Matchmaker Zhang had already brought the Jiang family's reply to the Han family.
That was how matchmakers worked. They had to run between both families, after all. Matchmaker's fees were not so easy to earn, especially for someone with as good a reputation as Matchmaker Zhang, who specialized in bringing together suitable matches. She was even more conscientious.
However, whether it was the Jiang family or the Han family, both were generous hosts.
At the Jiang family's home, she had drunk brown sugar water. Then she came over to the Han family's home and drank their sickeningly sweet white sugar water. Looking into the enamel cup, she could even see the thick layer of white sugar at the bottom!
Matchmaker Zhang's smile deepened considerably as she said to Han's mother, “You can rest assured. The Jiang family's First Branch knows quality goods. As soon as I told them what a fine household the Han family was, they were delighted too!”
As she spoke, she glanced at Han Shiguo, who was sitting nearby.
Han Shiguo simply sat there and listened without saying anything.
But he had been born from Han's mother's womb. How could a mother not know what her son was thinking?
Han's mother was very satisfied, so she asked about the question her youngest son, Han Shiguo, cared about most. “What did the Jiang family say about today's blind date?”
Han's mother was satisfied with Jiang Qian too. Jiang Qian had once helped her, but at the time, her son already had a prospective bride. That girl had even been waiting specifically for him to return and marry her. The Han family could not treat her unfairly. Otherwise, Han's mother truly would have sent someone to make the proposal.
But now that Jiang Family's Second Branch had come to break off the engagement, her son could naturally seek a new match.
As for Jiang Qian being Jiang Yue's younger female cousin, Han's mother did not care in the slightest. Her son and that other girl had never even met!
Now that the prospective bride had been replaced by Jiang Qian, who suited her eye much better, how could she not be pleased?
Moreover, that girl suited her son's eye too. Just look at how invested he was!
He was even willing to give major items like three rotating items and one sounding item!
When Matchmaker Zhang heard her ask, she smiled and said, “Qianqian was very surprised when I told her that Shiguo had seen her yesterday. She even asked whether he was the soldier brother she had seen on her way home from school yesterday. As soon as I told her, she blushed. It was obvious that she was satisfied with Shiguo too!”
“Really?” Han's mother was overjoyed when she heard this and looked at her son, Han Shiguo.
Han Shiguo's face remained expressionless.
“How could it be false? Sister Guiyun is a straightforward woman too. Seeing that the young people had already met one another, she asked me to bring you over to sit at their home and have some tea.” Matchmaker Zhang glanced at the deliberately composed Han Shiguo with a smile. She had seen plenty of men like him. After hearing that the girl also had a favorable impression of him, he looked calm on the outside, but who knew whether his heart was not bursting with joy?
“Good, good, good! Then let's go to their home for tea!” Han's mother was delighted to hear how openhanded the Jiang family's First Branch was. She quickly turned to her son and said, “Go on, change your clothes. Put on your best-looking outfit. And bring the candy and pastries too!”
Han Shiguo did not delay at all. Although he calmly returned to his room to change, his movements were anything but slow. When he came back out, he was a spirited young man in his prime.
That was not all. Besides the candy and pastries, he had also brought cigarettes and liquor.
For a first meeting, bringing candy and pastries already showed thoughtfulness. But he had even brought cigarettes and liquor along. What more needed to be said?
He was extremely invested.
Eldest Brother Han Shimin said nothing.
But when his wife, Li Xia, saw those things, she could not help curling her lip.
Matchmaker Zhang did not concern herself with that. She was extremely satisfied, and Han's mother was smiling broadly as she said to Han Father, “Head of the household, you should come with us too.”
Having the father go along showed how seriously they regarded this marriage proposal!
Han Father nodded and said to his son, “Remember to make a good impression.”
“I know.” Han Shiguo actually answered him for once.
The group then left the house.
However, they did not head directly to Five-Star Brigade. Instead, they first went to Aunt Jiang's home in the same village.
Aunt Jiang had been furious yesterday because her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law had actually come to break off the engagement.
She had even come to apologize to the Han family. After all, she had been the one who arranged the match in the first place. Now that her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law had come to end the engagement, how could she not apologize?
Although they had delayed the young niece's marriage for three years, the man had not kept her waiting for nothing. He had simply been too busy to make time. The Han family had mentioned this when the engagement was initially arranged.
Her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law had known about it as well.
Yet just when the relationship was about to bear fruit, they had actually come to break off the engagement. She had every reason to suspect that her niece, Jiang Yue, had someone she liked!
Otherwise, she would not have caused this sort of trouble at such a critical moment!
If the daughter was being inconsiderate, could her parents really be unaware of right and wrong as well?
Fortunately, the Han family was reasonable and had not taken it to heart.
But Han's mother knew what kind of person Aunt Jiang was. Aunt Jiang had been married into the village for more than ten years and had an excellent reputation. Besides, this time, the girl being matched was her niece from her maiden family.
So Han's mother had deliberately come back to invite her to go along.
Aunt Jiang was stunned for a moment. But when she learned that Matchmaker Zhang had already spoken with her Eldest Sister-in-law and that her Eldest Sister-in-law had personally agreed, she was delighted too!
She quickly handed the household affairs over to her sons and daughters, then came along with them. On the way, she said to Han Shiguo, “Qianqian is better than Jiang Yue. Qianqian was a well-behaved child from a young age. When I arranged the match between you and Jiang Yue back then, she was only seventeen and still young, still in school. Otherwise, I definitely would have introduced Qianqian to you, Shiguo!”
As Han Shiguo listened to Aunt Jiang, the girl he had seen yesterday came to mind.
She had a palm-sized face, bright, limpid eyes, and gracefully curved brows. Her whole person was delicate, and even her voice when speaking to her students was soft.
After returning home and learning that his engagement had been broken off, he had not felt the slightest bit disappointed. He did not even know whether Jiang Yue's face was round or flat, let alone have any feelings for her.
It was only because his mother had been anxious, afraid that he would grow old and remain a bachelor, that she had hurriedly arranged the engagement.
He truly had not felt any other emotion upon having the engagement broken off. On the contrary, he was rather happy.
Without a second thought, he had wanted to ask a matchmaker to inquire about the Teacher Jiang at the town's elementary school.
But then the matchmaker had come to his door and told him herself.
If that was not fate, what was?
Han Shiguo had truly fallen for her at first sight. Now, hearing Aunt Jiang mention her niece, he said modestly, “It was a coincidence. I met Qianqian on my way home while I was on leave yesterday.”
“You have already met Qianqian?” Aunt Jiang asked happily as soon as she heard that he had encountered her.
“I have.” Han Shiguo nodded.
“That truly is fate.” Aunt Jiang smiled. It was clear that Han Shiguo had taken a liking to her niece!
Now they only had to see what her niece thought!
Their group headed toward Five-Star Brigade.
However, not everyone in the Han family was pleased.
Eldest Sister-in-law Li Xia had stood at the doorway watching the group leave. When she returned inside, she could not help saying to Han Shimin, “The Jiang family is ridiculous. The second branch came to break off the engagement, and then the first branch turned around and arranged a blind date with Shiguo!”
Eldest Brother Han Shimin said, “What nonsense are you spouting? The Jiang family's First Branch simply has good judgment!”
Li Xia snorted. “Of course they have good judgment. Shiguo promised one hundred yuan in betrothal money, forty-eight legs, and three rotating items and one sounding item. Is that Jiang girl made of gold or something? Even gold would not be worth that much money!”