Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 485: Three twists and turns, it's not easy to fulfill your wish

Lu Lang said firmly, "If any of my colleagues laugh at her because of her background, they must be those powerful villains. Why should I care about them?"

The lady patted her grandson's hand lovingly, thought for a moment and said, "We still need to think about this matter carefully."

"Although you are the youngest in the family, the family doesn't need you to support the family."

"Your grandfather also said that when he finds you a wife in the future, as long as the girl has good character, your family doesn't need to use your marriage to exchange for anything."

"But if I really want to marry a merchant's daughter, I wonder if your grandfather will agree."

Lu Lang was not worried about this.

He said confidently, "Grandfather is not the kind of person who is prejudiced against family status. My grandfather and uncle are both powerful. My three elder brothers also hold high positions. Their in-laws are also officials. My marriage really won't affect my family at all."

As he spoke, he shook the lady's arm in a coquettish manner and said, "Grandma, this is my only wish. Good grandmother, please help me."

The lady was so dizzy from his shaking that she laughed, "Ouch, ouch" and reached out to pat away Lu Lang who was holding onto her arm and said lovingly, "Well, you're the youngest in the family! You study hard and strive to do well."

"It's rare that my fourth child is in trouble, so I'll grant your wish."

"I will discuss this matter with your grandfather during the happy New Year."

The grandfather and grandson had good intentions, but when the lady told Old Master Lu about this, the old master became very angry.

It's not that he looked down on the merchant's daughter, but among his four grandchildren, he liked the youngest one the most.

Smart, motivated, cool on the outside but warm on the inside, no matter how you look at him, he looks just like my younger self.

Of course he hoped that his grandson would have a good future, but if he married a merchant's daughter, it was conceivable that his future path would be much more difficult than that of others.

The old man painstakingly analyzed the pros and cons to Lu Lang and tried to persuade him in kind terms, but he firmly rejected him.

And told him not to mention this matter again, and to find a good marriage for him among a well-off family after he passed the exam.

Lu Lang had been worried about Shen Yu's attitude, but he didn't expect that the rejection from his grandfather, who always praised him, was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, and it suddenly became what he was most worried about.

Although Lu Lang was still studying hard to prepare for the exam after the Chinese New Year, he seemed a little depressed, which was very different from the high-spirited and happy person he was before the Chinese New Year.

The lady was anxious and distressed. She knew that this couldn't go on, so she had another good talk with the old man in private.

After all, he is his own grandson. Under the persuasion of his wife, Old Master Lu finally decided not to find a marriage for Lu Lang for the time being and let Lu Lang concentrate on his studies.

If Lu Lang can get the top score in the exam this time, the old man will meet Miss Shen in person. If the old man thinks it is a good idea, he will agree to the marriage.

When Shen Yu heard this, he couldn't help but smile coldly.

Old Master Lu is really a cunning old fox.

Regardless of whether Lu Lang was good at studying or not, the exams at that time were not like those in modern times, where grades were determined by scores.

She vaguely remembered that there was such a person in the history books. Although he ranked first in the exam, he was disliked by the emperor in the palace examination because of his unpleasant words, and thus could not become the top scorer.

At this time, the number one scholar depended entirely on the emperor's decision. It was not so easy to just become the number one scholar.

If I say that I can pass the imperial examination this year, that would be much more sincere.

Mother Huang has been with the old lady for many years. Many of the Lu family's children are officials, so she naturally understands Old Master Lu's intentions.

It's probably just to give a glimmer of hope first and coax the little grandson to do well in the exam first.

Mother Huang saw that Li and the others were listening attentively, and her face showed joy when she heard this.

But Miss Shen remained calm, with a hint of a cold smile, and couldn't help thinking: "The fourth young master's vision is indeed good. This Miss Shen is not only indifferent to fame and disgrace, but also very smart."

She coughed to cover it up, then picked up the teacup on the table and took two sips. She continued speaking only after her complexion returned to normal.

Lu Lang knew that his grandfather was deliberately making things difficult for him, but it was good to be able to relax a little, so he put his worries aside and worked hard.

Unexpectedly, at the end of February, when his grandmother inadvertently mentioned the customs of the Shangsi Festival on March 3, Lu Lang became a little panicked.

He knew that given Shen Yu's age, these two years were the right time for engagement.

I couldn't help but regret that I shouldn't have told Miss Shen my true feelings before returning to Beijing.

If Miss Shen got engaged at this time, wouldn't he regret it for the rest of his life?

But at this time he was far away in the capital, and his grandfather was watching him closely, so there was no way he could return to Anping County.

For a moment, he, who was usually calm, became flustered and had to shamelessly tell his grandmother about his worries.

Seeing that he was deeply in love, the lady was also worried that she would miss out on a good granddaughter-in-law, so she had to bite the bullet and come up with a solution on her own, which was not a very good idea.

So, the dowager lady sent her personal maid Huang Mama and Lu Lang's personal servant Qixi to take the pair of Ruyi hairpins given by the dowager lady and deliver them day and night.

Huang's face turned red, and she forced a smile and said, "Our Madam knows that this is against the rules. She shouldn't have sent a gift on her own initiative."

"So, this pair of Ruyi hairpins is just a private gift from the Madam. No one else knows about it except Qixi and me."

"We will never tell anyone and damage the girl's reputation."

"And the Madam didn't ask Miss Shen to agree to the marriage immediately."

"Instead, I'm begging Madam Li if you can postpone Miss Shen's engagement and wait until our fourth young master takes the exam."

"By then, if the fourth young master really wins the first place in the imperial examination as he wishes, the Lu family will certainly make a promise to the Shen family according to etiquette. If he doesn't..."

Huang's mother seemed to think that it was unlucky to say so. She paused but had to continue: "If you don't win, please wait and see if the old man will change his mind."

"If the old man insists on not agreeing, then it will be our Lu family who will not be lucky enough to marry Miss Shen."

After hearing this, the Li family members looked at each other and did not speak for a while.

Mother Huang also knew that this was a bit too much to ask. Her own grandfather had not agreed yet, but she still shamelessly asked the girl to wait for a while.

If it were a particular family, they would have been furious and would have picked up a broom to chase the person out.

She did not urge the Shen family to give an immediate answer, but said sincerely: "Miss Shen, I watched the Fourth Young Master grow up."

"I'm not trying to flatter my family, but to be honest, the fourth young master has a good character and is a good man who is rare to see."