Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

"Uncle Chen, such a big thing happened tonight. Please stay home for the next two days and don't go out."

"If there's anything at home, let Old Chen handle it."

"That's what Peach Girl instructed me."

Although the soldiers didn't get a clear look at Uncle Chen tonight, and Uncle Chen had changed his makeup, it's still safer not to go out just in case.

"Sister Tao'er, are you worried that Uncle Chen is in danger?"

Ayan quickly realized this.

Tao'er nodded, "Yes, yes, not only should Uncle Chen not go out, but the two of us should not go out either."

"We met with the Prime Minister last night. They don't know, but they'll definitely be suspicious."

King Cheng wasn't a complete fool; he quickly realized that he had used a diversionary tactic.

Just as Chen Ping'an was about to say something, the door to the main room creaked open, and the three of them immediately looked towards the doorway upon hearing the sound.

Then Old Chen came in carrying three bowls of wontons, and said with a smile, "My wife heard you were coming back, so she cooked a few bowls of wontons for you."

Eat it while it's hot!

It's filled with mustard greens, and I chopped some meat from the kitchen.

After saying that, he placed the tray on the table.

"Uncle Chen, you and Grandma are too kind. Ayan and I are embarrassed."

We thought you two had already gone to bed, so we didn't greet you.

They hadn't told Old Man Chen about their plans, but now it seems he already knew they had gone out, and might even have guessed their plans, but was just pretending not to know.

"You're welcome. You paid Ping An to buy all this meat and noodles. We only need to contribute some labor and time."

I heard the last two sentences of what you just said. Peach Girl is right. Ping An, and you two shouldn't go out for the next couple of days.

"It's too dangerous. If anything happens, my wife and I can go out and take care of it ourselves."

Old Chen placed the wontons in front of the three of them and continued speaking.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sir."

Tao'er didn't refuse, and she was also a little hungry, having been up so late.

"Peach Girl, Ayan, you must try this! My mother's wontons are so delicious. We only get to eat them once a year."

I'm so lucky to have such a delicious meal today, all thanks to you all.

Chen Pingan spoke with a sense of pride.

"Okay, I'll try it!"

Ah Yan, you eat too.

Uncle Chen, please eat too!

Tao'er tried one out of curiosity, and it was surprisingly delicious.

Unexpectedly, Uncle Chen wasn't exaggerating; Grandma's cooking skills really were excellent.

"Sister Tao'er, these wontons are really delicious! Grandma Chen's cooking is amazing!"

Ayan sincerely praised him.

"Peach Girl, Ayan, you don't know that my husband's ancestors used to run a wonton shop, but later something happened in the family and the shop closed down."

Later she married me, but I was poor and couldn't afford to open another wonton shop for her.

My wife passed this skill on to my son Ping'an a long time ago, but his wontons aren't as good as hers; they're still a little lacking.

Old Chen sighed and shook his head, his tone tinged with regret.

Tao'er nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at Chen Ping'an and asked, "Uncle Chen, if I may ask, Ayan and I have been here for a day and a night, why haven't we seen your daughter-in-law?"

In fact, she suspected that Uncle Chen didn't have a wife at all.

But she couldn't say it directly, so she could only pretend to ask casually.

When Chen Ping'an heard Tao'er, a little girl, ask her father this question, he felt a little embarrassed and awkward.

After all, he's forty years old and doesn't have a wife, which is rather embarrassing.

"Oh, to be honest, Miss Tao'er, Ping An doesn't have a wife yet!"

You can see from our family's state; no girl wants to marry into our family.

Old Chen glanced at his son and sighed deeply.

"Father, it's not that no one is willing, it's just that Cuihua's parents disagree."

Chen Pingan interjected.

"Ping An, just forget about Cuihua, don't mention her."

Her father forced her to marry off as a concubine to a wealthy man because you couldn't afford the bride price.

Two years ago, the mistress sent him back home.

Even so, if you want to marry her, her father still demands such a large dowry.

"That kind of family is a bottomless pit; you should just forget about her!"

This son is also stubborn, still so obsessed with a woman who has been married twice.

"Father, it wasn't Cuihua's fault, please don't blame her."

She was beaten every day at Master Li's house, and her life was worse than that of a maid.

She's already pitiful enough!

"Dad, she's actually a very nice person."

Chen Ping'an rarely showed his unhappy side.

When Tao'er saw this scene, she instantly understood that Uncle Chen was still a hopeless romantic.

Judging from what he said, that Cuihua must be quite good too. It's just that in this dynasty, poor families considered daughters as a financial burden, and they had no say in their marriages.

"Anyway, it's impossible for the two of you to be together. If all else fails, I'll find you a widow!"

It's okay to bring a girl along.

"Once you're married, it'll be a relief for you to give up on me."

Old Chen was furious. His son was good in every way, except that he was too stupid.

"Father, I wouldn't marry a widow even if you brought her."

Chen Ping'an simply refused to back down.

Tao'er finally understood why Uncle Chen was still unmarried at forty years old.

Ayan watched as the two elders argued heatedly, but he didn't know what to say; he was still just a child.

Ayan turned his gaze toward Sister Tao'er.

Tao'er was also somewhat helpless, but if that Cuihua was a good person, it wasn't impossible to marry her.

She was just worried about how to repay the kindness of their family.

After coughing twice, the Chen father and son came to their senses. There were outsiders present, so they both felt very uncomfortable.

How embarrassing!

"I'm sorry, Miss Tao'er, you must have found this amusing."

Just now………"

Mr. Chen regretted that he hadn't been able to resist earlier!

"It's alright, Uncle Chen. I just wanted to ask, how much dowry is Cuilian's father asking for?"

Tao asked with a smile.

"Twenty taels of silver."

Twenty taels was indeed an amount their family couldn't afford.

In a rural household, five taels of silver were enough to marry a wife.

Even if it's a bit more expensive in the suburbs of Beijing, ten taels of silver is the maximum.

"Uncle Chen, do you really like that Cuihua?"

Tao'er then turned to ask Chen Ping'an.

Chen Pingan nodded. "Yes, she's very nice. She even secretly gave me some food from home before."

Once, I was working and accidentally got injured, and she carried me home on her back.

I like her very much, even though she's a woman who's been married before.

Tao observed for a moment and found that Uncle Chen's eyes were very sincere.

So he smiled and asked, "Uncle Chen, does Cui'er feel the same way as you? Is she willing to marry you?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen's face flushed red, and he stammered for a long time, "She... she probably likes me too, right?"

Ten days ago she was still…

Then he looked down at the cloth shoes on his feet.

Tao'er followed Uncle Chen's gaze and noticed that he was wearing a pair of nearly new cloth shoes.

She immediately realized that this must be the girl named Cuihua.

I made it for him myself.

This shows that both of them have feelings for each other.

She smiled immediately. "I understand."

Uncle Chen, since they both have that intention...

Please don't stop me, sir.

Uncle Ping An is not young anymore; it's time for him to settle down and start a family.

It would be better to grant their wish.

Here are fifty taels of silver. Take them. Twenty taels are for the betrothal gifts, and the remaining thirty taels are for renting a small shop and opening a wonton shop.

This way, Grandma won't have to do laundry for other people anymore, and Uncle Ping'an and Cuihua can help each other open a shop.

That way, things will get better and better.

Tao'er took out fifty taels of silver, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Old Man Chen.

"Miss Tao, we can't accept this money."

The father and son said in unison.