Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 414 Proposal
Matchmaker Chen was also a smart person. She quickly realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and the smile on her face slowly froze.

If she hadn't inquired about the Sheng family's situation yesterday, she would have questioned Wen Yanjing.

"Teacher, I have admired the Fifth Miss for a long time. I beg you to agree." Wen Yan bowed respectfully.

Sheng Hong's face turned even uglier when he heard this. He ignored Wen Yanjing and looked at the matchmaker, saying, "I'm sorry, my fifth daughter has an older sister who is still unmarried. I can't agree to it for now. Thank you for your trouble. Dong Rong, go to the account office and get five taels of silver and give it to the matchmaker for some tea and snacks."

"Hey, thank you, Master Sheng."

Matchmaker Chen bowed and went out under the guidance of Dong Rong.

When he left, he gave Wen Yanjing a sidelong glance.

"You come with me!"

After Sheng Hong finished speaking, he turned around and walked away, and Wen Yanjing hurriedly followed him.

The maid serving in the main hall hurried to report the news to Madam Wang after Sheng Hong left.

Sheng Hong brought Wen Yanjing to his study, sat down, looked at Wen Yanjing standing in front of him with a gloomy face, and said, "Shigao, what do you mean?"

"Teacher, I know that I come from a humble background and have not been able to pass the imperial examination. But when I was studying at the Sheng family, I have long admired the fifth young lady and I am very happy for her. I beg you to allow me to do so!" Wen Yan bowed respectfully.

Sheng Hong tapped the table and said, "I am not the kind of person who despises the poor and loves the rich, but marriage is always decided by parents and matchmakers. You came to propose marriage yourself without informing your parents, which is already very unfilial. And I have already promised your master's wife that the marriage of my fifth daughter will be decided by her. Although it has not been decided yet, there is a clue."

"Teacher, although I did not inform my parents and elders, it is because we live too far away. However, I have already written a letter back home to inform them two days ago. The fifth girl comes from a prominent family and is well-educated and well-mannered. My parents are very happy and there is no way they would blame me." Wen Yanjing said.

Sheng Hong was somewhat displeased when he heard this. He had already declined politely, and as long as Wen Yanjing gave up on this matter, it would be over.

As for the matchmaker, he was not worried. No matchmaker would dare to spread such news.

But Wen Yanjing seemed not to hear the rejection in his words, unless he turned against him directly.

Sheng Hong always considers the pros and cons in everything he does. If he turns hostile directly, what if Wen Yanjing gets angry and spreads the matter out? Then people will say that he despises the poor and loves the rich.

It’s hard to explain this kind of thing.

Although Sheng Hong was somewhat disappointed with Wen Yanjing because he failed the exam, he still had no objection to marrying his daughter to him.

He didn't really care whether she was a concubine's daughter or a legitimate daughter.

The reason why Sheng Hong did not promise Molan to Wen Yanjing was not because he failed the imperial examination. The main reason was that Sheng Hong knew that Lin Xiaoniang would not agree to marry Molan to a scholar who did not pass the imperial examination.

The same goes for Madam Wang.

The Sheng family is now in a state of being neither high nor low. He cannot marry into a wealthy family, and those with equal or similar wealth are of no help to him.

Marrying Wen Yanjing would actually be good for his reputation.

In essence, he was not opposed to it.

But if he agreed, who knows how Madam Wang would make trouble for him.

……

While Sheng Hong was having a headache, Madam Wang at Wei Ruixuan was talking to Rulan about the noble ladies she met yesterday, how good their family backgrounds were, and how sensible their boys were.

Ever since Rulan came back from the polo match two days ago, she has been sending people to watch the gate. Today, when she learned that Wen Yanjing was visiting, she came to Madam Wang.

Given her personality, she would have become impatient if Madam Wang had said these things to her in the past.

Although he was very annoyed now, he couldn't show it. He listened patiently and waited for news from the main hall.

Rulan's plan was very simple. When Wen Yanjing came to propose marriage, her father would definitely discuss it with her mother, and she would be the first to know about it.

If her mother agreed, that would be the best. If not, she would just make a scene and force her to agree. Mrs. Wang didn't know what her daughter was thinking. Seeing that her daughter didn't throw a tantrum, she became even more excited.

At this time, Madam Liu hurried in and said, "Madam, something bad has happened. The master's student Wen Yanjing has come to propose marriage."

"Oh?"

Madam Wang was delighted when she heard this and said with a smile, "This is good news. The master had promised to marry Molan to him. Although he failed the exam, he still has to keep his word. Although Wen Yanjing failed the exam this time, he is valued by the master and accepted as a student. He must have some knowledge. Maybe he will pass the exam in a few years."

There was a hint of gloating in her tone.

When Sheng Hong revealed the news, she felt that even if Wen Yanjing passed the exam, his status was still too low, and she was very happy.

Now that Wen Yanjing has failed the exam, if Sheng Hong still agrees, I don’t know how angry Lin Xiaoniang will be.

When she thought of Lin Xiaoniang being furious, she felt very happy.

"I'll have to persuade the master later that Wen Yanjing is a good person." Madam Wang said with a smile.

"Madam, the one that Wen Yanjing wants to marry is not the fourth girl, but..."

Before Madam Liu finished, Madam Wang was surprised and asked, "If it's not Molan, could it be Minglan? But Minglan has already been chosen. He has been studying at home for so long, he should not be unaware of it..."

At this point, Madam Wang sensed something was wrong, and she stood up and said, "Could it be that he is asking to marry Molan?"

"Yeah." Mother Liu nodded.

"He really is dreaming of marrying Xi Shi. It's a beautiful thought. My Ru'er is a legitimate daughter. Not to mention that he failed the imperial examination, even if he did pass, he is still too high to marry her. He is in his twenties but looks like he is in his thirties. He still wants to marry me to Ru'er. Shouldn't the master just kick him out of the house?"

Mrs. Wang was so angry that she started cursing.

Rulan was very upset when she heard her mother scolding her lover. She said, "Mom, he is not as bad as you say. He is just steady."

"What a bullshit of a steady one. He's still not married at such an old age. Doesn't he just want to pass the imperial examination and marry into a rich family? Isn't it possible that I don't know his little tricks?" Madam Wang was so angry that she swore.

"Madam, please be careful with your words!" Mother Liu reminded quickly.

Come to think of it, didn't Sheng Hong also not marry when he reached a certain age, waiting to pass the imperial examination before getting married?

It was said that Old Lady Wang fell in love with Sheng Hong at first sight and that’s why she married Madam Wang to him.

If Sheng Hong fails the exam, go and give it a try!

When Sheng Hong heard these words, he couldn't help but think too much.

"Did the master chase the man away? If not, I'll go and scold him." asked Madam Wang.

"The master sent the matchmaker away and took Wen Yanjing to the study." said Mother Liu.

"What? Master, you don't want to agree to it, do you? No, I have to go and take a look." Madam Wang said.

"mother!"

Rulan quickly grabbed her mother and said, "Mom, I think it would be nice to marry him."

"Do you know what you are talking about?" Madam Wang looked at Rulan in disbelief.

"Mom, you wanted to marry your daughter to Wang's cousin. It was all agreed upon, but the Wang family changed their minds. If this matter gets out, how will my daughter face people in the future? If we are discussing the marriage, won't others cancel the engagement if they know about it? Then my daughter will have no face to live. Instead of this, it is better for her to marry someone from a lower family. Even if the news gets out, he won't dare to say anything." Rulan said tearfully.

This set of rhetoric was taught to her by Minglan, who was afraid that she would really make a fuss and expose the fact that they had been having an affair.

(End of this chapter)