In order to keep her children and grandchildren by her side without causing any disagreements, the old lady built several independent large houses in the Zhou Mansion.
Zhoufu, located in the east of Hangzhou, has hundreds of buildings, large and small. Calling it a mansion is just a polite name, and calling it a "small town" is no exaggeration.
The gate of Zhou Mansion is not much worse than the city gate. Eight servants are waiting in two rows, and the stone lion carvings of the house is majestic and solemn.
At this moment, a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a brown brocade robe, stood at the door. Seeing Shen Wenjun's carriage arriving, he waved his sleeves and stepped forward to greet him:
"Old servant Zhou Xingwang, please pay your respects to Miss Shen."
"Old housekeeper, you don't have to be polite," Shen Wenjun opened the curtains and said, "During this period, I can just stay at Yazhao's place. Old housekeeper doesn't have to worry about preparing the guest room."
Zhou Xingwang frowned, "Young lady has come all the way, how can you live in a humble house? My old servant has already sent someone to prepare a small building, so I'd better live there."
Zhou Yazhao lowered his head in inferiority.
"I want to live with Ya Zhao." Shen Wenjun threw down the curtains, ignored the old housekeeper, and urged the coachman: "Hurry into the house and take the innermost Wutong Garden in the west."
Zhou Yazhao elbowed Shen Wenjun, glanced at Song Che, and shook his head.
"Oh, it's not like there are no vacancies in Wutong Garden. If it doesn't work out, let him sleep in the study." Shen Wenjun winked at Song Che: "Isn't that right, husband?"
Song Che was still wishing for it, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, I'm sleeping in the study."
In this case, it is inconvenient for Zhou Yazhao to say more.
After entering the Zhou Mansion, we walked west along the road for about two-quarters of an hour, passing two or three lakes, four or five gardens, seven or eight rockeries, and countless pavilions and tall buildings. Stopped in front of the small courtyard of "Wutong Garden".
Compared with the exquisite pavilion when we arrived, this small courtyard is a bit shabby, but there are several plane trees planted in the courtyard that are in full bloom, adding a lot of unique charm to the small courtyard.
"Come on, come on, Ya Zhao, I brought you a few good things from our shop. You will definitely like it when you put them on." Shen Wenjun took out the several sets of clothes and private rooms that had been folded in the accompanying box, and pulled them Yazhao jumped out of the carriage and ran to the yard.
Unexpectedly, before they could cross the threshold, two people suddenly ran out and bumped into each other.
"Oh, who doesn't have eyes? Huh? It's my little sister who's back! I'm looking for you... Yeah! Isn't this Wenjun?"
She is a middle-aged and elderly woman in her fifties, with an old heart and an old heart. The rouge and gouache on her face are thick and thick. Her face changes faster than the drama. First she is angry, then surprised, and then pleasantly surprised.
Next to the middle-aged and elderly woman stood a fat woman with round arms and waist. The collision just now had knocked the other three people upside down, but it was the only one that remained motionless.
The fat woman is fat but considers herself to be very charming. With a silk handkerchief in her hand and a mole on the corner of her mouth, she is either a madam or a matchmaker.
"Auntie..." Shen Wenjun bowed symbolically.
It turns out that she is the widow of the eldest son of the Zhou family, Zheng, Zheng Xiu'e.
Zhou Yazhao caught a glimpse of Zheng Xiu'e and the fat woman beside him, and he hid behind Shen Wenjun in a gesture, with uncontrollable fear in his eyes.
"Auntie, why did you appear in Wutong Garden?" Shen Wenjun asked in confusion.
Zheng Xiu'e pointed at Zhou Yazhao with her chin and said with a smile: "Aren't you here to choose a husband for your sister-in-law? Yazhao is already twenty this year, which is a good age for marriage. As the eldest sister of the Zhou family, I naturally want to help her. Choose a good family.”
She pointed to the fat woman next to her: "I've brought all the matchmakers. I'm a matchmaker, but Hangzhou is famous for its one-string matchmaking."
Zhou Yazhao pulled Shen Wenjun's clothes and shook his head.
Shen Wenjun protected Zhou Yazhao and said in a deep voice: "First of all, it depends on whether my sister-in-law is willing to pull the red thread. You——"
Zheng Xiu'e directly said: "This is not a question of whether you want to or not? When the male student gets married, the female student gets married, and she stays at home. She will be an old girl in a few years. In addition, she is born with deficiencies and can't speak, which makes her even more worried. I can’t get married.”
Matchmaker Wang also joined in the conversation at this time, "Yes, it is better to find a good family while you are young and have a good skin. If you wait a few more years and you become old and yellow, it is not you who chooses the family, but the family." I picked you."
Zheng Xiu'e was aggressive, bypassing Shen Wenjun and glaring at Zhou Yazhao: "Little sister, I know you are not willing, but motherhood is difficult, and the old lady also wants you to get married soon. The brothers and sisters above you, Whoever doesn’t have a family, Wenjun, who is younger than you, will be as old as you all his life!"
Matchmaker Wang came forward again, grabbed Zhou Yazhao's arm tightly, and smacked her round face with spittle flying: "Miss Zhou, you don't want to leave the court, I also have a plan for the matchmaker, can't you bring back a son-in-law? ?I have already found a person for you, the second son of Du Biaotou in the south of the city. He is nine feet tall and as strong as an ox. Although he is a bit stupid, he is really. More importantly, Du Biaotou agrees to let him. My son is getting married!"
Zheng Xiu'e continued: "Yes, the man who married into the wife has a missing brain. He is now at your disposal. Little sister, don't hesitate any more. I will ask Matchmaker Wang to issue the letter of engagement later. Don't worry, I have three matchmaking certificates and six certificates." , nothing less, our sister naturally wants to be in a good position when she recruits a son-in-law."
Facing the repeated "attacks" from Zheng Xiu'e and Matchmaker Wang, Zhou Yazhao shrank in fear, shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes, so pitiful!
"You...you are going too far! She won't marry Ya Zhao!" Even though Shen Wenjun was extremely angry, she could only open her arms to protect her for a while, but what about the future?
"Wenjun!" Zheng Xiu'e shouted: "It's not because your aunt is pressuring you with seniority. It's not your junior sister's turn to make decisions about your sister-in-law's life-long matters. What's more, her surname is Zhou, not Shen!"
"I...I..." Shen Wenjun was speechless for a moment. He had no choice but to shout loudly: "Song Che!"
"What are you doing?" Song Che held his chin and got out of his head. He was listening intently in the car.
"Ya Zhao won't marry!" Shen Wenjun shouted.
Song Che said: "You are not getting married, but are you looking for a son-in-law? If you hire a fool as your wife, you can not only serve as a servant, but also build a relationship with the escort agency. Kill two birds with one stone!"
After Xu Shi's thoughts were revealed, the aunt's face darkened, she looked at Song Che and asked: "Wenjun, who is this person? Why is he hiding in the frame of the car?"
Song Che jumped off the carriage and came to Zheng Xiu'e. He said respectfully, "Auntie here, my nephew Song Che happens to be the son-in-law of the Shen family."
When Zheng Xiu'e heard about her identity, she immediately snorted coldly and said to Zhou Yazhao: "Look, even Wenjun recruits his son-in-law to marry into his wife, so what's wrong with you?"
Shen Wenjun was so anxious that he pinched Song Che's arm hard and whispered through his teeth: "Whose side are you on..."
Song Che grimaced in pain and patted the back of Shen Wenjun's hand to reassure her. Then he turned to Matchmaker Wang and asked, "Are you the best matchmaker in Hangzhou for soliciting clients?"
Matchmaker Wang snorted, "My uncle, why are there so many thorns in my words? What I do is matchmaking, and the good marriages between pairs are for good deeds."
"So, you can get into any kind of marriage?" Song Che asked again.
Matchmaker Wang said proudly: "That's natural. With the words of a certain family, everyone is a match made by heaven."
"Is it okay for a widow?" Song Che continued to ask.
Matchmaker Wang said: "A widow marrying a widower is a hot commodity."
"Is it okay for a fifty-year-old widow?" Song Che asked again.
Matchmaker Wang hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Fifty-year-old, lack of education, and inability to have children are more difficult than for young women. However, there are also many old widowers in the city who want to find a wife."
Song Che smiled, took out an ingot of gold from his sleeve, and waved it in front of Matchmaker Wang's eyes. The matchmaker's eyes followed the ingot.
Song Che added: "To be honest, Matchmaker Wang, I happen to have a relative whose husband died when he was in his fifties. You are the only one who is closely related to the marriage. How about helping her find a good man in Hangzhou? If you can find one, A good match, this ingot of silver is just a deposit."
Matchmaker Wang immediately beamed and agreed repeatedly, "Okay, okay, no problem... Let me think about it. That old man Wang who fishes on the beach is my cousin. He is honest and honest, and more importantly, he is strong and strong. He is in great health; there is also Old Man Li who sells dog meat in the north of the city. He has a good family background and has no worries about food and clothing; Sun Xiucai, who sells calligraphy and painting at Bajiekou, is poorer but has literary talent. Old Man Liu, Old Man Zhang, Old Man Sun... …”
I have to say that her professional skills are indeed good. She counted on her fingers and spoke seventeen or eighty words in one breath. Finally, she concluded: "These old men, their wives died long ago, and they all long for a 'sunset love'!"
Song Che pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and put the money into Matchmaker Wang's hands: "As the saying goes, the rich man Wang doesn't go to outsiders. Since the old man Wang who is a fisherman is the matchmaker's cousin, let's choose him. Please come back and hire him as soon as possible. , choose a good and auspicious day nearby, and get married with great splendor!"
Matchmaker Wang held the silver and suddenly realized, "No, uncle, you haven't told me who your widowed relative is."
Song Che raised his hand and pointed at Zheng Xiu'e: "Here, far away in the horizon and right in front of you, the bride is my aunt!"
