Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1267: Taking a Liking to Young Master Dou

As her initial shock and anger subsided, she buried her face in her hands and wept. "How could I have known the Gu family would be connected to such esteemed individuals? You and Mother expressly told me I was a proper lady destined for a noble marriage... A peasant woman from the countryside, Mrs. Chen, even dared to hint at a marriage proposal for me! How could I not be upset? That’s precisely why I uttered those unpleasant words... I've already been punished by Grandfather; isn't that sufficient? What more do you demand from me? Wuuu~"

Young Master Xu found himself rendered speechless by the Zeng family, as Xu Ling's words struck a chord. They had indeed conveyed those sentiments to her, though it was merely a fleeting aspiration, as prominent families paid them little heed.

To the eyes of the established noble families, the Xu family was nothing more than nouveau riche peasants, possessing only a modest fortune. Welcoming her into their homes as a primary wife was out of the question; at best, she might be considered as a concubine.

The Zeng couple, having sown such seeds, nearly brought ruin upon Xu Ling with their misguided counsel.

Young Master Xu waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal, stating placatingly, "Enough, enough, there's no point in dwelling on this further. Be agreeable today, and speak kindly to Mrs. Chen when you encounter her. Even if she provokes you, restrain your temper; otherwise, your grandfather will surely banish you to the countryside estate, and neither your parents nor anyone else will be able to intervene."

The couple had been summoned by their father specifically to face his stern reprimand, which nearly shattered their spirits upon their arrival. He keenly understood his father's profound regard for the Gu family and his unwavering determination to rectify Girl Ling's volatile temperament.

He was intimately aware of his father's disposition; once his temper ignited, it would not easily quell. Girl Ling's disposition absolutely required modification, lest the entire household face repercussions.

Xu Ling gazed at her father, terror etched on her face. "What? Grandfather intends to send me to the countryside estate?!"

Young Master Xu confirmed, "Precisely, so you must conduct yourself properly and refrain from any foolish actions. It's fortunate your brother intervened; otherwise, Grandfather would have dispatched you long ago, and you wouldn't have even seen us."

Turning his attention to Mrs. Zeng, he continued, "Keep a vigilant watch over Girl Ling; I must hasten to formally welcome Master Ouyang and Young Master Dou, for they require proper cultivation and respectful reception."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zeng quickly brought forth a notion and tugged at Young Master Xu's sleeve. "Husband, Young Master Dou has not yet proposed marriage, so why don't we..."

Young Master Xu cut her off sharply. "Abandon that notion immediately; do you comprehend Young Master Dou's reputation throughout Jiangnan? Haven't the daughters of affluent merchants attempted to entice him? What was the outcome? They were merely played with, some even resorting to desperate measures like attempting to drown themselves, only to ultimately marry less desirable partners."

Young Master Dou, the scion of an Imperial Merchant, is regarded as the most eligible bachelor by countless wealthy merchants. In the mere few years he has resided in Jiangnan, numerous families have endeavored to orchestrate a marriage alliance with him, yet Young Master Dou remains unyielding; even if a young woman were to force the issue, he would refuse to marry her.

He declared, "I did not force myself upon you; you attempted to ensnare me. That I have not accused you is already an act of mercy. Yet you aspire to marry into the Dou family? Do you truly believe you warrant such an honor? Even as a concubine, you would not attain sufficient standing."

He further issued a stern warning to those harboring intentions of manipulating his marital arrangements. "Dispel such foolish aspirations. This young master shall only wed a lady of noble birth as his official wife. Daughters of merchant families, however immaculate your beauty may be, resembling celestial fairies, this young master will not consider marriage!"

To men of their caliber, attractive women were merely ephemeral amusements; only ladies of noble lineage, possessing distinguished backgrounds, were deemed worthy of matrimony.

Mrs. Zeng vividly recalled the harsh manner in which Young Master Dou had dealt with Miss Wei and turned ashen with fear, no longer daring to entertain any designs upon Young Master Dou.

Fearing that Xu Ling might embark on her own ill-conceived plans, Young Master Xu shot her a warning glare. "Relinquish those petty schemes; Young Master Dou is far beyond your grasp. Do not make any foolish moves, lest you find yourself compelled to leap into a well."

He then specifically instructed Mrs. Zeng, "Impart to her precisely how Young Master Dou handles young women who attempt to manipulate him, ensuring she refrains from acting recklessly."

With his directives issued, he wasted no time and departed swiftly to extend his greetings to Master Ouyang and the others.

...

The Xu family residence was abuzz with an unusual level of excitement today, significantly enhancing their standing. Upon learning that Master Ouyang and Young Master Dou were personally gracing their presence, affluent families within the county swiftly dispatched their servants to return with wedding gifts that were thrice as extravagant as initially offered.

Several families of comparable social standing had initially sent their representatives with gifts; however, upon receiving the news, they personally arrived to extend their felicitations. "Oh, Elder Xu, congratulations! Heartfelt congratulations indeed, your granddaughter's impending marriage is truly enviable!"

Elder Xu beamed, his smile so wide it seemed his jaw might unhinge. With feigned modesty, he replied, "Not at all, not at all. It's merely that Brother Xing offered a little assistance to the Dou Ou Bank and attended a few enlightening sessions under Master Ouyang. This led to some valuable connections, paving the way for Master Ouyang and Young Master Dou's visit."

Ahem! You nearly declared your granddaughter's intended was practically brothers with Young Master Dou and a disciple of Master Ouyang. Why the pretense?

Regardless, the surrounding guests continued to shower Elder Xu with flattering words and compliments.

Engrossed in the day's important events, Elder Xu did not linger to entertain them further, quickly turning his attention to hosting Master Ouyang and Young Master Dou.

Ms. Lu was equally overjoyed on this auspicious day. Clasping Xu Zhong's hand, she exclaimed, "My son, your future is truly taking flight. We initially thought this marriage was a respectable match; now, it appears we have shot for the stars!"

Beyond the esteemed presence of Master Ouyang and Young Master Dou, the generous betrothal gifts from the Gu Dafu family bestowed immense prestige upon the Xu Family. These gifts included not only three sets of golden hair ornaments and three sets of silver hair ornaments but also a pair of exquisite Jade Pendants, accompanied by a box adorned with nine lustrous pearls.

The pearls were as large as a thumb, perfectly uniform in size, remarkably smooth, and possessed a captivating luster.

"Pearls of this magnitude are exceptionally rare; using them as hairpins would be a statement of remarkable prestige. Your elder sister-in-law nearly gnashed her teeth to the bone upon seeing that box of pearls." Ms. Lu felt a thrill of satisfaction, recalling how Sister-in-law Xu had always lamented Linglong's perceived lack of fortune, predicting she would struggle to secure a marriage into a wealthy family. Yet now, her Linglong was undeniably destined for greatness!

Xu Zhong's face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly interjected, "Mother, please refrain from such talk. If Big Sister-in-law Xu were to overhear this, it might incite unnecessary conflict. Such words, once spread, could lead others to accuse us of arrogance, which is simply not befitting."

More so than the ornate gold and silver hair ornaments or the magnificent pearls, Xu Zhong felt a deeper joy upon receiving the funds from Gu Dexing. When she returned his engagement attire, he discreetly slipped her a purse, confessing it was his personal earnings and urging her to keep it safe.

Upon returning to her own quarters, she opened the purse to discover it contained three hundred taels in silver notes.

While not a colossal sum, the sheer thoughtfulness of his gesture, handing over money he had earned himself, touched her profoundly. Her own parents had always shared a good relationship, yet she had never witnessed her father giving his hard-earned money to her mother. She recognized then that she was truly fortunate to have encountered Gu Dexing.

Indeed, lucky; had you met Gu Dexing years ago, you would have ended up in tears.

"Mother is merely confiding in you privately, not broadcasting this matter," Ms. Lu reassured, patting Xu Zhong's hand affectionately. "Alright, you stay put inside your room; Mother will go and attend to our guests. Mrs. Chen is still here and requires proper attention."

Mrs. Chen, however, required no such attention from Ms. Lu. At that very moment, she was puffed up with a sense of self-importance as she lectured Xu Ling.

"Big Sister-in-law Xu, isn't Girl Ling quite grown now? Why has her marriage not yet been discussed? Young ladies have but a fleeting moment of prime bloom; a proposal must be secured swiftly. Otherwise, once someone fully grasps Girl Ling's true temperament, it will become quite challenging to find a suitable match... Oh dear, I seem to be rambling again; please forgive me, ladies. Girl Ling is truly a fine girl." Mrs. Chen's ostensibly innocent remarks left Mrs. Zeng seething with indignation.

It was no wonder Girl Ling felt so incensed that she chose to confront Mrs. Chen directly; this Mrs. Chen quite deserved a sharp reprimand, her words were infuriating enough to drive someone to the point of despair.