Chapter 148: A Day of Blind Dating

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

Zhou You was still trying on the new clothes his mother had made for him; he looked up in confusion upon hearing this.

His mother lowered her head to carefully smooth out the creases in his clothes, "These past few days, the matchmaker and I have looked until our eyes were weary, and we've found a good girl for you."

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

"This girl has mastered her family's craft, has a diligent and thrifty nature, and is quite pretty too."

"You'er, go and meet her, will you meet her just once?"

Zhou You looked at his mother's expectant gaze, his heart softening, "Alright!"

For the blind date the next day, asking for leave for this reason was truly difficult to bring up, yet he had to mention it.

Zhou You brought it up with his master, and the old man laughed heartily and waved his hand, "Granted, it's good to go and take a look!"

The location was set at a teahouse in the city, scheduled for the morning; the man and woman would drink tea and chat, and if they were interested in taking things further, they could just happen to catch a meal at noon.

The money to book the tea table was provided by Zhou You Niang.

"Xiang Shenzi, you know my family's situation; the people coming to propose marriage have worn down my threshold."

"Although I am not some daughter of a great family, I am not someone just anyone is worthy of; I only came today for your sake."

At a table by the street in the teahouse, a fair-skinned girl with a round face spoke proudly to the matchmaker.

The girl was none other than Zhou You's blind date, and there was a reason for her arrogance toward the matchmaker.

Her family had property, and she was not bad-looking; she was a hot commodity in the marriage market.

If every matchmaker didn't have one or two high-quality resources like this in their hands, what would they use to attract customers?

"That is true, that is true! Dong Guniang, Zhou You's family conditions are quite good."

Dong Guniang used a handkerchief to hold melon seeds and peanuts, retorting while she ate, "Good in what way?"

"I've already inquired; he has no proper job and is still an Apprentice at the martial arts hall. What can he do when he comes out in the future? Be a thug or a gatekeeper? Hmph."

Spitting out melon seed shells, Dong Guniang rolled her eyes.

The matchmaker wiped her face and spoke with a fawning smile, "His father has become a manager at a trading firm, bringing in several hundred taels every year."

"If you marry into his family, with your methods, Dong Guniang, you'll surely be able to keep the whole family under your thumb."

"When your younger brother marries in the future, or if the embroidery shop business expands, you can rely on the Zhou Family for help!"

Dong Guniang felt this made sense and used two fingers to pick up a piece of pastry to chew on.

She thought for a moment and said to the matchmaker, "It won't do; how can one wait until after marriage to get benefits? Xiang Shenzi, help me convey this: if this marriage is to happen, the betrothal gift must be at least this much!"

The matchmaker looked at the gesture she made—500 taels—and cursed inwardly, "A lion opening its mouth wide."

The annual profit of Dong Guniang's family embroidery shop didn't even reach 500 taels.

The Zhou Family was well-off, doing very well at the trading firm, and Zhou You Niang had even offered a solid gold ring at the first meeting.

Yet here, Dong Guniang was stingy, not even willing to pay for the tea.

By comparison, the Zhou Family were the high-quality clients—generous and sincere in their attitude.

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

"Dong Guniang, you should discuss the matter of the betrothal gift yourself."

"As a matchmaker, I only bridge the gap; I never interfere in specific matters."

When Zhou You and his mother arrived at the teahouse, more than half of the melon seeds and pastries on the table were already gone.

"Old sister, let's go sit to the side and let the two children chat."

Zhou You Niang and the matchmaker walked away holding hands, leaving the teahouse to clear the space for the two of them.

Dong Guniang looked Zhou You up and down; hmm, new clothes, he looked spirited, but he was a bit too shabby.

His hands and neck were clean, with no gold or silver accessories, and his waist and cuffs were empty, not looking like they held a money bag.

Her expression instantly turned cold.

"Zhou You, right? Sit!"

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

Zhou You was happy when he saw this; this was exactly the kind of blind date he dreamed of—he would just show up, and when the time was up, he would get up and leave. It was worth it that he had removed all his gold jewelry before coming. The atmosphere at the tea table was somewhat awkward...

His mother and the matchmaker sat at a tea stall by the street, drinking large bowls of tea that cost one wen for a refill.

"Old sister, I am quite pleased with this girl; I wonder if it will work out?"

The matchmaker smiled awkwardly, "As long as the children have the heart, it will surely work out."

In her line of work, was it rare to see a situation where only one side was enthusiastic? She couldn't tell the truth; she always had to leave people with some hope.

"If You'er gets married, life will only get better and better!"

His mother spoke of her longing for the future, her face overflowing with a happy glow.

"How much of a betrothal gift is your family prepared to offer?"

The awkward atmosphere did not last long before it was broken by Dong Guniang.

Zhou You asked in return, "How much of a dowry is your family providing?"

He still wanted a dowry? This was simply preposterous!

Dong Guniang was furious; she was so outstanding, it wasn't excessive to ask for a betrothal gift to marry him, and he dared to ask for a dowry? Her expression turned even colder as she held up a palm, "500 taels for the betrothal gift; if we can agree on that, we can talk."

In her agitation, the melon seed shells and pastry crumbs on her body shook off with a clatter.

500 taels, that's not much! That was Zhou You's first reaction, but he glanced at Dong Guniang—the betrothal gift? Not worth it.

He shook his head, which made the other party even angrier, "No more talk! Fine, I'm leaving!"

Before Dong Guniang could even stand up, a surprised shout came from the street, "Well, well, Zhou You, you're slacking off and not at the martial arts hall; so you're here on a secret date."

Hearing this voice that feared no chaos, he knew it was the young miss, Wang Yan.

Just like that, Wang Yan had arranged to go shopping with her close friend, and while passing by this teahouse, she happened to see Zhou You sitting by the window.

"Big Miss, what a coincidence."

Wang Yan had no interest in Zhou You; she strode into the teahouse and looked directly at Dong Guniang.

She did not stand on ceremony, and after looking her over, she shook her head in disappointment, "What kind of eye do you have? This is not even as good as my maid, and it is even further from comparing to the Shen family's young miss."

What? Dong Guniang was so angry that her eyebrows stood up and she was about to lash out, when she suddenly saw the close friend beside Wang Yan.

Her attitude instantly became fawning, "Is this Miss Chen? I am from the Dong Family Embroidery House; your honorable residence placed an order with us a while ago."

Wang Yan's close friend shook her head, appearing not to know her well, "That was for autumn clothes for the servants. The clothing for my parents, brothers, and myself are all custom-made at the best weaving and embroidery workshop in Fucheng; we do not have them made at a countryside embroidery house in Gongliang City."

The fawning smile on Dong Guniang's face froze.

"Haha, Zhou You, you are usually cold and aloof, never giving me a good look."

"Yet in private, you are so desperate; if you want to take a wife, I can help introduce one to you!"

Wang Yan giggled and pushed her close friend, Miss Chen, directly in front of him, "What do you think of her?"

Miss Chen was not annoyed; instead, she smiled and teased, "Master Zhou probably wouldn't look down on our family, would he?"

"Back when the Flower-Plucking Thief was causing harm, my father went to his door to invite him, but was rejected, even with an annual salary offer of 1,000 taels."

1,000 taels—Dong Guniang's eyes could not even move; her whole mind was filled with this number.

"Don't look at him like this; he is actually very arrogant. Talking about money is useless, but if you were willing to marry down to him, he might just agree."

The two close friends joked around with each other, and after some commotion, they left.

The teahouse became quiet...

Dong Guniang was no longer as arrogant as before, and her gaze shifted uncertainly; she had many questions she wanted to ask.

But the atmosphere was awkward, and for a moment, she did not know how to start. Zhou You thought to himself that it should end here today, and just as he was about to speak, Dujuan's voice came from outside the window, "Zhou You."

Dujuan had been out buying groceries and happened to see this scene while passing by the teahouse.

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

Wah! Dong Guniang broke down on the spot, covered her face, and ran out of the teahouse crying.

Dujuan stood by the teahouse, dumbfounded; what did I do?

At the street-side tea stall, Zhou You Niang and the matchmaker looked at Dong Guniang's retreating figure as she broke down, and they looked at each other in dismay! (End of chapter)