Qi Meipo, fearing implication, refused to continue acting as matchmaker for Erlang and Zhang Qiaoxiu.
Chen Yuezhi tried to persuade her, but seeing her fear, she said no more. She gave Qi Meipo two hundred wen as compensation for her trouble.
After Qi Meipo left, the atmosphere in the Jiang family became somewhat somber.
Jiang Wan couldn't stand to see them like this. "What's wrong? It's just one matchmaker. We can find another!"
Chen Yuezhi sighed. "It's not about the matchmaker. It's about the Xu family... I have a feeling they'll do something malicious."
Jiang Wan felt the same.
The Xu family wanted to connect with Divine Doctor Jin, so they naturally wouldn't target their family. The simplest and most effective way for the Xu family to achieve their goal of a marriage alliance with the Jiang family was to target Zhang Qiaoxiu!
Jiang Wan's heart tightened, and she quickly sent Little Ma Zai to check on the Zhang family.
Little Ma Zai went to the Zhang family and reported that no one was home.
Tomorrow was the day the Jiang family would go to formally propose. The Zhang family would naturally be preparing for it, so the three members of the Zhang family had gone to the county to buy supplies.
Jiang Wan, unable to rest easy, took Little Ma Zai and Erlang with her to the county to find them.
To avoid making Erlang anxious, Jiang Wan didn't reveal her worries. She just said she was craving snacks and wanted to go to town to buy some.
Erlang, being carefree, drove the horse carriage with Jiang Wan into town.
As soon as they entered the town, Jiang Wan searched everywhere for the Zhang family. She finally found them in a cloth shop.
Mother Zhang saw the siblings first and waved to them with a smile. "Erlang, Wan Wan, you've come to the county to buy things too?"
As soon as Erlang saw Mother Zhang, he couldn't help but blush, and he felt even more embarrassed to look at Zhang Qiaoxiu, who was beside her.
Seeing him so timid, Jiang Wan exclaimed inwardly at the spectacle.
"Aunt Zhang, Sister Qiaoxiu, have you finished buying your things? If you have, then ride our carriage back to the village."
Erlang found it a bit strange. Didn't Wan Wan say they were coming to town to buy snacks? Why were they talking about leaving now?
Mother Zhang felt that the marriage between the two families hadn't been officially settled yet, and riding in the Jiang family's carriage might lead to gossip. So she said, "We haven't finished buying our things yet. You should go first, no need to wait for us."
Jiang Wan said with a smile, "Second Brother is afraid you'll have too many things to carry, so he specifically came to pick you up."
Erlang, not being completely foolish, quickly chimed in, "Let's put the things on the carriage first. What else do you need to buy? You wait here, and I'll go buy it."
As the old saying goes, a son-in-law is half a son. Seeing Erlang act like this, the Zhang family parents were overjoyed. After some polite refusal, they asked Erlang to run errands for them and buy the remaining two items.
"Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, give me the things."
Erlang very actively helped the Zhang family move their things onto the carriage, and then helped the elder Zhang couple onto the carriage.
When it came to Zhang Qiaoxiu, Erlang's face turned from red to dark. He fidgeted, not daring to look at her, nor daring to reach out and help her.
Zhang Qiaoxiu was also extremely shy and didn't dare to let him help her. She planned to climb onto the carriage herself.
Seeing their shy demeanor, Jiang Wan couldn't help but shake her head. The love of ancient people was too reserved; it made one anxious just watching.
So, as Zhang Qiaoxiu was getting onto the carriage, she sent a surge of her ability.
Zhang Qiaoxiu felt her legs suddenly go weak, and she leaned back, falling directly into Erlang's arms, who was standing behind her.
Erlang instinctively reached out and caught Zhang Qiaoxiu. The faint fragrance and softness of the girl made his face turn as red as blood.
Zhang Qiaoxiu was even more so, her whole body like a cooked shrimp. She wanted to break free, but Erlang hadn't come to his senses yet and held her tightly.
It wasn't until Mother Zhang coughed that Erlang realized his actions. He was so startled that he almost pushed Zhang Qiaoxiu away.
After finally helping Zhang Qiaoxiu onto the carriage, Erlang's face was so red it was about to smoke, and his mind was buzzing. He didn't even know how he had driven the carriage back to the village.
After sending the three members of the Zhang family home, Erlang drove the carriage away in a flash, leaving the Zhang parents laughing heartily.
This son-in-law was honest and would surely treat their daughter well in the future.
As soon as Erlang returned home, he went straight to the well, scooped up a basin of cool well water, and splashed it on his face repeatedly, trying to cool down the heat on his face.
Chen Yuezhi, seeing this, asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Wan whispered a few words in her ear, causing Chen Yuezhi to chuckle and tap her on the forehead. "You, you only feel happy when you see your brother making a fool of himself."
Jiang Wan said with a smile, "Doesn't Mother think it's fun?"
Chen Yuezhi couldn't help but laugh. "It is indeed fun. Next time, call me along."
The mother and daughter looked at each other and smiled.
However, despite the laughter, Jiang Wan didn't dare to relax her vigilance regarding the Xu family.
Therefore, she sent Little Ma Zai out again, asking him to keep an eye on the Xu family and guard against them making trouble without their knowledge.
The Xu family.
Zhao Meipo met with Master Xu and Madam Xu and immediately started to instigate.
"The Jiang family are country bumpkins with no manners. That Jiang family woman acts high and mighty, and her words are all demeaning to Miss Xu."
"She even said that if Miss Xu married into their family, she would have to work in the fields with them and eat coarse food and vegetables. I couldn't bear to listen."
"In the end, I finally understood that they had already betrothed their second son, Jiang Erlang, and were going to formally propose tomorrow."
"It's truly detestable. Since they had already found someone they liked, why didn't they say so directly? And why did they have to say such demeaning words, making it sound as if..."
Zhao Meipo deliberately stammered, causing Madam Xu's face to darken. "As if what?"
"As if the Xu family was desperate to marry off their daughter, and they still looked down on them."
Madam Xu was so angry that she slammed the table heavily. "Preposterous! A woman whose feet are still covered in mud, how dare she be so presumptuous!"
"My Xu family's daughters are sought after even by those offering a thousand pieces of gold. How dare they look down on my Xu family like this? What audacity and arrogance!"
Master Xu was not as agitated. His expression was somewhat inscrutable. "Jiang Erlang is betrothed? When did this happen? To which girl?"
Zhao Meipo said cautiously, "It happened just a few days ago. It's with a girl who escaped famine with them. It is said that the girl saved Jiang Erlang's life on the way."
Master Xu curled his lips slightly. "So it was a life-saving grace, no wonder."
Zhao Meipo was unsure of his attitude and asked, "Master Xu, then this marriage..."
Master Xu waved his hand. "Since Jiang Erlang is already betrothed, we will not mention it again. My Xu family's daughters have never had trouble getting married. I do not want anyone else to know about the matter of inquiring with the Jiang family."
Zhao Meipo quickly said, "This humble woman understands."
After sending Zhao Meipo away, Madam Xu became angry. "Good for the Jiang family! They really think they're something! They're just lucky, and they dare to put on airs! My lord, are we just going to let this matter go?"