Chapter 132: Chengren’s Engagement

“Today, for the sake of the two children, I’ll let you off this time. Starting today, for the next half month, you’re the one cooking. If you dare to skip even one day, I swear I’ll skin you alive and chase you out of the Gu household. Don’t think that because I’ve shown you some kindness before, you can get arrogant. If you act like that again, I’ll break your legs on the spot,” Li said sternly to Xu.

“Mark my words, don’t think I’m joking. If there’s a next time, I won’t go easy on you,” Li glared fiercely at Xu several times before allowing her to get up. “Get up quickly, you’re just in the way. When it’s time to eat, how are you going to kneel there with the table set?”

Xu hurriedly stood up and obediently stepped aside. At this moment, she truly regretted it. She never expected the old couple to be so furious this time. She had gone to her parents’ home without a word before, and nothing like this ever happened. So why was it such a big deal now? Xu was utterly puzzled.

Meanwhile, Zhao and Wu had finished preparing the meal and quickly set the table. After dinner, everyone went to rest, and the old man and Li sat on the kang to talk. “That fourth son’s wife, you really need to give her a proper talking-to. Our family isn’t what it used to be. The fifth son’s wife isn’t due until late winter, but if she sees this kind of behavior, it won’t be good,” the old man said, smoking as he muttered.

“Do you even need to say that? Otherwise, would I have just played around with her today? The fifth son’s marriage may cause the family to break apart if it goes wrong. From now on, we’ll have to live with the fourth and fifth sons. If the fourth daughter-in-law doesn’t listen, what will happen? But lately, all the daughters-in-law have been disobedient. It’s because I’ve been too busy to reprimand them, so they’ve all gone wild,” Li sighed.

“It’s all because of the second son. If he hadn’t come back to back up the first and third sons, which of those daughters-in-law would dare to be so arrogant? Sigh, no one can control that second son. We don’t even know how he’ll treat us in the future,” Li said as she administered eye drops to Gu Chengyong in front of the old man.

“Does he dare? I’m his father. If he dares to treat us badly, I’ll deal with him,” the old man said fiercely, glaring.

“You’re all talk. When it comes down to it, you might not be able to handle the second son,” Li deliberately provoked.

“Just wait and see who’s tougher. I don’t believe it. I’m his father. How dare he not listen to me?” The old man took a long drag of his cigarette and said resolutely.

The old couple then began discussing Gu Chengren’s engagement, while Gu Chengyong and Madam Feng were also talking about the match. “Husband, why do I have a bad feeling about this? The Yang family’s attitude today was so warm. Something’s not right,” Madam Feng whispered to Gu Chengyong from under the quilt.

“They say when you raise your head, you marry off your daughter; when you lower it, you take a wife. Even if the Yangs really liked the fifth son, they wouldn’t be so lowly in their attitude. Their niece isn’t ugly either. Why are they so eager to fix the engagement and marriage?” Madam Feng frowned in confusion.

“Not just you, I also feel there’s something going on. What could it be? Both Xiulan and the fifth son have met the He family’s daughter, so there’s no mistake there. Maybe there’s something else about the He daughter? I just feel that the Yang family’s rush to finalize this match is a little suspicious,” Gu Chengyong said, equally puzzled. He had seen a lot in life, but such a noble girl marrying down was rare.

“Forget it, let’s not overthink. We’re worried, but their side is overjoyed. The fifth son clearly cares a lot about this match. Let’s not say anything that might make him resentful later,” Madam Feng decided not to dwell on it. Whatever was going on with the He and Yang families, as long as Gu Chengren could marry a bride with good family background and looks, that was enough.

Gu Chengyong nodded. “You’re right. Since the fifth son has made up his mind, let him be. We should stay out of it. Go to sleep. Last night at Xiulan’s was too crowded, you didn’t rest well. Get some early rest; there’s still a lot to do.”

The couple chatted for a while before extinguishing the lamp and going to bed. As for Jiaoyan on the kang, she had long since fallen asleep, utterly exhausted these past two days, sleeping like a little pig.

The following days were busy for the Gu family. With Gu Chengren’s engagement approaching, Li busied herself preparing the betrothal gifts and other items. Madam Feng helped make several dresses for both Gu Chengren and the He family’s daughter. Skilled with her hands, she made them in the popular Jiangnan style recently fashionable in Liaodong Prefecture.

Li had decided to send only the betrothal gifts this time and to deliver the bride price about a month before the wedding. This allowed some breathing room to prepare properly.

The Gu household was bustling, with Wu and Zhao also pitching in. They were used to the work and didn’t mind. Xu, however, was exhausted just managing the cooking and tidying each day. This time she dared not slack off, genuinely afraid that if Li got angry again, she might be thrown out for good. So Xu became very diligent, preparing meals ahead of time morning, noon, and night, ensuring everything was ready by mealtime.

Since marrying in, Xu had never been so hardworking, and it left her aching in the back and waist. Still, her cooking skills improved somewhat.

The family affairs didn’t concern the children. Wentao and the others continued their studies as usual, while Jiaoyan kept collecting apricot pits in the forest. When Wenxiu and Wenqi had free time, they helped Jiaoyan, and soon the Miao family’s stockpile of apricot pits grew significantly. After about five more days, the apricots in the mountains were scarce, so Jiaoyan stopped venturing into the forest and instead cracked apricot pits at the Miao household.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was June 29th. At dawn, Li urged everyone to finish breakfast quickly. Gu Chengyong then drove the carriage, taking Li and the others, along with the Gu family’s betrothal gifts, to the county town.

Upon arrival, Gu Xiulan was already waiting. Together with the matchmaker, the group went to the Yang household. The Yang family’s gate was wide open. The gatekeeper, seeing the Gu party arrive, hastened inside to inform them. Soon, the Yang family’s steward appeared to welcome the Gu family into the front courtyard’s main hall.

The Yang family head, Yang Hongyi, his wife Madam Xue, another couple, and two young men were already seated, waiting. Seeing the Gu family enter, the four stood and nodded in greeting. “Please sit and have some tea.”

“Big Sister Gu, these are my niece’s parents. They specially came from the prefecture city to attend the engagement arrangements,” Yang Hongyi introduced after everyone was seated.

Only then did Li and the others realize these were the He family’s elders. Li quickly stood and bowed to the He man. “I didn’t know Lord He was here. Please forgive our rudeness.”

He Weiyun was a man in his early forties, handsome with a fair complexion and a beard. His face was gentle and kind, giving an impression of refinement and warmth. Madam He was much younger, perhaps in her thirties, beautiful and adorned with pearls and jade, dressed as a noble lady. She looked sharp and capable, clearly not someone to be trifled with.

As for the two sons from the He family, both were strikingly handsome and scholarly in appearance, wearing brocade robes with jade belts and gentle smiles. Of course, if one were to be exacting, their looks couldn’t quite match Gu Chengren’s. Yet in terms of bearing and demeanor, both surpassed him by a good margin.

With introductions made by Yang Hongyi, the two families exchanged greetings. The matchmaker then stepped forward, handing over the betrothal gift list brought by the Gu family to the He family.

He Weiyun looked it over and nodded approvingly. “Sister-in-law Gu, you’ve been very generous to prepare such abundant betrothal gifts.”

Since Gu Chengren had chosen the He family’s daughter, and given their high status, Li had carefully planned the gifts to avoid appearing stingy, ensuring she prepared plenty of fine items.

Besides the necessary gifts for the engagement, the Gu family also brought eighty taels of silver, a set of red gemstone-inlaid gold headpieces, a pair of jade bracelets, and a pair of jade pendants. For the He daughter, four sets of clothes were made, along with four bolts of various brocade. In Huaiyuan County, these were considered very high-quality betrothal gifts.

Moreover, these were only the betrothal gifts; the bride price would be sent later, making the total quite substantial. Li had invested heavily in Gu Chengren’s marriage, gathering all the fine items saved over the years to prepare for his bride.

The He family was naturally pleased by the Gu family’s impressive gifts. Initially, when Yang’s family informed them they had arranged a match here, He Weiyun was somewhat displeased. However, since the engagement was already agreed upon and the match left to Yang’s family’s discretion, he had no choice but to accept.

Today, upon meeting the Gu family, He Weiyun’s opinion softened. Gu Chengren was handsome and distinguished, and the Gu family members seemed respectable. Seeing the betrothal gifts, He Weiyun felt relieved, believing that his daughter would not suffer after marrying into the Gu family.

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There are only three chapters today. Depending on circumstances, more may be added tomorrow. Specific notice will be given in the morning.