Top Scholar

Chapter 253 Blind Date
Zhu Zihe and most of the students from Heshan Academy took the county-level examination in Luzhou. The biggest difference between a directly governed prefecture and a county-level prefecture is that the prefecture city does not have a county within it; the prefect is directly in charge of governing the people. Therefore, the county-level examination in Luzhou was also presided over by the prefect's office.

Seeing his arrogant attitude, Su Lu had to remind him, "Don't be so cocky. The prefectural examination has always been the most difficult part of the children's examination. You might fail miserably. Lower your expectations and be down-to-earth."

"We're both already top scorers. Unless we make a big mistake, we'll be guaranteed admission to the provincial examination. We won't fail," Zhu Zihe said with a nonchalant smile.

"That's true." Su Lu nodded, then asked, "What are you here for? To show off that you passed the imperial examination with top honors?"

"My father sent me to come and see you all. He invited your whole family to dinner tomorrow." Zhu Zihe finished eating a piece of lotus root sausage, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the handsome man sitting at the head of Su Lu's table, saying, "Is this Brother Yingzhi?"

"Yes." Su Man also knew Zhu Zihe. Although she didn't like his arrogance, he was Mr. Zhu's son, so she returned the courtesy out of affection for him, saying, "I've heard Hongzhi talk about many things about Brother Zihe. Meeting you today, I can see that you truly live up to your reputation."

"Haha, likewise." Zhu Zihe laughed. "I've not only heard Brother Qiji say that he has an elder brother who is as handsome as a gentleman, but my father also often mentions you."

“Mr. Zhu was of great help to me during his two days in Hejiang. I was just about to visit him when I was surprised to find that you have come first, my dear brother,” Su Man said solemnly.

"Haha, that's wonderful. My father specifically told me to check if you were here before I came, and if you were, he invited you to come to his residence tomorrow for a chat," Zhu Zihe said happily.

"Definitely, definitely," Su Man replied hastily.

~~
in the afternoon.

When Zhu Zihe returned home, he told Zhu Jie that Su Lu's family would be visiting the next day.

"Has Su Man arrived?" Zhu Jie was more concerned about Su Lu, his elder brother.

"You're here! I'll be coming to pay my respects to my mentor tomorrow too." Zhu Zihe couldn't help but laugh. "Father, you're amazing! I heard you stayed up all night tutoring Brother Yingzhi for those two days in Hejiang."

"Really?" Madam Zhang exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you say that even if the sky were to fall, you would still 'rise at Chen Shi and rest at Hai Shi'?"

"I'm just eager to nurture talent." Zhu Jie coughed and said, "We only have two days to go, and I have things to do during the day, so I can only make an exception and stay up late at night."

"Tell the children they all need to stay home tomorrow." Then he said to his wife, "Have Athena Chu come out and meet them too."

"Oh?" Mrs. Zhang said with some surprise, "When Hongzhi's parents came at the end of the year, why didn't you call your daughter out?"

"Can I forget?" Zhu Jie said without changing his expression.

"I don't believe you at all," Madam Zhang pressed Zhu Jie, "What exactly are you planning?"

"You'll find out tomorrow," Zhu Jie said, wanting to keep her in suspense.

Zhu Zihe scoffed and said, "What else could it be? My sister is already a nineteen-year-old spinster, and Dad wants to marry her off."

"Really?" Madam Zhang asked, looking at Zhu Jie.

"Hmm." Zhu Jie could only nod and say, "I was originally thinking of showing you Su Man before we discussed it."

"No wonder your enthusiasm for Hongzhi faded later; it turns out you took a fancy to his brother." Madam Zhang suddenly realized, and then asked, "Is that boy handsome?"

“That’s right,” Zhu Jie and Zhu Zihe said in unison.

Zhu Zihe only guessed his father's intentions after seeing Chun Ge'er's appearance.

Because the whole family knows that Miss Zhu is extremely picky about looks. She doesn't care about her future husband's family background or social status, and only asks her parents for one thing—that he must be good-looking.

Moreover, most good-looking men don't even meet her standards. Otherwise, the dignified Miss Zhu wouldn't still be unmarried.

"It has to be really, really beautiful." Madam Zhang was also eager to get rid of this worry as soon as possible.

"You'll see tomorrow!" Both father and son were full of confidence.

~~
"Oh my, this child is as handsome as Pan An!" The next day, when Madam Zhang saw Chun Ge'er, her eyes lit up and she said, "I thought Zihe and Hongzhi were handsome, but compared to Yingzhi, they are not so outstanding."

Like mother, like daughter; Miss Zhu's obsession with good looks originated from her.

"You flatter me, Madam." Su Man felt embarrassed by her mother-in-law's 'mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law' gaze and lowered his head, saying, "My appearance is given to me by my parents, there's nothing to brag about."

“That’s right, we scholars value talent more than appearance.” Zhu Jie glanced at Madam Zhang, telling her not to be so obvious, lest she frighten Chun Ge’er.

"Come in, please come in." Madam Zhang quickly smiled and ushered the Su family into the living room.

After they were seated and tea was served, Zhu Jie inquired about the health of the old man and woman, and then smiled apologetically at Su Youcai, saying, "Last time, near the end of the year, you two came and went in a hurry, and you didn't even get to know all my children. It was really wrong of you."

Then he introduced Zigeng, Zixian, Zijing, Zigong and Ziming to Su Youcai one by one.

After his sons had paid their respects, Zhu Jie instructed Zhu Ziming, "Tell your sister to come out and meet Uncle Su's family."

"Isn't this inconvenient?" Su Youcai hurriedly asked, knowing that wealthy families had many rules, and young ladies rarely left their homes. "What's inconvenient about it? Didn't I meet your women when I went to Hejiang last time? Otherwise, what's the point of calling us close friends?" Zhu Jie's answer was reasonable, and he waved his hand, urging Xiaoming, "Go quickly."

"Oh," Zhu Ziming replied, then rode his whirlwind wheels and dashed into the inner courtyard.

Then he saw his sister still tending to the flowers and plants.

"Sister, why are you still tending to these flowers and plants? The guests have arrived!" Zhu Ziming said anxiously, "Dad wants you to go out and greet the guests."

“Spring has arrived, and there’s so much work to do in the yard. None of you are helping me, so I have to hurry up and get it done!” Miss Zhu said calmly. She put down her tools, washed her hands, and walked out with her bare face.

"You're just going to go out like this?" Looking at his sister's unrefined manner, even Zhu Ziming was speechless. "At least wash your face, right? Just because you can't get married doesn't mean you have to give up on yourself."

"Are you asking for a beating again?!" Miss Zhu raised her eyebrows and made a move to hit him.

"What are you trying to prove?" Zhu Ziming quickly moved away. "I'm here to call you. If you're so tough, go ahead and try it on your father."

"Hmph, needless to say, it's probably another blind date I'm being set up with. Anyway, I won't be interested in any of them, so what's the point of getting involved?" Miss Zhu, however, had her own plan: "Why not let the other party also be unsuccessful, so that everyone can be on the safe side."

Although in this day and age, marriages are arranged by parents and matchmakers, families that are slightly more particular will arrange for their children to meet before the formal betrothal ceremony to see if they are compatible.

Although meeting once won't reveal much, it's still better than an arranged marriage. Otherwise, if the couple is dissatisfied with each other after marriage, it will cause unrest in the home, which would be a terrible situation.

After a blind date, the mother will usually ask her daughter what she thought of the young man. If the daughter isn't satisfied, she'll say, "My daughter is still young and hopes to continue to be filial to her parents."

If they are satisfied, they will say, "Marriage is a major life event; what right does a daughter have to speak on it?"

Miss Zhu has been on over ten blind dates, each one just another way of showing filial piety to her parents. Not only are her parents upset, but she's also become numb to it all and increasingly resistant to blind dates. Now, the mere thought of going out to meet guests sends her into a panic…

The only reason he didn't smear some ashes on his face was out of consideration for Su Lu.

“You haven’t even chosen a physiognomist yet, how do you know it won’t suit you?” Zhu Ziming said from the side.

"I've done this more than a dozen times. There's no one in the entire city of Luzhou with more experience than me," Miss Zhu said calmly. "Don't I know my father's taste? He just likes rigid, old-fashioned scholars. Those he picks are like wooden stakes sitting there, one after another. When has he ever been an exception?"

"That's true." Zhu Ziming nodded.

"Will this time be no exception?" Miss Zhu asked.

“That’s true.” Zhu Ziming nodded again.

"What else do you think I need to tidy up?" Miss Zhu said, then went into the back hall, came to Zhu Jie, curtsied, and said, "I wonder why Father summoned me here?"

When Zhu Jie saw her looking like she had just finished working in the fields, he almost fainted.

Mrs. Zhang was also dumbfounded. She had clearly been told that she was going out to meet guests today, but she didn't even bother to tidy herself up and dared to come out like this.

However, the elderly couple couldn't show their anger in front of the guests. Zhu Jie pressed down his trembling hands and tried to keep his tone calm as he said, "I've come to pay my respects to your Second Uncle and Second Aunt Su."

"Greetings, Second Uncle and Second Aunt." Miss Zhu then curtsied, her manners impeccable.

"Alright, alright, my dear niece, please don't stand on ceremony." Su Youcai and his wife didn't think there was anything wrong with her.

After all, even when the Zhu family's daughter was working in the fields, she was dressed much better than the girls they usually saw.

Only Xiaotian stared in astonishment, her mouth agape. The Zhu family sister she always saw was never like this…

Miss Zhu also saw Xiao Tiantian's expression, smiled at her, and quickly put her finger to her lips.

“Su Tai, Su Lu, and Tian Tian, ​​you’ve known each other for a long time,” Zhu Jie said in a low voice. “I’ve also met your Brother Su; he was one of my disciples in Hejiang.”

"Yes." Miss Zhu knew the main event was about to begin, so she turned to Su Man as instructed, slowly raised her head, and squeezed her facial features together to make an ugly face at him from an angle that no one could see!
Fortunately, Chun-ge was exceptionally composed; a flicker of surprise crossed his face before he regained his composure. Zhu Ziming was right; she was indeed his father's type…

After Miss Zhu finished her dramatic facial expressions, she finally got a clear look at Chun Ge'er's face—

He sat upright in the chair, his back straight, his moon-white robe flowing like clouds, which accentuated his slender shoulders.

What's even more striking is his perfectly sculpted face. His brow bones are exquisitely defined, and his jet-black eyebrows resemble distant mountains meticulously painted in ink. His nose is straight and refined, like carved jade, which complements his clear, bright eyes, as if they hold all the starlight in the sky.

Miss Zhu's heart skipped a beat—she had thought "as handsome as Pan An" was just a figure of speech, but who knew she would actually see Pan An himself in real life.

She immediately realized what she had just done and felt a chill run down her spine!

P.S. The next chapter wasn't checked...

(End of this chapter)