"Ugh, can you pick another one? I'm not comfortable with that."
Fang Er said with some hesitation.
"Hahaha, you!"
Zhang Gongjin laughed, pointing at Fang Er with his finger.
He had been present during the grand court assembly, so looking at Fang Er's expression, he knew why he was reluctant to approach Chai Shao.
"If Duke Chai is willing to marry his daughter to you, so many people would envy you. Yet, you look like this. If those people knew your thoughts, I wonder if you'd be dragged into a small alley and beaten up when you go out!"
"What the heck! Is this fair or not?"
Fang Er was speechless.
"What's going on? Do I really have no human rights?"
"Alright, let's not talk about this. I told you I'm doing this with Duke Chai for a reason. Not to mention anything else, just the face of the late Princess Pingyang is enough!"
Zhang Gongjin brought up Princess Pingyang.
Fang Er's eyes lit up. He hadn't thought of this earlier.
Princess Pingyang was Li Yuan's favorite daughter. Li Jiancheng was the eldest, Li Shimin the second, and the third was Princess Pingyang. When Li Yuan rebelled, Princess Pingyang, with her all-female army, fought battles and laid a substantial foundation for Li Yuan. Then, she joined forces with Chai Shao to capture Chang'an. This led to the capital of the Great Tang! Perhaps it was fate that envied her beauty, or perhaps it was the hidden injuries sustained from continuous battles. In the sixth year of Wude, Princess Pingyang passed away from illness. She was also the only female general in ancient Chinese history to be buried with military honors! Therefore, whether in Li Yuan's heart or in Li Er's heart, she held an incomparably important position. Although she had passed away, she left behind children. For her sake, no one in the entire Great Tang dared to trouble the Chai family! Otherwise, Li Er would be the first to object! And Li Yuan too! A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Anyone who considers Li Yuan, the horse breeder, a useless person is the biggest fool! Li Yuan loved Princess Pingyang to the core!
Thinking of this, Fang Er finally accepted Zhang Gongjin's proposal. He prepared to visit Chai Shao.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Gongjin and leaving his residence, Cheng Chumo had to go to his post, so Fang Er led the ox cart back to Zuixian Lou himself. He loaded another cart with glass and, accompanied by two restaurant workers, found Chai Shao's residence.
Chai Shao seemed to be about to go out for some reason. As he stepped out of the main gate, he saw Fang Er walking towards him from afar. A smile, like that of an old fox who had caught a chicken, appeared on his face.
"Heh heh. Little brat. You came to my doorstep yourself!"
"Oh! Is that my future son-in-law?"
Chai Shao walked up to Fang Er and deliberately said with a surprised expression. Then he glanced at the ox cart behind him.
"Hey? You even brought me a gift? Is it betrothal money?"
Fang Er was stunned! How could this guy be like this? In front of everyone! If this got out, it would be like shit if it wasn't shit!
Just how ugly must Chai Shao's daughter be for him to be so desperate to take a son-in-law? Is he afraid his daughter won't get married? Zhang Gongjin said many people were interested in Chai Shao's daughter, so was he tricking me?
"Duke Chai, please be mindful of your words, mindful of your words!"
Fang Er quickly waved his hands. At this moment, he was already prepared to flee again.
"Go to hell! I won't sell my glass anymore, okay!"
But before he could make any move, Chai Shao grabbed his arm and said, "Come, come, come! Since you're here, you can't just not come in and sit down."
With that, he pulled him into the Chai mansion. He also instructed the servants to take the ox cart and entertain the two workers Fang Er brought.
In the backyard of the Chai mansion.
Chai Yue was sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky. She saw Chai Shao leading a young man in. She quickly got up and returned to her room. Fang Er didn't see clearly, only a figure flashed by. He didn't pay much attention, thinking it was a maid from the Chai mansion.
Chai Shao pushed him into the chair where Chai Yue had just been sitting. He pulled up another chair and sat opposite Fang Er.
"Tell me, did you come to propose today?"
Fang Er was about to collapse.
"My God! Duke Chai, stop! I, Fang, am not here to propose. I'm here to give you money! If you mention engagement or marriage again, I'll turn around and leave, and I won't come to your residence again."
"Still saying you're not here to propose? You brought betrothal money, didn't you? Tell me, how much money did you give your father-in-law?"
Chai Shao kept bringing up the topic of taking a son-in-law. Fang Er really wanted to leave.
"Duke Chai, can we talk properly?"
"Alright, let's talk properly!"
Chai Shao suddenly became very serious and said to Fang Er.
"Okay, to make a long story short, I'm here to deliver colored glaze to you, the one on the ox cart. It's used to replace window paper and install on windows. It can not only brighten the room but also make it warm."
Chai Shao said nothing.
"Also, this colored glaze is something I made myself. I'm looking for someone to go into the glass business with me. I'll be responsible for production, and you and Duke Zhang will be in charge of sales. What do you say?"
Chai Shao still said nothing.
"No, Duke Chai, what do you mean? Do you agree or not?"
Fang Er stared at Chai Shao and asked.
"That's three times! Now, it's my turn to speak. First, install the colored glaze in one room for me to see. Let's go."
Chai Shao stood up and walked towards a room. When he reached the door, he stopped and said to Fang Er, who was following him, "Wait here."
With that, he knocked on the door. The door opened, and after he entered, he closed it again. This was precisely Chai Yue's boudoir!
"Father, is someone else outside?"
Chai Yue asked curiously.
"Heh heh, the young friend I told you about last time is outside. He said he brought you colored glaze, which is used on windows to make the room brighter and warmer. It just so happens that I'll have him install it in your room first. Try it out, and also, take a good look at him. If you're satisfied, I'll go find your second uncle to bestow a marriage upon you. How's that? Am I being a good father?"
Chai Shao explained to Chai Yue with a smile.
"Father! How can you do this? Bringing an outsider into my boudoir! What is this? How will I face people if this gets out?"
Chai Yue blushed profusely. She stomped her foot and retreated behind the screen in the middle of the room. Then she fell silent.
Chai Shao laughed heartily and then opened the door.
"Come on, show me! Let me see how your colored glaze window is!"
Fang Er looked at him with suspicion.
"What's going on? When we were in Beiping, he was a very normal man. How did he change so much after returning?"
He began to tear off the window paper with a feeling of helplessness and install the glass. The moment the first piece of glass was installed, Chai Shao's expression changed. He had only been focused on matchmaking.
"Bah!"
He had only been focused on taking a son-in-law. He hadn't really paid attention to the colored glaze window that Fang Er mentioned. But now that it was right in front of him, he couldn't ignore it!
Chai Yue, secretly watching from behind the screen, also covered her small mouth in surprise.
"Such a large piece of colored glaze! Smooth! Transparent! And it's been installed on my window like this?"