After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 540 Proposing Marriage for Xiong Feng

Su Tai could already foresee how she would become the center of attention.

Seeing her serious expression, Shen Yi chuckled and said, "It's just a flower appreciation banquet. Go if you want, or don't if you don't. There's no need to make things difficult for yourself."

Su Tai shook her head, "Now that you've become the Vice Minister of Works, I can't hold you back. It's a good opportunity to take a few children to broaden their horizons."

Shen Yuezhang is almost married, and Shen Congrong will be ready to meet potential partners in a couple of years. She's not worried about her eldest daughter and son, but the two younger ones are fine.
Su Tai rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. She thought that if all else failed, she would just find a family back in her hometown where her two children could get married.

When it came to marriage, Su Tai couldn't help but mention Xiong Feng.

Shen Yi hadn't expected so many things to have happened in the past six months.

"So you're planning to act as a matchmaker for Xiong Feng?"

Su Tai nodded. "Since he's already asked me, I can't refuse. Besides, I've been watching him for months. This child is different from his parents. At least he's not a wicked person. He's very respectful to Shen Dalang and Granny Zhang, and he dotes on Shen Xi. Yet he's never asked to acknowledge his sister back."

I thought he would retaliate tenfold for what Mo Chunxiang had done to him, but he simply ignored her. He didn't even stop her from leaving with the man she remarried.

He's a sensible and principled man, and he also holds an official position. It wouldn't be bad for Mingyue to marry him, but ultimately, it requires her cousin Yunyun's approval.

The couple talked at length about Zhaohua County until the housekeeper came over and they stopped.

The next day, Su Tai took Yu Mei to the Tang residence.

When Ke Yunyun saw Su Tai coming over, she was overjoyed.

He even called all the children in the family to pay their respects to Su Tai.

Tang Tang is eight years old this year. She is a beautiful and delicate little girl who has been well taught by Ke Yunyun. Tang Ci is five years old and has already started his early education. He is not at home. The rest are all children of the Ke family: the eldest is Ke Jiafu, the second is Ke Mingyue, the third is Ke Jiacai, the fourth is Ke Jiagui, the fifth is Ke Mingxue, and the sixth is Ke Mingjing.

Ke Jiafu had just gotten married not long ago. His wife was found by Ke Yunyun. Her maiden name was Tang, and she ran a restaurant. Tang was the fifth child in her family. She had two older brothers and two older sisters, and a younger brother and a younger sister. She was not favored, and even though the Tang family knew that Tang would go to the Ice Plains with Ke Jiafu in the future, they did not feel sorry for her.

Xiao Xi only wanted to establish a connection with the Tang family through her daughter. She had inquired about Tang Wu Niang's character and knew that she was an honest and straightforward girl who didn't know how to flatter or fawn. After discussing it with Ke Yunyun, the marriage was arranged.

Looking at so many juniors, Su Tai secretly thought to herself, "Luckily, I have a portal to another world and a large family business. Otherwise, I would be too embarrassed to see the juniors. Just look at them, as long as they call out and bow, I have to give them an ounce of silver."

She was so busy distributing the silver that she almost felt like she was the God of Wealth.

Tang was the last to come up and pay her respects to Su Tai. She never expected to receive the same treatment as her husband's sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Unexpectedly, Su Tai not only gave her a tael of silver, but also gave her a silver hairpin because she was dressed simply.

Mrs. Tang was flattered and somewhat at a loss for words.

Ke Yunyun said with a smile, "Since it's from an elder, I'll accept it."

Tang then carefully gave Su Tai a curtsy.

After the group of younger people left, Su Tai asked about the Tang family, "What's the situation with the Tang family?"

Ke Yunyun sighed, "They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the honest child gets bullied. That child works like a slave in the Tang family, toiling away without complaint, but he doesn't get any credit. I originally wanted to find Jiafu a wealthy in-law family. To be honest, in a place like the capital, any family that is wealthy and loves their daughter will never marry her off to someone from outside the area; they only want someone local. I don't even consider those with bad character. After looking around, this Tang Wu Niang is the only one that seems pretty good."

The only downside is that the Tang family is a bit materialistic. Do you know what they said when the matchmaker came to propose marriage?

Su Tai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Ke Yunyun scoffed, "People say that Tang Wuniang is the apple of their eye, and if they want to marry her, they have to give sixty taels of silver as a betrothal gift. The matchmaker was so angry that she cursed and said that no family's precious daughter is dressed in rags and that the calluses on her hands are thicker than those of a man who does farm work. She also mocked the Tang family for not weighing the price properly when selling their daughter."

Anyway, what the matchmaker said that day really resonated with me. The Tang family, who run a restaurant, also have to save face. Seeing that the matchmaker was making a scene, they had no choice but to back down and say that the betrothal gift should be at least thirty taels if it wasn't sixty.

Afterwards, I inquired and found out that Tang Wuniang's two older sisters only received ten taels of silver as betrothal gifts and married well, but she was treated badly by her parents.

The matchmaker was also holding a grudge, and she went to the Tang family's restaurant every day to make a scene, shouting everywhere that the Tang couple were biased and making them lose face. In the end, the dowry of thirty taels was reduced to twenty taels.

At that time, the Tang couple did not know about our family situation. They only knew that Jiafu was from out of town, very far away. They also said that after they married off Tang Wuniang, they did not intend to let Tang Wuniang return to her parents' home.

Later, on the day Jiafu married Tang Wuniang, I made sure to support him. Only then did the Tang couple realize that their third son-in-law had a relative who was an official. They hadn't originally planned to prepare a dowry for Tang Wuniang, but in the end, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and give her two taels of silver.

Aside from those two taels of silver, there was nothing else. I immediately lost my temper, and the expressions of regret on the faces of the Tang couple, beating their chests in despair, are still so laughable to this day.

Su Tai suddenly realized why Tang Wu Niang had looked so plain and simple just now, as if she were wearing mourning clothes.

"The Tang family didn't give anything, and you're not going to offer anything in return?"

Ke Yunyun was very worried. "How can I express my gratitude? There are so many children, I can't give too much. The pair of silver bracelets on Tang's hand were given to her for her wedding. If I give her more, I'm afraid the other children will have something to say. Jiafu is also an honest man. He doesn't hide any of the money he earns. He doesn't even have enough money left over to buy Tang something."

Today you gave me a silver hairpin, which completes the set.

Jiafu plans to take Tang back to the Ice Plains after Mingyue's marriage is settled. I'll prepare some things for them then.

Su Tai's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "Has Mingyue's marriage been arranged?"

"Not yet? What's wrong? Is your cousin going to arrange a marriage for Mingyue?"

Ke Yunyun was just joking, but she didn't expect Su Tai to actually nod.

Her eyes widened immediately. "Which family's?"

"It's Xiong Feng."

Ke Yunyun's pupils dilated, and her hands tightened. "You mean Xiong Feng, the newly appointed magistrate of Zhaohua County?"

Su Tai rolled her eyes reproachfully, "Besides that one, who else is there? I was quite surprised that Xiong Feng brought this up with me. You've had more contact with that child than I have, so you should know him better than I do."

To be honest, Ke Yunyun was immediately tempted, but she was still a little worried, "Xiong Feng's parents did such terrible things to you."

Su Tai interrupted Ke Yunyun, "One thing at a time. Shen Yi and I are dealing with the issue, not the person, and we will not involve innocent people. Putting aside Xiong Feng's parents, he is indeed a rare good man."