The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 197 - 186 Eavesdropping (additional update at 160,000 recommendation votes by Yunqi)

Chapter 197: Chapter 186 Eavesdropping (additional update at 160,000 recommendation votes by Yunqi)

Zhou Silang ran so hard that when he finally stopped, not only were his hands and feet weak, but his whole body was slightly trembling.

He changed into a new set of clothes with difficulty and shakily made his way back to the main room.

Old Zhou had been wrongly blamed and was feeling quite unhappy. Upon seeing him, he asked, "What are you crying for?"

Zhou Silang’s face was red, and he kept his head down without saying a word.

Old Zhou couldn’t help but slam the table, "I’m talking to you, say it, did you get into trouble today?"

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang were extremely anxious but couldn’t come up with a decent excuse.

Zhou Silang hemmed and hawed for a long time before finally stiffening his neck and saying, "No, I’m just too heartbroken."

"What are you heartbroken about? You have food and clothes, and in a few days, you’ll be entering a new room. What’s there to be heartbroken about?"

Manbao hurriedly said, "Fourth Brother hasn’t married a wife."

Old Zhou glanced at her and then reproached Zhou Silang, "So what if you haven’t married a wife? You’re only eighteen, why the rush?"

After finishing speaking, he said with disappointment, "Originally, it was already difficult for you to find a wife, but with you crying like that, it’s even harder. Look at yourself, do you look like a man? Which family would want to marry their daughter to a crybaby?"

Old Zhou was fuming and scolded him for a while until the daughters-in-law had finished preparing dinner and brought all the dishes to the table.

Although there was meat to eat tonight, everyone ate very quietly. Zhou Dalang, unusually showing brotherly love, picked a piece of meat for Zhou Silang.

Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang also expressed their friendly affection by each picking a piece of meat for him.

Zhou Silang: ...

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang: ... What if we want to cry too?

Manbao also diligently picked a piece of meat from her bowl for him, and then she bowed her head and started eating.

Speaking of Zhou Silang’s marriage prospects, Old Zhou couldn’t help but ask Ms. Qian before bed, "The match you saw didn’t work out, has the matchmaker not introduced anyone else?"

Ms. Qian glanced at Manbao who was guiltily hiding behind the screen and said, "You actually believe what they say? Does Four look like he’s in a hurry to get a wife?"

"He’s not that young anymore, he really should be anxious."

Ms. Qian then said, "The matchmaker mentioned another family later, but they were too good; I didn’t dare bring it up, fearing that our Four wouldn’t be worthy of their girl."

"Whose family?"

"Butcher Fang’s daughter from Dali Village."

Old Zhou pondered it over and felt that his family might indeed not be a match for theirs, "Why did the matchmaker mention them? It couldn’t be that their family took a liking to our Four, could it?"

Ms. Qian said, "The Fang family might not have taken a liking, but Butcher Fang’s daughter has."

She smiled and said, "Four isn’t bad looking, and because he often buys meat in the market this year, I guess Butcher Fang’s daughter must have insisted so much that they mentioned it to the matchmaker."

Of course, Ms. Qian was able to guess this because the matchmaker had let it slip intentionally or unintentionally.

Although she didn’t say it outright, the implication was clear: it was Butcher Fang’s daughter who had taken a liking to Zhou Silang. Unable to withstand their daughter’s pleas, her parents had mentioned it to the matchmaker.

Ms. Qian always knew her place and understood that marriage was about matching social statuses, so she just listened and didn’t plan to tell Zhou Silang about Butcher Fang’s daughter.

However, Old Zhou was silent for a moment before saying, "Then find a time to take the child to have a look."

Ms. Qian frowned, "The difference in family circumstances is a bit too great."

"Not by much. The Fang family is certainly wealthier, but our Zhou family still has scholars," Old Zhou was quite confident in his own family. He said, "Now, all the children have learned to recognize characters with Manbao. This is unique in the village and the surrounding areas. Didn’t you want to find Silang a capable wife? I think the Fang family is good. A daughter-in-law with confidence can easily handle Four if he messes up."

Ms. Qian became pensive.

Manbao, hiding in her bed, silently mourned for her Fourth Brother in her heart.

The next morning, she slipped out of bed early to sneak off and spill the beans to Zhou Silang. Of course, she wouldn’t tell him about her parents’ plans but excitedly informed him, "Fourth Brother, Mom’s going to find you a match again."

Zhou Silang had improved after a night’s sleep and yawned upon hearing the news, "Which family’s girl is it?"

"You’ll definitely like this sister."

Zhou Silang perked up, asking, "Why? Is she particularly pretty? Have you seen her?"

Manbao replied, "I haven’t seen her, but you definitely have. Her family has lots and lots of meat."

Zhou Silang blinked, asking, "What do you mean her family has lots and lots of meat?"

"Because her family are butchers!" said Manbao. "When I was little, my biggest wish was for Dad to become a butcher, so I could eat meat every day. Fourth Brother, my wish won’t come true, but you can make it happen."

Fathers-in-law are fathers too, after all.

Zhou Silang pondered for a moment and realized that it was indeed true. His eyes gradually lit up as he asked, "Which butcher’s daughter?"

Manbao answered, "I think her last name is Fang."

Zhou Silang’s eyes brightened up as he suddenly sat up in bed, "It’s her, huh!"

He knew Butcher Fang’s young lady well!

That year, thanks to Manbao’s substantial allowance, she often gave him money to buy meat. Unless he went to the county town, he would buy from the market.

And between lamb and pork, he preferred lamb, of course, since lamb is more nourishing.

There were only two meat stalls in the market, one selling lamb and the other pork, and the Fangs were the ones selling lamb.

Sometimes when Zhou Silang went to buy meat, Uncle Fang wasn’t there, so it was Butcher Fang’s young lady tending the stall. After a while, the two of them got to know each other a bit.

As they were familiar with each other, Zhou Silang blushed somewhat and asked Manbao, "Did you hear it clearly, was it Butcher Fang’s young lady?"

Manbao nodded and asked, "Is she pretty?"

Zhou Silang coyly replied, "She’s alright, I suppose."

But his eyes were twinkling. He got out of bed and said decisively, "Did Mom say when we’re going to meet? Are we going to their place, or are they coming here?"

"I’ll go ask for you," said Manbao as she turned to leave.

Zhou Silang quickly pulled her back, "Why ask? It’s the adults who decide these things, cough, just listen to what Dad and Mom said, that’s enough."

"Mom said you’re not worthy of Butcher Fang’s young lady, while Dad said you could give it a try, maybe they’ll like you..."

Zhou Silang covered her mouth with his hand, "Enough, you don’t need to say anymore."

Indeed, no ivory comes out of a dog’s mouth.

Zhou Silang found his best set of clothes to put on and after thinking it over, he said to Manbao, "Why don’t you go and ask Mom?"

Manbao just huffed and walked away.

Zhou Silang scratched his head and walked out with his head down, following her.

Manbao might not be reliable, but Zhou Silang was already intrigued. He began to pay close attention to his mother’s actions, and soon noticed something amiss.

After all, Ms. Qian did take Old Zhou’s words to heart and had the matchmaker come over for a visit. After speaking in the house for a while, the matchmaker left, then came back again in the afternoon. Later that evening, after dinner, Ms. Qian said to Zhou Silang, "Come with me to Dali Village tomorrow to buy some meat for meat buns."

Manbao immediately said, "I’m going too!"

Ms. Qian looked down with a smile and said, "Alright, Manbao will come with us."

Zhou Silang was somewhat excited. He glanced at Manbao, wondering why she had to be everywhere.

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