In the afternoon, the two returned ho, their baskets full. However, one basket was filled with a variety of fresh flowers, while the other brimd with several types of mushrooms.
No sooner had they descended the mountain than they saw a familiar carriage parked at the entrance of the courtyard. Both of them recognized it instantly—it was from the Liu Family.
A flash of worry crossed Mo Yan’s eyes, fearing that the Du Family was causing trouble again and that Mr. and Mrs. Liu had co to seek a mont of peace at their ho.
Liu Tinglan also thought of this reason and couldn’t bother to say anything to Mo Yan. She pushed open the courtyard gate and rushed inside.
Seeing this, Mo Yan quickly followed, only to find the Liu Family’s coachman sitting in the hall; neither Mr. nor Mrs. Liu had co at all.
The mont the Liu Family coachman saw Liu Tinglan, he sprang up to greet her: "Miss, the master and the lady sent to pick you up. Please pack your things and return with now, they’re waiting!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Tinglan knew she had guessed wrong—had the Du Family caused a ruckus, her parents would have tried to stop it rather than hurriedly summon her ho.
With this thought, Liu Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief. Without asking the coachman why her parents were in such a hurry, she said to Mo Yan, "Yanyan, my parents are urgently calling back; sothing important must have happened at ho. I’ll go first and co back to visit you once it’s settled."
Mo Yan did not try to detain her and understandingly said, "Hurry back. If anything cos up, just send a ssage, you can’t stay silent and endure it all alone like before."
"Yeah, with you, the County Lord, to support , I won’t do sothing so foolish again!" Liu Tinglan playfully winked and cheerfully agreed.
However, Mo Yan remained uneasy. After Liu Tinglan had left, she released Maomao from the Space to keep an eye on the Liu Family’s affairs. If anything amiss arose, Maomao was to co back and report to her instantly.
She hadn’t sent Maomao before, when the Liu and Du Families had called off their engagent, underestimating the shalessness of Du Zhazha and believing that the Liu Family could handle the situation well without her interference. This ti, she wouldn’t let the sa mistake occur again.
As for the Du Family, their notoriety hadn’t yet subsided. If she interfered rashly, they might fra the Liu Family, which could lead to new rumors and gossip. It was better to wait for an opportunity to deal seriously with Du Zhazha.
This ti, Maomao returned quickly. Through Xuetuan’s "translation," Mo Yan soon learned the reason that Mr. and Mrs. Liu had urgently summoned Liu Tinglan back ho—it was actually Shen Ji who had paid a visit, intending to propose to the Liu Family!
To say he was proposing wasn’t quite accurate, as there were no matchmakers present. Shen Ji was leveraging a previous agreent to gauge the receptiveness of Mr. and Mrs. Liu. If the Liu Family agreed, he planned to inform his parents after the examination results were out and then formally propose.
Shen Ji didn’t care at all about Liu Tinglan’s damaged reputation. Last year, he had inquired about Du Wencai and the Du Family’s character from their neighbors. Besides learning that the Du Family was trouble and that Du Wencai was opportunistic, he didn’t find out much else.
But as a man understanding n, soone with opportunistic eyes wasn’t likely to stay out of trouble. Shen Ji harbored concerns and often took ti to keep abreast of the affairs between the Liu and Du Families. As a result, the rumors and slanders regarding the annulled engagent between the Liu and Du Families reached his ears.
Unable to sit idly by after hearing those malicious slanders, Shen Ji mulled over his options and finally mustered the courage to express his intentions toward Liu Tinglan to Mr. and Mrs. Liu, firmly conveying his desire to marry her.
Knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Liu had not agreed on the spot but instead called their friend back ho, Mo Yan understood their approach.
Mr. and Mrs. Liu originally wanted a son-in-law who would join their household, which is why they chose Du Wencai, a man of diocre character and talent. Hurt deeply by Du Wencai, they might reconsider their initial intentions, but their desire for a son-in-law would not vanish quickly.
The Shen and Du families were of equal social standing, so a marriage alliance was entirely feasible. However, it was unrealistic to expect Shen Ji, the only child, to beco a son-in-law who moved into the wife’s ho. Moreover, Shen Ji was an excellent catch, whereas Liu Tinglan’s reputation had been tarnished. Stung by betrayal, Mr. and Mrs. Liu were hesitating even more, contemplating deeply. Although they might abandon their plan for a son-in-law, they still worried that hasty agreent could lead to unforeseen issues, hence they were extrely cautious.
Additionally, since the Liu Family had just dissolved their engagent with the Du Family and then Du Wencai spread rumors of them reaching higher branches, imdiate agreent with Shen Ji might seem to confirm those rumors, perhaps prompting Du Wencai to further act out. The Liu Family’s reputation could not withstand such turmoil.
Yet, Mo Yan was quite optimistic about Shen Ji. His willingness to propose to Liu Tinglan despite the challenging circumstances showed his genuine disregard for the rumors. Coupled with his prior actions, it was clear he truly liked Liu Tinglan and aspired to marry her.
Seeing that events were moving towards the outco she had hoped for, Mo Yan was happy for her friend, but she also worried Shen Ji’s parents might not approve, potentially ruining this good match.
After so thought, Mo Yan decisively let Maomao out from the Space, now well-fed and rested, to make a trip to Shen Ji’s family ho to investigate the Shen family’s character and integrity. If they were as ridiculously outrageous as the likes of Mo Hong’s family, Mo Niu’s, and Mo Yongxi, then this marriage proposal would certainly warrant further consideration.
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