The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 188 - 177: Blind Date (Thanks to the book friend Luo Luo for helping to modify the cover)

Chapter 188: Chapter 177: Blind Date (Thanks to the book friend Luo Luo for helping to modify the cover)

Zhou SiLang said, brimming with joy, "It fits, it fits, I’ll just wear fewer layers."

Zhou SiLang not only changed into a new set of clothes but also made sure to wash his hair. Zhou Dalang, who had already learned from his wife about the arranged meeting set for the next day, couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

Early the next morning, Zhou Dalang took Junior Ms.Qian and all of their children with double the usual gifts to his uncle and father-in-law’s house. Zhou ErLang and Zhou Sanlang also took their respective wives and children to visit their in-laws, leaving the Zhou household with only Old Zhou, his wife, the four little ones, and Zhou Xi.

Zhou Xi got up early in the morning and swept the courtyard. After tidying up, he took out the prepared pastries and candies and arranged them on the table.

Ms.Qian, seeing this, said, "Put them away for now, the guests won’t arrive that soon."

Zhou Xi picked up a piece of pastry to give to Manbao, chuckling, "We’ll need to bring them out sooner or later, and our family isn’t lacking these little snacks."

A shiver ran through Ms.Qian’s heart. How could they not be lacking?

Zhou Xi and the others didn’t know, but she did; there were less than ten strings of coins in the family’s money box, all that was left after selling some yams that the children had brought in.

With the New Year approaching, that money was definitely not to be touched, so truly, Zhou Si would have to borrow money from Zhou Xi for his wedding.

If it weren’t for Winter Solstice when the daughters-in-law were expected to visit their natal homes, Ms.Qian might not even be willing to spend money on pastries.

She turned to look at her young daughter, who was delightfully munching on a pastry, cracked a smile, and handed a piece to Zhou Xi. After rearranging the pastries so that it wasn’t obvious any were missing, she said, "Have some for yourself. The guests won’t arrive this early."

The girl the matchmaker was introducing this time was surnamed Yao, from Dali Village. Her aunt was married into Qili Village and was Ms.Qian’s same in-law relationship, someone she was supposed to call ’sister-in-law’.

Of course, the girl wouldn’t be brought directly to their doorstep. Instead, she was supposed to visit her aunt first, who would then bring her over, under the pretense of visiting a sick relative. This way, should it not work out, the reputations of both parties remained unharmed.

Hence, their home was to be the second stop, not expecting visitors to arrive most hastily.

Manbao was especially curious about her Fourth Brother’s matchmaking prospect as this was her first time witnessing a matchmaking event. She had no choice; when she was born, her Third Brother was already married, so there was no opportunity for her to witness such events.

Therefore, she was incredibly excited all morning and even resolutely declined Bai Shanbao’s invitation to search for wild duck eggs by the river, opting to stay at home in wait instead.

Voices came from outside the gate, with a familiar one ringing out. Manbao was the first to leap up and run outside, and even Ms.Qian’s quick reaction wasn’t enough to catch her.

She looked helplessly at Zhou Xi, who hastily went out to greet them.

Upon seeing the people outside, Manbao exclaimed, "Aunt Yao!"

Ms.Yao was Zhou Dahong’s mother and of the same generation as Ms.Qian. She lived in the center of the village, some distance from Manbao’s home, but it was a small village where everyone often saw each other.

Seeing Manbao rush out of the house like a little calf, Ms.Yao chuckled and said, "Ah, it’s Manbao. Is your mother at home?"

"Yes, yes," Manbao’s gaze locked precisely on a young lady standing behind her, eyes gleaming, "My mother is inside. Please come in, Aunt Yao."

Three people accompanied Ms.Yao. One was the matchmaker already familiar to Manbao, one was a young maid, and the last was a woman close in age to Ms.Yao who was discreetly sizing up Manbao.

As Ms.Yao led them inside, she laughed and said, "My niece is visiting me today. We don’t have many vegetables to eat in winter, and hearing that your family made tofu yesterday, we came to ask for a couple of pieces and to check on your mother’s health."

As she spoke, Zhou Xi already came out of the house to welcome them, smiling, "Aunt Yao, please come in."

Ms.Yao laughed as she introduced them to her sister-in-law, Ms.Fang, "This is the eldest daughter of the Zhou family."

Ms.Fang was aware. She had already been informed that the Zhou family had a daughter who had returned home from her marriage because she had been unable to have children, and her marital family had hence parted ways with her.

Although she was mentally prepared, after glancing at the eldest daughter and then at the smiling child standing beside her, she felt a slight dissatisfaction.

Once inside, the external pretext was fulfilled, and there was no need for continued subtlety. Familiar with both families, Ms.Yao and the matchmaker began to introduce them to each other.

Zhou Xi didn’t know when he had gone out to make tea and let Zhou Silang carry it into the room, while Manbao was taken outside by Zhou Xi.

Zhou Silang, with a slightly flushed face, carried the tea in and served it to everyone.

Manbao wasn’t behaving at all, she sneakily leaned against the door with her brothers Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, watching with great interest.

After watching, she whispered her opinion, "I think Fourth Brother looks like a little bride."

Zhou Wulang glanced at Miss Yao, who also had a flushed face, and whispered, "But Miss Yao doesn’t seem like a big husband either."

Ms.Qian didn’t let Zhou Silang leave but instructed him to stand aside and listen to the conversation.

Since it was a matrimonial meeting, it was of course not possible to discuss only trivial matters. Some issues needed to be clarified, such as the most worrying point for the Yao family: Zhou Silang’s character, like whether he still gambled or not.

Ms.Qian then claimed that last year he was led astray by bad company and took a misstep, but after that one incident he had reformed and hadn’t been back since.

The color of Ms.Fang’s face improved a lot at that time, and she started to talk about her daughter.

The matchmaker mediated between them, praising first the girl’s side then the boy’s, then she looked at them smiling, suggesting that they interact more freely.

Ms.Fang then turned to look at her daughter and seeing her lowering her head, her cheeks flushed red. Ms.Qian, noticing her gaze, smiled and said, "Miss Yao is young and might find it boring to sit with us old folks. I’ll have my little girl take you out to have some fun."

With that said, her gaze accurately fell on the door where Manbao’s little head shot back in, only to stick out again after a while.

Ms.Qian watched her with amusement and beckoned, "Manbao, come and take your Sister Yao out to play."

She told Miss Yao with a smile, "Don’t judge her by her age; she’s very familiar with the village, and she knows all the fun places best."

Miss Yao looked at her mother and with her head lowered and her face blushing, she gave a small nod.

Ms.Qian then said to Zhou Silang, who was standing by the side, "You go with them too. Keep an eye on your sister and make sure she doesn’t pick on Miss Yao, got it?"

This was to create an opportunity for the two to be alone together.

Zhou Silang cheerfully agreed.

Miss Yao first glanced at her mother and, after getting her approval, blushed and stood up to leave with Manbao and Zhou Silang.

With the children gone, the remaining adults felt more at ease in their conversation, and Ms.Fang began to subtly size up the Zhou family’s main room.

Outside the courtyard, Manbao, with her little head tilted back, was curiously looking at Miss Yao.

Feeling Manbao’s gaze, Miss Yao’s cheeks were flushed as she softly asked, "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Manbao said, "Sister Yao, you’re really beautiful."

Miss Yao’s face turned beet red and without daring to glance at Zhou Silang beside her, she awkwardly said, "You, don’t talk nonsense. What does a child know about beauty?"

She turned and walked away with her face still red.

Manbao looked up at Zhou Silang, utterly confused, "Isn’t it good to say someone is beautiful?"

Usually, when she called others beautiful, they were all happy about it.

Zhou Silang was equally perplexed and blurted out, "Maybe she doesn’t want to be beautiful?"

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