After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 1004: The Selection of Matchmakers

Ma deliberately spent some more time in the kitchen, and when she estimated that at least two quarters of an hour had passed, she returned.

She felt that for a young unmarried couple, two quarters of an hour of alone time was enough, and that they should not give Jin Jiashu too many sweet things at once, lest he would not appreciate them.

When she returned to the upper room, she walked in and saw Haitang and Jin Jiashu chatting happily. She was secretly happy, but when she took two steps closer and listened carefully, she found that they were talking about who Qiao Fu would ask to be the matchmaker and propose to Hai Baozhu. She couldn't help but frown.

I'm giving you time to talk about love, why are you talking about other people's marriages? If you want to talk, you should talk about your own!

Ma coughed heavily. Haitang then realized that her grandmother had already entered the guest room. She was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't notice. It was a big mistake. She quickly stood up and greeted her, smiling, "Grandma is back? Why did you take so long?"

I've been away for so long, isn't it just to make things convenient for you two? And what were you two talking about?!
Ma secretly glared at her granddaughter, then smiled and greeted Jin Jiashu: "The people in the kitchen are getting more and more unreasonable now. They are not used to the climate in the capital. It's a national mourning, and the good cooks can't cook. I even need to teach them..."

Jin Jiashu quickly complimented her, "Grandma Hai is really capable. If I were in this situation, I wouldn't know what to do. There aren't many fresh dishes in winter, and we have to eat vegetarian food because of the national mourning. And we're in an unfamiliar capital city. A skilled cook can't cook without rice. Aunt Lu is always worried at home, not knowing what to cook for me that won't violate taboos and can nourish my body. I saw that she was really embarrassed, so I had to ask the imperial physician to make a list of what I could eat, and let Aunt Lu cook according to the list. Whether it tastes good or not is secondary. The key is to get through this period first."

Ma looked at him lovingly after hearing this and said, "Poor thing, no wonder you have lost so much weight these days. The palace must have strict rules and no compromise. You were poisoned and sick, so you should have taken some tonic food, but it's a national mourning and you can't eat anything. How can radish and cabbage nourish your body? Widow Lu is only good at cooking northwestern dishes, and she eats nothing but noodles all day long, no wonder you can't gain weight. You should eat more at our house today. Although we are vegetarians at home, our vegetarian dishes are different from those of other families. They are not ambiguous at all and are also good for your health."

She pointed at Haitang again: "Many of these dishes were thought up by Tangtang. Your Grandpa Hai and I like them, but I don't know if they suit your taste."

Is there any need to say this? Jin Jiashu tasted it the day before yesterday when he was having dinner at home: "It tastes good, it tastes good. The last time I came home to eat, I enjoyed the food very much, much better than when I was in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Ma was immediately delighted: "We can't compare with the imperial cuisine in the palace. Our Tangtang can only cook a few home-cooked dishes." As she spoke, she patted the back of Haitang's hand, her face full of kindness.

Haitang felt her face getting hot again, so she quickly changed the subject: "Brother Jin was just talking to me about my sister's marriage. When he went to visit Mammy Ma, he ran into Cousin Qiao in the garden where Mammy Ma was staying. He suspected that the matchmaker Cousin Qiao wanted to invite was from that garden."

Ma became interested: "Sister Ma is living in a garden now? Whose garden is it? Who lives in the garden?"

Jin Jiashu told her, "It's a place called Ji Garden. The owner of the garden, Eunuch Ji, is also an old man from the palace. It is said that he and Mammy have been friends for decades. Mammy has always lived with him in the capital. There is a small courtyard with two entrances in the garden. The house is very exquisitely decorated and many flowers are planted in the courtyard. It's a pity that it's winter now, and most of the flowers and trees have withered, leaving only a few wintersweets in full bloom. The maid who serves Mammy would pick a branch of wintersweets every day and put it in a vase in the house, and the house is full of the fragrance of plum blossoms. Mammy always said that she was in a much happier mood every day when she smelled the fragrance of flowers." Ma was also happy to hear this: "Sister Ma is enjoying herself at her friend's house, and I am happy to hear that. When will she come to our house to stay for a few days? Our house has no garden and no wintersweets, but our chef is very good at making Chang'an-style food. She can also taste the taste of hometown dishes."

Since Jiyuan is so luxurious, how could it lack a chef who can cook Northwest cuisine? However, Jin Jiashu knew that Ma really wanted to invite Ma Shangyi to her home, so he naturally would not pour cold water on her. He just smiled and said, "I have invited Ma Ma to the mansion that the Empress Dowager has just given me. If Ma Ma wants to eat hometown food, Aunt Lu can also cook it for her."

As for the location of Ji Garden and the people who live in Ji Garden, Jin Jiashu could only give a rough idea of ​​the former, but could not explain the latter clearly: "Except for the owner of the garden, Eunuch Ji, most of the people living in the garden are Eunuch Ji's old friends or adopted sons and daughters. The one that Brother Qiao went to visit was Eunuch Ji's adopted son, Shopkeeper Xiao Feng. I heard that they have known each other for many years. I wonder if it is because of this that Brother Qiao wanted to ask his good friend to be a matchmaker and propose marriage to the eldest sister of the Hai family?"

Haitang added: "This shopkeeper Xiao Feng is most likely the one who was ordered by Mammy Ma to escort my cousin and Sister Baozhu to the capital."

Ma clasped her hands together in surprise, "So that's how it is! Brother Fu of the Qiao family met Baozhu because he was the guard of his family's caravan. If Brother Fu asked him to be the matchmaker, it would be a perfect match! If he hadn't taken on the important task of escorting your cousin and Sister Baozhu, and arranged for Brother Fu to be the guard, how could Baozhu and Brother Fu have this fate? This shopkeeper Xiao Feng was the matchmaker between Brother Fu and Baozhu. It's perfect for him to come here on behalf of Brother Fu to propose marriage!"

Ma quickly accepted this possibility and praised Qiao Fu's decision. She no longer complained that he did not ask her and her husband to act as matchmakers.

She was just curious whether Qiao Fu had managed to get Shopkeeper Xiao Feng to be the matchmaker, and when did the latter plan to come to propose marriage?
Fang was very anxious these days, fearing that something unexpected would happen to her daughter's marriage and delay her daughter's marriage. Ma was worried that if the matchmaker didn't show up, Fang might get sick.

Upon hearing this, Jin Jiashu said, "In that case, I will help find out later."

Haitang was puzzled: "Who are you going to ask? Are you acquainted with Shopkeeper Xiao Feng? Didn't you just say that you only heard Chunyu mention his relationship with Cousin Qiao?"

Jin Jiashu smiled and said, "Mammy Ma told me that in addition to the house and property granted by the palace, if I want to live a more comfortable life in the capital, I also need to add some other properties. She recommended several shops managed by the adopted sons and daughters of the eunuch Ji to me, and told me to invest in them without worry. Even if the Empress Dowager in the palace knew about it, she would only agree and not object. I think what Mammy Ma said makes sense, but I haven't decided which store to invest in. But I heard that Shopkeeper Xiao Feng is the most capable and capable one among the adopted sons and daughters of the eunuch Ji. He owns a pawnshop and a northern and southern groceries, and both of them are good businesses. There's nothing wrong with me asking Shopkeeper Xiao Feng about the market when I have nothing to do."

As long as he got chatting with Shopkeeper Xiao Feng, it would be natural for him to mention their mutual acquaintance Qiao Fu and find out when the other party planned to propose marriage.

Ma nodded in appreciation: "That's a good reason. Shopkeeper Xiao Feng knows your identity and knows that you are interested in investing. He will definitely tell you everything he knows." The nephew of the current empress dowager is also a very strong backer for the pawnshop and the North and South Grocery Store. How could Shopkeeper Xiao Feng miss it?
Haitang, however, was paying attention to something else: "Did Mamama suggest that you invest in the shop owned by Eunuch Ji's adopted son and daughter? What does she have to say about this?"