Gu Dexing was genuinely pleased today after being flattered by Wan Lifang, and he followed up by saying, "Brother Wan is too modest, we are both from the same town, we should visit each other often, and discuss academic matters whenever you have time."
Wan Lifang smiled at Gu Dexing: "Brother Gu is solid in his studies. Discussing with you today benefited me greatly, I will definitely come often to seek guidance."
Hearing this, Gu Dexing felt completely at ease. He had studied for so many years, and today was the day he received the most compliments. He was so happy that he couldn’t stop smiling, and he personally escorted Scholar Wan and his son to the Gate Tower before returning to the shop to join his father in entertaining the Yuan family father and son.
However, compared to Scholar Wan and his son, the Yuan family father and son were much coarser, especially Yuan Laorong. His eyes made him fearful when looking at him.
And then there was Chang Erqian, whose handshake was too strong. When he got excited during the conversation, he would give him a few hard pats which made him cough several times.
Gu Dexing remembered his father’s instructions, and endured his dissatisfaction, accompanying the three members of the Yuan family with a smile.
A quarter of an hour later, Scholar Wan returned home and couldn’t help but curse, "Shang Wenyuan, this aloof and arrogant man, when he saw Scholar coming, he did not accompany him but went to sit in the main hall. That hall is full of bumpkins! Is that a place for a Scholar to be? Just because he ranked higher a few years before me, he acts like an elder. Does he know he is eight years younger than me? When he sees me, he ought to call me big brother!"
"Also, that old man Shang Youcang, what’s so great about being a village chief? In the end, he’s just a commoner without official position; not paying respect to me is one thing, but to show me disdain, if not for his old age and my respect for the young and old, I would surely reprimand him."
Scholar Wan was so exasperated that he was huffing and puffing, finally adding, "If I wanted, by just mentioning a word to the officials at the county government, could he even be village chief?"
If Village Chief Shang heard this, he would definitely spit in Scholar Wan’s face. Does he really think being a village chief is just about having an official position?
A village chief manages issues among different villages; these tasks are very intricate, involving complex and shrewd people. If you don’t have real capabilities in the countryside, just showing off your learning is useless.
When faced with extremely angry farmers, if you try to argue over semantics, do you believe they wouldn’t bash your head in with a hoe?
Wan Lifang was not interested in listening to his father’s complaints but was pondering other matters. After his father finished complaining, he quickly leaned in and said, "Dad, what do you think of Da Fu’s family?"
"Gu Dafu’s family? They’re fine; that father and son are quite cordial to us, better than Gu Dashan and his son who just hover around Shang Wenyuan." After Scholar Wan finished speaking, he frowned and asked, "Why suddenly ask about this? What does their family have to do with us?"
"It does concern us," Wan Lifang did not delay in sharing his thoughts: "Dad, I’m already seventeen, but mom hasn’t helped me look at suitable matches and only has her eyes on Uncle’s family. She wants me to marry Cousin Rui from Uncle’s family. Although Cousin Rui is not bad, Uncle’s family has declined greatly."
Wan Lifang’s uncle’s family surname is Ni, residing in Xianggui Town. Ten years ago, when Elder Ni was still alive, the Ni family was quite alright, being a small landlord in Xianggui Town.
But ever since Elder Ni fell ill, the Ni Family began to decline; the family sold over two hundred acres of land repeatedly, and by the time Elder Ni finally passed away, a hundred acres had already been sold.
Uncle Ni, who wasn’t very responsible, saw the family’s decline and followed others to Jiangnan to do business, only to return without a single cent. Now, the family was left with only ten or so acres, they were truly poor.
Wan Lifang’s mother, seeing her family’s downfall, was greatly distressed and determined to support her family. Thinking that the Wan Family still possessed eighty acres of land, a private school, and a respected Scholar, she wanted to marry her niece Ni Ruiniang to Wan Lifang, to secure a daughter-in-law for the Wan Family who could support her own family after she passed away.
Life at the Wan Family was frugal. Aside from Scholar Wan enjoying purchasing expensive items and Wan Lifang enjoying his trips to the county, part of their difficulty was because Ms. Ni had been taking the money saved by the Wan Family back to support her own family.
"Father, it’s not that I disdain my uncle’s family, but they are truly a bottomless pit. Mother may want to support them, but I am still young and don’t want to be dragged down by them for a lifetime."
"There’s also Cousin Rui, a young lady who constantly comes and stays at our house, clinging to me every time she visits. Such a woman who doesn’t maintain feminine propriety, I dare not marry her."
In reality, he enjoyed being clung to by Ni Ruiniang, for she was fairly attractive and came onto him willingly – and he was no monk to push her away.
However, while he enjoyed the company, he wasn’t willing to marry Ni Ruiniang. He needed a wife with a wealthy family who could support him, so he could continue his carefree lifestyle in the county.
Scholar Wan was also greatly dissatisfied with the Ni Family. He had married Ms. Ni mainly because his pursuit of an official position had delayed his age of marriage. At his older age with fewer choices left, seeing that the Ni Family still had some good land, he decided to marry her.
"The Ni Family really isn’t good; they’re bloodsuckers, sucking the blood of our Wan Family. But why mention Gu Dafu’s family?" Scholar Wan asked.
Wan Lifang smiled and said, "Father, Gu Dafu’s family has a daughter who has recently come of age, in her prime."
"I was thinking, since Gu Dafu’s family is one of the owners of Gu’s Restaurant and Gu’s Workshop, and they have been thriving these past six months, earning heaps of money each day, encountering such a family, shouldn’t we consider sending a matchmaker to make inquiries? If it succeeds, it would be an excellent match."
But today, upon seeing Gu Dafu’s daughter brought by the Yuan Family, he was quite taken by her appearance, much more impressive than Ni Ruiniang, which made his heart itch uncontrollably.
Scholar Wan frowned and shook his head in refusal: "Not possible; they are merchants, how could they be a match for our family? We are a family of scholars; to marry, we should seek a girl from a family with a legacy of agriculture and scholarship."
Wan Lifang sneered at his father’s words. A girl from a family with a legacy of agriculture and scholarship simply meant a family just like theirs, inherently poor. He had had enough of such a life. Considering the entire Qingfu Town, the best his family could likely marry into was probably Gu Dafu’s daughter.
"Father, Gu Dafu’s family isn’t just merchants. According to Gu Dexing, back in his hometown, his grandfather was a village chief, and both Gu Dexing’s father and uncle were literate, and he and Gu Dewang are also studying. Truly, they could be considered a family with a legacy of agriculture and scholarship."
"Moreover, the Gu Dafu family is wealthy, and Gu Dafu has only two children, the girl being his only daughter. When she marries, wouldn’t her dowry be substantial?"