Matchmaker Si was a good person; as long as he was paid, he didn't mind playing his role as a matchmaker. He wouldn't care about whether the other party was involved in a rumor or not as long as they didn't commit a crime or arson. As for Yu Dong and Fang Chi, everyone knew that Yu Dong was a victim in this case. Someone has deliberately caused trouble for her to push Fang Chi into her household and create turmoil in her family.
As for who this person was, everyone in the village had a silent understanding. One person despised Yu Dong the most in the entire village and couldn't stand to see her do well, Qiu Bai! But because Qiu Bai was like the little diva of the village, being the prettiest and the only mer who gave birth to a proper 'man', he was revered by all. So, no one dared to say it was him outright.
In the case of Yu-Cheng, who was studying to become an official and succeeded. Then who knows how Qiu Bai might retaliate against them?
Even Yu Dong had a bit of understanding of the matter, but she didn't have time to deal with Qiu Bai. She did have a bit of her spiritual energy that attracted bugs and bees to Qiu Bai. Whenever Qiu Bai left home, he was chased by a horde of bees or bugs until his face was swollen and bitten like a pig.
Back to Matchmaker Si, because Yu Dong has generously given him ten silver taels, he understood that Yu Dong wanted him to attach great importance in bringing the proposal to Fang Chi. Thus, Matchmaker Song hired the village bandmasters and had them beat the drums while he walked in front of them with Yu Dong's birth chart in his hands covered by a red veil.
This hoo and hah was big enough to attract the villagers' attention. As they watched Matchmaker Si walk towards the Fang house with the band, the villagers couldn't help but burst into another round of gossip.
"So Yu Dong is really going to marry Chi?" asked a mer looking thoroughly surprised as he watched the parade walking past them.
"Does she even have a choice?" Harumphed another mer as he enviously stared at the small parade walking in the direction of the Fang Family. "That Fang Chi is fortunate. He shouldn't have even scored a decent match with his face, much less someone like Yu Dong. Once he marries Yu Dong, he will live like a Queen. Just look at that big house! Have you seen Shen Li and the others? The clothes they wear are of the finest quality. Even Chen Mi, who gave birth to a mer, is treated so well by Yu Dong! Compared to everyone else, their complexion is the best. Even that idiotic boy Yu Mai has gotten chubbier than Village head's granddaughter! Humph, I don't know why people are calling him a victim. Yu Dong is the real victim here. After all, she is marrying another hen who can't even lay eggs!"
The other mers listened silently; they too agreed with what the mer said. Compared to Fang Chi, Yu Dong was more of a victim as she wasn't getting anything in return even after spending so much money.
-
Yu Dong didn't know that her small feat of giving ten taels to matchmaker Si had caused such a massive uproar in the village. On the contrary, she and Lang went to the town to purchase things for the bride price.
Now that Matchmaker Si was responsible for bringing the proposal, Yu Dong had to prepare for the bride price. She went around the town determinedly ignoring the makeup shops as she purchased tea leaves, dates, cakes, and melon seeds. Yu Dong also went to buy chicken and piglets. Originally she wanted to buy a pair each. Thankfully, Lang stopped her according to the custom of this world, one needed to buy a pair in case both parents of the bridegroom were alive. Since Fang Chi was an orphan, it wasn't good to buy a pair of chicken and piglets.
Yu Dong, whose original plan was to buy a pair, immediately let go of the two chickens. Thankfully, she brought Lang, or she might have made a blunder. In the end, she bought half a dozen ducklings that could be considered as a safe gift.
Then she bought two kilograms of pork and an entire chicken, some dry fruits, and a bright red cloth material for Fang Chi to make his wedding dress.
In hindsight, it was a blessing that they had bought a carriage, or else both Yu Dong and Lang would have become a human shelf, each carrying more and more packages.
"I think this much should be enough?" said Lang as she organized another round of packages. The parcels consisted of facial oils and several cherry red rogues, which could be applied as lip tint.
"No, I still have to buy a pair of quilts and mattress," said Yu Dong as she hopped on the carriage, followed by a rather tired Lang. "We don't have any extra bedding in the other rooms; I thought of leaving those rooms to Yu Mai and Bunbun when they grow up, so they aren't ready, so we need a few pieces of furniture and bedding."
"If so... Didn't you have to send word to your mother-in-law as well? After all, you also need to build a new Kang for brother Fang," said Lang wiping her sweat with her sleeves.
When Yu Dong heard her mention Mother Chen, another round of headaches started. Yes, that's right, she has to send word to her mother-in-law as well. Who knows, maybe her coffin will rise before the sedan chair carriers could bring the bridegroom.
"Yeah, I will... I will ask Mi to send a letter," said Yu Dong.. It wasn't that she was scared of Mother Chen, but she would rather get married without a black eye if possible. Alright!