The Tians' ritual of dividing the gods has been completed, and both sides have put away the marriage certificates. The ceremony is over, and all that's left is to report to the government office. Shen's family will arrange for everyone to eat, with Old Master Tian, Zeng Rui Xiang, Zhou Zhanggui, Lin Kangping and others at one table. Because there are outsiders present, Tian's wife, He's wife, and Shen's wife have set up another table in the adjacent kitchen.

  Boss Zhou smiled and said, "Old Master Zeng has a good eye for people. To be honest, I've also known Kangping for several years, he's steady, intelligent, can endure hardship, and has prospects. This meal of matchmaker's fee is worth eating. You can rest assured, I know what to do."

  Zeng Ruixiang raised his cup with both hands: "Thank you, thank you so much, no more words, let's drink."

  Tian's family heard Zhou Zhuang's words, and directly asked Shen's family: "What is it that you know what to do? Is there another hidden reason for Zi Qing's marriage arrangement? I said so, the eldest and second child are not engaged, why is she in such a hurry? What's going on, treating us like dead people?"

  "Mother, there's nothing hidden about it. I just think Lin Kangping is a good kid with decent conditions and we're familiar with his family too. Don't want to miss the opportunity. He's also 17 this year, same age as Fu'er. Speaking of Fu'er, it's time for us to find him a good one too."

  "My dear sister-in-law is also too anxious, don't worry, our children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, we are old, let's not bother with those trivial matters anymore, just live a peaceful life for the rest of our days." Madam He said.

  The Tian family was just about to refute, when the doorbell rang. Zi Xi ran to open the door, and to their surprise, it was Chun Yu and her family who had arrived. As soon as they entered, Chun Yu exclaimed: "Second brother, you're being too stingy! It's your niece's engagement day, after all. How can you not even treat us to a meal? Is it because the groom's status is too high, and you're afraid of losing face if we come? Or is it because his status is too low, and you don't think he's worth entertaining? I remember you saying that Zi Qing was your treasured daughter. How can you be so secretive about her engagement? I want to see what kind of great talent has surpassed my family's Da Mao! Who is this person?"

  Shen's face turned pale with anger, and Zi Qing hurried over to support her. Zeng Rui Xiang came out and stared at Chun Yu, saying: "If you're here to sincerely drink a cup of wedding wine, then sit down honestly. If you're here to pick a fight, take your family and leave. I'm still your second brother, how can I let you behave wildly here? Don't you know what kind of occasion this is today?" Zeng Rui Xiang looked at Tian Shi with a glance, reminding her that he had told her not to tell Chun Yu's family that he wasn't planning on hosting the dinner.

  The old man came out, stared at Tian Shi for a moment, and then said to Chunyu: "What's the point of eating? Go home! Your second brother and new son-in-law are just about to go to the county government to file a case. Where is the energy to entertain you?"

  Lin Kangping also came out and asked: "Is this Zi Qing's aunt? Were you the one who wanted to see me earlier? What advice do you have for me, Aunt?"

  Chun Yu gave Lin Kangping a slanted glance and asked, "Can you also call your aunt? It's not certain what's going on yet. You're in such a hurry to call your aunt, I think you're just like that. You're only slightly better than my family's Big Mao, what's so great about it? Why must you hide and conceal it? I don't know what Second Brother sees in you. My family's Big Mao has at least read a few years of books, but can't compare to a servant like you?"

  "I thought Qing'er's aunt was also my aunt, but since she isn't, may I ask why you want to see me? You foolish servant, this aunt must not have heard that the gatekeeper of a prime minister's house is still a seventh-rank official. It's fine if your reckless talk offends me, but what if one day you offend someone you shouldn't and end up regretting it." Lin Kang said slowly and calmly.

  Yan Renda pulled Chunyu over, whispered a few words in her ear, but Chunyu still didn't believe it. She said indignantly: "What's so special about her? I don't think my family's big shot can find anyone better than Zi Qing! You guys are just treating her like a treasure, wait till she does something as crazy as Zi Ping one day..."

  Just as Chunyu was about to finish speaking, Zeng Ruixiang slapped her with a loud "slap", which not only stunned Chunyu but also stunned Tian Shi, Lao Yezi and Shen Shi, who all stared at him.

  Zeng Ruixiang pointed at Chunyu and scolded: "Is this something a decent woman like you should say? Don't you have sons and daughters of your own? Can you just let others slander the children in your family? How can my innocent daughter be so easily defamed by you?"

  Chun Yu covered half of her face, looking at Zeng Rui Xiang's incredulous expression. Her usually gentle and soft-spoken second brother had actually hit her today? And it was in front of their parents and outsiders too! She was so angry that she forgot to cry, looking at Zeng Rui Xiang again, then at Tian Shi, as if she had been stunned silly.

  "Even if Chunyu said something wrong, it was just a moment of anger and confusion. As her brother, you can't humiliate her in public, just say a few words to her would be enough. Besides, our parents are still standing there." Tian Shi looked at Chunyu with sympathy.

  "I think it's time to take action, Xiang'er won't make a move, I will. Let's not say anything else, let's go." The old man said and turned to Zhou Zhanggui: "Sorry about this, Mr. Zhanggui, you've seen a joke. It's all because I didn't teach my daughter well. However, my granddaughter is still good, it's not me boasting, but among the young ladies from big families, I haven't seen anyone better than her in these nearby villages. Firstly, she's still young, secondly, she doesn't often go out, so until now no one has come to propose marriage, you are the first ones. If there's nothing wrong with this arrangement, we can go to the county office to register right away. If you're worried that something might be wrong or that we've hidden something from you and want to back out, it's still possible."

  Boss Zhou looked at Lin Kangping, and Lin Kangping quickly said: "Let's follow Old Master's words, let's go to the upper room now. It just so happens that we can take Uncle Zhou's carriage together. What do you say, Father-in-law?"

  "Kangping, come in, I have something to say to you." Shen suddenly said.

  "No need, mother-in-law. If we continue talking, the government office will be closed. I'll come back next time to listen. I want to marry Qing'er, and no matter what happens in the future, I won't regret it. I swear that this lifetime I will only marry Qing'er, and I will definitely not abandon her. Everyone present is a witness. If one day I go back on my word, let me not die a good death." Lin Kangping's words were loud and clear.

  "Brother-in-law, I originally didn't think much of you, thinking that you hadn't read many books. But your words just now really made me admire you, it was my mistake earlier, I misjudged you." Zi Lu said, patting Lin Kangping's shoulder.

  "Sister-in-law, I also think highly of you, supporting you," said Zixi. Zishou was not at home because school had resumed classes.

  "Since Manager Kang has spoken, let's hurry up and leave." said Zhou Zhanggui.

  Zeng Ruixiang took Lin Kangping away, and the old man also took Chunyu's family away. After the guests left, He Shi pulled Zi Qing's hand into the bedroom, wiping her tears and saying: "Child, I'm sorry for you, your aunt is really not like a good person, fortunately your father stood up for himself today, otherwise, who knows what would have happened to your mother? But what was she trying to achieve by doing this?"

  "Zi Qing told her grandmother about the events of the first month, and He Shi listened, shaking her head. 'What kind of family is that? Not as good as your aunt's family! Luckily, your father didn't listen to your aunt this time, or else I would have strongly opposed it too. Your mother suffered for over a decade, and I don't want you to suffer the same fate. Your mother will also strongly oppose it.

  Child, I didn't expect you to get engaged so quickly. Your mother told me on the way here, and I was shocked. Don't blame your father and mother, child. The life of a wealthy family may look glorious on the surface, but in reality, once a woman enters that grand mansion, she's locked in for the rest of her life. Especially someone like you with no background to speak of - it's likely you'll lose yourself, and your parents at home won't even know what happened! You're all grown up now, so be understanding of your mother.'"

  "Grandma, I know what you said, I have nothing to resent, and I didn't think of entering someone's mansion either, the threshold is too high, I couldn't even step in."

  "Your grandmother knew you were a rare find, and she looked at you with cold eyes. With your looks and demeanor, it's not an exaggeration to say that you're one in a thousand. Living in the countryside is really a waste of your talents. Actually, from the moment you were born, I saw how much you resembled my mother - both in appearance and intelligence. They say she learned embroidery in just three or four years and was able to make a name for herself with her beautiful stitching in a wealthy household. Who would have thought that you'd encounter the same difficulties she did, and yet you've chosen the same path as hers."

  He's words sparked Ziying's curiosity, she had only heard Shen say that she was an embroidery girl from a wealthy family in Hangzhou, how could she have traveled thousands of miles back to her hometown and married a farmer, there must be many heart-wrenching stories that no one knew about. For some reason, Ziying suddenly felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and asked: "Grandma, what was my great-grandmother like? Can you tell me?"

  He heard Zi Qing's words, his eyes gazed out the window at a certain point, and he fell into deep thought. After a long time, he said, "What's there to say? It's just a rich young master and a servant girl from home. The embroiderer was also a servant girl, and because she couldn't fulfill her promise, the servant girl was driven out by the wife of the main house and had nowhere to turn. Fortunately, the old lady remembered past favors and allowed her to remove her slave status, and she returned to her hometown to get married. As for your mother, I always thought that with her looks and embroidery skills, marrying a farmer would be a bit of a waste. After selecting and choosing, she chose your father. The result is that you can imagine what kind of life your mother lived back then by looking at your grandmother's family today. Today, looking at Kangping, he's actually better than your father in some ways."

  He's words struck a chord in Zi Qing's heart, and she gazed out of the window lost in thought.

  After the two were engaged, Shen brought Zilu to Anzhou City. The house was still found by Lin Kangping, who said he was more familiar with Anzhou City. Zeng Rui Xiang's academy also resumed classes, and Zi Qing accompanied her grandmother and younger sister every day. The fruit trees and melon fields on the back mountain were busy all the time, and a day's time seemed to pass very quickly.

  These days, Lin Kangping almost comes every day to accompany Ziying to water the melons, weed, fertilize, and patrol the back mountain every day, pick up eggs, and pile chicken manure under the trees. The feelings of the two people are also gradually warming up, mainly because Ziying has learned that the other party is her good man, so she has opened up her mind to accept him. In her spare time, she even makes clothes, shoes and socks for Lin Kangping, and the fabric at home is readily available.

  On this day, the two were busy in the melon field when they heard a horse's hooves outside the gate, rushing towards the courtyard.