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On the third morning, Yang Mengchen, Old Master Yang and his wife, together with Yang Chaowen and his wife, led by Matchmaker Wang and carrying carefully prepared gifts, arrived at the County Office.

Yang Mengchen was still a young girl, and it wasn't necessary for her to be present at a marriage proposal, but with her there, the two couples felt more at ease.

These past two days, wherever Yang Mengchen went, Long Xuanmo followed. Hearing that the Yang family was going to propose to the Xiao family today, he said he wanted to bear witness. Yang Mengchen couldn't be bothered with him, so Long Xuanmo, along with Mo Lei and Mo Yun, also came along.

Xiao Hongtao and his wife had been waiting at the main gate from early on, as were Doctor Luo and his wife, and Luo Jingfan. As for Xiao Wanxue, she shyly hid in her room and didn't come out.

Seeing that both Old Master Yang and his wife and Yang Chaowen had arrived, Xiao Hongtao and his wife were pleased and satisfied. It is known that many families usually just send a matchmaker for a proposal. If taken a bit more seriously, the prospective groom might accompany her.

But here, both Yang grandparents and the father had come together, which was enough to show that the Yang family really loved Wan Xue.

Specially knowing that Long Xuanmo had come to act as a witness, the couple was extremely grateful. With his support, no one in the Capital would dare to use Wan Xue's marriage for their own benefit anymore, after all, no one dared to question Prince Chen.

The elders of both families were honest and had already met each other's children, Yang Chengrong and Xiao Wanxue. The key was that both youngsters were pleased with each other. Without any formalities, the elders directly discussed the marriage, exchanged betrothal gifts, and then had Matchmaker Wang accompany Wei Lin to the front yard to register the marriage. And so, the marriage was settled.

After lunch, Yang Mengchen delivered the gifts intended for Grandpa Luo and Grandma Luo to Luo Jingfan, who was returning to the Capital the next day, and everyone took the carriage back home.

When Matchmaker Wang said that Yang Chengrong and the Magistrate's Daughter were engaged, villagers came to the Yang family to congratulate them one after another.

Zhang Meiju, naturally, also heard the news and her face darkened so much that water could be wrung out of it, her bloodshot eyes filled with spiteful jealousy.

She could look down on Yang Chengrong, but Yang Chengrong couldn't disdain her to find someone else. She would return this humiliation to Yang Chengrong sooner or later, and of course, also to that wretched Xiao Wanxue.

Watching her eldest daughter bite her lips silently with tears, Madam Zhang Liao comforted her softly with a heart full of sorrow: "Jiuer, don't worry, mother will definitely find a way to marry you into the Yang family."

That day she indeed felt bitterly disappointed with her two daughters, but after all, they were her beloved daughters whom she had cherished for over a decade. Seeing them cry and apologize, swearing never to do it again, she eventually forgave them.

"Yang Chengrong is already engaged, Mother won't make Sister become his concubine, would she?" Zhang Meixing asked with concern, yet her heart was schadenfreude.

"Jiuer is destined to be a respected wife, not a concubine!" Madam Zhang Liao said proudly, "Besides Yang Chengrong, there are seven other boys in the Yang family, especially Yang Chengyou, the eldest son of the third branch who is extraordinarily talented.

Who knows, he might top the imperial exams one day, and then Jiuer will be an official's wife." It must be said that Madam Zhang Liao indeed had a sharp eye.

Zhang Meiju broke into a smile after listening, yet internally, she was very dismissive, as she only wanted to be a princess, not an official's wife.

Zhang Meixing couldn't hold back her protest: "Mother is biased, you have already promised Yang Chengyou to me, why do you want to give him to her again? I don't agree!" Emotionally upset, the pain from her wounds caused her to grimace and tears streamed down her face.

"Xing'er, listen to Mother; Jiuer is older, we should focus on her marriage first..."

Before Madam Zhang Liao could finish, Zhang Meixing shouted loudly, "Why should we focus on her first? Yang Chengyou is mine, nobody should even think of snatching him away from me!"

Ever since witnessing Long Xuanmo's ruthless brutality, she had no more romantic thoughts about him and was content to wait to marry Yang Chengyou. Now that her mother wanted to give this great match to Zhang Meiju, she naturally was unwilling.

"Since Xing'er disagrees, Mother might as well forget it, and find me another family instead. It doesn't matter if the conditions are a bit poorer," said Zhang Meiju with a sorrowful face, but her eyes, hidden beneath her lowered eyelids, were full of disdain and resentment.

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"Meiju, don't be sad, your mother will decide this matter!" Zhang Meiju was beautiful and cunning, skilled at charming others. Madam Zhang Liao usually doted on her, seeing her like this was certainly heartbreaking. She then persuaded Zhang Meixing, "Meixing, the arrangement for Meiju to be matched with Chengyou is settled, and you may choose to marry either Chenghong or Cheng'an.

I hear Chenghong is learning business at the Drunken Immortal Tavern and Cheng'an is studying medicine with Doctor Luo. In the future, you can either be the wife of a wealthy man or the wife of a divine doctor, either way you'll enjoy wealth and prestige."

"I don't want it! Being the wife of a wealthy man or the wife of a divine doctor can't compare to being an official's wife. I want to be an official's wife!"

"I rule this household, you'll have to accept it whether you want to or not!"

Madam Zhang Liao scolded Zhang Meixing sternly and saw her nod reluctantly, no longer persistent. Madam Zhang Liao felt relieved and started to rack her brains on how to marry her daughters into the Yang family.

Don't be fooled by her husband being a butcher – he was actually a coward. Seeing her and her daughters beaten within an inch of their lives by the Prince's men, he was too scared to even let a fart out, hiding in town for the past two days without returning. She would have to figure out a solution herself.

When Zhang Meiju thought of Long Xuanmo's handsome and heroic demeanor, her face blushed like peach blossoms, her heart thumping wildly, determined to be with him no matter what.

Meanwhile, Zhang Meixing saw Zhang Meiju's alluring expression and thought it was because she was excited about the great marriage prospect. Furious, she gritted her teeth and secretly planned to ruin the marriage arrangement with Yang Chengyou.

While the members of the Zhang family had their own scheming thoughts, Yang Mengchen was explaining and demonstrating the use of the pulleys to Feng Gong and his men. The craftsmen were skilled and worked fast, and with many hands on deck, the walls of the new house and four factories were almost half built. The pulleys came in very handy.

Feng Gong and his men couldn't help but praise Yang Mengchen's intelligence. Such a tool was time-saving and labor-efficient; it was simply perfect.

Standing beside them, Long Xuanmo glanced at the pulleys and then at Yang Mengchen, his profound eyes filled with shock and a glint of admiration.

Mo Lei and Mo Yun stared with eyes wide open, wondering how Ms. Yang's brain was structured to come up with such a brilliantly clever idea.

Later, Long Xuanmo bought the exclusive rights to manufacture the pulleys for five thousand taels.

Four or five days passed by in a blink.

"Grandma, has Grandpa not returned yet?" Yang Mengchen carried the last dish out of the kitchen, noticing Madam Yang Zhou still standing at the door looking out.

It was currently the rice's heading stage, and the elders from her three maternal homes had returned home to look after the crops ten days ago. Everyone else in the house was busy, so Grandpa Yang would visit the fields every day. He should have been back by now; could something have delayed him?

Madam Yang Zhou shook her head.

Handing the dish to Chengrong, Yang Mengchen walked towards the door, saying, "I'll go to fetch Grandpa."

Upon hearing her voice, Long Xuanmo promptly followed Mengchen, but she ignored him. She learned from Birdy that her grandpa was still in the fields, so she headed straight there.

Seeing Old Master Yang pacing anxiously back and forth on the edge of the field, a look of worry plastered on his face, Mengchen asked with concern, "Grandpa, what's happened?"

"Jiujiu, big trouble is brewing!" Old Master Yang had a grim face.

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