The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 294

Despite being the second-place finisher in Chun Ning High School, the Xiao family remained low-key, because they understood all too well the unpredictability of the emperor's heart.

Therefore, posts inviting people to visit or to banquets were screened.

This is when Zhu's abilities are truly put to the test.

When the gatekeeper brought it in, she glanced at it and then noted down each family's connections in the capital, their in-laws, and any conflicts of interest. She then handed it to her mother-in-law so she could answer quickly when her mother-in-law asked questions.

“This is an invitation from the Zhong family,” Madam Zhu said softly. “A few days ago at the plum blossom banquet at the Yu family, Madam Zhong and her daughter-in-law talked for a long time. Miss Zhong is three years younger than Chun Ning and has reached the age to get married.”

"The Zhong residence? The residence of Lord Zhong of the Hanlin Academy?"

"Exactly."

"They seem to be from a distinguished family." Madam Xu glanced at the invitation and smiled. "They're here to appreciate flowers, specifically orchids."

Miss Zhong's given name is Zhong Lan.

Xu nodded, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Go and invite the two old ladies over."

Chun Ning became the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination, and received numerous invitations to marry her. However, the Xiao family was still deliberating on what kind of daughter-in-law to choose.

This young lady from the Zhong family is the second daughter of Madam Zhong, and she has a reputation for being virtuous.

Marry a virtuous wife; a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations.

Chun Ning was previously ignored because she was merely the grandson of a royal physician who had been exiled after her family's property was confiscated.

Chun Ning is now a hot commodity, with many people rushing to send him visiting cards, all eyeing this newly crowned runner-up.

"Sister-in-law, you were looking for me?"

Ms. Xu has been in a good mood lately, and she looks much more radiant.

Even Mrs. Xu envied her: her son and daughter were both successful.

Most importantly, she doesn't care about anything at all.

Whatever you say goes; she doesn't get involved in anything related to family management.

Even if the sky were to fall, there would be tall people to hold it up, so she didn't seem to care.

You see, even though her son and daughter are grown up, she's not in a hurry.

Unlike Huang, who gets anxious and upset and deliberately hinders progress.

What are your thoughts on Chun Ning's marriage?

"Just look at Chun Ning, find someone he likes."

She never mentioned her family background or social standing.

Hearing this, Madam Xu laughed in anger.

"Second sister-in-law, I don't even know what to say to you. How come you're so lucky?"

She doesn't care about her daughter's marriage or her son's affairs.

Just say you like it.

She probably doesn't know that Chun Ning almost got into trouble in Changzhou. Fortunately, Chun Nuan intervened in time to stop it, otherwise she would have already married the daughter of a prostitute.

"With my sister-in-law supporting me, I really don't need to worry."

"You, you."

Madam Huang was afraid that her sister-in-law would interfere in her daughter's marriage; while Madam Xu simply left everything to her sister-in-law: "Take a look at this?"

"The Zhong residence? Which Zhong residence?"

"At the residence of Lord Zhong of Hanlin Academy, Miss Zhong is the second daughter of the legitimate wife. Her given name is Zhong Lan. She is three years younger than Chun Ning and is gentle and virtuous." Madam Xu said, "I had thought about it before, and this young lady from the Zhong family is quite good."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law."

"You're not planning to go see it?"

What mother-in-law is as carefree as her?

Without even glancing at it, she handed the decision over to her aunt.

"My sister-in-law has a better eye than me. I trust you completely just by looking at Lingling as my daughter-in-law." Xu's words praised both the eldest daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law: "What you say is good, it can't be wrong." "You, you..."

Just then, the gatekeeper announced that the official media had arrived.

"welcome."

Mr. Xu could roughly guess what it was.

Sure enough, the official media sent a nanny surnamed Chen.

"Congratulations, First Madam and Second Madam!" Granny Chen said with a beaming smile. "Your household is about to have double happiness."

"Oh, I don't know what double happiness means?"

"First, congratulations to Master Chun Ning for passing the imperial examination with top honors; second, congratulations to the First Madam for soon having a fine son-in-law."

As expected, Granny Chen had come to act as matchmaker for Zhu Haodong, commissioned by the Zhu family.

"Madam Zhu said that although the Fourth Young Master Zhu was born out of wedlock, he has been registered under her name since childhood and was raised by her personally."

It's said that matchmakers have two pieces of skin, and they can make the dead sound alive, but every word Granny Chen said was true, because Zhu Lingling knew Zhu Haodong's situation perfectly well, without embellishing it at all.

Zhu Haodong had intended to marry Chunyan before the competition even started.

Chunyan finally ushered in a major event in her life.

The Xiao and Zhu families formed a marriage alliance, exchanging letters and performing the traditional rites, and quickly set an auspicious date.

Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence, Zhao Minghua felt a headache coming on just looking at his bookish second brother.

"Aren't you supposed to be a good student? How come you're such a coward when it comes to marriage? You insist on waiting for your mother to come to the capital before you go to propose. Aren't you afraid that a good girl will be snatched away?"

“It’s always more formal for elders to be involved in a marriage proposal,” Zhao Minglang said. “I can’t possibly go to their house to propose myself, can I?”

"Then if you're so capable, why don't you stop hanging around in front of me and ask how to marry the girl you like?"

“I’m not as capable as you in this matter, and I’m humbly asking for your advice.” Zhao Minglang was a little flustered: “I’m not sure if the young lady is willing to marry me.”

Well, it turns out that the girl who was supposed to be interested was the only one in love with him!

"Then go and arrange a meeting with that girl."

Zhao Minghua asked curiously, "You've been keeping it a secret all this time, can you tell me now? Which family's daughter are you?"

"The Qiu family, Miss Qiu Yan."

Zhao Minghua nodded; his second brother had always been highly skilled and daring.

The Zhao family was just a family of doctors before. Even though they had the title of imperial merchants, they were still just merchants. Among workers, farmers, scholars and merchants, the Zhao family was not worthy of the Qiu family at all.

But now the Zhao family has produced a top scholar in the imperial examinations. Not to mention marrying into the Qiu family, he could even be a suitable match for the imperial family.

"By the way, top scholar, you'd better hurry up with your engagement. I heard that the late emperor still has two daughters of marriageable age waiting to be married. If they are taken away to be imperial sons-in-law, you're doomed."

As a result, Zhao Minghua's teasing earned him a big eye roll from his brother.

"I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me?"

"The late emperor's two princesses are still in mourning; how could they possibly come out to arrest their husbands?"

Zhao Minghua… I have to say, bookworms can be really smart sometimes. He figured that out so quickly.

"If a princess can't find a husband, there are plenty of powerful officials in the capital. They have legitimate daughters, illegitimate daughters, and goddaughters. Are you sure you won't be chosen by them?"

Zhao Minglang frowned; this was indeed a risk.

For example, when I went to court today, the Left Prime Minister pulled me aside and asked me a lot of questions.

They actually asked him if he was married.

"I told him I already had a fiancée and we would get married after high school."

"You rock."

Now, hurry up and go to your fiancée's house to propose marriage.

"But Mother hasn't arrived in the capital yet."

"Why don't you go first yourself?"

Zhao Minghua couldn't bear to watch anymore. His brother was so rigid in his ways, how could Miss Qiu possibly like him?