The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Gu Taohua and Hong Shi boarded the carriage.

The horse-drawn carriage clattered as it headed towards Qinghe Bay.

In order to hurry on their journey, Old Mrs. Huang ordered the driver to take the path along the paddy field ridges and through the narrow lanes.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

"Grandma, the carriage wheels are stuck in the mud," the driver said after getting out of the carriage to check.

"Bullshit, where would the mud come from if it didn't rain?" Old Mrs. Huang cursed.

Gu Taohua sighed, thinking that this old lady Huang looked like a noblewoman, but spoke just like her mother, without any restraint.

Gu Taohua's impression of Old Mrs. Huang improved even more.

The coachman looked aggrieved.

"Grandma, the villagers have been irrigating their fields these past few days, and there are quite a few mud pits on this path," Gu Taohua explained to Grandma Huang with a smile.

Grandma Huang said, "Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and pull the wheel out."

The coachman struggled for a long time but couldn't pull it out.

"I'll do it," Gu Taohua said.

She's strong; pulling a car is a piece of cake for her.

Old Mrs. Huang asked her two maids, Yuqin and Yuzhu, to help push.

The usually confident Gu Taohua found that her strength was useless; no matter how hard she and the coachman pulled, the carriage wheel did not budge.

Enraged, Gu Taohua kicked the carriage hard.

"Can I help you?"

After leaving Qinghe Bay with Prefect Yao and Magistrate Liu, Lu Zhaoyang did not immediately go to the prefectural city. Instead, at Prefect Yao's suggestion, he went to check on the wheat cultivation in the surrounding villages.

Prefect Yao and Magistrate Liu were chatting with farmers in the fields when Lu Zhaoyang spotted the carriage stuck in the mud in the distance. He then left the others behind and led his entourage to the carriage.

"I need it," Huang Jingshan said gracefully as she stepped off the carriage. "I would be grateful for your help, young master."

Lu Zhaoyang couldn't help but glance at Huang Jingshan a couple more times.

The girl's attire resembled that of a lady from a prominent family, exuding a refined and aloof air, yet she spoke with surprising candor and generosity.

If you need help, you need help.

She wasn't shy at all about asking a stranger for help.

Lu Zhaoyang looked around the car.

Gu Taohua looked up and saw Lu Zhaoyang, exclaiming in surprise, "Brother Lu, what are you doing here?"

Lu Zhaoyang was delighted to see Gu Taohua and said, "I came here with Prefect Yao and just came from your house not long ago."

Gu Taohua glanced at Lu Zhaoyang and said, "Brother Lu, you want to help push the cart? You're as weak as a chick, how can you push this cart?"

Lu Zhaoyang: "."

Gu Taohua had complained about Lu Zhaoyang's weakness more than once, and Lu Zhaoyang had never argued back before, but this time he retorted, "I'm not weak!"

Then he pointed to the wheel and said, "You can't push this with brute force; you have to use technique."

After speaking, he waved his hand to summon his attendants.

Lu Zhaoyang had his attendant pick up a board and place it in front of the wheel. He then explained the technique of pushing the wheel to his attendant and personally helped push the wheel with his own strength.

The wheels quickly rolled out of the mud.

Gu Taohua said, "You're truly a scholar, Brother Lu, you're really something."

Lu Zhaoyang wiped the sweat from his face and said, "I already told you I'm not weak."

Gu Taohua chuckled.

Lu Zhaoyang had gotten his hands covered in mud while pushing the cart, but he hadn't noticed. He had wiped the sweat off, but the mud had gotten on his face.

"Your face," Gu Taohua said to Lu Zhaoyang, who was looking at her with confusion.

Lu Zhaoyang reached out and saw that his hands were covered in mud.

“Young Master Lu, this handkerchief is clean.” Huang Jingshan handed over a snow-white handkerchief.

Lu Zhaoyang didn't want to accept it at first, but seeing Huang Jingshan's generous attitude, he reached out and took it to wipe his face.

Grandma Huang said, "Thank you very much, Young Master Lu." Lu Zhaoyang replied, "You're welcome."

Old Mrs. Huang led Huang Jingshan, Gu Taohua, and others onto the carriage.

Only after the carriage had driven far away did Lu Zhaoyang realize that he was still holding Huang Jingshan's handkerchief in his hand.

Yu Zhu turned around and whispered, "Miss Peach Blossom, what is that Young Master Lu's relationship to your family? He's really handsome."

Gu Taohua said, "He's not really a relative of mine. My mother saved him before, so we became familiar with each other. His family lives in the prefectural city, and his grandfather is a big merchant."

Old Mrs. Huang pricked up her ears and asked, "Is it the Lu family, the imperial merchants?"

Gu Taohua nodded.

Grandma Huang remarked, "He's quite good-looking."

Gu Taohua said, "He's just a bit weak. I heard he's the most talented scholar in Wanliu Academy. By the way, Grandma, isn't it funny? His grandfather asked my mother to help him find a wife. Where do you think my mother is going to find a suitable girl? How can an ordinary girl catch the eye of a rich young master like him who is so accomplished in his studies? I don't know what his grandfather was thinking."

Grandma Huang looked at her granddaughter Huang Jingshan across from her, and a thought struck her.

Soon, the initial attraction turned into regret.

Ever since their granddaughter was tricked by the man surnamed Fan, the family has urgently arranged a marriage for her.

The other party comes from a good family in Pingchuan County and is also a scholar, but he is not good-looking.

Everyone says that her Jingshan is not pretty, too tall and too thin, and not good enough for a good young man. Old Mrs. Huang thinks that men are blind. What's wrong with her granddaughter?
Even Widow Tong said that her Jingshan has a first-class temperament.

If Jingshan hadn't gotten engaged so early, she might have asked Tong Huaqiong to introduce her to the Lu family's son.

What happened to the Lu family, who are extremely wealthy?
So what if Young Master Lu is a genius?
As long as he hasn't arranged a marriage, she's willing to take any chances for her granddaughter.

Pity!
In the main room of Tong Huaqiong's house, Tong Huaqiong and Han Shi sat drinking tea and talking.

The imperial edict lay quietly on the table, shining brightly in the sunlight.

The two of them discussed what kind of girl they should introduce to Lu Zhaoyang in the dazzling light.

“My husband’s family does have a suitable girl. She’s a good girl, but my sisters-in-law in the Liu family are all opportunists. I’m not going to let the Liu family have this good marriage.” Madam Han searched her mind for a suitable girl but couldn’t find one.

A person suddenly popped into Tong Huaqiong's mind, and she said, "I suddenly thought of someone, do you think it's suitable?"

Han became interested and asked, "Who?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "You know this person too, it's Jingshan, the daughter of the Huang family."

Han's eyes lit up.

Huang Jingshan is indeed suitable.

First of all, they're a good match in terms of age.

Secondly, their family backgrounds are also a good match. Although the Lu family is a royal merchant family and the Huang family's business is not as good, aren't they all merchants?
Huang Jingshan wasn't that pretty, and Lu Zhaoyang wasn't that strong either.

Perfect match!

but
Before Han could even rejoice, she realized that Huang Jingshan was already engaged.

"What do you think?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

If it's decided, then let Han act as the matchmaker.

Han said, "It is suitable, but Jingshan is already engaged."

Tong Huaqiong asked in surprise, "When did this happen?"

Han said, "Some time ago, we placed an order with the Lian family in Pingchuan County."

Han's eyes showed regret.

How could Huang Jingshan's fiancé compare to her distant nephew, Lu Zhaoyang?

Although she and Old Mrs. Huang are sisters, and Huang Jingshan is a generation younger than her, she is not marrying her son; marrying Lu Zhaoyang is just right.

Why didn't she think of this before?

Tong Huaqiong looked at the frustrated Han Shi and said, "Don't feel sorry for her. Marriages in this world are all preordained by heaven."

Han roused herself and said, "Don't worry about Zhaoyang's marriage. Leave it to me. I refuse to believe I can't find him a good girl."

Tong Huaqiong felt a sense of relief in an instant!
She had wanted to get rid of such a big thing as being a matchmaker for a long time.

If the two people who were brought together by matchmakers live happily ever after, that's fine; but if they become a miserable couple, it's truly a tragedy. (End of Chapter)