Start from Wusheng

Chapter 148 One-day blind date

"You'er, please take a day off from the martial arts school tomorrow!"

Zhou You was still trying on the new clothes his mother had made for him. He looked up in confusion when he heard this.

The mother lowered her head and carefully straightened out the wrinkles on his clothes. "The matchmaker and I have been looking around these past few days and have found a good girl for you."

"Her father runs an embroidery studio in the east of the city, and her mother was a famous embroiderer of the previous generation."

"This girl has a great family craftsmanship, is frugal and manages the household well, and is pretty too."

"You'er, can you go and see him, please?"

Zhou You looked at his mother's expectant eyes and his heart softened, "Okay!"

I had a blind date the next day, and it was really difficult to ask for leave for this, but I had to mention it.

When Zhou You and his master mentioned this, the old man waved his hand cheerfully and said, "Okay, let's go take a look!"

The venue was booked at a teahouse in the city in the morning. The man and woman drank tea and chatted. If they were interested in going downstairs, they could just catch up for lunch.

The money for booking the tea table was paid by Zhou Youniang.

"Aunt Xiang, you know the situation of my family. There are so many people coming to propose marriage."

"Although I'm not a lady from a wealthy family, I'm not worthy of you. I came here today for your sake."

At a seat facing the street in the teahouse, a round-faced girl with fair complexion spoke proudly to the matchmaker.

The girl was none other than Zhou You's blind date partner. There was a reason why she was so arrogant towards the matchmaker.

She has a family business and is not bad looking, so she is a hot commodity in the marriage market.

If every matchmaker does not have one or two high-quality resources, what can she use to attract customers?

"That's right, that's right! Miss Dong, Zhou You's family is quite well off."

Miss Dong held up the melon seeds and peanuts with her handkerchief and ate them while retorting, "What's good?"

"I've inquired about it. He doesn't have a proper job. He's still an apprentice in a martial arts school. What can he do in the future? Be a thug or a janitor? Ha."

Miss Dong spit out the melon seed shells and rolled her eyes.

The matchmaker wiped her face and smiled as she spoke, "His father is a manager in a business, earning several hundred taels every year."

"Even if you marry into his family, with your means, Miss Dong, you can't take over the whole family."

"When your brother gets married and his embroidery business expands in the future, he can count on the Zhou family for help!"

Miss Dong thought it made sense and picked up a piece of cake between her two fingers and chewed it.

She thought about it and said to the matchmaker, "No, it won't work. How can you ask for benefits after marriage? Aunt Xiang, please help me convey that if this marriage is to be successful, the betrothal gift must be at least this amount!"

The matchmaker saw the gesture she made and thought of the price, 500 taels. She cursed inwardly and asked for the lion's share.

The embroidery room of Miss Dong's family made less than 500 taels of profit a year.

Mr. Zhou's family is well-off and is doing very well in the business, so the first thing Mr. Zhou's daughter-in-law did was to buy a pure gold ring.

Miss Dong, on the other hand, was unwilling to give a penny, not even enough money for a sip of tea.

In comparison, the Zhou family is a high-quality customer who is generous and sincere.

Thinking of this, the matchmaker was not in a good mood.

"Miss Dong, you can discuss the bride price yourself."

"As a matchmaker, I only act as a matchmaker and never ask about the specifics."

When Zhou You and his mother arrived at the teahouse, most of the melon seeds and cakes on the table had been eaten.

"Old sister, let's sit aside and let the two children chat."

Zhou Youniang and the matchmaker walked away holding hands, leaving the teahouse to make room for the two of them.

Miss Dong looked Zhou You up and down. Well, he had new clothes and looked energetic, but he looked a little poor.

His hands and neck were clean, without any gold or silver accessories, and his cuffs were empty, not like he might have contained a purse.

Her expression turned cold in an instant.

"Zhou You, right? Sit down!"

Miss Dong greeted him indifferently and lowered her head to eat melon seeds and drink tea.

Zhou You was delighted when he saw this. This was exactly the blind date he had been dreaming of. He came here for a while and left when the time was up. It was worth it that he took off all the gold jewelry before coming.
The atmosphere in the teahouse was a little awkward...

My mother and the matchmaker sat at a tea stall on the street, drinking large bowls of tea that cost a penny to refill.

"Old sister, I like this girl, but I don't know if it will work out."

The matchmaker smiled awkwardly, "As long as the children are willing, it will work out."

In her line of work, isn't it common for people to be too enthusiastic about one thing? She can't tell the truth, and she always has to leave people with some hope.

"If You'er gets married, life will get better and better in the future!"

Mother talked about her vision for the future, her face filled with happiness.

……

"How much do you plan to pay as a gift?"

The awkward atmosphere did not last long and was soon broken by Miss Dong.

Zhou You asked back, "How much dowry does your family give?"

And she still wants a dowry? That's outrageous!

Miss Dong was angry. I am such an outstanding girl, it is not too much to ask for some gifts when marrying you, and you dare to ask for a dowry?
Her face turned even colder, and she raised her hand, "500 taels of betrothal money, we can talk about it if we can come to an agreement."

When he was excited, the melon seed shells and pastry crumbs on his body fell off.

500 taels, not much!
This was Zhou You's first reaction, but when he looked at Miss Dong, he thought, "Dowry money? Not worth it."

He shook his head, but the other party became even angrier, "Let's not talk about it anymore, it's just right, I'm leaving!"

Before Miss Dong got up, a surprised shout came from the street, "Hello Zhou You, you've been lazy and not in the martial arts hall. It turns out you're having a tryst here."

Hearing the voice that seemed to be eager to create chaos in the world, I knew it was the eldest daughter Wang Yan.

Just now, Wang Yan and her best friend made an appointment to go shopping. They happened to pass by this teahouse and saw Zhou You sitting by the window.

"Miss, what a coincidence."

Wang Yan was not interested in Zhou You. She strode into the teahouse and looked directly at Miss Dong.

She was not polite either. She shook her head in disappointment after reading it, "What are you looking at? This girl is not even as good as my maid, and is far inferior to Miss Shen."

what?
Miss Dong was so angry that her eyebrows raised. She was about to explode when she suddenly saw Wang Yan's best friend.

Her attitude instantly became flattering, "Ms. Chen, I'm from the Dong family's embroidery room. Your family placed an order with me some time ago."

Wang Yan's best friend shook her head, seeming to be unfamiliar with her. "Those are autumn clothes made for servants. The clothes for me, my parents, and my brothers are all custom-made at the best weaving and embroidery workshop in the city, not at the embroidery house in the countryside of Gongliang City."

Miss Dong's ingratiating smile froze on her face.

"Haha, Zhou You, you are usually cold and mean to me."

"But you are so hungry and want to get married. I can introduce you to someone!"

Wang Yan laughed and pushed her best friend Miss Chen in front of her. "What do you think of her?"

Miss Chen was not angry, but smiled and joked, "Master Zhou, do you think highly of our family?"

"At that time, the flower thieves were causing trouble. My father went to the door to invite him, but was rejected. The annual salary was 1000 taels."

100 taels. Miss Dong’s eyes were motionless, and her mind was full of this number.

"Don't look at him like this, he is actually very arrogant. There is no point in talking about money. If you are willing to marry him, he might agree."

The two best friends played around with each other and left after a lot of fighting.

The teahouse quieted down...

Miss Dong was no longer as arrogant as before, her eyes were a little wandering, and she had many questions to ask.

But the atmosphere was awkward and I didn’t know how to start the conversation.
Zhou You thought that he would stop here today. Just as he was about to speak, Du Juan's voice came from outside the window, "Zhou You."

Du Juan went out to buy groceries and happened to see this scene when passing by a teahouse.

She saw Miss Dong sitting opposite Zhou You and blurted out, "Isn't this Fatty?"

Wow!
Miss Dong broke down on the spot, covering her face and crying as she rushed out of the teahouse.

Dujuan stood beside the teahouse, stunned. What did I do?

At the street tea stall, Zhou Youniang and the matchmaker looked at each other in bewilderment as they watched Miss Dong’s collapsed back!
(End of this chapter)