Ma Shi Niang and the two were picked up by Zhan Lao San early in the morning. Seeing Zhan Fei Yu in the courtyard, Ma Shi snorted and said sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this our Zhan family's prodigy? So fair and plump, the ten taels of silver tuition were not wasted. The meat at the private school really nourishes people!"
The ten taels of silver tuition included lunch at the private school. Master Lin knew that it was not suitable for farming children to study, so he included a meat dish in the lunch to nourish the students' bodies.
"What are you babbling about so early in the morning? Xiao Yu is naturally fair. Look, Niu Niu is just like you!" Zhan Lao San sighed while holding the dark-skinned little Niu Niu in his arms. The Zhan family were not ugly, but his son and daughter both took after Ma Shi, with skin as dark as coal.
"You!" Ma Shi was so angry she couldn't speak. She pointed at the carefree Zhan Lao San with one finger, and after holding back for a long time, she couldn't help but shout, "What's wrong with being like me? I'm tall, and Er Lang and Niu Niu won't be short in the future!"
"What's the use of a mountain being tall but not growing firewood!" Zhan Lao San retorted with a nimble tongue, carrying Zhan Niu Niu towards the kitchen. "Mother, what's for breakfast? I'm starving."
"Let's go eat breakfast!" Ma Shi was also so hungry her back was sticking to her chest. She pulled Er Lang and followed, for fear of not getting anything to eat if she walked any slower.
Zhan Fei Yu watched her third uncle's family leave helplessly. Her third aunt's temper flared up and died down quickly.
"Oh, is this the Zhan family's prodigy? So fair and plump, like a little immortal boy beside the Bodhisattva. She looks like a blessed person." An incredibly exaggerated laugh came from the courtyard gate.
Zhan Fei Yu looked back and saw a plump woman in her forties walking in, wearing a purple cross-collared jacket, her face powdered white, and two silver hairpins of magpies and plum blossoms in her hair.
Zhan Lao Tai was still angry about yesterday's incident and didn't come out when she heard the voices. In the main hall, Zhan Lao Tou, who was eating breakfast, put down his chopsticks and walked out.
"Brother Zhan, I've come to congratulate you. It's a great happy occasion!" Matchmaker Wang laughed even more exaggeratedly. She walked forward in three steps and then uttered a string of auspicious congratulatory words, "The magpies on the branches are chirping, and happy news has come to your home."
Zhan Lao Tou was startled by Matchmaker Wang's enthusiasm. He took two steps back and shouted, "Old woman!"
Zhan Lao Tai came out with a stern, wrinkled face, her gloomy eyes looking at Matchmaker Wang, whose face was creased with smiles. "Who are you?" Her three sons and one daughter were all married and had children. The eldest grandson, Zhan Da Lang, was only twelve years old and not yet of marriageable age.
"Old sister, I am Matchmaker Wang from the county. I've come to congratulate you today." Matchmaker Wang's smile caused the white powder on her face to fall off, and her shrewd eyes quickly sized up the Zhan family. She had already made her calculations.
After a while, in the main hall, Matchmaker Wang took a sip of coarse tea to moisten her throat and then said calmly, "The client who sent me has prepared one hundred taels of silver, two sets of jewelry, and four sets of clothes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They are just waiting for your approval, old sister."
"One hundred taels?" Ma Shi exclaimed excitedly, choking on the cornbread in her mouth. She patted her chest forcefully, but her eyes were still fixed on Matchmaker Wang. That was one hundred taels!
Xiao Yao Shi also grabbed Zhan Lao Er's hand in shock, her eyes full of greed, her voice trembling, "Are you here to propose marriage for my Da Lang?"
Thinking of her handsome eldest son, Xiao Yao Shi's eyes turned red with excitement. She thought the other party had good taste to have set their sights on Da Lang so early. However, Da Lang still had to pass the imperial examinations and become a high official, and he might even marry a daughter of an official family in the future!
But when she thought of one hundred taels of silver! Xiao Yao Shi swallowed and put on the airs of an old madam, "My Da Lang is young, so it's fine to get engaged first."
As for the future, after Da Lang passed the scholar exam and became a juren, Xiao Yao Shi smiled disdainfully. Would a village girl dare to pester Da Lang then? If they offended an official, hum, let's see if they were afraid!
Zhan Fei Yu, sitting on a small stool, watched Xiao Yao Shi's constantly changing expression speechlessly. Her second aunt was truly greedy for money. Didn't she hear the matchmaker mention two sets of jewelry? Which family would promise jewelry to the groom's side when proposing marriage...
In an instant, Zhan Fei Yu's expression cracked. Apart from little Niu Niu, who was still sucking her fingers, she was the only girl among the younger generation of the Zhan family!
"Old sister, I'm here to propose marriage for the young master of the Zhu family. The young master of the Zhu family also studies at Master Lin's private school. Landlord Zhu took a fancy to our little prodigy at first sight, so he asked me to come and arrange the marriage." Matchmaker Wang said smilingly to Zhan Lao Tai. Before coming, she had inquired that the old lady was the one in charge of the Zhan family.
I must have misheard, Zhan Fei Yu looked up at the garrulous Matchmaker Wang. She was only seven years old!
Zhan Lao Tai had also recovered her senses. Her eyes flickered, but she still kept her eyelids lowered. "Landlord Zhu's family?"
The Zhu family was the largest landlord in the neighboring villages, owning hundreds of mu of fertile land and several shops in the county. The Zhu family had only two sons. The young master Zhu Peng was the youngest son of Landlord Zhu. The eldest young master had been married for several years, and his son could already walk.
Landlord Zhu was also a benevolent person. When the Lin family's private school was built, he donated twenty taels of silver. This time, he took a fancy to Zhan Fei Yu for Zhu Peng. His younger son was spoiled and incompetent, and his relationship with his elder brother was not good. As long as Landlord Zhu was alive, no one in the Zhu family dared to bully Zhu Peng.
However, Landlord Zhu was already over seventy years old. If he passed away one day, even if he left enough property for Zhu Peng, he would not be able to keep it. It would be better to choose a capable wife.
In the future, the Zhu family would support Zhan Fei Yu's studies. If she obtained the title of female xiucai, coupled with the Zhu family's financial strength, it would at least ensure Zhu Peng a life of food and clothing.
Moreover, Landlord Zhu was well aware of his eldest son's profit-seeking nature. The title of female xiucai was not only to deter outsiders but also to suppress his eldest son and daughter-in-law, preventing them from coveting their younger brother's property.
Zhan Lao Tou took two puffs of his pipe and said calmly, "My eldest granddaughter is only seven years old. It's too early to talk about engagement."
"Brother Zhan, that's not right. A childhood engagement means they grow up together, and the couple will have a harmonious relationship in the future." Matchmaker Wang put down her teacup and replied with a smile, throwing out bait to the already tempted Zhan family.
"Landlord Zhu also said earlier that the little prodigy was praised by the county magistrate. If an engagement is made, she will be the Zhu family's daughter-in-law. The Zhu family will bear all the expenses for her studies. Not to mention becoming a xiucai, even becoming a juren, the Zhu family is willing to spend money."
The Qingya Academy in Nanxuan Prefecture also enrolled female students. Talented women were no less inferior to men in poetry and lyrics, but when it came to the Four Books and Five Classics, the Eight-legged essay, and the theory of governing the country, they were far inferior. Those who participated in the imperial examinations were rare.