Chapter 204: Er Lang’s Marriage

Mrs. Chen pushed open the door and saw Gu Fei resting her chin in her hand, staring blankly at a vibrant, dazzling object on the table.

Mrs. Chen’s heart skipped a beat. ’My daughter’s expression... something isn’t right. Don’t tell me she’s fallen for someone?’

’And what’s that on the table?’

’It’s so beautiful, clearly not some ordinary object. Where did it come from?’

’I was browsing around all last night, but I didn’t see anything so exquisite for sale anywhere!’

’It couldn’t have been a gift from some young man, could it?’

Mrs. Chen quietly backed out and closed the door.

The moment she was out, she pulled Gu Zhang into their room, shut the door, and said in a low voice, "Our daughter wants to go to the city alone to open an inn. How can you be at ease with that?"

Gu Zhang nodded. "I am. My daughter is smart and capable. I have more faith in her than I do in our eldest son."

Mrs. Chen was speechless. "That’s not confidence, that’s just you being careless!"

"Our daughter won’t even be a full fifteen for another half a year! A young girl like her, showing her face in public at such a tender age... How will we ever find her a good family to marry into later on?"

Gu Zhang scoffed. "What’s wrong with showing her face in public? This is Ping’an City, not some backwater village like our old home. Haven’t you seen all the young women all over the streets?"

"Besides, from the day our daughter returned, I made up my mind. From now on, she can do whatever she wants. If she wants to get married, she will. If she doesn’t, I’ll support her for the rest of my life."

Mrs. Chen glared at Gu Zhang. "What nonsense are you spouting? How can a girl not get married? Do you want her to be alone for her whole life? Not only must she marry, she must marry a good young man. Only then can I be at ease."

"No matter how capable she is, she’s still young. If we as her parents don’t plan for her future, how can that be right?"

Gu Zhang patted her shoulder. "Alright, alright. I never said she shouldn’t get married. I just said it should be her choice."

"You just focus on growing those peppers well and saving up more for her dowry. Our daughter is still young; there’s no need to worry about this yet."

Mrs. Chen couldn’t bring herself to mention what she had just seen. A young lady’s reputation was paramount, and besides, her thoughts were only speculation.

She sighed. "And then there’s Er Lang. He’s already eighteen. Back when we were at home, I had already asked someone to look for a suitable match for him. Now that we’re settled here, we need to hurry up and arrange some prospects for him."

Gu Zhang said casually, "You can just take charge of those things."

Mrs. Chen’s face was full of worry. "I want to, but—"

"Husband, haven’t you noticed anything?"

Gu Zhang was completely baffled. "You mean Er Lang? What’s wrong with him?"

Mrs. Chen was exasperated. "Er Lang’s eyes are glued to Lan Zhi from morning till night. You really haven’t noticed?"

Gu Zhang was taken aback. "That’s happening?" He truly hadn’t noticed.

Mrs. Chen said worriedly, "Er Lang has a stubborn streak. If I really go and find a wife for him, I’m afraid he’ll refuse."

Gu Zhang fell silent for a moment.

Mrs. Chen continued, "And as for Lan Zhi, although she’s fallen on hard times, she is, after all, a young lady from the Marquis Mansion. She’s skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she’s beautiful to boot. Er Lang is neither a scholar nor a warrior; he can barely recognize a few words. How could he possibly be worthy of her!"

"But that’s not even my main worry. Whether or not he’s worthy of her is one thing; if she were willing, that would be fine."

"But what I’m worried about is, if he marries such a delicate wife, wouldn’t Er Lang have to worship the ground she walks on every single day?"

"A wife is for carrying on the family line and serving her husband! If that foolish boy really marries her, I think he’ll be the one serving her instead!"

Gu Zhang looked at Mrs. Chen. "Then what do you think we should do?"

Mrs. Chen snapped irritably, "Isn’t it because I don’t know what to do that I’m asking for your opinion!"