Sir Song, do you want to pledge yourself to me?

Song Huai rushed into the government office in a hurry. When he saw Song Jinbai, he shouted anxiously, "Sir, something terrible has happened! The Wen family has brought matchmakers and betrothal gifts to the Ji family to propose marriage!"

Before he finished speaking, Song Jinbai passed by like a gust of wind and disappeared in an instant.

Song Huai looked at the empty place and blinked. Before he could react, Song Zhu walked in at a leisurely pace.

"Your Excellency is too impatient and has lost his composure." Song Zhu said expressionlessly.

Song Huai rolled his eyes at him.

What a boring guy, no wonder he hasn’t married yet, who can stand him?

You are so cold and unromantic, you deserve to be single for the rest of your life.

"It's already this late, and you're still being so cautious? If you were any more, your wife would belong to someone else!"

Thinking of the scene where Ji Nuan raised her leg and broke someone's knee, Song Zhu couldn't help but worry about the safety of his master. He said, "Miss Ji is too fierce. If the master..."

"You are looking for death! If Miss Ji hears this, she will chop off your head with one knife!" Song Huai interrupted Song Zhu, left a warning and hurriedly chased after him.

~~~~~

Ji's father was talking with the village chief at the edge of the workshop site when housekeeper Liu hurried over to ask him to go home, saying that there were guests visiting.

Father Ji was still curious, wondering which distinguished guest had caused the villagers to surround the gate so tightly.

Aunt Zhou was standing on tiptoe at the back of the crowd, looking inside. When she saw him, she turned around and said with a smile, "Yinzhu, the matchmaker has come to your house to propose marriage, bringing twelve loads of betrothal gifts!"

Father Ji was shocked when he heard this and blurted out: "What?"

The surrounding villagers turned around, and seeing that it was the owner of the house who had returned, they tacitly made way for him. Father Ji quickened his pace and walked through the crowd into the house.

In the main hall, a plump matchmaker in red was speaking with great enthusiasm, "The Wen family is a wealthy family in the capital. You can see their shop every three steps. They want to marry your daughter this time, and they are so sincere that they have prepared twelve loads of betrothal gifts!"

After the matchmaker finished speaking, she pointed to the third son of the Wen family who was sitting nearby and said, "He's right here. Look at him, ma'am. He's a handsome man and a good businessman. When my young lady marries him, she'll enjoy an endless life of luxury!"

The matchmaker burst into praises of the Wen family the moment she entered. Ji's mother merely smiled politely in response, but she felt the family was being rather uncouth. Neither side of the family had ever met, nor had they discussed the matter privately, and suddenly they were bringing a matchmaker to propose marriage. This was simply damaging her daughter's reputation.

"Master is back." Mother Ji stood up and welcomed Father Ji to sit down, while giving him a wink.

Wen Jihong also stood up and bowed.

Father Ji looked at the two of them and said, "I heard everything the matchmaker said. My daughter is still young, and my husband and I would like to keep her by our side for two more years. I'm sorry you two made this trip in vain."

This is an obvious rejection.

The Wen family had promised a much higher tea fee than other families for this marriage, so the matchmaker naturally didn't want to give up. She quickly said, "The Wen family is the best match possible. Why don't you think about it again, Master Ji?"

"Don't think about it anymore." Father Ji said firmly, and then ordered: "Butler, send the guests away."

The matchmaker still didn't give up and continued, "If Master Ji wants to keep the girl for a while longer, you can get her engaged first. There's still some time between the engagement and the wedding, and the girl can stay home and spend more time with you two elders."

Father Ji didn't want to hear what the matchmaker said, and ordered again: "Butler Liu, send the guests away."

"Hey hey." The matchmaker was chased out by Butler Liu, but turned back unwillingly and said, "The girl will get married sooner or later. This is really a good match. You should think about it again..."

The people were finally kicked out. Ji's father and mother looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

The two of them were lost in thought for a long time before Ji's mother spoke: "She's grown up now, so let's ask her what she thinks."

Father Ji sighed, "Oh, I'll go call her."

When Song Jinbai arrived at the Ji family's house, he happened to see Butler Liu leading the Wen family to the gate. Without waiting for Butler Liu to say hello, Song Jinbai impatiently said, "I have something to discuss with Nuan'er," and then disappeared.

Wen Jihong recalled the figure that flashed by just now. He seemed to have seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where it was.

"Let's go." Wen Jihong said calmly, without much emotion in his tone.

The matchmaker followed closely behind, feeling uneasy.

He was kicked out before the marriage was finalized, and the matchmaker carefully observed his expression.

Neither sad nor happy, as if he doesn't care about the outcome.

At the same time, Ji Nuan was busy writing and drawing in the flower hall in the backyard, and the magpie would report to her what happened in the front yard.

Song Jinbai walked into the flower hall and saw that Ji Nuan was still at ease. He called out softly, "Nuan'er."

Ji Nuan looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Why are you here suddenly?"

She gestured to Xi Que to go and do his own thing, and suddenly they were the only two left in the hall.

Without the gazes of others, Song Jinbai could no longer restrain himself. He embraced Ji Nuan in his arms and said in a low voice, "Nuan'er, you didn't agree, did you?"

Ji Nuan looked bewildered, confused by Song Jinbai's sudden question, "What did you say you didn't agree to?"

"The Wen family came to propose marriage today, and you...you didn't agree, right?" Song Jinbai's voice was filled with bitterness and nervousness.

Ji Nuan stepped back slightly and looked at him with some confusion in her eyes, "What's wrong with you? You seem to be in a weird mood."

Song Jinbai took a deep breath, trying to look more normal. "Answer my questions properly."

Ji Nuan smiled lightly, her eyes twinkling with a playful light, "Of course I didn't agree. Why would you leave such a good husband like you and agree to someone else's?" As she spoke, she playfully lifted the corners of Song Jinbai's lips with two fingers, "Come on, smile."

At this moment, Ji's father happened to step into the courtyard. As soon as one foot stepped over the threshold, the scene in front of him shocked him so much that he almost fell down.

Oh my god, how could this little brat throw herself at a man? Doesn’t she know that there is a strict separation between men and women?

As expected, he and Ji Chuan are father and son, their ideas are exactly the same.

To break the awkward situation, Father Ji coughed loudly, causing the two to turn and look at him. He said in a serious tone, "You two, keep your distance!"

Well, what else do you need to ask?

Isn’t everything clear now?

Song Jinbai quickly stood up, subconsciously standing in front of Ji Nuan, and respectfully saluted Ji's father, "Uncle."

"Dad, why are you here?" Ji Nuan poked her head out from behind Song Jinbai nervously, like a child caught in a premature love affair by her father.

Father Ji glared at Song Jinbai and said dissatisfiedly: "Fortunately, I came, otherwise I still don't know what the hell you two are up to. What are your plans for marriage? Your mother wants to hear your thoughts."