Eavesdropping

Zhou Sirlang ran fiercely. When he finally stopped, not only were his hands and feet weak, but his whole body was trembling.

He struggled to change into a new set of clothes and shakily made his way back to the main hall.

Old Zhou was inexplicably blamed for something. Upon seeing him crying, someone asked, "Why are you crying?"

Zhou Sirlang blushed and lowered his head in silence.

Old Zhou couldn't help but slam the table and said, "I'm asking you a question." "Did you cause trouble today?"

Zhou Filar and Zhou Sixth were anxious but couldn't come up with a good excuse.

Zhou Sirlang hesitated for a long time and finally said with a strained voice, "No, I... "I'm just too heartbroken."

"What are you heartbroken about?" You have food and clothing, and in a few days, you will be moving into a new house. "What do you have to be sad about?"

Manbao quickly said, "Fourth Brother didn't find a wife."

Old Zhou looked at her, then turned to Zhou Sirlang and said, "So what if you haven't found a wife?" "You're only eighteen, what's the rush?"

He continued, "It was already difficult for you to find a wife, and now, after crying like this, it will be even more difficult." Look at yourself. Do you resemble a man? Which family would want to marry their daughter to a crybaby?

Old Zhou was furious and scolded him until the daughters-in-law finished preparing dinner and brought the food to the table.

Although there was meat to eat that night, everyone ate quietly. Zhou Dalang rarely showed brotherly affection towards Zhou Sirlang, but he even picked a piece of meat for him.

Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang also demonstrated their brotherly love by selecting a piece of meat for him.

Zhou Sirlang:…

Zhou Filar and Zhou Sixth: What should we do if we also want to cry?

Manbao also kindly picked a piece of meat from her bowl for him, and then buried her head to eat.

Bringing up Zhou Sirlang's marriage, before going to bed that night, Old Zhou couldn't help but ask Qian Shi, "Since the previous match didn't work out, has the matchmaker not made any more introductions?"

Qian Shi looked at Manbao, who was hiding behind the screen, and said, "Do you really believe what they say? Do you think Fourth Brother is in a hurry to get married?"

"He's not young anymore; he should be in a hurry."

Qian Shi said, "The matchmaker later mentioned another family, but they were too prestigious." "I didn't dare to mention it, afraid that our Fourth Brother wouldn't be good enough for their daughter."

"Whose family?"

"The daughter of the butcher from Dali Village."

Upon reflection, Old Zhou realized that their family might not be good enough for them. "How did the matchmaker mention their family?" "It can't be that their family has taken a liking to our Fourth Brother, can it?"

Qian Shi said, "The Fang family may not have taken a liking, but the Fang family's daughter has."

She smiled and said, "Fourth Brother is not bad-looking." This year, he has been frequenting the market often to buy meat. The Fang family probably couldn't resist the girl's request, so they mentioned it to the matchmaker.

Of course, Qian Shi could guess this, whether the matchmaker intentionally or unintentionally revealed it.

Although she didn't say it explicitly, the meaning was clear: the Fang family's daughter had taken a liking to Zhou Sirlang, and her parents couldn't resist their daughter's request, so they mentioned it to the matchmaker.

Qian Shi always had self-awareness. Marriage was traditionally about uniting families, so she simply listened and had no intention of informing Zhou Sirlang about the Fang family's daughter.

Old Zhou fell silent for a moment and said, "Then find some time to take the children to see them."

Qian Shi frowned, "There's a significant difference in family background."

"Not that big." The Fang family is relatively wealthy, but our Zhou family also has scholars. Old Zhou was confident in his family and said, "Now, several children in the village have learned to read with Manbao, which is exceptional." Did you want to find a strong wife for Fourth Brother? I think the Fang family is good. "The daughter-in-law has confidence, and if Fourth Brother causes trouble in the future, it will be easy to deal with."

Qian Shi fell into deep thought.

Manbao lay on the bed, silently mourning for her Fourth Brother.

Early the next morning, she slipped out of bed and ran to tell Zhou Sirlang the news, of course, without revealing her parents' plans. She happily told him, "Fourth Brother, Mother wants to talk to you about a marriage proposal again."

After a night's sleep, Zhou Sirlang's condition improved, and he yawned, asking, "Which family's girl is it this time?"

"You will definitely like this, sister."

Zhou Sirlang perked up and asked, "Why? Is she exceptionally beautiful?" Have you seen her?

"I haven't seen her, but you must have." Her family has a lot of meat.

Zhou Sirlang blinked and asked, "What do you mean by her family having a lot of meat?"

"Because her family is a butcher!" Manbao said. "When I was a child, my biggest wish was for my father to become a butcher so that I could have meat every day." "Fourth Brother, my wish can't come true, but yours can."

After all, her father was also a father.

Zhou Sirlang thought for a moment and realized that it was true. His eyes gradually brightened, and he asked, "Which butcher's family is it?"

"It seems to be the Fang family."

Zhou Sirlang's eyes lit up, and he sat up in bed, "It's her!"

He was very familiar with the daughter of the Fang family!

This year, Manbao, who was wealthy, frequently gave him money to purchase meat. Unless he went to the county town, he would buy it at the market.

He preferred to buy mutton and pork, but he liked mutton more because it was more nourishing.

There were only two meat stalls at the market, one selling mutton and the other selling pork, and the Fang family sold mutton.

Sometimes when Zhou Sirlang went to buy meat and Fang Dashi wasn't there, it was the daughter of the Fang family who was managing the stall. Over time, the two of them became somewhat familiar.

As they were acquaintances, Zhou Sirlang blushed slightly and asked Manbao, "Did you hear clearly? Is she the daughter of the Fang family?"

Manbao nodded and asked, "Is she pretty?"

Zhou Sirlang hesitated, "She's just okay."

But his eyes were shining, and he didn't lie down again. Instead, he got up and said, "Did Mother say when we are going to meet?" "Are we going to them, or are they coming to our house?"

"I'll go ask for you," Manbao said before turning to leave.

Zhou Sirlang quickly grabbed her and asked, "Why bother asking?" This is something for the adults to decide. Listen to what Mother and Father say.

"Mother said you're not good enough for the daughter of the Fang family, but Father said we can give you a chance." "Maybe the family will take a liking to you," Manbao said.

Zhou Sirlang covered her mouth with his hand. "Alright, you don't need to say anymore."

Indeed, a dog's mouth cannot speak words of wisdom.

Zhou Sirlang picked out his best clothes and changed into them. After some thought, he said to Manbao, "Why don't you go ask Mother?"

Manbao snorted and walked away.

Zhou Sirlang scratched his head and followed her out with his head down.

Manbao was unreliable, but Zhou Sirlang now paid attention to his mother's movements and soon noticed something was amiss.

In the end, Qian Shi listened to Old Zhou's advice and had someone invite the matchmaker over. After a brief conversation, the matchmaker left, but she returned in the afternoon. That evening, after dinner, Qian Shi said to Zhou Sirlang, "Tomorrow, you and I will go to Dali Village to buy some meat for making meat buns."

Manbao immediately said, "I'll go too!"

Qian Shi smiled and said, "Good, Manbao will go with us."

Zhou Sirlang was somewhat excited and looked at Manbao, wondering why she was always around.