Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 343: Wild Thoughts on Marriage
The new arrivals Wang Jin, Yang Zhi, Qiao Lie and Gongsun Sheng, accompanied by Yang Lin and Li San, went to various important places in Liangshan and made acquaintances with the heroes of the county.

Liu Guang's family, who lived in Baishi Manor, were all sitting in the hall, looking worried.

Liu Qi said, "Father, I was chatting with brothers Lu Fang and Guo Sheng today. I heard that [Green-faced Beast] Yang Zhi, [Rush Array] Wang Jin, [Phantom Demon Lord] Qiao Lie, who came to the county the day before yesterday, have all been assigned positions. I don't know why the master has ignored my three sons and me."

Liu Guang said: "Perhaps the great master still doesn't trust us. After all, I have been dismissed from office because of my high position. The great master probably has no intention of offending the Gao family for my family, so he just keeps me in the manor."

Liu Lin said, "Father, there is nothing to worry about. Isn't Wang Jin, the leader of the charge, also on the run for evading the punishment of General Gao? Yang Zhi, the Green-faced Beast, and Qiao Lie, the Phantom Lord, are both wanted fugitives by the government."

Liu's mother snorted, "Didn't the two daughters-in-law go riding with the wife of the high official yesterday? Is there any news?"

Zhuang Yun and Zhong Ling heard this and said, "We had a very pleasant conversation with Hu Sanniang. We also asked the great master what plans he had for our family. Sanniang just said that she would help ask, and that the great master had the final say on all matters in the county."

"Who is asking this? I'm asking about Xiu's marriage?" Liu's mother said as she slammed the crutch in her hand.

Madam Liu said, "Mother-in-law, the lady of the high official's family only mentioned it once, and she didn't mention it again. We didn't take it seriously. Why are you bringing it up again?"

Mother Liu said, "How foolish! Now that you are suspicious, if Xiu girl can marry someone close to the master, it will naturally dispel the master's doubts."

Liu Guang said anxiously, "No, Xiu'er is so pretty, how many people in Liangshan County can match her? Don't rush it."

After hearing this, Liu Hui Niang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu's mother looked at Hui Niang and asked, "These past few days, Xiu has often gone to see the Madam to do needlework. Has the Madam ever said anything to her?"

Liu Hui Niang heard this and shook her head: "Grandma, the eldest lady just asked her granddaughter to accompany her to sew clothes, and she didn't say anything."

Upon hearing this, Liu's mother sighed and said to Liu Guang, "My son, if you are not appointed, do you have any plans for the future?"

Liu Guang said: "I heard that Qingzhou is going to raise troops to attack the Qingzhou bandits. Why don't we all go and join Brother Yun Tianbiao."

Liu Hui Niang hurriedly said, "Father, no. Qingzhou is going to raise an army. How can my family cope with the chaos? What's more, if Ruan Qixiang finds out that we have joined Uncle Yun's family and persuades Gao Feng to ask for the man, what should we do?"

Liu's mother said, "This won't work, and that won't work either. Can the Liu family only be a rural rich man from now on?"

Liu Guang was embarrassed when he heard this and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will think of a way. Although the world is not clear now, I dare not become a bandit like Gou Huan and Gou Ying."

Liu's mother said, "My family has been officials for generations. You can't ruin their future." Then, Liu's mother turned to Madam Liu and said, "Wife, go to the backyard today and ask the eldest lady if she asked casually at the banquet that day. If there is a suitable one, find a marriage for Xiu. First, Xiu is also of marriageable age. If not for this incident, she would have been engaged to a boy from the Yun family. Second, marrying with Liangshan County can also eliminate the wariness of the senior official, and my son and two grandsons can also serve in the county."

After hearing this, Mrs. Liu replied, "Mother-in-law, I'll go to the back and ask." With that, Mrs. Liu stood up and was about to leave.

Liu's mother scolded, "You are ignorant. How can you leave empty-handed? Go to my room and take the copy of Gao Wang Jing from my room. The Buddha said: If you have Gao Wang Jing at home, war and fire cannot invade. There is a temple built on the east mountain of the official's house. I went there to burn incense a few days ago. There are seven or eight old farmhands living in it, sweeping the place. I guess there are Buddhists in the family. This is also my heartfelt gift."

Madam Liu responded, fetched the "Gao Wang Sutra", and hurried to Cheng Wan'er's residence on the mountain.

After the greeting, Cheng Wan'er asked Qingzhu to serve tea, and Madam Liu also handed over the "Gao Wang Jing" in her hand. Cheng Wan'er took it, thanked Madam Liu, and then asked: "Madam, how come you have time to come here today?"

Madam Liu did not hide anything and repeated what Cheng Wan'er had said at the banquet. She asked, "Madam, I wonder which family this young man belongs to. I asked Liu Qi and Liu Lin to take a peek and see if he suits my daughter's taste."

Cheng Wan'er hesitantly said, "I saw your beauty that day and couldn't help but speak." Madam Liu was disappointed, "So that's how it is. I was wrong. My daughter is already old enough to get married, and I was still thinking about whether there was a good family of equal status here."

Seeing Madam Liu like this, Cheng Wan'er suddenly asked, "Madam, are you willing to let Sister Hui Niang be your concubine?"

Madam Liu's face changed immediately after hearing this. She was about to refuse when Cheng Wan'er said, "I heard from my husband that sister Hui Niang is very smart. She was taught by a strange man. She knows everything about military tactics, battle formations, and Qimen Dunjia. Such a person must be blessed with good fortune. Besides, my husband is the only one in Liangshan County who can let her display her talents. It is indeed a little unfair for Hui Niang to be my husband's concubine. Today, Madam asked me about it, so I will tell you. Madam, please think about it. If it is not suitable, then forget it."

Madam Liu pondered for a moment and said, "I have never thought about what you said today, Madam. Let me go home and discuss it with the old lady and the master before giving you a reply." After that, Madam Liu said goodbye and left.

After seeing off Madam Liu, Qingzhu asked, "Miss, why are you thinking of taking a concubine for your son-in-law today?"

Cheng Wan'er touched her belly and sighed, "My husband now controls an entire county, but he still has no children. Doctor Bai's family has seen him, but they can't figure out the reason. I think that since the Liu family's daughter can be taught by an extraordinary person, she must have some luck, and maybe she's pregnant."

Mrs. Liu hurried back home. Seeing that she was distracted, her mother asked hurriedly, "What happened?"

Madam Liu looked up and saw that everyone was there, so she repeated Cheng Wan'er's words. As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Guang said, "No, my son is so smart, how can he be willing to be someone's concubine."

Liu Qi, Liu Lin, and their wives Zhuang Yun and Zhong Ling also expressed their opinions. Liu's mother slapped the table and shouted, "What a mess."

After hearing this, the four of them shut up.

Mother Liu asked, "I think it's pretty good."

Everyone looked at Liu's mother in astonishment. Liu's mother said, "The master has no son. As long as Xiu can give birth to a son or daughter, she will naturally be honored by the son. Once Xiu marries, the master will no longer have any doubts, and my son and two grandchildren will naturally be able to find jobs. Besides, with Xiu's appearance, figure, and intelligence, she will definitely win the master's favor and will not be afraid of not being favored. Xiu, you have been smart since you were young, and you understand it. What do you think?"

Liu Huiniang thought about how her father and brothers had been useless these days, and she was getting more and more worried. Her grandmother was also getting more irritable. In addition, she had secretly seen Zhao Zhen practicing martial arts these days, and he looked very heroic. She thought that the luck above him was much stronger than that of a prefect in Gao Feng. She blushed and said, "Grandma is right. It's up to you. Even if I'm a concubine, I have to be a good concubine."

Liu Guang heard this and said, "My son, have you thought it through? It's fine now, but once the paperwork is approved, you won't be able to regret it."

Madam Liu also said, "Xiu'er, don't rush to make a decision. Being a concubine is not as good as being a wife."

Liu Hui Niang said, "Dad, Mom, I have thought it through. I have learned a lot of military books and battle formations from my master, but I can't use them anywhere else. But if I marry the great master, I can show my strengths. Dad, you have seen the female riders in the farm these days. The one leading them is the great master's wife. Lady Bai Zhi sees patients in the clinic every day, Lady Jin Cui Lian also trains singing girls every day, and the two new concubines Chu Yuan and Chu Yan can also run the tavern. If I marry him, I can also ask the great master to let me assist in military affairs and show my strengths."

Liu Guang listened and nodded.

Liu's mother said, "Xiu-ya-tou is right. This should be done as soon as possible. Wife, go back and tell the eldest lady to pick a good day, exchange the marriage certificate, and give the engagement. The family can also prepare the dowry."

After hearing this, Mrs. Liu responded and went to Cheng Wan'er's room.

After the greetings were exchanged, Mrs. Liu told Cheng Wan'er the outcome of the family's discussion and handed over Liu Hui'niang's engagement letter.

Cheng Wan'er heard this and said, "Madam, don't worry. I'll tell my husband and send someone to the Lingguan Temple to have Taoist Master Dong match our horoscopes and set a date for the wedding, so that Sister Hui Niang can get married soon."

Madam Liu said, "Everything is up to your madam's instructions. Xiu'er's dowry has already been prepared."

The two talked for a while, and then Mrs. Liu said goodbye and left. Cheng Wan'er asked Dan Ju to go ahead and find Zhao Zhen to talk.

(End of this chapter)