stingy landlady

Chapter 279 Guihong's Marriage (2)

Du Huaichuan was firm in his decision and said to Lin Xiaoyun:

“Cousin, Your Highness! You know me! I joined the army when I was just over ten years old. Where would I have a childhood sweetheart? Military orders are like mountains in the barracks. Where would I find women? Let alone the so-called 'beautiful companion'? That's simply a fantasy!”

"My dear cousin, you absolutely must be my witness! My life's most important matter, my happiness, rests entirely in your hands."

Gui Zhi found it amusing, her eyes narrowing into slits. Lin Xiaoyun also narrowed his eyes slightly and said:

"Cousin! I like you too, but it's a pity I have to go back soon! I really don't have time to meet Uncle Wang alone. Also, I need to verify your identity and such."

My cousin, there's nothing I can do to help!

Du Huaichuan looked at Guizhi and pleaded:

"Guizhi! My mistress! Please help me! I beg you to put in a good word for me with your father. Be my witness, I promise I will treat Guihong well!"

Guizhi asked earnestly:

"Young Master Du said he was good to my second sister. How exactly was he good to her? Tell us!"

A rare blush appeared on Du Huaichuan's face as he thought and said:

"Guizhi! I! I will treat Guihong well! I will not take a concubine, and I am willing to be Guihong's one and only partner for life."

I will be considerate and take care of her, I won't hit or scold her, and I will respect her! Okay? Guizhi!

Guizhi covered her mouth and laughed:

"Young Master Du, you should ask my second sister! If she agrees, I certainly won't object."

With Gui Xiang's marriage arrangements settled, Du Huaichuan returned to the county town and immediately sought out an official matchmaker. He wanted to ask one to help him propose marriage. Gui Zhi also took the time to briefly explain Du Huaichuan's situation to Dazhu.

Du Huaichuan is the current princess's nephew and Lin Xiaoyun's nominal cousin. After retiring from the army, he has soldiers under his command. He is self-reliant and deeply in love with Guihong.

When the official matchmakers arrived in Xiaoping Village, they arrived just in time to find that Young Master Zheng had already persuaded his elders to hire a matchmaker to propose marriage to Guihong. With so many suitors vying for his daughter's hand, Dazhu hesitated, looking at the two matchmakers.

The Zheng family was a prominent family in town. When Dazhu was poor, the Zheng family often helped him by buying groceries and lunch boxes to support his business. Now, Young Master Zheng did not mind that Guihong lacked social standing or sought a marriage of equal social status; he came to propose to her simply because he had taken a liking to her.

Dazhu also noticed that Guihong and Young Master Zheng were having a very pleasant conversation at Guixiang's banquet.

Gui Hong had already returned to the county town to continue her work as a shopkeeper. She was completely unaware of Da Zhu's predicament. Du Huaichuan still visited Gui Hong every few days.

When Dazhu and Li Shi politely saw the two matchmakers off, Dazhu was still frowning. Li Shi, however, was smugly pleased:

"Honey! Even though the Zhou family rejected Guihong's engagement, a wealthy family like the Zheng family still came to propose marriage. This shows that the Zhou family is blind!"

Guihong is a good woman, otherwise two families would be asking for her hand in marriage. Guihong needs to come back immediately; she can't be a shopkeeper anymore! Which wealthy family doesn't have these taboos?

They're wealthy, so they certainly wouldn't let their daughter-in-law show her face in public again. They wouldn't shamelessly haggle over a pittance for a little bit of money.

"Honey! Do you know where Guihong is in the county town? Why don't I go with you? I've never been to the county town before!"

Dazhu found her rambling on and on quite annoying. Both of them had powerful connections; agreeing to one would offend the other. But he couldn't agree to both either, leaving Dazhu in a dilemma.

At this point, Li Shi was of no help and only made things worse. Just as Da Zhu was feeling troubled, Li Shi said again:

"Honey! Isn't the county town big now? Let's take Guizhi and Guiling there to see the world. Third Sister and Fifth Sister have also invited us to visit!"

This time, let's take the two kids to the county town for a visit, so everyone can broaden their horizons!

Upon hearing Guizhi mentioned, Dazhu suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought he should ask Guizhi as well! Dazhu had always trusted Guizhi, as she was full of ideas and should be able to offer good suggestions.

"Alright! Then pack your things! We'll take Guiling to the county town for a look around. We'll broaden your horizons."

As for Guizhi, I don't know where she is. We'll ask around as we go; it's probably just one of her few places.

When Dazhu's two aunts heard that Dazhu was going to take Li to the county town, they also clamored to go with Dazhu. Li naturally refused, and Dazhu didn't indulge them.

He took Li with him to run errands, so what was the point of bringing along several concubines? What would Guihong and Guizhi think? What if he felt he couldn't live without women and was then unreliable?

Li and Dazhu arrived at Huanghua Village first and met Guiling. Guizhi wasn't there, so Dazhu asked Wanrou for leave on Guiling's behalf, saying they would take the children to the county town to visit their older sisters and broaden their horizons.

Wanrou was very understanding and approved Guiling's leave. She then asked Li Shi and Dazhu to take Guiling back to pack her change of clothes. As soon as they arrived at Guiling's residence, they heard the voices of children.

Only then did Li remember that Aunt Lan and her child lived here. Li stopped in her tracks, but Dazhu, oblivious, continued walking into the courtyard. As he walked, he asked Guiling:

"Gui Ling? Whose child lives in your courtyard? Who do you live with?"

Guiling ran into the yard with a smile:

"Daddy, Mommy! It's my little brother! He's woken up and is playing! Daddy! He can call me 'sister' now! He's so much fun!"

"Aunt Lan! Aunt Lan, open the door! Little brother! I'm back!"

Dazhu froze, and Li's face turned pale. Aunt Lan, unaware of Dazhu and Li's arrival, opened the courtyard gate and asked:

"Fourth Miss! Why are you back so early today?"

The moment the door opened, Aunt Lan was stunned to see Dazhu and Li Shi. Guiling, ignoring the adults' dispute, slipped under Aunt Lan's arm and hugged a boy.

The soft, sweet-smelling little boy hugged Guiling and called out:

"Sister! Fourth Sister!"

Guiling was also holding a little boy:

"Little brother! Big sister is back!"

Dazhu watched the siblings interact quietly, a smile creeping onto his face. Aunt Lan heard Guiling call for her brother and turned to hide the boy. But the boy called out, "Sister!" Aunt Lan dared not move, knowing she couldn't hide him any longer.

Madam Li watched quietly from behind. She knew that whether Aunt Lan could save her child this time depended entirely on herself. She had already let Aunt Lan off the hook; let's see how she handles this situation.

Aunt Lan understood immediately and hurriedly knelt before Dazhu:

"Master! Madam! This servant has been rude!"

Dazhu didn't even glance at Aunt Lan, but stared at the boy in the courtyard, smiling broadly as he said:

"A boy! Aunt Lan! You gave me a son! Lanxin! We have a son! Hahaha! Heaven has not forsaken me! God bless me! I, Wang Dazhu, have a son!"

Aunt Lan remained silent, and Madam Li was quiet. Apart from Guiling and the little boy's laughter, all three fell silent. Dazhu was the first to react, looking at Madam Li:

"Lanxin! You're so quiet, you already knew, didn't you?"