Crossing the famine, I am a poor fish, and my descendants have to work hard

"That's great. I'll ask Xin Shu later to see what he thinks. If he agrees, you'll have to help talk to him about this. I'm afraid you'll have to be the matchmaker."

Zhao Yuanzhen didn't know any other ladies. Her eldest sister-in-law was a very high-ranking lady. She was a matchmaker who went to the Taifu Mansion to propose marriage, which was also a very high position. She wouldn't humiliate the old Taifu.

"Little sister, don't worry. If you can come back, send me a message and I will definitely take good care of this matter."

It was Yue Hongmian’s first time as a matchmaker, and she was somewhat excited.

You know, being a matchmaker is a great thing that accumulates good deeds.

"Okay, sister-in-law, I will write to you as soon as possible."

Zhao Yuanzhen was afraid of delay, so she decided to ask Zhang Xinshu when she got home in the evening.

After all, when flowers are ready to be picked, pick them now, and don't wait until there are no flowers left and you are left with empty branches.

It would be a pity if it was booked by someone else.

"Well, okay, I'll wait for your news."

The two of them finalized the matter and started talking about other things.

The more they talked, the more shocked Zhao Yuanzhen became.

There are so many big melons and gossips in the capital waiting for her to dig out.

Sure enough, city people know how to have fun!

I really feel ashamed of myself!

The aunt and the sister-in-law were chatting happily. Zhao Yuanlan had already taken his nephews out. Anyway, he couldn't get a word in here, so it was better for the nephews and uncle to go over and chat about their own things.

When the meal was served at noon, the two of them went to the restaurant with a feeling of being unsatisfied.

After having lunch and drinking tea at Zhao Yuanlan's general's mansion, everyone felt a little tired, so Zhao Yuanzhen took his son, grandchildren and granddaughters back home.

When they arrived at Chengyuan, Zhao Yuanzhen left Zhang Xinshu behind.

"Xin Shu, your aunt said today that there is a girl who looks good and she wanted to ask for your opinion."

Zhao Yuanzhen is not the type to be shy, so she goes straight to the point.

"Mom, which girl is this?"

Zhang Xinshu blushed a little.

"It's the old master, the third daughter of your teacher's third son, the third young lady. Have you seen her?"

"No."

Zhang Xinshu shook his head.

When he met his teacher, it was mostly in the academy. Even when he went to the teacher's house for something, in order to avoid suspicion, he always met him in the front hall and never in the backyard.

Therefore, as for the female members of his teacher's family, he only knew his teacher's wife and several of his senior brothers and their wives, and had never seen the others.

"So what do you think?"

The Third Miss has a good character and behavior, and her appearance should not be bad either, otherwise the eldest sister-in-law would not have recommended her so strongly.

"Mom, I have no objection. It's all up to you."

Zhang Xinshuo said this with some embarrassment.

He had no feelings about matters between men and women. He was usually busy, and the women he came into contact with were all family members or servants. His expectations for his future wife were that she should be well-educated, gentle, and virtuous.

Can get along with mother, brothers and sisters-in-law.

I think the Third Miss can fully meet these requirements.

Zhang Xinshu knew his teacher very well. He seemed kind on the surface, but he was meticulous when it came to etiquette education. All of his senior brothers and sisters-in-law in the mansion were impeccable.

This third young lady should also be the top one!

Besides, if he really married the third young lady, it would mean that he and his teacher would be even closer relatives.

I will get along well with the Yue family and won’t be too nervous. I am quite familiar with my teacher’s home.

After a little thought, Zhang Xinshu agreed.

When Zhao Yuanzhen heard him say this, she knew he agreed.

"Okay, I'll go and reply to your aunt later, and wait for your aunt to go to your teacher's house to discuss the message."

Since Zhang Xinshu agreed, he had to act quickly. Otherwise, it would be bad if he was engaged to someone else after it was too late.

Thinking that she had to go in person.

"Okay, mother."

"Well, go ahead and do your work. I still have to go to your aunt's house once."

"Okay, mother, I'll take my leave now."

Zhang Xinshu walked away with a red face. She didn't expect her mother to be so anxious.

Zhao Yuanzhen didn't even take a rest or prepare a carriage. He just rode Xiao Hei and set off.

Although the weather was cold and the wind was strong all the way, Zhao Yuanzhen's heart was burning with joy!

"Little sister, come in quickly, but is there any news?"

When Yue Hongmian heard from the servants that the eldest lady had arrived, she knew that there must be news from Zhang Xinshu.

"Yes, sister-in-law, I just asked Xin Shu, and he agreed. I was afraid that the night would be long and dreams would arise, so I thought of coming to tell you as soon as possible."

The old tutor's reputation is there, and a daughter from one family is sought after by hundreds of families, let alone such a good girl.

"Okay, little sister, don't worry, I will prepare the gifts later and go to the old master's house to pay my respects on the sixth day of the New Year."

The second, third, and fourth days of the Lunar New Year are not suitable. The fifth day is the day of the fifth lunar month, and all the mansions are busy. The sixth day is the best day recently.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law. As for the gift for the visit, I will prepare one for you later, and you can take it with you."

Logically speaking, it would be fine for Zhao Yuanzhen to pay her respects to the old tutor, but now that the two families are discussing marriage, it would be better for her to go the eldest sister-in-law's way. It would be better to avoid suspicion before the marriage is finalized.

"Okay, sure. I'll tell the old master and the lady when the time comes. It's a token of your appreciation."

After all, the two families are not far apart.

"Well, okay, then I will go back and wait for your good news, sister-in-law."

"Okay, little sister, go back without worry. Have confidence in our Xin Shu!"

Yue Hongmian joked that her nephew was still very outstanding.

She thought the matter was about right. As long as the Third Young Lady hadn't secretly promised herself to someone else, she should have a 6 to 7 percent chance of success.

"Okay, I'll go back then."

After Zhao Yuanzhen delivered the message, he rode Xiao Hei back to Chengyuan.

The items you prepare should not be too expensive, nor too casual.

Prepare some exquisite snacks and bring some good wine. The old master still likes their wine very much.

Also prepare some fruit baskets and some canned food.

This makes it look both serious and elegant.

Makes people feel good.

Prepare some cakes that are thinner, easier to chew, and softer.

Red bean paste glutinous rice cake, rose cheese roll, tiger skin roll, tiramisu. Make four boxes of these four kinds, and then pack two boxes of cookies.

The cookies can be stored longer and can be given to the old lady as a snack.

As for the wine, it was the three kinds of wine brewed at home, and I picked out the ones that were stored before and the ones with older years, and took two small jars of each, and two small jars of red wine.

For the fruit basket, prepare some fruits that you can’t eat now, such as grapes, strawberries, blueberries, bayberries, loquats, cherries, watermelons, etc.

Prepare two jars of canned peaches and two jars of canned sand apples.

These are not very expensive, but hard to buy, and you can experience their intentions.

Zhao Yuanzhen prepared everything, made three copies, and placed them in the warehouse in the ring space, intending to deliver them on the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year so that they would be fresher.

Thinking about this, I also need to talk to Qian Xiaohui and Li Zhijuan.

"Lan Ying, go and call the eldest and second young mistresses over."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lan Ying came back after a while, and Qian Xiaohui and Li Zhijuan followed.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Please sit down. It's nothing serious. Aren't you going back to your parents' home tomorrow? I've prepared some gifts for you to take to your mother-in-law while I'm at home this year."

Every year, although Zhao Yuanzhen was not around, she would ask Qian Xiaohui to buy more gifts, have them reimbursed through Zhonggong’s account, and give them to Qian Xiaohui’s parents as a token of her appreciation.

This year I was at home, so we prepared it together.

"Thank you, mother. I'm sorry for your concern."

Qian Xiaohui smiled warmly, her mother-in-law was really nice.

"Well, I prepared three portions, one for each of your rooms. As for Zhijuan, this one is for you because of your parents. You can take it back to eat yourself or give it to someone else. Anyway, it's just a little token of my appreciation."

Although Li Zhijuan's family members were not around, Zhao Yuanzhen, the master of balancing things, still had to keep things fair.

"Thank you, mother. I knew you loved us."

Li Zhijuan was also very touched. Every year, Mr. Zuo Zhong would give her a sum of money as a gift, and this year he even gave her a gift.

"It's my duty to love you. You are all good daughters-in-law of the Zhang family. There is also one for Xin Shu."

Qian Xiaohui and Li Zhijuan had some differences, and neither of them had made any preparations for their third brother before because he was not married.

Are you prepared this time?

"Mom, has my third brother's marriage been arranged?"

Li Zhijuan asked cleverly.

"Well, your aunt told me yesterday that the third daughter of the old Taifu's third room is quite good. I asked your aunt to go and get some information on the sixth day of the first lunar month. This is for the old Taifu's mansion."

"Yes, I know the third young lady. I have met her several times. She is really calm, dignified, well-educated and well-mannered."

It's still the kind of thing that's engraved in her bones, without any traces of performance like other young ladies from aristocratic families.

"Yes, I just heard a while ago that the Third Miss and the Prince broke off their engagement. Aunt is really thoughtful!"

They just heard some gossip and laughed for a bit, but they didn't expect that the aunt actually set her eyes on the third young lady. The aunt was really quick-witted!

"Well, your aunt is a quick thinker. This matter has not been decided yet. You should keep it secret for now. After the sixth day of the New Year, we will see the news from your aunt and then decide on the next step."

Zhao Yuanzhen didn't want the news to spread before she accomplished anything. If it failed, it would ruin the reputation of both children.

"Mom, don't worry, we understand this and won't tell anyone."

Both of them are women, so they naturally know the importance of this matter.

"Well, you two mothers are still relieved."

The mothers and daughters talked for a while, and then Zhao Yuanzhen distributed the prepared cakes, wine, fruits, etc. to the two families.

Let them take it when they leave.

There were two kinds of pastries that they had never seen before.

Since no one wanted to give it to Li Zhijuan, she took it back to her own yard and prepared to eat it directly. She gave some to her daughter and son, and some to her wet nurse.

It doesn’t matter how much stuff you have, but how much importance your mother-in-law places on you.

She has what her sister-in-law has too.

This is enough.

I took Qian Xiaohui's share back and didn't touch it, planning to give it to Qian's father and mother tomorrow.