Chapter 9 The Pretty Widow Goes to Zheng's House
The next day Tong Huaqiong got up early.
As soon as he stepped out of the house, he saw Chen Sufen cutting vegetables in the kitchen and Man'er making a fire. Tong Huaqiong got angry and started swearing in the yard.
"Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua, Liu Yue'e, Yaozu, you are all dead. Qing is waiting for Sufen and Man'er to serve you, right? You black-hearted rotten bastards, get up and work."
Although Gu Dashu and others swore to respect the eldest sister-in-law and treat their niece well, they had forgotten the oaths and vows after a night's sleep and still waited for Chen Sufen to make breakfast before getting up.
Hearing Tong Huaqiong's angry curse, he quickly got up and got out of the room.
No matter how reluctant he was, he still got busy under Tong Huaqiong's sharp gaze.
Gu Dashu chopped firewood, Gu Jingzhe swept the yard, Gu Taohua lit a fire, Liu Yue'e took the kitchen knife from Chen Sufen, and even little Yaozu carried a basket to pick up firewood.
This is already good, at least they are willing to work!
Breakfast was still the hard-to-swallow unhusked millet, and the dish was pickled radish.
Tong Huaqiong put down the bowl after taking a few bites, took out the mung bean cake that Gu Jingzhe bought in town, broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.
It's too dry and greasy, with a faint bitter aftertaste.
She took a bite and shook her head. It seemed that the pastries from the best shop in town were just so-so. If she were to bake a batch of them, the shops in town would probably be out of business.
No rush, once she finishes dealing with the Zheng family’s affairs in the next two days, she will start working to make money!
Tong Huaqiong shared the remaining mung bean cakes with Maner and Chen Sufen. Yaozu and Taohua looked at them eagerly and wanted to eat them, but Tong Huaqiong pretended not to see them.
Usually, the aunt and niece eat all the delicious food at home. One of them eats so much that she looks like a bumper crop, and the other eats so much that her body is so firm that you can't pinch her. Compared with these two, Chen Sufen is so skinny that she looks unrecognizable, and Man'er is so thin that she can only hold a handful of bones. From now on, the delicious food should be eaten by Chen Sufen and Man'er.
Of course, the kind-hearted Chen Sufen would not eat alone, so when Tong Huaqiong got up and went into the house to change clothes, she shared the mung bean cake with her sister-in-law and nephew.
"Is Sister Tong at home?"
Upon hearing the sound, Chen Sufen and Maner were so frightened that they started shaking, and the mung bean cakes in their hands no longer tasted fragrant.
The person who came was Wang the famous matchmaker in Yanguan Town.
It was she who acted as the middleman and finalized the marriage between the Gu and Zheng families a few days ago.
She shouted as she stepped into the door and glared at Chen Sufen unkindly. If the eldest daughter-in-law hadn't stopped her, the incident would have happened long ago.
Now she has to make one more trip.
She'd better run as much as she wants. After all, the money the Zheng family will give her after the matter is done will be enough to last her a year, so she won't lose out!
At most it took a little more effort.
I just hope that this trip can be done smoothly.
"Auntie Wang is here. My mother-in-law is changing her clothes. Please wait for a moment."
Liu Yue'e brought a stool and asked Wang the matchmaker to sit down.
When Tong Huaqiong heard the noise, she smoothed her hair and walked out leisurely.
"Sister Wang, I was just about to go out to look for you, but you came first. You came just in time, saving me from making an extra trip." Tong Huaqiong smiled.
"Sister Tong is dressed pretty today."
Matchmaker Wang glanced over and saw a charming and pretty widow.
The widow had a fair complexion to begin with, and she wore a delicate pink dress. The dress was a little loose, and was tied around her waist with a silk ribbon, which accentuated the widow's charm.
She had a layer of rouge on her cheeks and a few pearl flowers in her hair.
He looks ten years younger than he did a few days ago.
It is said that cats are in heat in spring, so is it the same for widows? She guessed that Widow Tong was thinking about men. Thinking about men is good, and Matchmaker Wang doesn't mind doing more business, as she has several old widowers waiting for marriage proposals.
So what if she is already a grandmother? Widow Tong is only forty years old and her body is not yet dead enough to carry on the family line.
"Isn't this a happy event? Let's dress up."
Tong Huaqiong gave matchmaker Wang a look. Not to mention Tong Da Jiao's pretty figure, she actually looked very romantic after putting on Gu Taohua's clothes and pearl flowers.
Even though Matchmaker Wang was planning to arrange a marriage for Tong Huaqiong in the future, she still looked down on her when she saw her behavior. She didn't know who this widow Tong was dressing up so coquettishly for today.
Gu Dashu and others were petrified when they saw the widowed mother's outfit.
Mom, what are you doing?
Gu Dashu wanted to ask on behalf of the whole family, was what his mother said last night about her going to the Zheng family to get married a joke?
Mom is really bold in her imagination!
There are so many people here that they are not afraid of being beaten out after doing this.
"I came here just to congratulate you. The eldest son of the Zheng family is dying. He gasped all night yesterday and is now hanging on to his last breath. The Zheng family sent someone to pick him up quickly."
"After the person is delivered, the Zheng family is willing to pay an additional 500 taels of silver."
Matchmaker Wang clapped her thighs and congratulated him, her facial features flying with excitement.
Chen Sufen was so frightened that she was trembling with fear and wanted to kneel down in front of her mother-in-law on the spot.
She was afraid that her mother-in-law would go back to her old, money-hungry self after a good night's sleep.
Five hundred taels of silver is something a farmer could never save up in his entire life. Who wouldn't be tempted?
"Five hundred taels of silver, that's great. Let's go now." Tong Huaqiong looked excited.
"Sister Tong is straightforward. The carriage is right outside."
In the early morning, someone sent by the Zheng family knocked on Wang's door and asked her to come to the Zheng family early in the morning to ask for the person.
Just as we said before, there is no need for a wedding ceremony, just bring the person to the Zheng family first.
Matchmaker Wang came early in the morning with the one hundred taels of silver given by the Zheng family. If she was too late, the girl from the Hougu family might really have to hold the spirit tablet of the eldest son of the Zheng family and worship in the hall.
At this time, Chen Sufen was so scared that she almost fainted, and Maner was so scared that she wanted to run away.
Tong Huaqiong gave Chen Sufen and Man'er a soothing look, and said to Taohua, "Taohua, go and take the four gold ingots and the remaining cloth given by the Zheng family."
Taohua didn't understand what she meant, but she listened to her widowed mother the most. She went to get the gold ingots and cloth and dressed herself up.
Matchmaker Wang looked at Gu Taohua, who had just dressed up, and asked with a little doubt, "Sister-in-law Tong, didn't you say that little girl is getting married?"
As he spoke, he pointed at Maner, who was so scared that she moved behind Chen Sufen.
"I thought about it. The girl is too young and I'm afraid she can't cure Mr. Zheng's illness." Tong Huaqiong said lightly.
Chen Sufen breathed a sigh of relief, Maner was safe!
"Yes, yes, it is indeed a little small."
Matchmaker Wang’s face was all smiles.
It’s good to change to Gu Taohua. She is a little fatter, but fat can suppress evil spirits.
This way she can explain to the Zheng family.
Young Master Zheng has a collar of the King of Hell on his head and looks like he could die at any moment, so why would he bother to pick on whether he's fat or thin.
At that time, she did not tell the Zheng family which girl specifically, for fear that the Zheng family would not agree if a six-year-old girl told them in advance. After all, as long as the eldest son Zheng was still alive, the Zheng family wanted to keep him alive. How could a six-year-old kid who wet his pants keep him alive?
Anyway, she just said she was the girl from the Gu family. She was a girl at the age of six and she was a girl at the age of fourteen, the same.
As long as people can be sent in, it's fine.
But Widow Tong loves her daughter very much. She brought all the gold and materials with her. Does the Zheng family need them?
Tong Huaqiong slung a bundle over her shoulders, took Gu Taohua by the hand and said to Matchmaker Wang, "Sister Wang, let's go."
Matchmaker Wang had a big smile on her face and walked out with her butt sticking out.
"Dashu, Yue'e, Yaozu, you should come too. And carry the basket of steamed buns in the pot with you." Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Dashu and others.
Matchmaker Wang showed a contemptuous smile on her face. No wonder everyone said that Widow Tong had a strange temper. She even carried a big steamed bun when she went to the Zheng family. Does the Zheng family need a bite of food from you?
Gu Dashu obediently carried the big steamed bun that Chen Sufen had steamed early in the morning.
"Sufen, you and Maner should wait at home."
"Jingzhe, go and pull out the weeds in the wheat field. If you can't pull them all out, I won't forgive you."
Tong Huaqiong got on the carriage and gave instructions to the people who stayed at home one by one.