Shi Fa Ke escorted the wedding procession all the way out of Bronze Gong Town, then reluctantly watched as the procession continued forward, feeling quite emotional… The Zhu family’s marriage had cost her tremendous effort. Though the result differed somewhat from expectations, it had still achieved a good outcome that pleased everyone.

However… after all that busyness, Lu Chi still hadn’t managed to get a wife.

The original intention had clearly been to arrange a marriage for Lu Chi, but after all the arrangements, he had become an uninvolved party instead… Zhu Yanyan had become his sister-in-law.

This person was simply cursed!

How could his marriage prospects be so difficult!

She had already sworn on her dignity as a matchmaker – surely her dignity wouldn’t be destroyed by his hands? No! She would never compromise! She would become more determined with each setback!

Unprecedented heroic aspirations surged silently in her heart. Just as Shi Fa Ke was deeply moved by herself, someone suddenly patted her shoulder from behind.

Shi Fa Ke turned around to see Lu Chi’s face. How could this person be so hard to avoid thinking about! She had just thought of him and he popped up!… Probably due to guilt, Shi Fa Ke was startled, gasped, and suddenly stepped back.

“Why do you look at me like you’ve seen a ghost?” Lu Chi raised an eyebrow, looking her up and down. “Don’t tell me you’ve done something to wrong me and feel guilty?”

“What nonsense!” Shi Fa Ke flatly denied, then composed herself and asked, “What are you doing here?”

…And leading a horse?

Shi Fa Ke glanced at the horse reins in his hand and the fine steed behind him that was snorting.

“Big brother is getting married, so I need to return.” Lu Chi looked at her.

Shi Fa Ke was startled, then realized, “…Oh right.”

Since Big Brother Lu was getting married, as his younger brother he naturally had to return.

Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu had returned a month ago to prepare. Before leaving, Aunt Lu had reluctantly held her hand and invited her to visit their home.

“Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?” Lu Chi looked at her and asked.

“…Have a safe journey?”

A vein throbbed at Lu Chi’s temple. He felt like his meaningful glances were being wasted on the blind. Too lazy to say more, he directly stuffed the wooden box he was holding into her arms.

“What’s this?” Shi Fa Ke looked down. Hmm, this wooden box looked somewhat familiar…

“Matchmaker’s thank-you gift.” Lu Chi said through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing it was a matchmaker’s thank-you gift, Shi Fa Ke immediately beamed with joy.

Seeing her heartless appearance, Lu Chi’s eyes hurt. He didn’t want to say anything more, directly mounted his horse and caught up with the wedding procession.

“Second Brother Lu, have a safe journey!”

Behind him, that silly girl was still shouting.

Lu Chi couldn’t help but turn back to look at her, only to see the silly girl vigorously bouncing and waving at him.

That bouncing energy, that cheerful spirit – she showed no signs of being reluctant to part with him.

Lu Chi felt even more stifled. He spurred his horse and galloped away.

“I never knew Second Brother Lu could ride horses.” Shi Fa Ke murmured to herself, thinking that for a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken, Second Brother Lu’s horseback riding posture was truly skilled and graceful.

She kept waving until her arm was sore, then finally lowered it and looked down at the wooden box in her hands. The more she looked, the more familiar it seemed.

Hmm, wasn’t this the wooden box that had previously contained the meeting gifts from Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, and Big Brother Lu? She had deliberately forgotten it in Willow Leaf Lane…

She opened it to find the familiar formula and familiar taste.

A heavy, golden ruyi scepter, a gem-inlaid ruyi hairpin that gleamed with flowing light, and a five-hundred-tael silver note.

So after going in circles, it had returned to her hands.

Speaking of which… ruyi scepters really shouldn’t be casually given to people, as they easily cause misunderstandings. Next time she saw Second Brother Lu, she would need to have a good talk with him about this, Shi Fa Ke thought worriedly.

Seeing that the wedding procession had already gone far, Shi Fa Ke hugged the wooden box and turned back home.

Shortly after arriving home, Lady Zhu had someone deliver another generous matchmaker’s thank-you gift, delighting Shi Fa Ke so much her smile was all teeth and no eyes. Seeing her purse grow plump, the now wealthy Shi Fa Ke clapped her hands and decided to treat her parents and three brothers to a feast at Sheng Xing Restaurant.

After generously ordering a table full of dishes, Shi Fa Ke boldly requested a pot of plum wine with Madam Tao’s tacit permission.

“Sorry, Miss Shi, our plum wine just sold out.” The server said apologetically.

Upon hearing this, Shi Fa Ke immediately glared accusingly at her third brother.

Third Brother Shi touched his nose with an innocent expression. “Why are you looking at me? It really wasn’t me.”

Second Brother Shi looked at his little sister, then at his third brother. “What riddle are you two playing?”

“I came here to buy wine once before, but this server insisted on lying with his eyes wide open, saying their wine was sold out. But other people could buy wine – he just refused to sell to me. It must have been Third Brother’s doing.” Shi Fa Ke complained indignantly.

The server nearby awkwardly touched his nose.

“You came to buy wine?” Madam Tao’s voice sounded chilly.

Shi Fa Ke shivered and quickly explained, “I was buying it for Second Brother Lu.”

“Second Brother Lu?” Second Brother Shi was displeased. “Which Second Brother Lu?”

“Lu Chi.”

“When did you become so familiar with him?” Second Brother Shi became alert.

“Oh, that’s not the point! The point is they clearly had wine but specifically refused to sell it to me!” Shi Fa Ke tried to steer the conversation back on track.

“It’s not hard to find out who was behind this.” Third Brother Shi chuckled, lazily supporting his cheek with one hand while pointing at the awkwardly smiling server with the other. “Just ask him.”

“This, this, this…” The server broke out in a cold sweat.

Just then, footsteps approached.

It was the He siblings.

“Uncle Shi, Aunt Tao, what’s wrong?” He Kexian walked over.

The server looked like he had seen his savior. “Miss Shi ordered plum wine, but… but we’re sold out.”

He quickly explained what had happened while taking credit for himself – he had firmly followed the boss’s orders and refused to sell wine to Miss Shi!

He Kexian glanced at him coolly, ignored this inflexible fool, and turned to smile at the Shi family. “I happen to have ordered plum wine, but Ketian doesn’t drink, and I can’t finish it alone. Let me give it to you.”

You can’t sell wine to A’Ke, but you have to judge the situation! A’Ke’s parents and brothers were all here… Fortunately he arrived in time, or it would have been exposed. He Kexian secretly wiped cold sweat.

“Why give it away? Sit down and drink together.” Shi Changhuai waved his hand. “Perfect timing for a meal together.”

The table was large with exactly two empty seats remaining.

The He siblings had often eaten at the Shi house when they were young, so no one at the table felt anything was amiss – except for Third Brother Shi… because he knew that young man He Kexian had ulterior motives.

Unfortunately, everyone else was drunk while he alone was sober!

So Third Brother Shi could only watch helplessly as He Kexian made a show of polite refusal before sitting down courteously.

“Ketian, you sit next to A’Ke.” He Kexian casually sat beside Third Brother Shi, subtly separating him from his sister.

Third Brother Shi looked at He Kexian with a subtle expression… This Big Brother He was quite unfriendly toward him.

The two young ladies naturally sat together, especially since they had always been close. No one knew these two young ladies were currently having a conflict…

Sheng Xing Restaurant’s food lived up to its reputation, and everyone ate with great enjoyment.

Shi Changhuai was particularly happy, especially after two cups of wine, and began chattering non-stop. “Our A’Ke is the most filial. This meal is A’Ke’s treat. She only earned a little money and is already thinking of treating us to dinner…”

“Yes, A’Ke has always been filial.” He Kexian nodded in agreement.

What do you mean “a little money”! She had received double matchmaker’s fees! And you even gave her money saying daughters should be raised well – she’s probably the richest person in the family now! The truly poor Third Brother Shi roared internally.

Even Shi Fa Ke looked at He Kexian with surprise… She knew Big Brother He had admired her father since childhood, but had his admiration reached the point of blind following?

“A’Ke even made me clothes! The stitching is dense and solid, very thoughtful!” Shi Changhuai continued.

“A’Ke’s handiwork must be excellent.” He Kexian nodded, looking somewhat envious.

What excellent handiwork! He Ketian silently rolled her eyes, having seen that so-called clothing… the simplest nightgown made to look like a rag. Because it was constantly sewn wrong, ripped apart and re-sewn, ripped apart and re-sewn again, of course the stitching would be dense!

Just as He Ketian finished rolling her eyes, she saw Third Brother Shi across from her wink at her.

The two people who made eye contact suddenly felt a sense of kinship.

For a moment, they were so absorbed in their mutual understanding that they completely failed to notice Shi Fa Ke sitting nearby, watching them with a subtle expression… Hmm, Ketian and Third Brother definitely had something going on.

“Those stinky boys at home all say I’m biased, but can smelly boys who roll around in mud compare to my sweet-smelling precious daughter?” Shi Changhuai slapped the table and declared loudly.

“Exactly! My parents also favor my sister more. After all, sons can handle being knocked around, but daughters need to be treasured.” He Kexian nodded in agreement without changing expression.

First Brother Shi and Second Brother Shi silently exchanged glances, knowing their father was drunk again…

Father had a low tolerance for alcohol and got drunk after two cups.

Once drunk, he became talkative.

They felt inexplicably admiring of the He siblings who could still chat with their father without changing expression.