close to serve him. He and LiZhi had a feeling of being excluded, and they couldn’t do anything for their master all day long.
After washing his face and sitting at the dining table, Song JingWei said to them before picking up his chopsticks: “You two go and have breakfast. I don’t need you to wait here.”
LiZhi boldly asked: “Young Master… has this servant made you angry?”
Song JingWei raised his eyelids and shook his head. He didn’t say if he was angry with LiZhi and GuiYuan: “You guys leave. I can do it myself.” After that, he picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly.
Once he started eating, he wouldn’t pay attention to anything else. He didn’t even care when LiZhi and GuiYuan left quietly. Usually after breakfast, he would stroll around the yard twice. After eating, he would go to the study next door to sit quietly, make a pot of tea, pick a book, and pass the time all morning.
After having a full meal at noon, he would walk two more laps, take a nap, and wake up in a daze at about shenshi in the afternoon. He would have dinner at the time of Xushi here. After dinner, he would stroll around like the first two meals, come back to take a bath, and go to bed at Haishi.
This was a habit Song JingWei developed when he was in the hospital. This was how he spent his time when he could still walk. When he was not in good health, he paid special attention to his health. Now that he was in good health, he still maintained a healthy lifestyle.
Today’s breakfast had an extra dish which was buns, one of Song JingWei’s favorites. He ate one more. After eating, he washed his hands and planned to walk one more lap in the yard.
GuiYuan came in and cleared the table. LiZhi followed him in and said hesitantly: “Young Master, there are guests in the mansion.”
Song Jing raised his head slightly. The guests in the house must have something to do with him. He only thought of one thing. He wiped his hands and asked: “Did he allow me to go out?”
LiZhi shook his head, and Master Song hadn’t asked anyone to send a message yet.
Song JingWei nodded and said, “Then you go out and watch, and tell me if you have news.” After thinking about it, it seemed that the two parties should not meet in this situation. However, according to Song JinMei’s nasty character, who could say for sure.
In the front hall, He San invited the three Shen family members in, and while ordering the servants to serve tea, he greeted the Shen family warmly and gently: “Three guests, please sit down, please sit down.”
“Okay, okay, Steward He, you too sit down.” Shen DongMing and Yang Shi sat down quietly, and placed the betrothal gifts and other things at their feet. The pair of wild geese fluttered, and were quickly pressed on the ground. When the master of the Song family came out, they would give them personally.
Shen JunXi sat down next to his parents. After a while, the male servants of the Song family served them tea. He San smiled and said, “The three of you, please have tea first. He Mou will go to the backyard to inform Master.”
The Shen family couple nodded hurriedly and said: “Alright, alright. You go ahead. We are not in a hurry.”
Sitting in the magnificent lobby of Song Mansion, their heart was in a state of trembling. They were really not in a hurry. They had to calm down slowly. Calm down and then calm down again. They were not in a hurry, take your time.
Thinking like this, Shen DongMing looked around openly, sometimes looking at the carved chairs and coffee tables around him, sometimes looking at the precious calligraphy and paintings hanging in the main hall, as well as the furnishings and carpets in this room, all of which were exquisite.
Yang Shi pulled her husband’s sleeve and whispered: “Look at that jade-carved Chinese cabbage, how much does it cost?”
On the ancient-style shelf opposite, in addition to the jade-carved cabbage, there were many valuable antiques. Shen DongMing shook his head, and holding his breath in fear, he said: “I don’t understand these things, but they must be very, very expensive.”
Yang shi then went to pull Shen JunXi’s sleeve again, and blurted out in shock: “Xi ge, do you understand these things?”
Shen JunXi’s attention was drawn back from the calligraphy and paintings. He shook his head gently at Yang Shi. The richest family he had ever been to was the Shen family. They had a pretty good background and a strong literary reputation, but it couldn’t be compared with the Song family’s luxurious style.
Yang Shi’s eyes wandered around at what the servants of the Song family were wearing, and then whispered, “They are so well dressed.” It was actually made of fine cotton, and the colors were beautifully dyed. They usually wouldn’t wear this kind of fabric, for fear of getting dirty and wrinkled, and it would not be easy to wash.
Today, Shen JunXi was wearing light blue cotton and linen clothes. They were made last summer. They were considered new clothes in his family. He had only worn them once or twice when he was not going to the field.
Shen DongMing sighed and said: “My in-laws are really rich, and our family can’t compare them.”
Shen JunXi pulled the corners of his mouth and thought, it’s more than just incomparable, haha.
After sitting for a while, the master of the Song family, Song Man came out together with He San. Before he came, He San told him about the situation of the Shen family, but when he suddenly saw a few poor people sitting in his luxurious living room, he was still a little uncomfortable.
As soon as the three Shen family members saw Song Man, they all stood up in unison, trembling with fear, like elementary school students waiting to be criticized.
“Ahem, Master, these are the master of the Shen family, Madam Shen, and Young Master Shen.” He San remined his master and introduced them.
Song Man immediately withdrew his dissatisfied look and put on a gentle smile. He must treat others equally, and could not favor the rich and disdain the poor. Yes, let’s do it again. Treat others equally, and smile.
“Why are you standing, please sit down quickly. There’s no need to be formal.” He walked to his main seat, sat down and said, “You have come from afar. You must be very tired.”
The Shen family members followed him after seeing him sit down. Shen DongMing was the head of the family, so it was his turn to speak up. He waved his hand and said, “It’s not hard or tiring, it’s all right.”
Yang Shi nodded in agreement with her husband, and her face was almost numb by smiling.
Shen JunXi was as quiet as usual, with a gentle smile on his face. When looking at Master Song, he was a little more nervous than usual.
“Is this the Young Master of the Shen family?” After briefly looking at Shen DongMing and Yang Shi, Song Man’s attention turned to Shen JunXi and he asked.
As his son could not speak, Shen DongMing replied on his behalf: “This is my son, his name is Shen JunXi. He’s twenty-four this year. Although he has achieved nothing, and he only has the reputation of being a scholar. But our Xi ge has a good character and is willing to be filial to his parents. He’s pretty good.” This was merely the words of praise a father could say for his son, and he was also very nervous.
After his father finished speaking, Shen JunXi immediately smiled more obviously because Song Man kept looking at him.
“Well, he looks like a good child.” Song Man praised superfluously, he said: “I only have JingWei as my only son, but he insists on being together with your son, and I can’t stop him. Parents are all for the good of their children, don’t you think?”
The Shen family couple agreed, and nodded quickly: “That’s the truth. What you said is right. It’s all for the good of the children.” They said sincerely. They had never thought that there were parents who treated their children badly in the world.
“Well, I promised to let him marry into your family, all because I dote on him and also because I respect your family’s tradition.” Song Man said: “Scholars have always been role models for our generation, and when people make friends with each other, we should value morality, not money and interests. I always believe that money is only an aid to doing good deeds, and people should do more good deeds in order to have a clear conscience.”
These words successfully shocked the three members of the eldest son’s family of Shen family.
“Master Song, you said these words very well. A person like Master Song is a role model for our generation.” Shen DongMing sighed. He really didn’t expect the Master of the Song family to be such a good person. He was such a good person.
Shen JunXi also never thought that Master Song was such a person. He was not as excited as his father, Shen DongMing, but also felt a little puzzled. However, he still looked at Song Man with a gleam of admiration in his eyes.
“Hahaha.” Song Man laughed. He waved his hands and said, “It’s all as it should be. There’s no such thing as a role model.” What he was more concerned about was, how should this word be spread today? Would the three Shen family members promote it for him?
Shen DongMing continued to praise Song Man with great admiration. It was not until Shen JunXi quietly pulled his sleeve that he returned to the topic. He scratched his head and said to Song Man: “Master Song, our family has taken the liberty to come here today for the marriage of the sons of two families. I wonder if you have any instructions?”
I’m really suspicion of Song Man, but as long as he treats them okay for the sake of his reputation….
Thank you for the chapter 😍
Thank You for the new chapter ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)˚๐*˟ ♡
Those poor geese, tied up and forced to listen 🫠
Yeah a “good father” he is. A Nice guy hm.
Thanks for the chapter! ( ◜‿◝ )♡
Stuck listening to lies 🫠 lol. Is it better MC isn’t stuck too?
@ML’s family, I promise you’re so much better than MC’s fam 🫶
And TY for the chapter!!! 💙