Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 441 - 441 442 Looking Down on_1

Chapter 441: Chapter 442: Looking Down on_1 Chapter 441: Chapter 442: Looking Down on_1 Qingmei smiled shyly, “Mu, you always tease me. How could you forget someone you just saw a few days ago?”

Muniang raised an eyebrow, “How could I not? Qingmei, you weren’t this pretty a few days ago.”

Qingmei’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Muniang took her hand and said, “I’ll take you to meet someone later. His circumstances are quite good. He owns a grocery store in town, so you certainly won’t want for anything in the future. I made a point of visiting him myself a few days ago. He’s very polite and good-looking. Although he’s getting married to give his sick mother some peace of mind, he won’t neglect you because of it. I also met his mother, who has a good temperament. You and he are both gentle-natured; according to Mrs. Qiao, you two won’t even end up arguing in your future life together.”

Listening to this, Qingmei felt somewhat joyful. Such a good family was hard to come by back in Tupo Village.

“Did Mrs. Qiao help as well?” Qingmei tilted her head and asked.

“Yes, she thinks very highly of this match. When it comes to married life, finding someone dependable is best. She even asked me if I had settled the matter after my last visit. But I think what’s most important is your opinion, so I went to the trouble of arranging today’s meeting especially for you. If you think he’s suitable, give the nod, and I’ll immediately have the Gao Family start making wedding arrangements.”

Qingmei smiled faintly, “Mhm.”

When Muniang’s carriage arrived at Zhao Mansion, she brought Qingmei inside with her. The place seemed unfamiliar to Qingmei initially, but as soon as she saw Zhao Ziming come out to greet them, she recognized where they were.

Zhao Ziming always liked going to Lu Mansion to see Lu Qi’er. Who in Lu Mansion didn’t know about that? Naturally, Qingmei knew him as well.

Seeing Zhao Ziming now, she turned to Muniang and asked, “Does this person have any relation to the Zhao Family? Why are we meeting at Zhao Mansion?”

Muniang chuckled, “It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it? I’m not sure how it all got tangled up, but I’ll explain it to you later. We arranged to meet at Zhao Mansion to avoid drawing attention. Otherwise, it could damage your reputation if word gets out.”

Qingmei assumed the person was probably a friend of Zhao Ziming’s and nodded in agreement.

Upon entering the flower hall, they found a large table filled with food and drinks already prepared.

“We’ve been waiting for you. Please, take a seat,” Zhao Ziming called out.

Just as Muniang and her party entered, they saw Gao Zhuang stand up and bow, “Mr. Yu, Lady Yu.”

Gao Zhuang hadn’t dressed up much today, but his clothes were noticeably newer than the ones he wore last time, which meant he had taken extra care. He clearly valued this meeting very much, and Muniang mentally gave him an extra point for that effort.

Muniang then led Qingmei over, “This is my younger sister, Qingmei. She is quite shy and easily scared, so please don’t mind if she doesn’t talk much at first.”

Gao Zhuang’s eyes brightened when he saw Qingmei, evidently very pleased. He quickly said, “I am Gao Zhuang.”

Qingmei, pursing her lips, smiled but was too shy to speak.

Zhao Ziming had everyone take their seats. Watching the two of them, he was happy, feeling confident that this match would probably succeed.

“If you ask me, it’s all destiny, how could it be such a coincidence? We all happen to know each other. There’s an old saying, ‘It’s good to marry among acquaintances, adding kin upon kin!'”

“Stop spouting nonsense, I’ve never heard that saying before!” Muniang glared at him.

Zhao Ziming was startled, “There isn’t such a saying? Gao Zhuang, is there?”

Gao Zhuang helplessly said, “Young Master, there isn’t.”

Muniang rolled her eyes at him and turned her head, only to see that Qingmei’s complexion seemed off, and she asked, “What’s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?”

Qingmei said, “Mu, you haven’t yet told me exactly how we are all acquainted at this table.”

Zhao Ziming let out a “Hey,” patted Gao Zhuang’s shoulder, and said, “Originally, it was others who tried to matchmake for the two of you. Later, when Mu visited the Gao Family to see someone, she just happened to run into me and learned that Gao Zhuang is the Attendant Student who has been with me since childhood. Not to mention Mu as the go-between, you and Qi’er are close, I am close with Gao Zhuang, we’re practically family now, and we can even hang out together in the future!”

Muniang said speechlessly, “Who’s going to hang out with you?” This brat, no wonder he always gets beaten by his father.

Qingmei’s face turned pale immediately, “Attendant Student? Isn’t that servant class?”

As soon as she said this, the atmosphere at the table was gone, especially for Gao Zhuang, who was extremely embarrassed.

Muniang quickly said, “He is not in the servant class. Last year, Gao Zhuang’s parents weren’t very well, and Gao Zhuang wanted to go back and fulfill his filial duties. Zhao Ziming emancipated him from servitude, and now Gao Zhuang has his own shop.”

Zhao Ziming also hurried to smooth things over, “I’ve always treated Gao Zhuang like a brother since we were kids, but I’ve never really considered him as a servant.”

However, Qingmei clearly wasn’t really listening, just fiddling with the rice in her bowl.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Gao Zhuang realized that Qingmei cared about the fact he had once been a servant in the Zhao Family, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit dejected. He had never before felt ashamed of it, but now that someone actually despised him for it, he understood that he was indeed different from ordinary people.

The meal was eaten in embarrassment and hastily concluded.

When Muniang and Qingmei left, Muniang asked, “Do you look down on him because he used to be a servant? But he is no longer a servant now, and he’s actually quite a good catch. He has been an Attendant Student in the Zhao Family and has read quite a lot of books. Even Zhao Ziming doesn’t study as well as him; that’s not a flaw.”

Qingmei hung her head and said in a muffled voice, “It’s not that I look down on him for being a former servant, but rather, I don’t like that he was Mr. Zhao’s servant. Miss Lu and Mr. Zhao are like a match made in heaven among masters, but I don’t want to become a matched pair of ‘servants’ with him.”

Muniang then understood what Qingmei really cared about; sensitive people who feel inferior are easily disturbed. Though she isn’t really a maid in the Lu Mansion, she is still considered a servant. In front of Lu Qi’er, she is even less confident. What worried her was the difference in status between Gao Zhuang and Zhao Ziming.

Muniang earnestly said, “What’s the big deal? He’s no longer an Attendant Student at the Zhao Family. Everyone should look forward.”

But Qingmei shook her head and said, “But the respect he has for Zhao Ziming will never change for a lifetime, just like he still calls Mr. Zhao ‘Young Master,’ just like I can only ever call Lu Qi ‘Miss.’ These are boundaries that are hard to cross in a lifetime.”

Muniang helplessly said, “Why do you always care about these things? Has anyone really looked down on you? This match was originally prepared by Mrs. Qiao for Tianniu, and if it weren’t for Tianniu being wild and not wanting to marry, she would be the one facing this situation. You often say you envy her; do you think she would show such emotions in this case?”