There are two husbands chosen by Mr. Zhuang for Guo Ting, one is the Li family of Zhongyihou, and the other is the Gu family, a new scholar.
The Li family was the second wife and could not inherit the title, and Li Mo had never been able to obtain a meritorious service. After all this time, the higher-ranking family members naturally looked down on him, so they instead wanted to marry a lower-ranking family member, but with a good background.
After picking it up, Li Mo met Guo Ting and fell in love at first sight.
Although his mother, Fang, was reluctant, she thought her son would finally get married, so she found a matchmaker to ask.
In addition, the Gu family, a newly admitted scholar, is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River. Their ancestors had old friendships with the Guo family. Now Gu Xiao is the direct grandson of Gu's eldest son. He is a promising scholar and is two years younger than Guo Ting. He is very outstanding.
Mr. Zhuang liked Gu Xiao better, but was worried that his daughter wouldn't like it, so he sent all of Li Mo's posts to his daughter to choose from.
Mrs. Zhuang said to her daughter: "The eldest uncle of the Li family of the Zhongyi Marquis is Wang Lin, the Zhongxin Marquis, who is also Mrs. Lu's eldest brother."
"I heard someone said that a few years ago, their family was very ambitious and wanted to marry the second young lady of the Lu family. Later, it was delayed because Li Mo didn't pass the exam. Mother felt that such a family didn't like Xiao Men in their bones.
I'm from a small household, I'm afraid it won't be easy for you if you get married."
"However, you are so smart and capable. If I really choose Li Mo, I think you can handle it."
Guo Ting had heard about Li Mo, who was forced to study by his mother. She couldn't bear it anymore and ran away. Later, she went into business with others and lost a lot of money, so she returned home in desperation.
This man was pampered by his mother when he was a child and could not endure hard work. When he grew up, he was taken care of by his mother and made no achievements. He was not a beloved person entrusted to him for life.
Guo Ting covered his name card and then said to her mother: "Meet Gu Xiao."
This choice was exactly what Mr. Zhuang wanted, and he immediately said happily: "Okay, then mother will arrange it for you."
Guo Ting nodded and went out on the pretext that there was something else in the shop.
Mr. Zhuang looked at her back, hesitated to speak, and then sighed again.
The Gu family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River. I am afraid that my daughter will have to hand over her business in the future.
It is absolutely impossible to think about coming and going freely like this anymore.
Guo Ting went to the shop, and the shopkeeper hurriedly came up to her and said, "The eldest lady is here. This is from Mr. Xu's shop. He said that it must be given to the eldest lady."
Guo Ting looked at the box, which was well wrapped, and wondered if it was a bank note?
She said calmly: "Send it upstairs."
The shopkeeper didn't dare to delay and hurriedly followed him upstairs.
Guo Ting sat down and opened it to see, yo!
It’s true!
With a full 20,000 taels of silver notes and a golden abacus, this hush money was really painstaking.
But she was really angry. Who did Xu Xiao think of her? Would she expose his shortcomings?
Guo Ting didn't even take a sip of tea, and hurried to Xu Xiao's tea shop with the box in her arms.
When the steward inside saw her coming, he quickly smiled and said: "Miss Cousin is here, my dear..."
Guo Ting said: "You're not here, right? It doesn't matter. I'll go in and wait for him."
However, when she angrily pushed open the door to the back hall, she discovered that Xu Xiao was inside.
The shopkeeper's voice also stopped suddenly, and then he said weakly: "No, I want to say that our adults are in the back hall."
Guo Ting snorted coldly and didn't forget to close the door when she walked in.
She looked at Xu Xiao, who was sitting at the long desk, lowering his head to sort out the account books, put the box in front of him, and said angrily: "I will keep Mr. Xu's kindness to me in mind, and I will not repay it, so I will keep it secret."
"What's more, you are drunk and talking nonsense, who will believe it?"
Xu Xiao looked at the box, smiled, and asked, "Do you think I used this to bribe you?"
Guo Ting frowned, feeling vaguely uncomfortable, but asked: "Isn't it?"
Xu Xiao said: "Of course not."
Guo Ting looked surprised, and her original aggressive look became much calmer. She asked curiously: "If not, then what is it?"
Xu Xiao walked out of the long desk, opened the box, took out a letter of appointment and handed it to Guo Ting.
"Have you not finished reading? These are my betrothal gifts. I want to marry you."
After hearing this, Guo Ting's body trembled, her blood surged, she couldn't believe it.
But she soon understood that Xu Xiao was still bribing her, even at the cost of his life-long affairs. He wanted her to marry him and tie the interests of the two people together. Naturally, she would not go out and talk nonsense.
.
Guo Ting was so angry that she was shaking all over. She raised her palm and gave Xu Xiao a hard slap in the face.
With a "pop" sound, Xu Xiao didn't even move, and the red marks on her face suddenly appeared.
After the fight, Guo Ting regretted it and felt scared.
When she saw the redness and swelling on Xu Xiao's face, her heart ached, but her face remained unmoved. She just said in disgust: "I won't say it if I say it. If you don't believe it, just kill me."
Already."
As soon as she finished speaking, tears fell down.
She never bothered to explain, but she didn't want Xu Xiao to misunderstand her again and again.
But now, it's useless to say anything. He has long believed that she is that kind of woman. What can she do?
Guo Ting cried and was very sad.
"I have always respected you. Even if you don't like me, there is no need to abuse me."
"What's more, this is your marriage, how can you be so casual."
She wiped her tears, looking aggrieved and helpless, but she turned her head stubbornly, refusing to let Xu Xiao see her.
And she didn't intend to continue to defend herself and was about to leave.
However, in the next moment, Xu Xiao caught up with her from behind and hugged her tightly.
Guo Ting's heart was shaken, her cheeks turned red, and she struggled hard.
But Xu Xiao turned her around and held her tightly in his arms.
His chin rubbed her forehead, and he sighed helplessly: "That's my betrothal gift, why don't you believe it?"
"No one knows my life story better than the Xu family. What else do you think I should be afraid of?"
"Like I said before, I'm just afraid that you won't want me, so I'm testing you like this."
Guo Ting didn’t believe it, he was the best at lying.
My heart didn't hurt as much as before, but my tears fell even more fiercely.
She had already decided to let him go and get married, how could he do this?
Guo Ting beat him and said angrily: "Even if you lie, I don't believe a word of it anyway."
Xu Xiao stroked her forehead and said pitifully: "I told my grandmother before I came here. She didn't care about me. She said she had delayed you for too long and she was embarrassed to come. If you don't believe it, you are not willing to marry me.
Me, then let me die alone all my life. Anyway, I have always been alone and I am used to it."
Guo Ting didn't believe a word of it. Her chest felt extremely hot and uncomfortable.
She pushed Xu Xiao away, feeling like crying but unable to make a sound. She couldn't even stop her tears.
She had never felt that she was a weak person, but at this moment, she felt that she was really wronged and sad.