Old Lady Zhong entered the county governments rear residence through the corner gate, looking refreshed and in a good mood, passing through the vegetable garden and heading straight for the main courtyard.

  As soon as she entered the main courtyard, a cry of surprise came from the tea house: "Really?" Old Lady Zhong was startled and her feet bent, rushing straight to the tea house to scold. This family is really getting more and more unruly.

  Before she approached, another exclamation came from the tea room: "Ah? Really really? Is it true? Those things are because... Ah? Really? A fourth-rank official! Only thirty years old! Hmm hmm hmm! You really saw him? Like a god! Its true! So rich, a fourth-rank official, and good-looking too...... I know I know! I definitely wont spread it around......"

  The childs voice sounds a bit like Xiao Jiu, but the other person is unclear. The window was tightly closed, and Lao Tai Tai took two steps forward, pushing hard several times without opening it, but startling the people inside.

  "Run quickly!" With a creak, the side door slammed shut, and a flurry of footsteps ran off into the distance.

  Mrs. Zhong hurriedly walked around, but the person was already out of sight. Mrs. Zhong stood with her hands on her hips at the corner of the house, thinking about the few words she had just heard. After a moments thought, her heart began to beat rapidly and irregularly. A 30-year-old fourth-rank official, good-looking and wealthy... only matchmaking would involve such talk. Who could it be wanting to arrange a marriage? And who else could it be?!

  How could she not know this? She actually doesnt know about this!

  Old Lady Zhong was provoked by these few words, and the more she thought about it, the more furious she became. How dare anyone in this household keep things from her!

  Mrs. Zhong rushed to the back kitchen, but Xiao Jiu was not there. She grabbed a servant and asked her, then rushed to the backyard, turned around for half a circle, caught Xiao Jiu, and dragged her by the ear to a secluded place.

  "Dead girl! Tell me the truth! Who were you chatting with in the tea room just now? Speak up!" Old Lady Zhong twisted Xia Jius ear and lifted her up, leaving only her toes touching the ground.

  "Ancestors, spare me! I didnt... wasnt in the tea house, I was with Ninth Sister, dont believe me? Ask Ninth Sister, Ive been with Ninth Sister all along, just now Ninth Sister asked me to come pick some flowers..." Little Ninth cried out in pain.

  Old Lady Zhong shook off Xiao Jiuer, clapped her hands and said, "Alright, thats settled. That little scamp is too cunning for her age." Old Lady Zhong ignored Xiao Jiuer and turned to head towards the front courtyard to look for Wutong.

  Old Lady Zhong rushed to the wutong tree, asking abruptly: "Whats going on with that cart of things Wang Tongzhi sent? Tell me the truth!"

  "Whats going on?" Wu Tong Er Jin Gang was puzzled.

  "Are you really stupid or pretending to be stupid with me?" Old Lady Zhongs anger surged up, in this family, one by one, they all dared to deceive her!

  "My dear mother, what are you asking? I wouldnt dare to deceive you!" Wutong is really muddled.

  "What was said when that batch of things was delivered?" Zhong Yiniang looked at Wutong, seemingly not knowing the answer either.

  "It was a servant from the Wang family who brought it, saying that their master and mistress had sent it as a gift for the two young masters and two young ladies to meet. Just as he said this, Fifth Brother arrived, didnt say anything, just took it, and thats all! What could be going on? Why did Stepmother suddenly think of asking about this?" Wutong was left bewildered by Clock Old Ladys sudden questioning.

  "You really dont know?" Zhong Yiniang was puzzled.

  "Whats going on? Auntie has something to say, youre not unaware of it, and my son is the least likely to guess riddles."

  "I heard that..." Old Lady Zhong pulled Tongtong to a corner, whispering several sentences she had heard from Little Jiu since childhood, "...such a big thing, you dont know?"

  "Oh my goodness! Since we entered the city, Master and the two young masters and mistresses have gone their separate ways. Ive been following Master and squatting at the entrance of the yamen, not daring to move a step. How would I know whats going on with the other group? Its strange indeed! Wang Da Ren is such a high-ranking official, yet hes so far away from our Master... at least this far!"

  Wutong stretched out his two arms to the sides, "How did it end up being a gift for our old master? Dry mother, you dont know, that manager is so polite, tsk, tsk! No wonder, no wonder!" Wutong clapped his palms, suddenly enlightened, no wonder Fifth Master hadnt even finished speaking before he accepted the gift.

  "Have you seen Magistrate Wang? I heard hes only thirty years old?"

  "Ive seen it with my own eyes! He came out with the old master, and hes really impressive! He doesnt look like hes thirty years old, at most twenty or so. I was talking to someone in the gatehouse, and they said that this Wang Tongzhi is one of the top officials on our two Zhejiang roads, second only to Luo Shuais office! Although Guan Fushi has a higher rank, he doesnt take care of things, but its said that Luo Shuai trusts Wang Tongzhi the most. Whatever Wang Tongzhi says in front of Luo Shuai is taken as gospel. They also say that someone like Wang Tongzhi is destined for greatness and will become a high-ranking official one day." The more she spoke, the more excited she became, as if just talking about it would make this future high-ranking official share some of his glory with her.

  "How many concubines does he have in the mansion? What is his wifes temperament like? Is she magnanimous or not?" Old Lady Zhong asked all the crucial questions.

  "Director Wangs family is wealthy and luxurious." Wutong said, with a tone of envy, "I heard he loves beautiful women, at home... there must be several concubines, I heard Director Wang and his wife were engaged since childhood, although the wifes family is also wealthy, they are still merchants, I heard she is very virtuous, and wouldnt dare not to be!" Wutongs face was full of implication.

  Mrs. Zhong let out a satisfied sigh and couldnt help but laugh, "Its best when its like this! A merchants wife in the position of first wife would always feel inferior! This is good fortune for our daughter. Oh my, this is truly good luck that cant be stopped! You mustnt mention this to anyone, dont let it get out, these days there are many people who will mock and envy others, and even more who will secretly sabotage! If word gets out, who knows what might happen!"

  "Rest assured, Auntie! You dont know my mouth, it cant be pried open even with a crowbar!" As she watched Old Lady Zhong turn around, Tong couldnt help but call out to her again, "Auntie, arent you thinking... Sister is an officials daughter, no matter what..."

  "Shut up, you dont know anything!" Old Lady Zhong scolded Yu Tong with a sentence, shook off his hand and turned into the inner house.

  Mrs. Zhong returned to the rear mansion, excited and restless, unable to wait until County Magistrate Li came back from his official duties, so she called Little Ninth to go to the front mansion to summon Master over, saying she had an urgent matter.

  She was still a bit patient at first, but after more than a decade of being the one who has the final say in this household, her patience, which wasnt much to begin with, had long been exhausted.

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