Chapter 286: Chapter 287: Selecting
Leaving the brokerage disappointed yet again, Jin Qianqian let out a deep breath. There were some shops and houses available, but no estates.
She had considered gritting her teeth and buying a house to use as a workshop, but the privacy wouldn’t be as good. Moreover, the constant comings and goings could easily lead to conflicts with neighbors. An estate was still her preference.
But she wasn’t ready to give up. She had Hong Da drive the carriage to the next brokerage.
"Mrs. Gu, estates are truly difficult to find in this area. Would you consider looking a bit farther out?" Xu Nuo hadn’t expected to run into her very first client right before heading out.
"Too far won’t work. I plan to use the estate as a workshop to make supplying my goods easier. Not only would transportation be inconvenient, but managing it would be a hassle as well." Jin Qianqian was frustrated to have hit another dead end.
Xu Nuo knew her previous two shops were for selling soap, but she had never imagined the woman before her was the direct manufacturer—and the very Imperial Merchant everyone had been so curious about for the past two years.
"If you don’t want something far away, I do have one place. However, it’s on a small hillside, and it would take a lot of effort to prepare."
Jin Qianqian asked, "What about a water source? I need convenient access to water."
She’d seen plenty of small hillsides. This wasn’t an age where you could simply install plumbing. A workshop without water was a non-starter.
Xu Nuo knew this deal was off. "It doesn’t have a water source. I don’t have any other suitable properties on hand right now, but I’ll have my people keep an eye out for you. As soon as there’s news, I’ll send word to your residence."
Jin Qianqian stood up to thank her. "Then I must thank you, Miss Xu! If you come across any suitable shops or estates, please send the details to my home. If I find them agreeable, I’ll take them."
’Listen to that casual display of wealth.’ Xu Nuo was secretly envious. She also knew this woman could be a very important client in the future, so she quickly stood and agreed.
Just as Xu Nuo watched Jin Qianqian being helped into her carriage, she turned to see her mother standing there.
"Why are you still here?" Mrs. Xu Zhou said, her face cold. "I’ve already made arrangements with the matchmaker. Today, she specifically found some men who came here from out of town to make a living. Aside from being a bit poor, there’s nothing wrong with them."
"People like that are easy to control. Don’t play dumb with me. Hurry up and go take a look."
Xu Nuo looked utterly helpless. "Mother, I was truly busy just now. The madam I made a deal with before asked me to find more estates and shops for her. I was just about to go out and look. As for the matchmaking, can we please talk about it in a few days?"
"How can we wait? Besides, this won’t take long. Matchmaker Lao has already brought the men over. If it comes down to it, just go over and pick one you find acceptable," Mrs. Xu Zhou said through gritted teeth. ’I have to get this marriage settled in the next few days. I know my body won’t hold out for much longer.’
Xu Nuo helped Mrs. Xu Zhou inside. "The wind is still a bit chilly out here, Mother. You shouldn’t risk your health."
"Ano, your mother’s body won’t last much longer. Do you really want me to die unable to rest in peace?" Mrs. Xu Zhou gripped Xu Nuo’s hand tightly.
"Mother, don’t say such things. I’ll go, alright?" Xu Nuo said quickly. "Let me help you back to your room to rest first."
"I don’t need your help. There are plenty of maids here. You need to go now, don’t keep the matchmaker waiting." As she spoke, she even gave Xu Nuo a little push, afraid she would miss the opportunity.
Resigned, Xu Nuo walked toward the matchmaker’s house nearby, her maid following silently behind.
The moment she stepped through the door, Matchmaker Lao grabbed her by the hand. "My dear Miss Xu, you’re finally here! The young men are all waiting inside. I went to great trouble to find them for you. Go see if there’s anyone suitable."
"We’re looking for a husband to marry into the family, so we can’t be too picky. But I made sure to find men with decent features. I guarantee you and your mother will be satisfied."
Xu Nuo had never imagined that one day she would be picking a husband like she was picking out cabbages at the market, able to simply choose from a selection.
Standing at the doorway, she hesitated. ’Is this the life I really want?’
But Matchmaker Lao pushed her inside. "I’ve known your mother for decades. If not for our old friendship, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to find so many suitable candidates for you."
"Let me tell you, these young men are all quite good. I had them all investigated. All your family has to do is give them some silver, and it’s as good as buying out their ties to their own kin. Just find one you like the look of."
Matchmaker Lao knew this was the best option for Xu Nuo. Otherwise, as an orphan with such a large inheritance, she would never be treated sincerely no matter whose family she married into.
A husband like this—half-bought, half-married-in—was the most suitable choice.
Xu Nuo frowned as she looked at the five young men. ’This matchmaker is so unprofessional. Putting everyone in the same room... isn’t she worried it’ll be awkward?’
Being stared at by so many pairs of eyes, Xu Nuo felt extremely uncomfortable. Just as she was about to back out, Matchmaker Lao came in. "Come, let me make some introductions."
"Auntie, isn’t this a bit improper?" Xu Nuo reminded her in a low voice. This wasn’t like picking out servants at a brokerage; treating these men this way was going too far.
"It’s fine. Everyone knows why they’re here today," Matchmaker Lao said with a broad smile. "This is the Miss Xu I told you all about. I’ve already explained the situation to you. She’s here now. If you feel she’s a suitable match, you can stay. If not, you’re free to leave."
Seeing that no one moved, Matchmaker Lao nodded in satisfaction and whispered to Xu Nuo, "My dear girl, is there anyone who catches your eye?"
Xu Nuo was about to make an excuse to refuse when the matchmaker added, "Your mother told me, if you’re not satisfied with any of these men, she’s going to send matchmakers all over Shangjing for you. It won’t be as simple as just these few then."
Scowling, Xu Nuo closed her eyes and pointed randomly. "He’ll do."
"The boy from the Gu family?" the old matchmaker asked, wanting to confirm. While the boy was tall and well-built, he was the plainest-looking one of the group.
It wasn’t that the boy was unattractive, but compared to the other youths she had so carefully selected, he fell a little short.
"Yes," Xu Nuo said. At this point, she felt it didn’t matter who she chose. She just noticed he kept his head down and assumed he was unwilling and would jump up to object.
Gu Lehuan never would have imagined it. ’I even hid in the corner, so how did I still get picked?’
"He’ll do," the old matchmaker said, clapping her hands. "You can tell just by looking at him that he’s a hard worker. Even if he can’t help you much with the business, he’ll be more than useful around the house."
"Why him?" one of the other young men couldn’t help but ask. "I’m better looking than he is."
Xu Nuo retorted, "I’m not a man like you all. Good looks are useless to me."
"Besides, I find him more agreeable to look at. Is that not allowed?"
At this, Matchmaker Lao stepped in to stop the others from speaking up. "We agreed on this beforehand. Miss Xu is the one making the decision today. Besides, I’ll be giving each of you a red envelope in a moment, so don’t make trouble for me here."
