Free Web NovelChapter 613: Chapter 613: Quite the Tong Dajiao Style
"Hey, Matchmaker Wang, you were just looking at our Xiao Xue. Are you planning to arrange a marriage for her?"
Gu Taohua stopped Matchmaker Wang’s carriage and questioned her, scaring the horse into raising its hooves, startling Matchmaker Wang.
Matchmaker Wang was about to provoke a bit when she saw Gu Taohua holding Gu Xiaoxue’s hand, not appearing like the rumored unfavorable dynamics between the two branches of the family.
Gu Taohua brought up Tong Huaqiong and said, "Matchmaker Wang, you probably don’t know. Nowadays, any marriage proposal for girls in the Gu Family has to go through my mother’s scrutiny. Which family did you mention for Xiaoxue? It’s good to let my mother have a look."
Upon hearing this, Matchmaker Wang lamented in her heart, realizing why she had been visiting Qinghe Bay so often in the past two years without much success. It was all orchestrated by Tong Dajiao. She quickly denied, "Miss Taohua, what are you saying? I was discussing Rui Nian’s marriage with your second aunt, not involving Xiaoxue at all."
"Vile woman, keeping her own daughter from marrying and meddling with the marriage matters of the family girls."
Gu Taohua said with a faint smile, "It better be so."
Matchmaker Wang clutched her chest in fear, thinking it was no wonder a woman as grown as Gu Taohua was yet unmarried—who would dare approach with such a temper?
"Oh my heavens, I wouldn’t dare deceive Miss Taohua. Since it involves your cousin’s marriage, let me be frank. Miss Taohua is capable, has a business, a shop, and her mother’s backing. She doesn’t marry, and no one dares to utter a word. But other girls aren’t the same; if they don’t marry, they’re not accepted at home and have to shave their hair to become nuns. Miss Taohua, you should think of your cousin. Your cousin is good-looking and capable. If I were to arrange a marriage, I’d certainly try to find a suitable match in a big family in Pingchuan. Since you say that the marriages in your family need your mother’s oversight, I’ll spare myself the effort."
Matchmaker Wang finished her speech and gave Gu Xiaoxue a meaningful look.
Matchmaker Wang’s words clearly harbored a subtle provocation.
A provocation that would have Gu Xiaoxue resent Tong Huaqiong—look, you could have gone to be a young mistress in a big family, but your aunt holds you back.
Gu Xiaoxue smiled and said to Matchmaker Wang, "You don’t need to bother with my marriage. If I don’t get married and my family doesn’t accept me, I’d just take a bowl of poison to kill them all."
Matchmaker Wang’s pupils contracted.
This lunatic, much like Tong Dajiao.
Matchmaker Wang was so flustered by the combined assault from Gu Taohua and Gu Xiaoxue that she hurriedly fled Qinghe Bay in her carriage.
Forget it, she wouldn’t openly meddle with Second Young Master Lian’s marriage. She did convey the message to Mrs. Jia, hoping it wasn’t all a waste of effort.
"What are you two up to?" Tong Huaqiong asked as she came out of the Weaving Workshop.
Gu Taohua said to Tong Huaqiong, "Mom, I saw Matchmaker Wang and Second Aunt talking for a long time. I suspect she might be trying to arrange a match with some disreputable big family for Xiaoxue."
Tong Huaqiong felt that Matchmaker Wang was capable of such things and turned to Gu Xiaoxue, saying, "You should try to get some words out of your mother."
Gu Xiaoxue nodded.
"...The Xu family is still dragging us along. In my opinion, let’s cancel this match with the Xu family."
Two days later, the Xu family was still keeping the Gu family in suspense, and Mrs. Jia couldn’t help but urge Gu Youtian and Mr. Gu to give up on the marriage at the dinner table.
Gu Youtian was hesitant, and Mr. Gu said to wait a couple more days.
Mrs. Jia said, "A few days ago, Matchmaker Wang mentioned that Third Young Master Lian from the provincial city was proposing and wanted to find a good-looking and capable girl from the countryside. Matchmaker Wang had taken a liking to Xiaoxue. If we’re willing, let’s meet..."
Mrs. Jia couldn’t help but reveal that Matchmaker Wang wanted to marry Xiaoxue off to Third Young Master Lian.
Gu Ruinian was struck like by lightning at the mention of the Lian family.
Third Young Master Lian interested in Gu Xiaoxue?
What a joke.
"Which Lian family?" Gu Ruinian asked.
Mrs. Jia disclosed the details of the Lian family.
Gu Ruinian realized it was the family of Lian Hengruo. Mr. Gu and others, unfamiliar with the Lian family, raised the same question as Mrs. Jia had earlier.
If Third Young Master Lian is so good, why marry a girl from the countryside? Isn’t a marriage of equal social standing more appealing?
Mrs. Jia parroted Matchmaker Wang’s words.
"If Xiaoxue really can marry into the Lian family, she would become a young mistress immediately. With such a substantial backing, Ruinian wouldn’t have to put up with Xu family’s indignities. I think this match is good; what do you say?" Mrs. Jia looked at Gu Youtian.
The news stunned Gu Youtian.
He even had a bold speculation; when he was doing business with Wu Ren in Pingchuan back then, maybe Third Young Master Lian noticed Gu Xiaoxue and it led to this proposal.
It’s common for a young master from a notable family to be captivated. Even the Emperor could marry a common woman as Empress. It’s quite ordinary for his daughter to become a young mistress in a big family.
Gu Youtian slapped the table and said, "Tomorrow, I’ll personally give Matchmaker Wang a reply. If this proposal is real, what are we waiting for?"
He had had enough of the Xu family’s attitude. Sacrificing a son, and Xu family still tried to hold him in suspense. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
What were they thinking?
He wanted to show the Xu family that he could make a comeback with his daughter.
Mrs. Gu was hesitant, "I’ve heard that Matchmaker Wang has tangled many problematic marriages. Her mouth could make even marrying the dead sound like a good deal of not having to serve a husband. I don’t think the matter of Third Young Master Lian is reliable."
Mrs. Gu had experience.
A while ago, Matchmaker Wang had proposed a match for Gu Honglian with a wealthy man whose grandson was already running about, claiming she wouldn’t have to endure childbirth and would have offspring aplenty, infuriating Mrs. Gu so much that she drove Matchmaker Wang out.
Gu Youtian said, "If it’s true, I’ll find out. Mom, don’t think of Matchmaker Wang as too bad. Didn’t Da Han and his wife also get matched by her, and aren’t they doing well now? As for Third Young Master Lian... I suspect he first noticed Xiaoxue last year in Pingchuan. With Xiaoxue being so beautiful, it’s not just noble family young masters—even in Shengjing, Xiaoxue could become a Princess Consort."
"Aren’t there also official wives in the south wanting to take Xiaoxue as a daughter-in-law?"
With that thought, Gu Youtian couldn’t help but wish to kick Gu Ruinian.
Initially, they had turned down the official’s marriage proposal because Gu Ruinian said marriages into minor official families wouldn’t be very beneficial, and that Xiaoxue’s marriage should realize its greatest value by waiting until he succeeded in his examinations to enter into a high-official family marriage alliance.
The whole family fell for his ruse. He didn’t succeed, and Xiaoxue’s marriage was delayed.
Now she nearly got snatched by Liu Qingsong.
Hearing Gu Youtian, both Mr. and Mrs. Gu agreed that if it was real, they would wholeheartedly support Xiaoxue marrying into the Lian family.
Gu Xiaoxue would have to marry someone, right?
Being a young mistress in the Lian family is better than working in a Weaving Workshop.
This time, she wouldn’t complain about being mistreated by the family.
"Let’s quietly find out more about this first. Once it’s confirmed, then we’ll tell Xiaoxue. I fear that with her current disposition she might think we’re trying to harm her," Mrs. Jia suggested.
She worried that Gu Xiaoxue might flatly refuse upon mention, so she wanted to keep it from her for now.
Additionally, Mrs. Jia thought even if her daughter ended up a widow in the doorway of the Lian family, it was still better than marrying an ordinary man.
Mr. Gu nodded and said, "You’re right. Let’s keep it from Xiaoxue until it’s settled."
He then looked sternly at everyone at the dinner table.
