Mother Chen heard Liu Meixin say that and replied excitedly, "Sister, I'm glad to hear you say that. But I'll be honest with you: my son really likes your Jiawen. He likes her so much he can't sleep.
"But because your family is a scholarly one, he didn't dare come ask for her hand, much less pursue her. All he could do was sneak a look at her every day.
"Seeing how devoted he was, I thought I'd bring the Chen family's heirloom bracelet as a token. It would also show how sincere we are.
"If your Jiawen is willing to give my silly son a chance, then consider this bracelet an engagement gift.
"If Jiawen doesn't like my son, that's fine too. She can keep the bracelet as a present from me."
Liu Meixin looked at the sparkling bracelet and knew it must be worth a fortune. She hurriedly refused. "That won't do. I haven't even asked my daughter yet. I can't accept this."
Mother Chen had really been testing her. If Liu Meixin had accepted the bracelet right away, she would have known what kind of people they were. Instead, she admired her son's taste even more. He had chosen a fine family.
So she hurriedly smiled and said, "Sister, I'm only offering this to show how sincere we are, and to prove that my son really likes your daughter. There's nothing else to it."
After that, she briefly explained her family's circumstances, then turned and left without giving Liu Meixin a chance to return the bracelet.
Mother Chen might have been getting on in years, but she moved quickly. Before long, she had left the courtyard. By the time Liu Meixin went out after her, she was nowhere to be seen.
There was nothing Liu Meixin could