Chapter 441: Chapter 441: Which Nouveau Riche Has Two Scholars in the Family

Since County Magistrate Liu is willing to borrow a cotton weaving machine or its blueprints from Huating County, Tong Huaqiong doesn’t have to worry so much.

Honestly, if she can’t sort out the necessary tools and processes from cotton seed to cotton cloth before autumn, she’ll be left with thirty acres of cotton stuck in her hands.

Having resolved the issue of the cotton weaving machine, Tong Huaqiong arranged with County Magistrate Liu to visit the Lu Family in the Government City for a marriage proposal in five days.

Tong Huaqiong was set to travel to the Government City ahead of time with Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua, and others.

Besides the proposal, Gu Jingzhe would be enrolling at Wanliu Academy and henceforth living in the Government City.

Originally, Tong Huaqiong had Qin Qingyou drive the carriage with Nie Xiaofeng accompanying them, but Su Chengmin volunteered to be the driver, citing his ability to fend off bandits if they encountered any on the way.

As for the private school, he simply announced a holiday.

Tong Huaqiong felt Su Chengmin was too casual, declaring holidays for the private school just like that.

This has happened multiple times already, and Tong Huaqiong worried that continuing like this might lead villagers to complain to Village Head Liu Tieshan.

Previously, Liu Tieshan had subtly expressed his dissatisfaction with Su Chengmin’s frequent holidays.

Now, with Gu Jingzhe, a farm boy, topping the exam list, the village was buzzing with excitement and hope, pressing their sons to study hard.

Tong Huaqiong guessed that with Su Chengmin’s frequency of holidays, the villagers would eventually remove him.

Just as Tong Huaqiong disagreed with closing the private school, Mr. Su suddenly visited her home to advise Gu Jingzhe, who was about to study at Wanliu Academy.

The teacher and student talked for nearly an hour, and when they emerged, Gu Jingzhe’s eyes were red.

Mr. Su, upon hearing the dispute between Tong Huaqiong and Su Chengmin over the school holiday, volunteered to substitute for Su Chengmin for a few days.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but glance at Tong Pandi in the courtyard and turn to Mr. Su asking, "What about the town’s private school?"

Mr. Su said, "The students at the town school can take a holiday."

Tong Huaqiong: "..."

No, what’s your logic, Mr. Su?

To teach at the village private school, you stopped your own work in town.

Gu Jingzhe privately informed Tong Huaqiong that a new Mr. Wan had joined the town school, and his teaching philosophy differed from Mr. Su’s, leading Mr. Su to consider resigning from the town school.

Tong Huaqiong felt this was likely just an excuse for Mr. Su to teach at Qinghe Bay.

However, if Mr. Su indeed decided to teach at Qinghe Bay’s private school, the villagers would likely celebrate him.

After all, in the villagers’ eyes, a teacher who produced a top scholar was even better than the teachers at Wanliu Academy.

If he could teach one top scholar, he could teach two or three... their own children might be the next top scholar.

This time, Tong Huaqiong also invited Gu Baishuang along.

The main reason was for Gu Baishuang to meet Mr. Lu, as she currently held a large sum of Nie Mingyuan’s silver to invest in the Lu Family’s maritime business, which would help her better manage the Nie Family’s business.

Soon enough, Tong Huaqiong and the others arrived at the Government City in a bustling group.

Gu Dashu welcomed them to a residence in the Government City.

This residence was a house with three courtyards, ample enough for a large family to live in.

Liu Yueer had long wanted to come to the Government City to live a two-person life with Gu Dashu, having brought it up to Tong Huaqiong several times, but she had not agreed.

Upon arriving in the Government City, Tong Huaqiong immediately set out to buy gifts for the marriage proposal at the Lu Family.

Luckily, she had brought along Gu Baishuang, who was very knowledgeable about this era’s engagement gifts and customs.

To show sincerity, Gu Baishuang asked Nie Xiaofeng to take Gu Jingzhe hunting for a pair of geese in the Ning City outskirts.

County Magistrate Liu and his mother, Mrs. Han, also arrived at the Government City shortly after.

Mrs. Han’s mouth never closed upon seeing Tong Huaqiong; she was delighted that her niece was engaged to Gu Jingzhe, and her nephew had married her good friend’s grandson. Despite the generational gap in the relationship, she was happy.

In the future, all these relationships would be connections her son held!

She had to come, fearing her unconventional father-in-law might cause difficulties for Tong Huaqiong, hindering Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao’s engagement.

Beyond the Liu Family, Huang Yuanwai’s family also came from Yan Guan Town.

Huang Yuanwai considered Lu Zhaozhao as his daughter’s sister-in-law. Without parents, it would normally be an elder sister-in-law’s duty to look after the proposal, but since the elder sister-in-law and elder brother were in the Capital, Huang Yuanwai felt obliged to exercise this responsibility for his daughter.

On the third day in Government City, Tong Huaqiong, Gu Jingzhe, and others were led to the Lu Family by County Magistrate Liu and his mother.

This was their second visit to the Lu Family, but as it was a proposal, they had to pretend it was their first visit.

Mr. Lu was already waiting at the door to greet them, perhaps because his grandson had topped the exam; he stood at the door in high spirits wearing flamboyant red clothes.

"Manager Tong, please."

Seeing Tong Huaqiong step down from the carriage, Mr. Lu happily approached.

His eyes glanced at Gu Jingzhe behind her, holding the pair of geese.

The future grandson-in-law was even better-looking than his own grandson.

Gu Jingzhe greeted Mr. Lu, his thorough and courteous demeanor pleasing Mr. Lu further.

Originally, Mr. Lu regretted that there was no spark between Lu Zhaoyang and Gu Taohua, but now, with his granddaughter engaged to the examination top scholar from the Gu Family, it compensated for his regret.

His gaze towards Gu Jingzhe grew even more benevolent.

"Grandpa Lu." Gu Taohua greeted Mr. Lu innocently and cheerfully.

"Taohua looks thinner, I’ll send you a cart of supplements to nourish you."

Upon seeing Taohua, Mr. Lu’s protective mode was activated.

Mr. Lu had always liked Gu Taohua, especially with her chubby look. He felt the slimmer Taohua was not as festive and attractive as the chubby Taohua.

Gu Taohua: "..."

There’s no need. Gu Taohua wasn’t thin from lacking nourishment but due to managing the shop every day, with increased exercise and growing upwards, thus becoming slimmer; she truly didn’t eat less.

Tong Huaqiong and others were invited into the main parlor by Mr. Lu.

Both parties sat down to exchange their thoughts.

Everyone was satisfied with the marriage arrangement.

Mr. Lu was particularly delighted, with his grandson having topped the exam and his granddaughter engaged to the examination top scholar. Now the entire Government City envied the Lu Family.

Previously seen as mere merchants, now who dared to look down on them as nouveau riche?

Which nouveau riche family had two scholars?

The second happiest was Huang Yuanwai, whose merchant family had always dreamt of having scholarly son-in-laws. Now his son-in-law was about to become the Champion Scholar, and with Gu Jingzhe engaged to the Lu Family, it half-counted as his son-in-law too.

Which family had two son-in-laws as Champion Scholar and top scholar?

"Why haven’t I seen Zhaozhao?" Mrs. Han asked.

Gu Jingzhe’s eyes wandered since entering, glancing around for Lu Zhaozhao.

Logically, the Lu Family wasn’t the sort of traditional household; having Zhaozhao present during marriage discussions would be normal, yet she was absent.

"Young girls are shy; she’s hiding." Mr. Lu said, then waved his big hand, gesturing to a servant to take Gu Jingzhe to find Zhaozhao.

Gu Jingzhe blushed upon hearing the term "young master."

Tong Huaqiong stifled a laugh and nudged Taohua, "Didn’t you want to see Zhaozhao? Go and check where Zhaozhao is."

This was to have Taohua accompany Jingzhe, ensuring none would gossip.

"Father-in-law..."

After Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua left the main room, Mrs. Han, with some nervousness, opened to Mr. Lu who appeared smug. How should she express that Manager Tong wished for her son to go to the Capital and succeed before marrying?

Would father-in-law scold them, throw things, and drive them away?

Before Mrs. Han could continue, Mr. Lu spoke, "I have something to say, I’ll go first, then you can express your demands."