The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 140 - 139 Ancient Marriage Customs

Chapter 140: Chapter 139 Ancient Marriage Customs

Wang Family’s aunt shook her head and said, "There’s a natural order to these things, we’re waiting for Gu Dabao to settle down first. It’s just... sigh!"

"What happened?" Gu Youyou asked curiously when she saw the aunt sighing sadly.

The aunt from the Wang Family looked somewhat distressed and lowered her voice to say, "I’ve secretly inquired that your third uncle has found a son of the Bun Shop in town for Erya, just waiting for Dabao’s marriage to be settled before asking the matchmaker to propose. Don’t think your third uncle and third aunt are usually quiet, they have high hopes. With only one daughter Erya, naturally, they want her to marry well, how could they fancy my Shunzi?

"Shunzi is honest and simple-hearted, and yet he spends all day trying to please them in a sneaky way. As for the girl, she can’t have the final say in her own marriage matters, so isn’t he just wasting his efforts for nothing?"

"This..." Gu Youyou smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

In those days, parental say and matchmakers’ words were the norm; if one sought their own match, that was considered a grave offense, especially for girls. This was deemed a private agreement, which was invalid; moreover, it could ruin one’s reputation.

Parents getting involved in arranging their children’s marriages is not uncommon even in modern times, let alone in the old days when people were more conservative.

Wang Shun, oh Wang Shun, you’re calling for your future mother-in-law so confidently, yet it’s still uncertain whose mother-in-law you’ll be. You’d better pray for good luck!

...

Gu Xiaoqing was a fifteen-year-old maiden, the eldest daughter of her third uncle. This year, she would begin to discuss marriage prospects. Once Gu Dabao married and brought home his wife, she was supposed to be married off next.

According to the village customs, a woman about to be married didn’t have to do any chores; she would stay in her room and embroider her dowry. This period wasn’t determined by age but by the date of engagement, naturally excluding those who had been betrothed as children.

Meng Qiuju, feeling sorry for her only eldest daughter, had been keeping an eye out for a suitable family. She also urged Gu’s third uncle to inquire in the neighboring village, hoping to finalize the date sooner so that Gu Xiaoqing could have a break as soon as possible.

With the autumn harvest just two months away, work would increase; it was essential to have the marriage arranged before that.

Through a friend, Gu’s third uncle became acquainted with a family from the Bun Shop in town. That family had four daughters before finally having a son, who was their treasure.

That Bun Shop was to be left to this treasured son, so as soon as Gu’s third uncle heard about it, he immediately felt it was a good match.

Their son was just fifteen this year, the same age as Gu Xiaoqing. He had already planned that once Gu Dabao’s situation had settled, he’d have the matchmaker who was dealing with it also speak for Gu Xiaoqing’s marriage.

But unexpectedly, just as the matchmaker Zhang was visiting the Gu Family today, with hopes of having Zhang take a good look at his own daughter, he couldn’t find her.

Gu’s third uncle complained to Meng Qiuju, "Didn’t I tell you not to let her go out today? Right now, matchmaker Zhang is discussing the betrothal to the Lei Family in our front yard. Where is Erya?"

Meng Qiuju looked innocent and said, "I told her, indeed. Just a while ago, I saw her in the room embroidering handkerchiefs, then I went to the kitchen to boil water. When I came out, she was gone."

"Do you know where she went?"

"How would I know where she’s gone?"

Gu’s third uncle suddenly thought of something, muttered to himself that it was bad, his entire face looking as though the sky had collapsed.

"I know where she went!"

"Where did she go?" Meng Qiuju asked.

Gu’s third uncle looked at Meng Qiuju and suddenly asked in a stern voice, "Do you know where that fish we ate the other day came from?"

"My daughter honored me with it!" Meng Qiuju said.