Chapter 402: Chapter 401: Are All Scholars So Self-Righteous?
The street was bustling with noise and teeming with people.
The canopy carriage slowly stopped in front of the tavern.
After having enough of the turmoil at the Shen Residence, the girl did not forget the matter of seeing Zheng Qianyu, and she lifted her skirt as she disembarked from the carriage.
Soon, a servant came forward to greet her.
"Madam has finally returned."
She paid her respects to Shen Hua and then meticulously reported to Zheng Qianyu: "The Old Master originally did not like that young man, but he was sweet-talking, and in no time, he had charmed the Old Master who was brimming with praise. His words implied that if it were not for the lack of funds, he might have already achieved a ranking in the examinations."
Shen Hua: ...
Not to mention Zheng Qianyu liking scholars, Old Master Zheng liked them too.
His several sons were not cut out for scholarly pursuits. However, if the future son-in-law were to achieve scholarly honors, the Zheng Family would also be gaining prestige, making their ancestors proud.
She glanced towards Zheng Qianyu.
Zheng Qianyu: "Is his appearance handsome?"
The servant bowed his head, not daring to speak.
Seeing this, Zheng Qianyu furrowed her brows, and the group headed towards a specific location.
’Creak’, the door was pushed open by someone outside.
In the private room, the matchmaker was the quickest to react; she looked at the newcomer and immediately stood up with a smile: "Ah, Miss Zheng."
In the Da Qi Dynasty, common folk had fewer rules for meeting prospects compared to the rituals observed by noble families. They did not meet male visitors, or they were separated by a screen, and only after the marriage was agreed could they show their faces.
The Zheng Family owned a rice shop with several branches, but they generally did not fuss about these matters. Old Master Zheng was eager to marry off his daughter, and Zheng Qianyu was extremely picky. If she did not like someone, they could not force her into the marriage flower sedan chair. This was also why they had arranged to meet here today.
Elders were present on both sides, so it was not a private meeting.
Outside, they would not say it was a meeting for marriage, but rather a visit with distant relatives.
Zheng Qianyu glanced at the person next to the matchmaker and was utterly breathless. She hurriedly looked at the delicate and beautiful Shen Hua to comfort her eyes.
Save me.
She wanted Shen Hua to forget that miner, and with this comparison, wouldn’t the girl remain faithful to that man till death?
Mrs. Zheng was happy to step forward: "Miss Shen."
"I heard yesterday that you had returned, and I thought of finding a suitable time to see you."
Shen Hua also smiled back: "Aunt."
Old Master Zheng beckoned Zheng Qianyu to come forward.
"This is Zhao Hua, the eldest of three brothers in his family, both parents are alive, the family burden is heavy, but he is ambitious."
The scholar restrained himself from glancing towards Shen Hua, instead, he looked tenderly towards Zheng Qianyu with his small sesame seed eyes.
He stood up and bowed to Zheng Qianyu.
"Miss Zheng, may you be well-groomed."
Zheng Qianyu was uneasy.
She wanted to go die.
Her expression was written all over her face.
"Am I really that bad? That any man, Daddy would want to thrust on me?"
"Even if I never marry all my life, I absolutely won’t settle. If Daddy likes him, you marry him!"
Old Master Zheng was furious.
A flash of surprise crossed Zhao Hua’s eyes.
"You—"
"Uncle."
Shen Hua’s voice was soft and gentle.
"Since Zheng Qianyu and I have known each other since childhood, I’m a bit puzzled. Why not let me personally ask Mr. Zhao?"
Without waiting for Old Master Zheng’s approval, the girl lifted her chin, her demeanor exuding pride.
"Do you have two younger brothers? Have you divided the family estate?"
Zhao Hua, seeing her beautiful appearance, hurriedly bowed courteously.
"Not yet. As our parents are alive, we cannot split the family."
Old Master Zheng nodded repeatedly: "Correct, this shows filial piety."
Shen Hua was blunt: "You don’t have a few brothers, and your family is poor. If the future bride enters your family, besides caring for the elders, must she also support your younger brothers? Acting as an elder sister-in-law as if a mother, and later managing wedding arrangements too?"
This is not marrying a wife; this is marrying a deity of wealth.
Old Master Zheng fell silent.
Zheng Qianyu was disgusted beyond measure.
The girl was nonchalantly dismissive: "Also, since you have ambitions, are you a scholar then?"
Seeing him not speaking.
"Scholar?"
Not speaking.
"Child student?"
Everyone’s faces grew much more serious.
She sneered, "So not a single one."
"How many times have you taken the child test? How many times have you failed?"
"Why not, Mr. Zhao? How about composing a poem on the spot and let us appreciate it? After all, knowledge is one’s own, not something you can stick on your face or just talk about."
This encounter naturally ended on a sour note.
Zhao Hua lost his demeanor of a refined gentleman and fled in terror.
However, before leaving, he left a remark.
"Old Master Zheng, let’s be honest, how could a real scholar fancy your daughter, from a family that sells rice, who merely has some filthy money?"
The matchmaker was in a dilemma whether to chase him or not.
She hated Zhao Hua to death!
Having known that if the Zheng Family’s marriage proposal succeeded, she could get a substantial reward.
"This—"
"I truly didn’t know he had such a disposition."
"I will definitely choose the best one for Miss Zheng in return."
Old Master Zheng, angered, smashed the teacup in his hand, shards scattering across the floor, causing the matchmaker’s heart to skip a beat.
"Get out!"
The matchmaker hurriedly left, frightened.
Mrs. Zheng tried to calm Old Master Zheng: "Good, such a person is not worthy of our daughter. It’s a blessing that Miss Shen exposed him. It’s also our oversight."
She realized that Old Master Zheng wished for Zheng Qianyu to marry well, but propriety still commanded an equal match.
Zheng Qianyu, looking downcast, felt deeply struck by the incident.
"Are all scholars so arrogantly self-righteous?"
Reflecting, she said: "Fengzhou Luming Academy has scholars sponsored by my daddy. The tuition is paid by our family. When he achieved academic success, my daddy was overjoyed, but when he visited, he repaid all the money over the years to settle accounts, unwilling to have further ties with our family."
Shen Hua knew about this.
This scholar, when in dire straits, personally sought help from the Zheng family.
At that time, Old Master Zheng was also pragmatic. He was willing to sponsor him, but as soon as he made a name for himself, he immediately agreed to a marriage arrangement with Zheng Qianyu.
It was merely a fair transaction, never involving coercion, and the man eagerly accepted.
But...once successful, he also broke the engagement.
Marrying Zheng Qianyu to a scholar had become an obsession for the Zheng family.
As for being arrogantly self-righteous...
Shen Hua glanced at her: "It depends on the person."
Thinking for a moment, she sincerely lectured.
"A truly cultured gentleman cares not about family background. While some might emphasize status matching, ultimately he will bow down based on the girl’s character and whether he likes her."
"A capable young man depends on his own abilities to climb up, not on his in-law’s family."
Like...Cui Bai.
He made Qiao Si the most noble Madam. The object of many noble ladies’ envy and admiration.
Zheng Qianyu faintly understood.
But she seemed a bit confused.
Barely a moment after holding herself properly, seeing Old Master Zheng moving farther away, she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.
"Is your uncle... already married? "
"Why should I worry about my elder’s matters? However, he is also a student at the Luming Mountain Academy, and I heard that the teacher thinks highly of him."
"He’s only three years older than you."
Shen Hua pursed her lips: "You even saw him relieve himself."
"Why not see if you can be his aunt yourself?"
Zheng Qianyu felt like cursing her for being crazy.
Yet for some reason, her uncle indeed looked good.
"But I have offended him already."
"When have you offended him less?"