Hongdou's mother, stuck inside the house and unable to get out, pushed her five mentally challenged sons and scolded, "What are you all doing blocking the doorway? Get out of my way!"
After saying that, she stepped forward with a smile. When she heard Fan Er say that his master would come to propose marriage, she thought he was just talking big. She didn't expect that Jin Shanyao would actually come.
Hongdou Girl beamed with joy, " Shopkeeper Jin is here!"
Jin Shanyao took the birth chart box from the oxcart, held it in both hands, and said the words she had secretly practiced for a long time last night.
"Aunt Du Household, I have come to your door today on behalf of Fan Er Fan Er propose marriage to your Miss Hongdou, so that our families may be united. I hope you two will agree."
Hongdou Niang took the betrothal letter, her gaze passing over Jin Shanyao and landing on Fan Er. She saw him holding a chicken, with two chicken feathers still stuck to his hair and sleeves, standing behind Jin Shanyao like a silly Zhuzi, grinning foolishly at her.
"... This is?"
Jin Shanyao back, her expression unchanged, and said seriously, "The betrothal gifts."
"Alive?"
"Yes, fresh."
Seeing that Jin Shanyao's body was tense and her answers were stiff and formal, and noticing her incongruous matchmaker's attire, Hongdou Niang knew that she was inexperienced.
She stepped aside to make way for her, smiling as she said, "Come in."
Jin Shanyao strode inside, Fan Er following behind, carrying a chicken.
Upon entering the main room, Hongdou's mother asked her eldest daughter-in-law to pour water. Her gaze fell on Fan Er, and she chuckled, "Why are you still holding it?"
Only then did Fan Er realize what was happening. He hurriedly handed the chicken in his arms to the Du Household, but he couldn't remember who he gave it to. His mind was completely blank, and he stood there like a block of wood beside Jin Shanyao.
Hongdou Niang smiled and said to Jin Shanyao, "I know a little about Fan Er's background... He lost his parents at a young age, and he's lucky to have met a master like you."
Jin Shanyao in agreement. "Yes, he is indeed lucky."
Hongdou's mother was speechless for a moment, staring at Jin Shanyao for a long time, unsure of what to say. Jin Shanyao, quick-witted, chimed in, "If it weren't for good fortune, would I have met Hongdou?"
Upon hearing this, Hongdou Niang burst into laughter, " Shopkeeper Jin is indeed a businessman; he's quite the smooth talker."
"No, it's not..."
Hongdou Niang was speechless again. Jin Shanyao thought to herself, "This is bad," and quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "It all depends on the person... I felt an instant connection with you, Auntie."
"Oh dear..." Hongdou Girl burst into laughter again.
Jin Shanyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and seized the opportunity to begin reciting, "I've been working with Fan Er for several years. He's reliable, capable, and honest. He works at the Anzhi Hall, so he'll never have to worry about food or clothing. You can rest assured that Hongdou is with him."
Hongdou's father took a sip of water and smiled, " Hongdou is not a child anymore. Since the two of them like each other, we can't stop them. We agree to the marriage."
Jin Shanyao taken aback. "That's it?"
Hongdou Girl chuckled from the side, "It's done."
Jin Shanyao, recalling the steps written in the book, asked again, "Don't we need to check the birth chart?"
"Need not."
"Aren't you going to ask about their financial situation?"
"Need not."
Jin Shanyao silent, feeling as if all the words she had practiced all night were stuck in her throat, leaving her with no chance to use them.
Could she be a groom, here specifically to deliver betrothal gifts?
She turned to look out the window, where five burly men stood side by side, and in front of them stood a row of tiny little boys...
Suddenly, a brilliant idea Jin Shanyao... Damn it, how could she have forgotten about that?
Animals must fight to the death before courtship, no wonder the marriage was arranged so quickly. From the moment she entered the door, the Du Household had set up their stance, and since she hadn't responded yet, they must have thought she had given up.
Sure enough, animals are the most cunning. Luckily, she was quick-witted, otherwise she would have suffered in silence.
With Jin Shanyao, she rose to her feet, startling everyone present. She remembered the saying in " The Record of Admonishing Evil " that to catch a thief, one must first catch the king. But seeing that Hongdou's parents had graying temples, she was afraid that if she punched them, she would be entangled in karma.
But the battle still had to be fought, Jin Shanyao was caught in a dilemma. Her gaze swept around the room and happened to fall on the stone used for pickling sauerkraut.
So, amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, he stepped forward, picked up a stone, and crushed it in one swift motion towards Hongdou's parents.
Those around gasped. Hongdou's father's pipe fell onto the kang with a thud. Jin Shanyao quite satisfied with their reaction.
He smirked smugly at Fan Er, "Kid... you've come to the right person to hire me."
Jin Shanyao walked over to Fan Er, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Come on, come out with me."
Fan Er exclaimed "Ah!" and subconsciously looked at Hongdou's parents. The two elders were completely bewildered, wondering how their "stone" had offended Shopkeeper Jin.
Seeing her and Fan Er leave, he didn't have time to think much and followed them out of the house.
But as soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Jin Shanyao up the large stone used for building the wall, walk up to his five sons, and slam it down with his palm, shattering the stone into pieces.
The Du Household brothers both widened their eyes in surprise.
Before they could even react, Jin Shanyao picked up a fist-sized stone, squatted down, and crushed it to pieces in front of the little kids.
The courtyard was completely silent.
Seven or eight little kids stared with their round eyes wide open, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg.
The youngest grandson of the Du Household, who looked only three or four years old, clapped his hands excitedly and shouted, "One more... one more..."
Jin Shanyao's gaze sharpened; she had been provoked...
Seeing her grandsons so happy, Hongdou's mother smiled too. " Shopkeeper Jin... I didn't expect you to like tinkering with stones when you're happy. I have a few more by the wall; I'll go get them for you right away."
Jin Shanyao quickly stopped Hongdou Niang; she wasn't an aggressive tree. Since the other party had admitted defeat, then so be it.
She coughed lightly twice and said to Fan Er, "Let's remove the betrothal gifts."
The Du Household couldn't stop smiling as they looked at the cart full of betrothal gifts. Although Shopkeeper Jin was not as clever as ordinary people, he was really willing to spend money on his servants.
Two months after Fan Er's marriage was finalized, the time was a bit rushed, but fortunately there were many Du Household, and everyone helped to finish decorating the bridal chamber. The day before the wedding, Hongdou's eldest brother and second brother caught Fan Er at home.
" Fan Er, listen up... We only have one sister. If you dare to bully her, we won't let you get away with it..."
Fan Er repeatedly assured him, "Brother, don't worry, I genuinely like Hongdou. She's kind-hearted and good to me, how could I bear to bully her?"
Brother Du nodded in satisfaction, and Second Brother Du patted Fan Er on the shoulder, "You don't have any relatives, so from now on, treat the Du Household as your own home. Come home to visit whenever you have time, and don't keep my little sister away during holidays."
"Don't worry, Second Brother. Hongdou will be the same as before. If she wants to go home, she can go home. I won't stop her. If she wants to go home for holidays, I'll go home with her."
Upon hearing this, Brother Du burst into laughter. He had long considered Fan Er as his son-in-law, but he was still very happy to hear him say it himself.
"Alright... go back to sleep, you have to go pick up the bride tomorrow."
Fan Er blushed, scratched his head, and chuckled.
Having learned from the experience of proposing marriage, on Fan Er's wedding day, Jin Shanyao invited everyone from the Anzhi Hall to attend, even bringing two of the village dogs.
It's imperative to enhance the man's standing; the woman can't afford to look down on him.