The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 59 Xue Sao Acts as Matchmaker
Ximen Qing looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman around fifty years old. She wore a black crepe gauze headband with gold thread, a dark brown silk jacket, and a black satin skirt with dark patterns. Her face was covered with thick face powder, her lips were painted scarlet, and a trembling velvet flower was pinned in her hair.

Clutching a red handkerchief in her hand, she swayed her hips and rushed forward with a beaming smile. She was none other than Sister Xue, a well-known matchmaker in Qinghe County.

Ximen Qing recognized her; he knew she could talk the dead back to life with her words, and she wouldn't come to him without a reason. He remained outwardly calm, merely nodding slightly: "So it's Sister Xue. Waiting here, is there something you need?"

Before she could speak, Aunt Xue laughed and covered her mouth with her handkerchief: "Look at what you're saying, sir! Can't this old woman at least pay her respects to you and bask in your noble aura?"

She slapped her thigh, her smile widening. She took a half-step closer, lowered her voice, but spoke with a familiar warmth: "My lord, this old woman has come today to congratulate you and present you with a wonderful marriage!"

Ximen Da Guanren reined in his horse and laughed, "You old leech, are you trying to play matchmaker for me again? That little widow you mentioned last time, with her feet like a boatwoman's, is she even worth mentioning? I think you're all talk and no action, don't believe a word you say!"

Aunt Xue twisted her body like a pretzel: "What a thunderbolt! How could such a thing be worthy of your eyes, sir? This time, it's a true beauty—Yu Lou, the daughter of Butcher Meng outside the South Gate. She's only twenty years old this year, with skin as white as jade and intestines as fine as brocade!"

He leaned closer to the stirrup and whispered, “Her father was originally a butcher, and he left behind this much—” He held up three wax-white fingers, “three thousand taels of silver! In addition, there was a room full of mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, a canopy bed! A dye house! And a huge cloth shop.”

After a moment's thought, Ximen Da Guanren became somewhat curious about Meng Yulou.

This woman is shrewd and doesn't compete or fight for anything.

She ran a successful cloth shop, and if her husband hadn't died young, she would have already opened a branch in the capital. She was truly a shrewd and calculating person.

When Sister Xue saw Master Ximen deep in thought, she assumed he was worrying about Meng Yulou's appearance.

With a chuckle, the old woman covered her mouth with her handkerchief and said, "I'm not exaggerating, sir! I saw this girl bathing, not to mention the red agate beads hanging from her feet." Suddenly noticing the crowd on the street, she lowered her voice again: "Her two little golden lotuses are more beautiful than red water chestnuts, dangling over the edge of the bathtub—those jade-like long legs stretch straight out of the water, and a flick of her toes could steal your soul! Because of her tall stature, her three-inch golden lotuses look even more delicate and timid, like two tender ginger sprouts floating in the white jade soup."

"As the saying goes: 'Looking from head to toe, romance flows downwards; looking from toe to head, romance flows upwards.' Even I, an old woman, am envious, let alone men!"

She looked around again: "Her waist is more graceful than a willow branch, and her charm in bed surpasses even that of a courtesan! Only because she missed her prime due to mourning, she's now eagerly seeking a hero."

Just then, the chrysanthemum-green horse got impatient and almost kicked her, interrupting her. Aunt Xue raised an eyebrow and was about to curse the beast, but she reacted in time, not caring at all. She took two steps to the side to avoid it and praised, "As expected of the horse of the Ximen family, so handsome. If it had been born earlier, the white dragon horse would have been useless when Tang Laoguan went to retrieve the scriptures from the West."

Just as Master Ximen was about to speak, she interrupted him again with a barrage of words.

Pulling up Ximen Qing's trouser leg, she exclaimed urgently, "Oh my dear sir! This swan meat, so plump and juicy, is right in front of you! If you don't hurry and grab it, in the blink of an eye, those hungry wild cats and dogs outside might snatch it away!" "When fat meat is right in front of you, not taking a bite is foolish. If you don't reach for a warm steamed bun, you won't even eat hot shit. I misspoke," Xue Sao lightly slapped her mouth. "In short, that delicate, long-legged widow is destined to have a beautiful marriage with you, sir!"

Ximen Da Guanren didn't even raise his eyelids, only twirling the mutton-fat jade pendant at his waist, remaining expressionless: "I've heard a few rumors. They say that the Yang family's cloth shop is so respectable thanks to her skillful hands?"

"It's more than just respectable!" Aunt Xue clapped her hands, spittle almost flying out. "If her short-lived husband hadn't kicked the bucket so early, leaving no man to carry on the family line, with her methods, that cloth shop branch would have been planted in the capital eight hundred years ago!"

"You didn't see it, though she's gentle and beautiful, she's exceptional at everything – managing the household, running the shop, using the abacus, and entertaining guests! In the past two years, matchmakers have practically worn down her doorstep! But she has high standards, and not a single one has caught her eye!"

He hurried closer, lowering his voice to add fuel to the fire: "My lord, think about it carefully! This Miss Meng, in terms of character, is like Chang'e descending from the moon to earth; in terms of wealth, her money box is overflowing!"

"In the two years since she became a widow, countless princes dressed in silk and satin and wealthy merchants with their eyes glued to her legs! But they all know perfectly well that ordinary ugly men and hollow radishes are not worthy of her. Just the other day, under the lamp, she personally entrusted her life's most important matter to this old woman of mine!"

She patted her chest and swore with spittle flying, "This old woman made the decision right then and there! In this Qinghe County, looking around, in terms of charm, wealth, and promising future, who else but you, Master Ximen of Lion Street, could tame her?!"
"—Guess what? I just mentioned your honorific title, and she pursed her lips and nodded three times! You hear that? This female bodhisattva has taken a liking to you, this jade arhat! This old woman received your golden words and rushed over to offer her treasure, hoping that you would open your mouth and make this marriage, which will bring both wealth and good fortune to both people, come true!"

Upon hearing this, Ximen Da Guanren's mind raced.

It wasn't that I was attracted to Meng Yulou's appearance; the matchmaker wasn't wrong.

This young woman was unusually tall with long legs, but the matchmaker claimed she was much younger than her actual age.

If he could marry a young, wealthy, and business-savvy widow, he would not only gain both wealth and a wife, but she could also help him manage these shops.

One is after a powerful backer, the other is after money!

We'll have to wait and see how it goes.

Ximen Qing laughed, "You old hag, you're good at using sweet talk to stick something in someone's nose! There's a saying, 'A matchmaker's mouth has no limits,' which prince, nobleman, or wealthy merchant has come to my Qinghe County? How could I not know? That mouth of yours can truly turn straw into gold. You've described all the good qualities of Madam Meng perfectly. However…"

"Marriage is a serious matter, not a game. One must know the background before making a decision. Although I, Ximen Qing, am not from a prestigious family, I am still an honest and upright person. I must be even more careful when taking a wife or concubine. The Meng family's wife is certainly good, but I still need to inquire about the details."

(End of this chapter)