The next day, Tong Huaqiong got up early.
Stepping out of the house, she saw Chen Sufen chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and Man Er tending the fire. Tong Huaqiong got angry and started shouting in the courtyard.
"Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua, Liu Yueer, Yaozu, are you all dead? Are you just waiting for Sufen and Man Er to serve you? Lazy bastards, get up and start working!"
Despite swearing to respect their elder sister-in-law and treat their niece well, Gu Dashu and the others had forgotten their promises by morning, succumbing to their habits and waiting for Chen Sufen to finish cooking breakfast before getting up.
Hearing Tong Huaqiong's strong reprimands, they hurriedly got out of bed and stumbled out of their rooms.
Though unwilling at heart, they busied themselves under Tong Huaqiong's piercing gaze.
Gu Dashu chopped wood, Gu Jingzhe swept the courtyard, Gu Taohua tended the fire, Liu Yueer took the knife from Chen Sufen, and even little Yaozu carried a basket to collect kindling.
This was already an improvement; at least they were willing to work!
Breakfast was still the same hard-to-swallow unhusked grains, and the dish was pickled radish.
Tong Huaqiong ate a few bites before putting the bowl down. Then she took out the mung bean cake Gu Jingzhe bought in town, broke a piece, and stuffed it into her mouth.
It was too dry and greasy, with a faint, elusive bitterness in the aftertaste.
She shook her head after biting it, thinking that even the best pastry shop in town wasn't that impressive. If she were to start baking, the shops in town would likely lose their business.
No rush; once she handled the Zheng family's matters in the next couple of days, she would start making money!
Tong Huaqiong distributed the remaining mung bean cake to Man Er and Chen Sufen. Although Yaozu and Taohua looked on eagerly hoping to get a piece, Tong Huaqiong pretended not to see them.
Normally, any good food in the house was always reserved for the aunt and nephew; one had eaten enough to have a plump physique, and the other was so solid with muscle you couldn't pinch it. In comparison, Chen Sufen was almost emaciated and Man Er was all skin and bones. From now on, the good food should be saved for the mother and daughter duo, Chen Sufen and Man Er.
Of course, kind-hearted Chen Sufen couldn't bring herself to eat alone, so when Tong Huaqiong went inside to change clothes, she distributed the mung bean cake to her little sister-in-law and nephew.
"Is Sister Tong home?"
Upon hearing this voice, Chen Sufen and Man Er trembled in fear, and the mung bean cake in their hands no longer seemed appetizing.
The visitor was the prominent Matchmaker Wang of Yan Guan Town.
She was the intermediary who arranged the marriage between the Gu and Zheng families a few days ago.
She shouted as she stepped inside the door, giving Chen Sufen a hostile look. If it weren't for this family's elder daughter-in-law, the matter would have been settled long ago.
Now she had to make another trip.
Well, another trip wouldn't hurt; after all, the silver from the Zheng family would be enough to last for a year once the matter was resolved. She wouldn't lose!
At most, she put in a bit more effort.
Hopefully, this time she can complete the task smoothly.
"Aunt Wang is here, my mother-in-law is changing clothes. Please wait a moment."
Liu Yueer fetched a stool and invited Matchmaker Wang to sit.
Tong Huaqiong heard the commotion, tidied her hair, and gracefully walked out.
"Sister-in-law Wang, I was just about to go out and find you, but you've come here first. Perfect timing, now I don't have to make the extra trip." Tong Huaqiong said with a smile.
"Sister Tong, you're quite dressed up today."
Matchmaker Wang glanced over, spotting a charming and youthful widow.
This widow was naturally fair-skinned, wearing a delicate pink dress that, though slightly loose, was cinched at the waist with a silk sash, adding a layer of charm.
She had applied a layer of rouge on her cheeks, and adorned her hair with a few pearl flowers.
She appeared ten years younger than she did days ago.
They say cats get amorous in spring, perhaps the same is true for widows? Matchmaker Wang guessed that Widow Tong was yearning for a man. Yearning for men was good; Matchmaker Wang wouldn't mind arranging another deal—she had a few old bachelors on her hands waiting for a match.
After all, she was already a grandmother, but Widow Tong was only forty; she still had a body suitable for continuing the family line.
"This is a joyful occasion, I thought I'd dress up a bit."
Tong Huaqiong gave Matchmaker Wang a wink, and indeed, dressing in Gu Taohua's attire and jeweled flowers added a touch of allure to Tong Dajiao's physique.
Although Matchmaker Wang was planning to match Tong Huaqiong in the future, she couldn't help feeling disdain seeing Tong Huaqiong all dolled up, wondering for whom Widow Tong was flaunting today.
Gu Dashu and the others looked at their widow mother's adornment and were utterly stupefied.
Mother, what are you doing?
Gu Dashu wanted to represent the family and ask; could it be the joke mother made about going to the Zheng family for a wedding wasn't just a joke?
Mother certainly dared to dream big!
With a house full of grandchildren, pulling such a stunt wasn't she afraid of being chased out?
"I'm here to congratulate you. Eldest Young Master Zheng is not doing well; he was struggling all night yesterday, hanging by a thread now. Zheng family sent someone to urgently fetch a bride."
"Upon delivery, Zheng family is willing to add five hundred taels of silver."
Matchmaker Wang clapped her thigh in celebration, her face beaming with excitement.
Chen Sufen was so scared she was trembling, wanting to kneel before her mother-in-law on the spot.
She feared her mother-in-law had reverted to her old greedy ways after a night's sleep.
Five hundred taels of silver—something a farming family couldn't accumulate in a lifetime—who wouldn't be tempted?
"Five hundred taels of silver, that sounds great. Let's go now." Tong Huaqiong said excitedly.
"Sister Tong is straightforward, the carriage is waiting outside."
Matchmaker Wang was awakened by a messenger from the Zheng family at dawn, summoning her early in the morning to fetch the bride.
Just as previously stated, there was no need for formal wedding rites; they would take the bride to the Zheng family first.
Clutching the hundred taels of silver from the Zheng family, Matchmaker Wang rushed over early, fearing that if they delayed, the girl from the Gu family might end up holding Eldest Young Master Zheng's spirit tablet during a wedding ceremony.
At this moment, Chen Sufen was on the verge of fainting, and Man Er wanted to flee.
Tong Huaqiong gave Chen Sufen and Man Er a reassuring look, and said to Taohua, "Taohua, go get the four gold ingots and leftover fabric from the Zheng family."
Although Taohua didn't understand the instruction, she always listened to her widow mother. Tong Huaqiong asked her to fetch them, so she did. She took the gold ingots and fabric, and dressed herself up along the way.
Matchmaker Wang saw the newly dressed Gu Taohua, asked a bit puzzled, "Sister Tong, weren't we saying it was the young girl going?"
Saying this she pointed at Man Er, who trembled and hid behind Chen Sufen.
"I thought it over, and that little girl is too young; I'm afraid she wouldn't suppress Eldest Young Master Zheng's illness." Tong Huaqiong said casually.
Chen Sufen sighed in relief; Man Er was safe!
"True, true, indeed she's a bit young."
Matchmaker Wang smiled brightly.
Switching to Gu Taohua was good; she might be a bit plump, but plumpness could ward off evil.
This way, Matchmaker Wang could also explain to the Zheng family.
Considering how Eldest Young Master Zheng was almost wearing a necklace belonging to King Yan and could pass away at any moment, what did it matter whether she was plump or thin?
At that time, Matchmaker Wang hadn't clarified to the Zheng family exactly which girl they were getting, to avoid displeasing the Zheng family if she mentioned a six-year-old. After all, as long as Eldest Young Master Zheng had a breath remaining, the Zheng family hoped for a descendant, and a six-year-old kid who still wet the bed wouldn't do that.
As long as she stated it was a girl from the Gu family, six was a girl as was fourteen; it was the same.
As long as someone could be sent in, it would suffice.
However, this Widow Tong truly cherished her daughter, bringing along gold and fabric. Not that the Zheng family lacked these.
Tong Huaqiong slung a bundle over her shoulder, taking Gu Taohua by the hand, she addressed Matchmaker Wang, "Let's go, Sister-in-law Wang."
Matchmaker Wang smiled broadly, swaggering out the door.
"Dashu, Yueer, Yaozu, you all come along. Don't forget to carry the basket of steamed buns in the pot." Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Dashu and the others.
Matchmaker Wang sneered with disdain; no wonder they said Widow Tong had oddities, bringing steamed buns to the Zheng family—did the Zheng family lack this bit of food?
Gu Dashu obediently grabbed the basket of steamed buns Chen Sufen had cooked early in the morning.
"Sufen, you and Man Er stay home and wait."
"Jingzhe, go weed the wheat field; finish it, or else I'll have a bone to pick with you."
Tong Huaqiong climbed onto the carriage, carefully instructing those remaining at home.