After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 627 Hearing
Haitang didn’t know what Haijiao and Jin Jiashu discussed in private. Since that day, Haijiao seemed to be much more relaxed.

Although he still often went to the Jin family next door to discuss homework with Jin Jiashu, he returned home much earlier after school, and it seemed that he no longer needed to gather intelligence outside. He had not told his younger sister Haitang about this, but from his daily words and deeds, he was still paying attention to the news from the Tu family, and he did not lose the source of intelligence because he stayed outside for a short time.

At the same time, Haitang overheard the new errand girl Shiliu whispering to her sister Pu Tao, saying that her second brother Suozhu had been complaining to her recently that Jin's Xiaojian brother had been busy recently, which made it difficult for him to discuss the matter with him. If this continued, she didn't know when she would have the chance to talk to Xiaojian brother about it.

Then Grape blushed and scolded her sister Pomegranate: "I have my own job to do, how can I be as idle as Suozhu? If you can't find a chance to speak up, then don't speak up. What is there to complain about? You shouldn't mention it to me!" After that, she turned around and went back to the second courtyard.

After being scolded, Shi Liu felt very aggrieved and went back to complain to his mother, Aunt Ma.

Haitang was just confused. Grape had served her for more than half a year, and she didn't seem like the type to get angry over such a small matter. What happened today?
She went to ask Aunt Cui privately, but Aunt Cui covered her mouth and laughed, "Sister, you don't know that Ma Youli's family has taken a fancy to Zhou Xiaojian and wants him to be their son-in-law! Isn't this just an opportunity to test his opinion? If Zhou Xiaojian is willing, Ma Youli and his wife can find a matchmaker and go to Zhou Xiaojian's grandmother to discuss the marriage. She has mentioned this to the wife, and the wife also thinks it's a good idea. But it's not good to publicize the marriage until it's decided. Grape already knew what was going on, and the girl is embarrassed!"

Haitang was surprised: "Grape hasn't reached marriage age yet, right? Is it necessary to get engaged so early?" Besides, Zhou Xiaojian is the son of a military household, while Grape is the daughter of a hereditary servant who came as a dowry from Zhou Ma's family. Is there really no problem in marrying a nobleman and a commoner?
Aunt Cui thought there was no problem with this: "As long as the two families really intend to get married, Madam, if you let Grape go, it won't be a marriage between the noble and the humble. The Zhou family has many children born in the family, and there has always been a precedent of letting the maids marry soldiers in the army. The Zhenguo Mansion has to send a group of people out every three to five years, and this is not surprising. Moreover, the maids from the Zhenguo Mansion, as long as they don't break any taboos, have to return to the mansion every year to pay their respects and kowtow to their old masters. By marrying such a daughter-in-law, the soldiers in the army dare to say that they are half-relatives to the Zhenguo Mansion, which is more affordable than marrying a girl from an ordinary farm family. If you are lucky, the Zhenguo Mansion may even send a dowry!"

The Duke of Zhenguo Mansion and the Zhou family took the lead. The aristocratic families in Chang'an City also have the tradition of marrying their slaves to frontier soldiers. Moreover, Zhou Xiaojian's ancestors were originally soldiers of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. Although Putao is now a servant of the Hai family, her whole family served in the third branch of the Zhou family before. It can be considered an internal marriage, which is appropriate. However, Ma Youli and his wife are well-informed. They know that Zhou Xiaojian has won the favor of Jin Jiashu and will be recommended in the future to serve in the army. His future is bright. If Ma Youli's family waits until his future is clear before proposing marriage, Putao's background is not worthy of him. Therefore, this matter must be discussed as soon as possible, and then the mistress of the Hai family, Ma, can be asked to witness it to ensure that it is foolproof.

After all, Ma Youli and his wife are from the third branch of the Zhou family, and they are very shrewd in their calculations.

However, Aunt Cui thought this marriage was not bad: "Zhou Xiaojian has met Grape, and they get along well. They are a good match in age, appearance, character, temperament... everything. It would be better to get engaged as soon as possible. Get engaged first, and then get married in two years. When Grape has a child, Zhou Xiaojian will be old enough to join the army for training."

Haitang didn't comment on this, but only asked, "Since Ma Lili and his wife are so optimistic about this marriage, why didn't they discuss it with the grandmother, but only let Suozhu talk to Zhou Xiaojian?"

Aunt Cui blinked, "Isn't this... they are unsure? Zhou Xiaojian is someone else's family servant after all, and he hasn't said he wants to ask for marriage from Putao. What if the other party doesn't have such intentions, but Ma Lili and his wife rush to propose marriage, wouldn't that be embarrassing? What if Zhou Xiaojian's grandmother, Aunt Zhou, is willing to marry, but Zhou Xiaojian himself is unwilling? In the end, even if the marriage is reluctantly settled, won't Putao be the one who suffers?"

Haitang sneered, "That's why I said that this matter is too hasty. How old are they now? They have only known each other for a few months. They should get along slowly. After a long time, if they are interested in each other, it won't be too late to talk about marriage." She had to let Putao marry Zhou Xiaojian and have children before he entered the army. Although it could ensure that Zhou Xiaojian would not face the risk of having no children or grandchildren because he suddenly had to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, if Putao really became a widow, she would have to raise a child alone in her teens, and take care of Zhou Xiaojian's grandmother and young sister. How could she live her life? ! This matter was actually brought up by Ma Lili and his wife. Is it so important for them to find a son-in-law who may have a bright future?
Aunt Cui didn't know why Haitang suddenly frowned and was angry, so she smiled and said good-temperedly, "Ma Youli and his wife are a little anxious, but it depends on what Zhou Xiaojian's family thinks. If they also think that things don't need to be done so hastily and they can wait for two years, then Ma Youli and his wife can't rush them. Don't worry, my sister, Grape won't leave our house for a while, and Second Madam still needs her help!"

Haitang was not reluctant to part with Grape. She sighed, "Forget it... Maybe Zhou Xiaojian also saw what they meant and was unhappy, but he couldn't refuse too obviously, lest Grape's family lose face, so he deliberately found an excuse to hide away?"

"That's impossible?" Aunt Cui hesitated. "It should be that the brother of the Jin family sent him to do something. Jiao brother also knows about it. I saw him at the door the other day telling Zhou Xiaojian."

Haitang raised her eyebrows but didn't ask any more questions. In the evening, when Haijiao came to the west wing study to review his lessons, she asked her brother, "What did you and Brother Jin send Zhou Xiaojian to do recently? Is it a secret that can't be told to others? The servants at home have been paying attention to Zhou Xiaojian's actions recently. Will it affect you?"

Haijiao was a little surprised and asked hurriedly: "Who in the family is paying attention to Zhou Xiaojian? Why haven't I heard him talk about him? He is not a member of our family!"

Haitang then told Ma Lili and his wife that they intended to marry their eldest daughter to Zhou Xiaojian.

Haijiao sighed, "Ma Youli is quite clever. He works at the gatehouse and is well-informed. I wonder if he heard something. Zhou Xiaojian should have a good future. If he can become his son-in-law, Ma Youli will become rich. I'm afraid it will be difficult for our family to continue to ask them to serve us in the future!"

Haitang raised her eyebrows: "So, what did you ask Zhou Xiaojian to do?"

"I asked him to keep an eye on someone." Haijiao hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth. "Tu Jinbao has been out wandering around almost every day recently, and he often comes near our house, peeking around and acting sneaky. He says he wants to visit friends, but I don't see him knocking on any door. I was afraid that he had heard something and was angry about grandma's rejection of the marriage proposal, so he wanted to cause trouble for our family, so I mentioned it to Xiaojin and borrowed Zhou Xiaojian to keep an eye on Tu Jinbao. But in the past two days, Tu Jinbao has made new friends and has not come to our house anymore. I estimate that in two days, if nothing goes wrong, Zhou Xiaojian will be able to come back."

He paused and said, "What a coincidence. Tu Jinbao's new friend has the same name as him but a different surname, Kan Jinbao. Does it sound familiar to you?"

(End of this chapter)