Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1042: Shang Laosi

After hearing this, Scholar Shang was deeply moved, but he didn’t say much and led Gu Jin’an and the others to the front courtyard’s guest hall.

In the guest hall, the Village Chief Shang was already there with a dozen or so Shang Family People waiting. They were extremely pleased to see Gu Jin’an.

"Good Brother An has arrived," Village Chief Shang said, explaining to the Shang Family People: "This is Wenyuan’s student, the first top scorer of Tianfu County, Brother Gu Jia’an."

"Village Chief, greetings to all the seniors of the Shang Family. I apologize for keeping you waiting," Gu Jin’an, led by Scholar Shang, greeted each of the dozen Shang Family People without putting on airs.

His attitude was exceptionally good, displaying complete respect from a junior to their elders, which satisfied the Shang Family greatly, even filling them with pride, having been greeted by the top scorer.

"Wenyuan, you’ve taken on a good student; it really brings honor to our Shang Family," an elder sitting to the right of Village Chief Shang praised Scholar Shang.

But right after the praise, he inquired about Gu Jin’an’s marriage.

"Good Brother An, you’re twenty by virtual age, right? I heard your marriage isn’t decided yet. Why hasn’t it been arranged? It’s not good to settle it too late," the elderly man said, full of concern.

This elderly man speaking was one of the Shang Family Elders, even older than Village Chief Shang, aged seventy-three, ranking as Second Old Master Shang.

Second Old Master Shang pointed to a man in his forties sitting beside him and said, "This is your fourth uncle from the Shang Family. He is engaged in trade, with businesses in Jiangnan, Jianghuai, Central State, and other places. His family has a youngest daughter, a bit younger than you, with an excellent demeanor and temperament. The old man sees you two as a good match and wants to use today to act as a mediator for a marriage alliance between your two families. If you think it’s good, we can make a verbal commitment to the marriage, and in a few days, have your parents formally propose. How about that?"

Brother Cheng was stunned, his mouth agape, eyes wide at Second Old Master Shang. Is this grandfather out of his mind? Is my elder brother your grandson? Where do you get the audacity to arrange my elder brother’s marriage like an emperor? Borrowing courage from God?!

Qi Kangming and the others were also shocked; Second Old Master Shang was indeed straightforward, proposing a match without reservation and speaking so confidently.

Village Chief Shang was dumbfounded, looking at Second Old Master Shang: "Second Brother, why do you suddenly bring this up?"

Before coming here, he had clearly told them not to bring up Gu Jin’an’s marriage, as Gu Jin’an had long stated he would focus on pursuing official status and not discuss marriage for the next few years.

But he didn’t expect at all that he’d be put in such a position.

Second Old Master Shang, unconcerned, said, "Old Five, when the age is right, one should marry. I’m doing this for First Place Gu’s benefit; how can a well-meaning matchmaking be wrong?"

It is wrong, indeed wrong. What right do you have to propose a match for Gu Jin’an!

Scholar Shang was already trembling with rage. It really was about arranging a match for Good Brother An again, but if you’re going to do it, why mention Shang Laosi’s family?

Shang Laosi might engage in trade, but many of his businesses are shady, initially thriving by trafficking prostitutes.

Indeed, trafficking prostitutes, bringing those in Jiangnan past twenty-five with fading beauty or ill-health to Central State to sell themselves for profit.

Jiangnan courtesans are beautiful, though aged twenty to thirty, they’re still very popular in Central State. Shang Laosi made quite a bit of silver from this and started his business on such a foundation.

But Shang Laosi claimed his family no longer engaged in this trade, yet Scholar Shang heard rumors that Shang Laosi, seeing this business’s profitability, continues to have his servants manage it, just not himself directly.

Plus, Shang Laosi’s youngest daughter, though legally under the official wife’s name, was rumored to be born of a courtesan.

Good Brother An, a scholar from an upright family, the first top scorer of Tianfu County, with a promising future, Shang Laosi dares to propose he marry a prostitute’s daughter!

Scholar Shang couldn’t hold back, blurting out: "Get out, get out of my house!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Laosi’s face darkened, and instead of looking at Scholar Shang, he looked at Second Old Master Shang.

With a slap on the table, Second Old Master Shang cursed, "Wenyuan, our Shang Family is most disciplined. Laosi is your clan brother, and you speak to him like this? Apologize immediately!"

Then he warned with hidden meaning: "Don’t think that just because you’ve taught a top-scoring student, you can act arrogantly. Great Chu has many top scorers, whether he can succeed depends on decades to come."

Scholar Shang sneered: "Even if Good Brother An were just a student his whole life, he’d never marry Shang Laosi’s youngest daughter. You all know what kind of person she is. A fake legitimate daughter born of a prostitute hoping to marry into a good family’s son, if you genuinely think Shang Laosi’s daughter is good, then propose her to your grandson. Good Brother An doesn’t want her!"

Because Scholar Shang had no sons, he was usually polite to the Shang Family, rarely clashing with them. But Shang Laosi went too far, forcing him to confront them.

Second Old Master Shang trembled with rage, not expecting Shang Wenyuan to speak to him like this. Trembling, he said, "Rascal, I am your elder, and you dare speak such rebellious words. I will open the ancestral hall and enforce family rules..."

Scholar Shang interrupted Second Old Master Shang’s words: "What have I said wrong? Didn’t you say Shang Laosi’s daughter was good? If she’s so good, then why is it wrong for me to let a younger generation marry your grandson?"

Second Old Master Shang was momentarily speechless, then, realizing the implications, became even angrier, too enraged to speak.

"Shang Wenyuan, shut up!" Shang Laosi’s face flushed green. In front of the dozen or so most capable members of the Shang Family, Shang Wenyuan dared to mention his youngest daughter being a prostitute’s child, utterly humiliating him.

"Shang Wenyuan, Second Uncle is the most senior elder of the entire Shang Family. As a junior and a childless one at that, how can you speak to your elders in this manner? Aren’t you afraid of angering the Shang Family People and denying support for your daughter in the future?!"

Heh, so what if his youngest daughter is the child of a prostitute? She’s still better than Shang Yuanyuan, who, without brothers to support her, is just an orphan girl. Shang Wenyuan wants his daughter to fare well, he must curry favor with the family; otherwise, when he passes, Shang Yuanyuan will suffer.

Village Chief Shang slammed the table upon hearing this, pointing at Shang Laosi: "Enough, Shang Laosi, what do you mean by this? Coming back and immediately threatening your clan brothers?"

Wenyuan is, after all, his legitimate cousin. Second Old Master Shang can act his age, but Shang Laosi humiliating Wenyuan to his face is something he wouldn’t tolerate.

Gu Jin’an also couldn’t stand it, looking at Shang Laosi and saying, "Shang Tai’an, native of Shang Family Village, ranked fourth in the clan, aged forty-six, has used aliases such as Yao Da’an, Tao Wenqian, Brother Qian while traveling. His family owns a sundry shop in the county and a tavern in Hukang County, seemingly legitimate businesses, but secretly still dealing in the prostitution trade..."

"Enough!" Shang Laosi was shocked, pointing at Gu Jin’an and saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? My family does legitimate business."