CHAPTER 786: CHAPTER 786: SINCERITY

Great Chu people call those who come to propose marriage "Guests of Joy."

Third Grandma cheerfully called out to the people outside: "Who is it? Who comes knocking so early in the morning?" As she spoke, she stretched her neck to look outside, her eager desire to open the door contrasted with the restraint she had to maintain due to decorum.

Hearing this, the children outside shouted again: "Your family has a Guest of Joy at the door, hurry and open it."

Third Grandma still smiled, yet neither answered nor opened the door.

Ms. Chang understood the customs and turned to Official Matchmaker Liang beside her saying: "Would you please do us the honor of calling at the door?"

Official Matchmaker Liang was one of the three major official matchmakers in Tianfu County. With increasing age and a comfortable life at home, she rarely engaged in matchmaking anymore. This time, Ms. Chang had asked her three times before she agreed to come, and it was made clear that the match with the Qi Family was already arranged; she need not do anything but appear as a formality, which led Official Matchmaker Liang to accept.

"Continue playing the celebratory music," Official Matchmaker Liang said, stepping forward to call out: "Qi Family, I am Liang, the official matchmaker from the county, here to bring your family joy."

After several calls, the Qi Family’s main gate was finally opened.

The ones who came out were Third Grandma, Gu Daya, and Mrs. Cui. Mrs. Chen wanted to come out too but was stopped by Third Grandma.

Seeing the door open, Official Matchmaker Liang immediately stated her purpose: "Elder sister, I am Liang, the official matchmaker from the county, well-known throughout the whole Tianfu County. Today, I have come to deliver joy to your family. A respectable family from Yanfu Village, having heard that you have a daughter of marriageable age, is here to request her hand in marriage."

Third Grandma was beaming with joy, but, following tradition, gave Official Matchmaker Liang a hard time before finally inviting her inside.

Brother Cheng, standing by the side, mimicked everything he saw to relay to Gu Jinli and the others.

Gu Jinli could hardly contain her laughter upon hearing this; a marriage that had already been agreed upon still required the pretense of surprise when the matchmaker visited: Ah? Your family wants to request the hand of our daughter in marriage? But we don’t know anything about your family’s background; we cannot agree just yet, we must inquire first.

Some of Great Chu’s customs are indeed hilariously amusing.

Luo Huiniang said: "Xiao Yu, what are you laughing at? There’s nothing funny about this. It’s how we do things in Great Chu."

Even when two families have privately agreed on a marriage, they must go through this formal process when the matchmaker visits, as it serves to highlight the value of the bride’s family.

Gu Jinli held back her laughter: "Alright, I’ll stop laughing."

She pondered to herself, if she and Brother Qin were to become engaged, would she also have to go through this performance when the matchmaker visited?

Pfft!

Sorry, she couldn’t help but laugh again.

Luo Huiniang looked at her as if she were looking at a lunatic: "Xiao Yu, be serious. We’re discussing Sister Le’s marriage matters right now. You keep laughing and laughing; it’s not appropriate at all."

Gu Jinli replied: "My apologies, I will be serious now."

Satisfied with the response, Luo Huiniang, unable to contain her curiosity, summoned Brother Cheng: "Brother Cheng, let’s sneak to the front and have a peek."

She, too, wanted to witness the commotion.

Gu Jinli said: "Don’t go, you’re all grown up now; it wouldn’t look good if you were caught eavesdropping. Let Brother Cheng go alone, and he can come back and mimic it for us."

After considering this, Luo Huiniang felt it was indeed unbecoming for her to watch such affairs at her age and nodded in agreement: "Alright then."

She then urged: "Brother Cheng, quickly go."

Brother Cheng dashed off in a flash.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, after pleasantries had been exchanged with Third Grandma and the others, Ms. Chang took out a piece of paper and a genealogy book with a cover, handing them to Gu Daya: "This is the Chang family’s patrilineal document, and this is the new genealogy of Brother Rui and his branch, we’ve had it all prepared, please take a look."

Gu Daya and Third Grandma were both excited and delighted, carefully accepting the new genealogy and the clan separation document: "It’s done so quickly?"

Ms. Chang nodded: "As soon as the marriage between Brother Rui and Sister Le was verbally agreed upon, we went back to the old Chang family home and informed the current Clan Leader about the separation. Because of the words left by the old Clan Leader, even though the current Clan Leader was not too pleased, he could only agree."

This was put in a positive light, but in reality, the Yuan Family had given the Chang Family one hundred taels of Silver, which finally persuaded the Chang Family to agree to their separation and to transcribe a new genealogy for them.

However, these one hundred taels of Silver would come from Brother Rui’s share of the profits from the Brick Kiln, and would not disadvantage Da Yi and Sanji.

When Gu Daya heard this, her eyes welled up with tears, and after handing the clan separation document and new genealogy to Mrs. Cui, she grasped Ms. Chang’s hand and said: "Brother Rui’s mother..."

Ms. Chang interrupted Gu Daya, saying with a smile: "No need to say anything, as long as the two children are well, that will be enough."

Hearing this, Gu Daya could not hold back her tears any longer... Sister Le must have accumulated great virtues in her past life to come across a good family like the Yuan Family in this life.

Had it been any other family, not to mention proceeding to this step, they would have immediately left upon hearing that Sister Le had been sold to a brothel, and they probably would have spat in disgust, cursing Sister Le as heartless for hiding the truth for such a long time.

Ms. Chang, being the only daughter in her family and without a male heir, had suffered hardships beyond what ordinary people endure. She did not want to see another young woman endure suffering over a marriage arrangement.

But...

"Old sister, this is all I can do. From now on, how their days unfold depends entirely on the two of them." Ms. Chang felt a sense of frustration over the marriage between Chang Errui and Qi Kangle. She had cried, smashed cups, and flipped tables at home, but in the end, she still paved the way for Brother Rui and Sister Le.

Knowing that outsiders were present, Gu Daya realized it was not appropriate to discuss these matters in detail, so she wiped away her tears and said with a smile: "Yes, today is a day of great joy. Let’s not talk about the other things. Let the children lead a good life from now on."

Ms. Chang nodded with a smile.

Official Matchmaker Liang clapped her hands and said with a laugh: "So, this means the betrothal is officially settled?"

Gu Daya: "Yes, please proceed according to the customs."

Official Matchmaker Liang said with a smile: "Good, then let’s formally and efficiently finalize the marriage."

Ms. Chang, after three years of troubles with the marriage between Chang Errui and Qi Kangle, had no desire to continue the ordeal and promptly asked Official Matchmaker Liang to carry out the betrothal rites and asking the name.

"Once we’ve calculated the children’s birth dates and eight characters, we’ll go to the government office to request the engagement letter," said Ms. Chang.

Gu Daya nodded vigorously: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Thinking to herself, she was slightly apprehensive, fearing that Ms. Chang might harbor dissatisfaction since Sister Le had caused so much trouble.

Ms. Chang saw Gu Daya’s caution and said with a smile: "I am marrying a daughter-in-law; it’s only right to put in the effort."

Third Grandma said: "We know you’ve worked hard. We have prepared several banquet tables at home. Let’s have a meal first before we head back."

Several banquet tables?

Official Matchmaker Liang was somewhat surprised, realizing that the Qi Family was indeed living well. They had prepared several banquet tables just to accommodate guests for a betrothal, which was far better than those families that couldn’t afford even the bridal send-off wine.

When they sat down for the meal and saw a table full of meat dishes, including beef, Liang was taken aback again. Such a spread would cost at least one tael of Silver to prepare.

Official Matchmaker Liang was very happy, and ate quite contentedly.

After the banquet, Gu Daya called Qi Kangle to meet Ms. Chang.

Qi Kangle, already aware that Ms. Chang had brought over the clan separation document and new genealogy, immediately knelt down: "Aunt Yuan’s kindness to me, I will remember for a lifetime, and dare not forget."