While the Qin family trio was still chatting, Matchmaker Zhang’s voice rang out from a distance.
“Hey! What are you all dawdling for over there? Hurry up and come over!”
As time passed, more and more people had gathered to watch the Jia Family’s spectacle. Unable to remain standing still, Matchmaker Zhang had no choice but to venture further down the alley to search for them.
After taking just a few steps forward, she indeed spotted Qin Huairu’s family and promptly called out to them.
The group looked up and recognized Matchmaker Zhang, who had visited their home not long ago.
“Oh dear, this is bad. Now we have no choice but to go!” Qin’s mother exclaimed in dismay upon seeing her.
But Matchmaker Zhang was already jogging toward them, leaving the Qin family no opportunity to slip away.
“Let’s go, everyone’s waiting!” With that, Matchmaker Zhang herded the Qin family forward.
At this point, Qin’s mother took the initiative to speak up: “Sister, to be frank, my daughter has already found someone she likes today. So could we possibly skip this meeting?”
Qin Huairu also stepped forward and said with sincere seriousness, “Yes, Auntie Zhang, I’ve already found someone I care for. I just haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.”
Matchmaker Zhang halted mid-step, visibly surprised. “What? You don’t want to meet with the Jia Family anymore?”
Both Qin’s mother and Qin Huairu nodded, though they knew they were in the wrong and didn’t dare say more.
Qin’s father, being somewhat thicker-skinned, stepped forward and said, “That’s right. It’s mainly a matter of timing, of course we can still go along to meet them. But we won’t be able to agree to anything, which means all your efforts would be in vain. If it’s really not acceptable, I can give you fifty cents separately as compensation for your trouble.”
Influenced by Zhang Yuanlin, Qin’s father was uncharacteristically generous this once. In the past, even ten or twenty cents would have pained him greatly.
By this time, the Qin family had already begun paying more attention to face and proper conduct, but they also knew that fifty cents meant little to a matchmaker. If she succeeded in arranging a match, she might earn one or two yuan, or even two or three yuan in celebration money.
Just as the Qin family expected Matchmaker Zhang to fly into a rage, she instead clapped her hands together and chuckled, “Well now! If your daughter is already spoken for, she won’t be bothered by that old hag. And I can wash my hands of this troublesome matter too. This is truly a double blessing!”
Seeing the genuine, heartfelt smile on Matchmaker Zhang’s face, the Qin family stared in stunned confusion. What was going on here? And what was this about calling the other family’s elder an old hag?
Before they could figure it out, Matchmaker Zhang was already urging them to hurry and meet with the Jia Family.
“Later, no matter what excuse you use to turn them down, just make sure nobody catches on. We’ll treat this as going through the motions – once it’s done, it’s over. As for the money, don’t worry about it. If the match succeeds, I get paid. If it doesn’t, that’s not your concern either – it’s the man who should be paying.”
The alley wasn’t very long, and Matchmaker Zhang didn’t dare delay any further. She spoke at breakneck speed, giving the three Qin family members no chance to react.
But they all understood that Matchmaker Zhang didn’t care whether this matchmaking succeeded or not, which made them feel even more indifferent toward the Jia Family.
After just a few more steps, they reached the Siheyuan.
The adults had no time to stand idly at the entrance, but the children were highly interested in such affairs, clustering by the gate to peer out.
When they saw Matchmaker Zhang leading several people back, they all ran back into the compound, shouting everywhere:
“They’re here, they’re here! Jia Dongxu’s bride is here!”
This all stemmed from Jia Dongxu’s excessive boasting, which led the children to believe the matter was already settled, just waiting for the bride to enter the compound.
With the children shouting like this, the entire compound became aware. Without anyone needing to organize them, everyone—whether busy or idle—rushed to the central courtyard to see the spectacle.
Hearing the shouts from the courtyard, the Qin family’s expressions turned grim.
“What is this all about? Our families haven’t even met, so how has she become the bride?” Qin’s mother was very displeased and couldn’t help muttering under her breath.
Qin’s father remained silent, but his face was equally dark.
Qin Huairu kept a cold expression, her thoughts solely on Zhang Yuanlin. She didn’t want to take another step forward, but she also didn’t wish to embarrass her parents, so she had no choice but to go through with this formality.
Matchmaker Zhang, standing nearby, also felt embarrassed. If Jia Zhangshi hadn’t personally sought her out, she would never have wanted anything to do with the Jia Family.
As they stood at the compound’s entrance, the children ran inside to spread the news, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Matchmaker Zhang felt her scalp tingle and quickly turned to whisper, “Heh heh, please don’t take it to heart. Just treat it as going through the motions. Once this is over, I’ll give your family fifty cents. I beg you!”
After saying this, Matchmaker Zhang quickened her pace, thinking she’d hurry through this affair and be done with it. Once back in her hometown, she’d announce her retirement as a matchmaker. If she ever resumed, it would be done discreetly—better to avoid trouble than provoke it.
When Matchmaker Zhang led the three members of the Qin family into the central courtyard, she was nearly frightened away by the sea of people surrounding them.
This three-section Siheyuan was not small. Nearly twenty households lived here, with over a hundred residents in total. At this moment, aside from those who were out, everyone had gathered to watch the spectacle—a massive, bustling crowd, even more complete than during a whole-courtyard meeting.
Not only the Qin family was startled; even Matchmaker Zhang was taken aback.
At this point, the men and women in the courtyard finally caught a glimpse of Qin Huairu’s lovely face.
For a moment, the crowd buzzed with discussion and sighs of admiration.
Truly, men fell silent at the sight, while women burned with jealousy!
Shazhu and Xu Damao, who had arrived later, squeezed through the crowd and were instantly dumbstruck.
Xu Damao had been a lecher since childhood, which gave him a naturally sleazy appearance. Perhaps because of this, he spent his days at home practicing “traditional crafts,” which eventually led to his infertility.
As for Shazhu beside him, his eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he drooled so much that even his large mouth could barely contain it.
However, Shazhu was a devoted man—no, starting today, he would no longer act like a man but would become a simp!
Yes, the most dedicated simp in the compound was about to embark on his brand-new life.
Meanwhile, the designated male lead of the compound hid by the window, peering out. Drool dripped from his chin onto the floor, startling Jia Zhangshi, who thought her son had contracted some serious illness.
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a bride. If you’re like this, how will I manage her in the future? The family’s money will surely be squandered by her!”
Though Jia Zhangshi said this, her heart soured. How could there be such a beautiful girl? Would her son forget his mother once he had a wife?
Jia Dongxu snapped back to reality, wiped the drool from his mouth, his mind filled only with Qin Huairu’s beauty. Turning around, he said discontentedly, “Mom, what are you saying? Of course, I’ll manage my own wife. Isn’t managing me enough for you?”
Hearing this, Jia Zhangshi felt as if facing a formidable enemy.
Good heavens, they weren’t even married yet, and her son’s heart had already drifted to the other side. What would happen after the wedding?
No, when she arrives later, I must give her a good talking-to and let this new bride know who’s in charge in this household!
With that, Jia Dongxu, filled with delight, swaggered out the door under everyone’s watchful eyes.
Meanwhile, Jia Zhangshi followed behind him with a cold expression and a fierce look on her face.
Almost at the same time, Zhang Yuanlin also arrived at the compound, but he didn’t make a sound, instead quietly slipping to the back of the crowd.
Thanks to his height advantage—standing nearly half a head taller than most of the onlookers—Zhang Yuanlin could clearly see what was happening in the central courtyard even from the outermost edge.
Watching the joyful Jia Dongxu and the stern-faced Jia Zhangshi step out, and then seeing the three members of the Qin family at the Jia Family’s doorstep with unfriendly expressions, Zhang Yuanlin knew that the show was about to begin!
So, he reached into both pockets and pulled out a handful of melon seeds and peanuts from the Still World.
Hey, what’s watching a spectacle without some snacks?