Several people had been laughing in the front hall due to their successful scheming against Chu Lian, but it wasn’t long before Chu Huan sensed something was off and said to her mother, "Mother, are we celebrating a bit too early?"
Mrs. Chu was still smiling from ear to ear, "Not at all, not at all, your brother has agreed."
Her son had agreed to marry, a first occurrence after so many refusals; this time, she could almost see her future grandson.
Seeing her mother so joyful, Chu Huan really couldn’t bear to break the news, "Mother, have you all forgotten about something important?"
"Who is that young lady?"
"..." With those words, Mr. and Mrs. Chu fell silent, indeed having celebrated too soon. If the girl was already about twenty years old and married, all their efforts would have been in vain.
Mr. Chu quickly ordered his servants, "Go and find out the identity of that young lady."
The Chu Family had the means, and before long, Wang Xiangxiang’s identity was dug up.
Wang Xiangxiang, twenty years old, the legitimate eldest daughter of the County town’s Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, managing all the business of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, both parents deceased, with a younger brother, currently unmarried.
Even her horoscope was perfectly matched with Chu Lian’s.
Mrs. Chu, having received the information, found herself more and more pleased as she read through it. She had thought the girl was merely a shopkeeper, but it turned out she was a legitimate young lady with impressive accomplishments—truly a suitable match in status.
"Madam, aren’t you usually very selective during the matchmaking process? How did you overlook Wang Xiangxiang, a young lady from such a prominent household?"
"Cough, cough!" Mrs. Chu coughed twice, her eyes flickering slightly, "It was overlooked by the servants."
She would never admit that it was she who had edited the list, excluding those orphaned girls from consideration.
But now, only Wang Xiangxiang was able to change her son’s unfaltering expression towards women. She wouldn’t mind her being an orphan; any woman would do.
"Quickly prepare the betrothal gifts and call the matchmaker, we will go propose marriage tomorrow."
Overnight, the betrothal gifts were prepared, once again displaying the capabilities of the Chu Family.
The next day, while Chu Lian was still sleeping, the marriage proposal procession set off majestically from Shibao Town.
The Chu Family was considered the wealthiest in the city, and the Eldest Young Master, at twenty-one, had hesitated to marry until now, but suddenly he was ready to send a proposal, making everyone curious about which young lady had snagged this alliance.
Thus, truly interested folks followed all the way to the main residence of the Wang family in the County town, where Xiangxiang’s home was already congested with carriages and horses.
When the house servant opened the door, he was startled by the magnificent scene.
"We are from the Chu Family of Shibao Town, here today to present a marriage proposal for our young master, Chu Lian. Please inform your young lady," the matchmaker explained upon seeing the servant.
Upon hearing this, the servant dashed to the front hall, shouting as he ran, "Miss, someone has come to propose!"
At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was helping her younger brother wash up, puzzled by the noise, wondering which family had sent a direct proposal.
The matchmaker frequently visited, but a direct proposal was unheard of. She asked, "Which gentleman is sending the proposal?"
The servant replied, "It’s the Eldest Young Master Chu Lian from Shibao Town."
"What?" Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang was shocked, her eyes widening as her expression grew increasingly grim. Was this insufferable man never going to leave her alone? What was he scheming? Did he think she was easy to bully?