CHAPTER 1345: CHAPTER 1323: SETTLED

Even Old Zhou agreed to give the shop as a dowry to his daughter, so Zhou Dalang had no objections. The next day, he handed a colorful silk to Old Zhou, turned around, and went out to find a matchmaker.

In the nearby villages, not even in the county, it was rare for families to give a shop as part of the dowry when marrying off their daughter. So when the matchmaker heard Zhou Dalang’s words, she finished her breakfast and went to Dali Village to find Chief Guan.

The Guan family hadn’t divided their household either. In this era, unless there was deep enmity and a family could not live together, they wouldn’t divide the family.

The wealthy and powerful families depend on the stronger, while the stronger need the weaker, so they don’t split.

And ordinary families can’t afford to split because the labor and taxes after division were too burdensome.

So advising someone to split a family invites heavenly punishment.

Though the chief’s family held the position, they also had to perform labor services and couldn’t escape taxes, so they didn’t divide the family either. Haven’t you seen how the Zhou Family has six sons squeezed into two courtyards without division?

He only had two sons, so they were in no hurry.

So when the matchmaker arrived, the Guan family members were all at home.

As the New Year approached, during the cold winter, they had nowhere else to go but home. Upon hearing that the Zhou Family was gifting a shop in the county as part of Zhou Lixin’s dowry, Guan family members’ eyes lit up.

Especially the eldest household, their eyes were bright as they looked toward Chief Guan.

Chief Guan asked the matchmaker, "Do you know what the Zhou family desires for the betrothal gift?"

The matchmaker laughed and said, "For the betrothal gift, just follow the norm. The Zhou Family’s idea is that these items are meant for the young couple’s future life together. In the future, the eldest son will study in the county, and the Zhou family’s eldest daughter will also manage the shop. Both young ones will be in the county, so it wouldn’t be ideal for one to live in the shop and another in the school, right?"

Chief Guan nodded thoughtfully.

The matchmaker laughed and said, "So the Zhou family’s idea is that if you can buy a residence in the county for the children, it would be perfect. This way, the eldest son will have someone to care for him while studying, and managing the shop won’t be disrupted."

She hinted, "Chief, both children are not young anymore. If they get married, they shouldn’t be apart frequently; it would be more stable after the birth of a child."

Guan Dalang and his wife found the matchmaker’s words reasonable and anxiously looked at Chief Guan.

Guan Erlang’s wife pinched Guan Erlang.

Chief Guan thought for a moment and nodded, "Those words make sense. But I wonder what requirements the Zhou family has for the residence?"

Guan Erlang couldn’t help but say, "Father, a residence in the county, even a small one, costs seventy or eighty taels, right?"

Even though their family was well-off, marrying a wife cost around ten taels, and buying a residence would be too expensive.

Chief Guan naturally understood the cost, but since the Zhou family was willing to give away a shop, he couldn’t let his eldest grandson lose face there.

He glanced at his second son, then said to the matchmaker, "Please help us inquire about any requirements the Zhou family has for the residence."

The matchmaker immediately smiled and said, "The Zhou Family mentioned it simply as a living place in the county for convenience to the two children, regardless of size, so the Guan family can decide on their own."

She laughed, "I asked carefully before coming, and their shop profits significantly every month, mostly relying on profits from Qian Dalang’s wife. After it becomes part of the dowry, the mother and daughter will continue managing the shop, so there’s no worry about the business."

Not only the second branch but even the eldest branch couldn’t help thinking, if the shop was still managed by the maiden’s family, how does it count as dowry?

The matchmaker unhurriedly whispered, "Chief should know, in restaurant business, the cook’s skill is most crucial. I heard their restaurant in the county has only been open for two or three years, yet business is better than some older establishments."

Chief Guan clearly knew this and had even eaten there. He smiled, "Their dishes are good; indeed, the mother-in-law’s cooking skills are decent."

The matchmaker smiled, "Exactly, with Qian Dalang’s wife there, the restaurant will never go bankrupt. In the future, Zhou family’s eldest daughter will keep the profits, but since she and the eldest son are a couple, there’s no distinction between them. Whatever the eldest son eats and uses in the city, she can assist him, right?"

The Guan family began to ponder.

Studying was most costly. Chief Guan couldn’t promise equal treatment for all three grandsons, but all were studying. However, the two younger ones seemed to show talent in farming. Even Chief Guan and their parents had somewhat given up and planned to focus fully on supporting Guan Yong’s studies.

Books, ink, and paper were most costly, not considering miscellaneous study-related expenses. With Zhou Lixin’s dowry as a foundation, a bit of assistance would make the family’s burden much lighter.

Now, Guan Erlang and his wife had no objections, although seventy to eighty taels for a residence was quite high.

Chief Guan thought even further. The fact that the Zhou family could offer the shop showed that Zhou Man brought back many things from the capital this time.

Otherwise, given Zhou Jin’s stingy nature, how would he be willing to offer a shop as dowry?

However, what Chief Guan valued wasn’t the things Zhou Man brought back but the person who could earn them and their capability.

How old was Zhou Man?

How young were Zhou Silang and the others who went with her?

The future was promising, and having an uncle and aunt like them would always offer support during difficult times for the eldest grandson’s wife.

The chief couldn’t help but smile and kindly escorted the matchmaker out, then called his eldest son, "Go to the city tomorrow and look for a real estate agent to check the houses. No need to buy a big one; just a small courtyard with a well, so the couple doesn’t need to buy water later."

He added, "Choose one not far from the County School, so Yong can conveniently go to school. I recall their shop isn’t far from the County School either, making it convenient for the eldest grandson’s wife to get to the shop."

Of course, it wasn’t far; Luojiang County was small, with just one main street that could be walked in half an hour. What was considered far?

Still, Guan Dalang gladly agreed; purchasing a house and land is indeed a major event.

"Father, when should we purchase the house?"

"No rush, our family won’t go back on our word. This house will be lived in for a long time, so we should choose carefully. We can decide now and buy it after the New Year. Yong will start studying at the County School after the year, no hurry."

But Guan Dalang feared his father might change his mind and wished to settle it sooner, ideally before the grandson’s wife entered so it showed sincerity.

The chief was accustomed to steady handling, so everything proceeded slowly, as always.

However, the Zhou Family didn’t slow down. Once the matchmaker confirmed things, Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang found a good time and went to the office to transfer the shop to Daya’s name before the New Year.