Chapter 272: A Daughter’s Fate is a Scholar

Gu Fei had a good idea of what Taotao was going to say. But if her shop was short-staffed, it was only in need of a chef, and when things got busy, she just filled the role herself.

It was just that chefs were expensive. Hiring one would cost at least two taels of silver a month, and Gu Fei couldn’t bring herself to spend that much.

The family left the manor together. No one rode in Gu Sanlang’s mule cart; instead, they all walked forward slowly.

Mrs. Chen suddenly said, "Oh, right, I have some good news I haven’t told you yet. Your eldest sister-in-law is pregnant!"

Gu Fei let out a delighted "Ah!" and said, "That’s wonderful! Mom and Dad will be able to hold a grandson soon."

Beaming, Mrs. Chen lowered her voice. "I have a feeling this one will be a boy. You know what they say, ’cravings for sour mean a boy, cravings for spicy mean a girl,’ and your sister-in-law just loves sour food."

Gu Fei just smiled and said nothing. ’It can’t be helped,’ she thought. ’In this era, boys are valued more than girls. A man means a laborer. If a family doesn’t have a man to support the household, they’ll truly be bullied.’

’Isn’t that why her own mother could hold her head so high? Because she’d given birth to three sons.’

After she finished, Mrs. Chen tugged on Gu Fei’s sleeve and lowered her voice again. "There’s something I was meaning to talk to you about. It’s good you’re back; saves me a trip."

"When you go tomorrow, sound Lan Zhi out. See if she’s willing to marry your second brother."

"If she is, the family will find a time to arrange the marriage. Your second brother is already eighteen; we can’t delay any longer."

"If she’s not, you tell me. I’ll keep Er Lang at home to farm and stop him from going into town. That way he won’t see Lan Zhi and cause any trouble."

Gu Fei listened patiently until her mother finished, a smile playing on her lips.

Mrs. Chen chided her, "What are you grinning about? Remember to ask her discreetly tomorrow. Don’t be too obvious, or you’ll make her feel awkward."

Gu Fei turned to look at her mother. "There’s no need to ask."

"I sounded Lan Zhi out just a couple of days ago. She’s willing to marry Second Brother."

When Mrs. Chen heard this, she froze, unsure for a moment whether to be happy or worried.

After a long moment, she sighed. "Alright, then. We’ll find a date to arrange the wedding for them."

Gu Fei looked at Mrs. Chen. "Mom, you’re the one who told me to ask. Why do you look unhappy now that Lan Zhi has agreed?"

Mrs. Chen shook her head. "I’m not unhappy. I’m worried."

"Lan Zhi is just too beautiful. I’m afraid Er Lang won’t be able to keep a wife like her."

Gu Fei thought for a moment, then leaned in and whispered in her mother’s ear, "Mom, you don’t have to worry. A few days ago, someone came to the shop to propose to Lan Zhi."

Mrs. Chen was startled. "Really? Who was it?"

Gu Fei said slowly, "The Second Young Master of the Marquis Mansion."

Mrs. Chen clicked her tongue. "See? I told you so. People should marry within their own social standing. A Miss of the Marquis Mansion should be with a young master of the Marquis Mansion."

"Wait, no, that’s not right. Are you saying Lan Zhi didn’t agree?"

Gu Fei nodded. "She didn’t."

"That’s why I asked her what she wanted—what kind of man she wanted to marry. She wasn’t willing to be a concubine to the young master of the Marquis Mansion. I then offered to find her a Scholar to marry as a proper wife, but she wasn’t interested in that either. From the way she was acting, I could tell she wants to marry into our family."

Mrs. Chen was speechless for a good while before finally muttering, "The girl’s a fool. Marrying a Scholar, she might become an official’s wife someday. Wouldn’t that be much better than marrying your second brother?"

In Mrs. Chen’s mind, her own daughter was definitely going to marry a Scholar in the future.

Gu Fei considered this. "Maybe Lan Zhi is still worried about her indenture contract."

"Besides, Mom, maybe she just likes that Second Brother is honest and sincere."

Mrs. Chen snorted with laughter. "Oh, he’s honest, alright. Not that it does him any good. But simple? I wouldn’t be so sure about that."

"I know my own son."