Chapter 12 The Matchmaker
◎The matchmaker’s mouth, oh my, oh my!◎
Rain started halfway through Zhan Qiyu’s return journey. A Liu quickly held up the oiled paper umbrella he carried, silently following behind.
He felt that his master had changed, but he couldn’t say how.
It felt like his master should have always been like this; the previous calm demeanor seemed to be a disguise.
When the two arrived at the Zhan family, Madam Zhan was already waiting at the door, quickly ushering the two inside. She had prepared a meal.
A Liu, wiping his wet hair, helped to serve the food. Zhan Qiyu went inside to put away his books, then they sat down to eat together.
Seeing her son calmly eating, Madam Zhan tentatively asked, “Qiyu, how was your class today?”
The upright and elegant man swallowed the food in his mouth and said seriously, “Mother, the teacher is very knowledgeable, and I have benefited greatly.”
Madam Zhan didn’t quite understand the meaning, but she still nodded and continued, “Miss Mu came to our house today and talked about you.”
His hand paused as he was serving porridge, only filling half a bowl before putting down the spoon.
However, Madam Zhan took the bowl and filled it to the top before continuing to speak to her son.
“Qiyu, what are your plans? Miss Mu said your good news is imminent, it seems she wants to marry you wholeheartedly.”
A Liu, eating a large mouthful of steamed buns, almost choked. Was Miss Mu so straightforward?
It’s unlikely.
But the perceptive Zhan scholar instantly understood the implication. Mu Jiaojiao wasn’t talking about herself; she must be speaking on behalf of her cousin.
He replied calmly, “Mother, I only want to study and take the imperial examination. It’s too early to talk about those things.”
Zhan Qiyu was more anxious than anyone, but he also understood that he couldn’t be hasty. Fortunately, the provincial examination would be next year; everything should be in time.
Even if she married someone else in between, he would take her back.
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms. Thinking Shan Cha or Mu Jiaojiao wouldn’t come again, Shan Cha arrived carrying a large box.
The box was quite large, and Shan Cha struggled to carry it.
A Liu took the box, weighed it, and asked, “What’s in this?”
Shan Cha was breathless from exertion. Suddenly raising her eyes, she discovered A Liu was taller than her. She exclaimed curiously, “Why did you suddenly grow taller?”
The boy, half a head taller than her, proudly puffed out his chest and said, “I’ve always been taller than you.”
Then Shan Cha became argumentative, and the two started bickering, almost forgetting the box.
Only after Madam Zhan came out did Shan Cha explain, “Miss said this is a dowry box, bringing it now saves trouble later.”
The Zhan family members were all a little at a loss. It seemed like a kind of inferiority complex; other families spent money to marry wives, but why were they being given a dowry?
Madam Zhan pushed back the box, saying, “We can’t accept this; it wouldn’t look right.”
But Shan Cha had been instructed, “Miss said it’s the proper reward for saving her life, unless you think her life isn’t worth this much.”
At this, A Liu didn’t know what to say and went to ask his master how to handle it.
During this gap, Shan Cha had already climbed back through the small hole in the wall.
A sickle-shaped crescent moon shone on the girl’s face. She sat on a stone bench in the yard, peeling and eating fresh grapes.
When Shan Cha came over and saw her return empty-handed, she smiled happily, “Did they accept it?”
Shan Cha stuffed two grapes in her mouth, with an expression of Miss having foreseen everything, “I did as Miss said, and left after putting it down.”
Mistress and maid ate grapes, sitting in the yard enjoying the cool evening, carefree.
Mu Jiaojiao felt that her repayment ended here. This was all she could do; the remaining days were about helping her family.
Tomorrow was her brother Mu Huan’s blind date. She had to participate properly. As for herself, she had no plans.
Towards the end of their conversation, Mu Jiaojiao asked Shan Cha, “If I’m not here anymore, would you rather stay at the Mu family or stay with A Liu?”
Shan Cha, who had been cleaning up grape peels, froze, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly, “Miss, where are you going? Why won’t you take me with you?”
Shan Cha had grown up with Mu Jiaojiao, and she had long vowed to be with her mistress through thick and thin.
She knew this was the outcome. Mu Jiaojiao could only say, “I mean, just in case.”
But Shan Cha immediately replied, “There’s no just in case. Shan Cha will always follow Miss.”
Looking at the fourteen-year-old simple girl, Mu Jiaojiao comforted her and didn’t mention it again.
She couldn’t go back to the palace; she would have to take things one step at a time.
At the Zhan family next door, Zhan Qiyu didn’t say much, only instructing A Liu to put the box away.
After all, it was their own thing, just put it away.
Zhan Qiyu, after Guan Zeyang’s guidance, had a preliminary understanding of the officialdom. Although he had long known how corrupt those officials were, he was still surprised after actually being exposed to them.
However, this also made him understand one thing: as long as he climbed high enough, even the emperor would hesitate to take his woman away.
His composure was profound; even Guan Zeyang thought he would become a good official serving the country and the people in the future.
Unfortunately, maybe not.
Early the next morning, two matchmakers from the south and west of the city set off early. The two met at the alley entrance, exchanged pleasantries, and then parted ways, waddling off.
One went to the Mu family, and the other to the Zhan family.
Mu Huan reluctantly sat in the main hall, twisting and turning, as if there were needles on the chair.
Madam Mu was upset seeing her eldest son. She only felt better when the matchmaker arrived.
Mu Jiaojiao hid behind a screen and eavesdropped, checking to see if it was the same woman who had harmed her family in this life.
Matchmaker Ma, with two symmetrical large moles on her face, smiled widely as she entered with a marriage certificate, smiling at Madam Mu.
“Madam, your son is indeed a handsome man.”
Mu Huan was indeed tall and handsome, but his personality was immature. He hung his head, looking for a chance to escape.
But the matchmaker was experienced, immediately taking out the girl’s portrait to show the Mu family.
The Mao girl was quite pretty, but her personality was extremely sharp, and she had also practiced martial arts since childhood.
The person in the portrait looked gentle and virtuous, but that wasn’t her true nature at all.
Madam Mu was a little doubtful, but the matchmaker insisted, “Madam, rest assured; this Miss Mao is chosen according to your wishes.”
Hearing “Miss Mao,” Mu Jiaojiao’s hairs stood on end; it was this Mao family who had ruined the entire Mu family.
It was true that she practiced martial arts, and it was also true that she had a sharp personality.
But the matchmaker didn’t know that she and her martial arts master had secretly developed feelings for each other, which brought misfortune to the Mu family.
Mu Jiaojiao behind the screen was anxious, but she couldn’t say that she had been reborn and couldn’t marry this person.
After thinking, she pretended to casually walk out from behind the screen, smiling and greeting, “Mother, we have guests.”
The matchmaker almost had a heart attack when she saw Mu Jiaojiao.
In her forty years of work, she had never seen such a beautiful girl. She was like a fairy. She thought even a count she could give it a try.
Madam Mu was unhappy to see her daughter come out, saying with a stern face, “What are you doing here? This is your brother’s blind date; it has nothing to do with you.”
But Mu Huan was happy that his sister was here. He went over and asked Mu Jiaojiao, “What do you think of this girl?”
Mu Jiaojiao, who had the same thought, quickly said tactfully, “I think she’s not suitable; let’s look at other girls.”
With these words, it seemed the marriage was about to fall through. The matchmaker could only reluctantly say to Mu Huan, “Master Mu, Miss Mao shares one of your hobbies.”
The matchmaker’s vague statement, and Mu Huan automatically assumed, this girl also likes fighting crickets?
He liked it!
The man, blindly agreeing, immediately agreed to the marriage. Mu Jiaojiao looked at her brother’s innocent smile and wanted to slap him twice.
Did the other person say anything? He’s happy already.
“Brother, I think you should ask clearly…”
Madam Mu couldn’t let her say any more, quickly interrupting and discussing the betrothal procedures with the matchmaker, telling the two children to go back to their rooms.
After entering the inner courtyard, Mu Jiaojiao said to her brother, “How could you agree? The matchmaker didn’t say she likes fighting crickets!”
The foolish Mu Huan didn’t understand, “Isn’t it just a hobby of fighting crickets, if she’s the same as me, she must like fighting crickets.”
Facing her brother’s unconvinced expression, Mu Jiaojiao could only say, “You’ll regret it.”
But she couldn’t say how he would regret it.
Mu Huan, seeing his sister’s expression which resembled their mother, worried, “Sister, you’re becoming more and more like Mother. I feel sorry for my future brother-in-law already.”
The next moment, Mu Jiaojiao turned around proudly, not wanting to care about this fool, but also feeling pity for her brother. She bargained with him, “Alright, I’ll take you to see your future wife.”
An ordinary man would immediately agree, but Mu Huan wasn’t an ordinary person. He said firmly, “Mother said she won’t interfere until the wedding. I’m going out to fight all over Yanhuazhen with my Black General.”
Facing her brother who only loved crickets, Mu Jiaojiao felt like she was going to explode, but there was nothing she could do.
Seeing her brother happily walking away, she could only take a gamble and try to persuade him.
She vaguely remembered that around this time, she overheard her brother say that someone had caught an exceptional fighting cricket on Honghua Mountain, virtually unbeatable.
If he had that cricket, her brother would definitely listen to her.
Mu Jiaojiao decided to try her luck today; this Mao family must not enter her house.
Meanwhile, at the Zhan family next door, the matchmaker who had been speaking profusely suddenly became furious, her face flushed red as she shouted, “You will all regret this!”