390 Choosing a Girl
After dinner, Old Madam Wang called Madam Feng to the side. “Previously, I asked Lord Zhang to help me find some good girls from the county city. I took the matter into my hands and chose two for Dalang.”
Madam Feng hurriedly said, “Mother, what do you mean by taking matters into your own hands? All these years, which decision have you made not been good? We’ll marry whoever you say is good.”
“You’re already about to become a mother-in-law, but you’re still so indecisive!” Old Madam Wang was not coaxed by Madam Feng. Instead, she sighed and said, “This time, it’s because the matter with Dalang has dragged on for too long. I didn’t want to interfere at first, but if we delay any longer, it will affect his other brothers’ marriage.”
Old Madam Wang did not say much and only told Madam Feng about the two girls.
One was the second daughter of the registrar of the county city. Her family had a second-in-command official under the county magistrate and was a proper ninth-grade official who received a salary from the Imperial Court.
“Ah, that’s the registrar! My husband is only a farmer now, and Second Uncle has just become a county scholar. We can’t borrow the other family’s light like this.” Madam Feng was not pleasantly surprised. Instead, she was terrified.
Owning something that didn’t belong to her too suddenly would be more like a threat.
Madam Feng had been honest all her life. Coupled with the fact that Old Madam Wang had always been in charge and did not make her worry much, she had never thought about things that were too far-fetched.
Old Madam Wang: “You’re very prescient. They’re not doing this for Chuangui’s sake. It’s Lord Zhang who said that our Little Ah Yu is blessed. The registrar is convinced by this and since he had many daughters at home, he’s naturally happy to give Lord Zhang face and do him a favor.”
“But will his daughter be willing? She’s an official’s daughter. No matter what, she shouldn’t marry a farmer’s child. At that time, instead of bringing in a family, we’ll bring in an enemy.”
Madam Feng knew that girls usually married up. If they married down, it was inevitable that she would feel unbalanced.
Back then, when she married into the Wang Family, it was still considered good. At that time, her younger brothers were not married yet. Everyone was strong, so the Wang Family was not always hungry.
However, they were still a little inferior to Madam Feng’s original family.
Later on, her brothers-in-law got married one after another. After they got married, brats appeared one after another, and the family became so poor that they could not eat.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you. The second daughter of this family wasn’t raised in the city. Similar to Dalang, she was also raised in a farmer’s family. When she was 10 years old, she was brought home and taught the rules for a few years. That second daughter didn’t like living in the city very much, so she wanted to find a farmer’s family. Didn’t she find us?”
When Madam Feng heard this, she thought to herself, In that case, she was a little compatible with their Dalang.
However, she was still uneasy.
“Mother, what about the other girl?”
Old Madam Wang: “The other girl is the daughter of a businessman. Her family once had some money. Later on, her grandfather obtained an official post through donations and became a minister counselor. After some time, her family gradually removed their business registrations. In Dalang’s generation, it just so happens that they are the third generation. The children of the fourth generation can participate in the Imperial Examination.”
Madam Feng thought for a moment. “That means that if Dalang marries her, it won’t be possible for him to take the Imperial Examination. But Dalang’s child can do it?”
“That’s right.”
“Previously, Dalang even told me that he didn’t like to study much. Usually, he only learned how to read and count from Old Master Hu and didn’t think of taking the Imperial Examination. At that time, I couldn’t make up my mind. You also supported the children’s studies, so I was afraid that I would delay the children’s future—”
Old Madam Wang said, “Dalang has grown up. If you can’t make up your mind, go and ask Dalang tomorrow and see what he thinks. The two girls are both good girls. You can only choose one to take a look at. I’ll reject the other one. Don’t think about two-timing. Our family isn’t such an exception.”
“I will ask him tomorrow.”
After Madam Feng thanked her profusely and left, Old Madam Wang massaged her shoulders and went to see Wang Liulang.
She turned around and went to Little Ah Yu’s house. When she realized that Little Ah Yu had already washed up, she said to Tang Yuan, “Go to sleep in 15 minutes.”
“The weather has been a little warmer these two days. Little Master likes to kick the blanket at night. I’ll wait until midnight. In any case, I’m not sleepy,” Tang Yuan said.
After being adopted by the Wang Family, Tang Yuan had always been conscientious. She always remembered her responsibility as a maidservant and was even more meticulous towards Little Ah Yu.
“It’s fine. Go to sleep. Someone will cover her with a blanket at night.” Old Madam Wang glanced at the beam.
The secret guards on duty tonight: “…”
After Old Madam Wang called Tang Yuan to leave with her, the secret guard asked Chi She beside him in a low voice, “Could this old lady be some hidden expert? How did she know that there was someone on the beam?”
This secret guard was left behind by Madam Qin.
She had left a total of three people behind, allowing Chi Ding and the others to have more time to rest and change shifts.
Chi She: “You’re thinking too much. She didn’t see us.”
She had only said it deliberately for them to hear.
“Then how…”
“Didn’t Madam teach you to speak less and do more?”
“…”
After Old Madam Wang returned to her room, Old man Wang talked about his results. “We’re halfway through the conversation today. The other party has loosened up a little, but they still want to take Ah Yu away.”
“I don’t expect you to get things done in an instant.” Old Madam Wang rubbed her shoulders, her voice filled with fatigue. “We’ll discuss it tomorrow. Sleep first.”
“I told you not to work so hard every day. The children have already grown up, but you still treat them as children who need their mothers. If you collapse from exhaustion, they have to support the entire family. It’s a huge loss.” Old man Wang’s heart ached terribly. He simply sat up and massaged Old Madam Wang’s shoulders.
Sensing that Old Madam Wang’s muscles and bones were a little stiff, Old man Wang said, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Wu Family’s pharmacy and ask Old Physician Wu. He has some experience in relaxing tendons and meridians. When the time comes, I’ll learn it and massage you.”
Old Madam Wang: “You’re too nosy.”
“Stop talking. I won’t be the one feeling comfortable.” Old man Wang didn’t care about Old Madam Wang’s sarcasm.
As he pressed down, Old Madam Wang’s breathing became long and she fell asleep.
In the darkness, Old man Wang covered Old Madam Wang with a blanket and sighed. “Our beloved child has already returned. Why are you still so worried all day? If you’re too tired and leave first, how can I live?”
Old man Wang felt that he was the most affectionate man in the world.
In the next moment, he felt someone pinch his waist.
Old Madam Wang’s sinister voice sounded. “Don’t worry. If I go down, I’ll definitely apply for a spot for you.”
Old man Wang: “…”
“Sleep, sleep. Ah, I’m suddenly so sleepy.”
The next day, Madam Feng went to look for Wang Dalang early in the morning and asked him to choose one of the two girls.
Without thinking, Wang Dalang chose the first girl.
Madam Feng said earnestly, “Dalang, don’t choose her because you saw that she’s from an official family.”