Chapter 303: Paving the Way for the Eldest Grandson’s Exam (4)_1
Both families had come over to consider a match, but neither took a liking to Pei Wenlee.
While they said many nice things, the shopkeeper’s family let slip that they had taken a fancy to Pei Qin.
Lady Chen was nearly driven mad with annoyance and hatred.
Lady Zhu was also at a loss. Their Old Pei’s House’s reputation had been tarnished by the despicable promiscuous acts of Lady Fang and her brood of lowly offspring. Even though the second son had started a silk and satin shop in the city, those people still looked down on them as if the Pei family were reaching above their station. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be a shopkeeper’s household—they could have had their pick of rich and influential families!
With the large quantities of kimchi being delivered to the restaurants and Pei Qin visiting the city every few days to deliver goods, things were looking up. Not only was the young master from Chang’s house staying at her place, but the young master from the Wang family often went to see her. She even had the ear of the Master County, and who knows how successful the sweet potato promotion might turn out to be. Despite her bad reputation, she was already fifteen and had blossomed into an eye-catching beauty. It seemed like those who wanted to marry an eldest daughter were looking at her instead.
The only daughter of the second room who was of marriageable age was none other than Pei Qin. The meaning was clear: they were not interested in Pei Wenlee, but in Pei Qin.
Lady Zhu, somewhat wary of Pei Qin’s temper and propensity for hitting, discussed with Pei Zongli the idea of settling the marriage match. But they weren’t planning on the shopkeeper’s family, instead, they considered Zhao Junchao, a young man studying at the county school with several dozen acres of family land. His uncle was a clerk at the Government Office, well connected with an inside track there.
This was also why Pei Wenli had struck up a friendship with Zhao Junchao and wished to marry Pei Wenlee to him. If he were to pass the exams with high marks, the status of his siblings would rise accordingly, leaving nothing to fear. But now, Pei Qin had first become familiar with the Wang family and Landlord Chang, and also with the Master County because of the sweet potato crops. Their second uncle’s scholastic achievements must certainly be attributed to them.