County Magistrate Liu is here to propose marriage for Jingzhe.

Tong Huaqiong thought, this is normal. Jingzhe is a top scholar with great prospects. I fear every wealthy family in Pingchuan County wants to bring Jingzhe, this promising candidate, into their family through marriage.

County Magistrate Liu is no exception.

I’m just not sure which family’s girl is County Magistrate Liu proposing for Jingzhe.

It can’t be the daughter of his superior because County Magistrate Liu’s superior, Magistrate Yao, is also single.

As for Magistrate Yao’s sister, she comes from a Shengjing Family. If she wants to marry a promising candidate without a background, she could choose any successful scholar. It’s unlikely they’d choose a minor scholar from Qinghe Bay.

Could it be someone from the Liu family?

Tong Huaqiong was almost certain, otherwise, why would Lord Liu personally come instead of letting the elder lady appear, especially since Lord Liu’s mother has a grudge against the Liu family and would never agree to benefit a Liu girl.

If that’s really the case, Tong Huaqiong was ready that even if it offended Lord Liu, she would refuse.

More importantly, Jingzhe’s heart is full of Lu Zhaozhao. Forcing a match with another girl could only harm that girl.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Lord Liu, my Jingzhe is still young and has no official title. Even if there is a girl he likes, it’s not suitable to consider marriage now. It would only delay her."

Tong Huaqiong originally intended to refuse County Magistrate Liu’s proposal, but it hurt Jingzhe.

He had promised Lu Zhaozhao in the Government City that he would propose to Lu Zhaozhao as a top scholar.

Now his mother says he is young, young...

Jingzhe gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Liu, there is a girl I like."

Tong Huaqiong: "..."

This son... just said it outright.

What Jingzhe thought was, since Lord Liu asked him, he had to seize the opportunity. Lord Liu is Lu Zhaozhao’s cousin, and he hoped to use this opportunity to have Lord Liu help convince Tong Huaqiong to betroth him to Lu Zhaozhao.

"You little rascal, you don’t learn anything good. What are you thinking about all the time?" Tong Huaqiong said with a serious face.

County Magistrate Liu said, "I think Jingzhe is doing just fine. Having a girl he likes doesn’t stop him from studying. Someone with Jingzhe’s strong will should establish a family first, then pursue a career. Aunt Tong, are you, like those worldly people, thinking that getting engaged and married will hinder your son’s studies and pursuit of titles?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "That’s not true."

At the same time, cursing inside, alright County Magistrate Liu, are you flattering or digging a hole for me?

Jingzhe defended Tong Huaqiong, "Lord Liu, my mother is mainly afraid that I have nothing now and the girl I like would suffer with me."

Lord Liu took interest and asked, "Which family’s girl do you like? Do you need me to help propose marriage?"

At the same time, feeling a bit regretful, the Lu Family missed a good young man.

However, he was also moved by Jingzhe’s youthful sincerity and was willing to help persuade Tong Huaqiong and the girl’s family.

Might as well settle the marriage.

Jingzhe hesitated and said, "It’s... it’s Miss Lu from the Government City, your cousin, Lord Liu."

Tong Huaqiong sighed, unable to escape the fate from her past life.

Lord Liu was so excited he almost jumped out of his chair.

Who would have thought that the girl Jingzhe liked would be Lu Zhaozhao.

"Jingzhe, you really have a good eye. My cousin’s appearance and personality are impeccable, and I heard from my mother that she now manages the family’s rouge and silk business, and the shop is thriving under her management. Ever since Zhao Yang went to the capital, Lu Family’s household and business have been managed by her very well."

County Magistrate Liu enthusiastically praised Lu Zhaozhao.

Tong Huaqiong found it amusing. Lord Liu was not praising Lu Zhaozhao for Jingzhe’s sake; he was clearly trying to boost Lu Zhaozhao’s impression in front of Tong Huaqiong.

It seems County Magistrate Liu was afraid that she, as the potential mother-in-law, would disagree.

But County Magistrate Liu worried too much, didn’t he forget, Lu Zhaozhao has already been to Tong Huaqiong’s house twice, and she knows Lu Zhaozhao well.

If Lu Zhaozhao were to be her daughter-in-law, she would naturally be willing. She was just afraid Jingzhe might repeat the past life’s mistakes, like the previous proposal from Mrs. Han, which she did not dare agree to lightly.

Seeing County Magistrate Liu’s excitement, Tong Huaqiong instantly understood that the marriage proposal for Jingzhe was indeed for Lu Zhaozhao, not any girl from the Liu family.

County Magistrate Liu, after a while, said to Tong Huaqiong, "Aunt Tong, I’m just saying this in vain. You are not unfamiliar with my cousin. Jingzhe and Zhaozhao are the same age, and you are Zhao Yang’s lifesaver. In the future, when Jingzhe goes to Shengjing, Zhao Yang can look after him. I think the two kids are good together; should I make the matchmaking and settle the engagement first?"

Jingzhe’s face was flushed as he looked at Tong Huaqiong with pleading eyes.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t withstand the pressure and finally relented, saying, "Then please trouble Lord Liu to visit the Lu Family. This matter still needs to consider Mr. Lu and Zhao Yang’s opinion."

Jingzhe’s eyes instantly lit up.

County Magistrate Liu said, "With a talent like Jingzhe, they will definitely agree. I’ll be the matchmaker for this."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Thank you, Lord Liu, for matchmaking."

Lord Liu was very pleased.

See, he has an unbreakable fate with Aunt Tong. Just when he wanted to be the matchmaker for Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao, Jingzhe had his heart set on a girl. It was a moment of regret, but then it turns out the girl he liked was Lu Zhaozhao.

The past life’s bond between Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao is unbreakable.

County Magistrate Liu stayed and chatted for a while before leaving Tong Huaqiong’s house. He needed to rush back to the county to report the hopeful matchmaking news to his mother.

Mr. Gu was bewildered throughout; he couldn’t get a word in during the discussion between County Magistrate Liu and Tong Huaqiong about matchmaking for Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao.

Nor did he have a chance to help Feng Nian secure a position as a government official at the county government.

After County Magistrate Liu and his company left, only Mr. Gu and Gu Honglian, two outsiders, remained at home.

Mr. Gu coughed, adopting the manner of an elder, and asked, "What kind of family is the Lu Family? Are we really finalizing Jingzhe’s marriage with them?"

From County Magistrate Liu’s words, he gathered that the Lu Family was a business family and that the girl Jingzhe liked ran a shop. Internally, Mr. Gu was displeased.

"I heard from County Magistrate Liu’s words that the Lu Family is in business?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "The Lu Family is no ordinary business; they are Imperial Merchants."

Hearing the term "Imperial Merchants," Mr. Gu was somewhat appeased, thinking if only this marriage were for Gu Ruinian, it could help Gu Youtian turn their fortunes. However, the Gu family already had a daughter-in-law in business; to have another granddaughter-in-law in the public eye would be unbearable for him.

In his opinion, whether it’s Jingzhe or Ruinian, they ought to be matched with a girl from an official family.

Mr. Gu said, "Ordinarily, the marriage of children is arranged by parents with the help of a matchmaker. I, as the grandfather, shouldn’t interfere. But with Jingzhe’s father gone, I ought to help my son look after Jingzhe. He is only fifteen, just got the top scholar title, and pairing him with a merchant family’s daughter feels like a grievance. Even though the other party is an Imperial Merchant, they are still merchants. Our Jingzhe is destined to become an official; shouldn’t we consider a few more families?"

Tong Huaqiong thought, knowing he has no right to interfere, yet still interfering.