A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Mr. Chen was at a loss for words. Since Chen Yancheng had seen Zhao Shi at Teacher He's place when he went to school with Youcong last time, he quickly stepped aside to let her in: "Madam He, please come in, please come in."

She didn't refuse; she quickly glanced around the courtyard and led the servants inside.

Grandma Chen was already seated in the center of the main room. When she saw people come in, she slowly stood up, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

After the two exchanged greetings, Madam He smiled and stepped forward, placing the food box she was carrying on the table. She then gestured to the waiter to set out the other gift boxes as well, before speaking:

"Aunt Chen, I'm just running an errand for a junior, and I'm also fortunate to have the opportunity to ask for a cup of tea thanks to your young lady."

She paused for a moment, then smiled and revealed her purpose: "The Wang family of Ping'an Town asked me to propose marriage for your eldest daughter."

The room fell silent for a moment. Mr. and Mrs. Chen exchanged a glance. Mrs. Chen showed no emotion, but slowly nodded and invited Mrs. He to sit down.

"...Master Wang and his wife said that this marriage was their son's wish, and also their own wish."

The young master just returned from the prefectural city after taking the exam the day before yesterday. We should have had a proper celebration, but he was in a hurry. He knocked on my door late last night to tell me about it, and this morning he urged me to come over.

Yan Ning is my master's most valued student. He's even come to us asking for help, so I definitely have to go on this trip for him.

Grandma Chen's voice was calm and steady: "We have heard about the young master of the Wang family. But marriage is a major event, and we must clarify the terms of the marriage."

"May I ask, Master He, which elder in the Wang family is in charge? Have you brought the betrothal gifts?"

"I brought it, I brought it." Aunt Zhao quickly took out a large red visiting card from her sleeve, handed it over with both hands, and then took out a birth certificate carefully sealed in a red envelope.

"Master Wang said that according to custom, the groom's family should first submit their birth charts, and after the horoscopes are matched, the auspicious date and betrothal gifts can be discussed."

His family doesn't have those complicated old rules; they only ask for things to be done smoothly and sincerely. This is his son's birth date and time; please accept it, Auntie.

Grandma Chen took the betrothal letter, but did not open it on the spot. She simply placed it beside her and asked Madam He a few more questions about the Wang family's intentions.

Madam He answered each question, and finally smiled and said, "Master Wang also said that he knows your daughter is knowledgeable and has her own opinions, and is not the kind of family that craves empty formalities."

The Wang family is sincerely seeking a marriage alliance. Whatever your family's requirements or rules may be, please feel free to make them, and we will certainly comply with all the proper etiquette.

The young master also said that once the birth charts have been exchanged and the horoscopes have been matched, he will personally come to pay his respects to the old lady, Brother Chen, and Sister-in-law Chen.

These words were spoken so clearly that even the tension on Mr. Chen's face eased a little.

After chatting for a while and drinking half a cup of tea, Madam He got up to take her leave, saying she had to rush back to town to give a reply. Mr. and Mrs. Chen saw her off at the gate and watched her leave before returning to their own quarters.

As soon as the person left, the Chen family courtyard erupted in chaos.

Aunt Chen was the first to come over, her voice low but unable to hide her surprise: "Xing just said it last night, and the matchmaker is already here today? The Wang family isn't just sincere, they're practically frantic!"

Uncle Chen tugged at her sleeve: "Say less."

Uncle Chen stood in the corner of the courtyard. This time he didn't say anything, but looked at the gift boxes on the table in the main room with a complicated expression.

Mother Chen held the betrothal letter as if it were a hot potato; she dared not open it, yet was reluctant to put it down, only muttering repeatedly, "This is too fast..."

Grandma Chen ignored her son and daughter-in-law's chatter and turned to Chen Wanxing, who had just entered the courtyard after seeing Madam He off. She looked at the quiet figure and beckoned, "Wanxing, come here."

Chen Wanxing walked up to her grandmother and her gaze fell on the bright red betrothal letter.

Grandma Chen looked at her, her tone calm, but her eyes held a deep, unfathomable gentleness and solemnity: "They've put their sincerity on the table, should we accept this betrothal gift or not?"

Chen Wanxing met her grandmother's gaze, and without hesitation, nodded gently:

"receive."

Grandma Chen didn't say anything more and placed the betrothal letter steadily in the center of the table.

"Accept" means to agree to the betrothal request.

Next comes the questioning of the name and the acceptance of auspiciousness.

The ancient Chinese wedding ceremony consisted of six steps: betrothal, asking the name, accepting auspicious gifts, presenting betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and welcoming the bride.

The betrothal ceremony involves the groom's family asking a matchmaker to propose marriage, and the bride's family accepting the betrothal gifts after agreeing. This step has already been completed by Master He.

Asking the name involves the exchange of formal birth charts between the two parties, specifying the child's name, date of birth, place of origin, and names of three generations.

The birth chart sent by the Wang family was written in black ink on red paper, with Wang Yanning's name, birth year, place of origin, and the taboo names of her father and mother clearly written in the center.

The Chen family was required to write Chen Wanxing's birth chart within three days and have it delivered to the Wang family by the matchmaker.

Grandma Chen personally handled this step; she remembered the birth dates of all the children in the family clearly, without even having to think about it.

Chen Wanxing sat to the side, holding a wolf-hair brush, and wrote her birth chart on red paper by hand. After finishing the last stroke, looking at the thin piece of vermilion paper, she suddenly felt a little dazed.

Is this where she came from?

The next day, Madam He visited again, carefully put away the Chen family's birth chart, and reported back to the Wang family.

Next up is Najib.

Naji, or matching birth dates and times, involves the groom's family placing the bride's birth date and time in their ancestral hall or consulting a fortune teller. If there are no clashes or conflicts, the groom's family sends a matchmaker to inform the bride's family, and the marriage is tentatively agreed upon.

Instead of sending the birth certificates to fortune tellers outside, Wang Laocai personally took his son's and Wanxing's birth certificates to the most popular temple in the county, the City God Temple, and asked the old Taoist priest there to match their marriages.

The old Taoist priest squinted for a long time, calculated with his fingers, and then said only eight words: "A match made in heaven, a vow to grow old together."

Old Wang immediately offered double the amount of incense money, his mouth agape with delight.

When Madam He visited for the third time, she brought with her the phrase "a match made in heaven".

She smiled so broadly that her eyes disappeared, and holding Chen's mother's hand, she kept praising, "Sister-in-law Chen, in all my years, I have never seen two children whose birth dates and times are so compatible."

Overjoyed, Master Wang immediately donated enough money to cover six months' worth of lamp oil at the City God Temple. It was truly a match made in heaven; even the heavens had given their approval.

Although Chen's mother said "Not at all," she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes and brows.

Grandma Chen remained calm and simply nodded: "Since it's settled, then it must be fate. Next, shall we discuss the betrothal gifts?"

Madam He nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Master Wang said that your family should decide the date for the betrothal ceremony. The Wang family is not particular about the number of days; as long as it is convenient for your family, they will prepare the betrothal gifts and come to your door at any time. The young master has also said so."

She paused, then smiled and lowered her voice, "Young Master also said that everything will be done according to your family's rules and Miss's wishes. Please send someone to the Wang family to let them know once you have set a date."

Chen Wanxing stood under the corridor, a faint smile curving her lips. She did not respond, but she did not avoid his smiling gaze.