In the evening, the busy family sat together for dinner and noticed an extra dish of steamed meatballs on the table.

“Ketian brought these, saying they’re a new dish from their family cook.” Shi Fa Ke picked up a steamed meatball, took a bite, and found it glutinous and fragrant, her eyes narrowing with pleasure.

It had to be said that the He family’s cook really had excellent skills!

“That young lady from the He family… has she been coming quite frequently lately?” Shi Changhuai couldn’t help but comment, then was startled by his own words.

These words… why did they sound so familiar? As if he had said them before.

“This is nothing. Last time, Miss He even came daily to play chess with A’Ke.” Third Brother Shi also picked up a steamed meatball, eating it with great satisfaction. “Young ladies are like that – sometimes they’re close, sometimes they quarrel. A few days ago they acted like they never wanted to see each other again, and now they’re as close as honey mixed with oil. It’s normal.”

Shi Fa Ke looked at Third Brother Shi meaningfully. “Third Brother seems to understand quite well.”

Third Brother Shi felt goosebumps rise from her gaze. He swallowed the meatball in his mouth and rubbed his arms uncomfortably. “A’Ke, I haven’t offended you recently, have I? Can you please not look at me with such a creepy expression? I’m scared!”

He always felt like she was plotting something…

Shi Fa Ke snorted and refused to speak to her spineless Third Brother.

If he weren’t her own brother, she would definitely despise him for actually letting Ketian, a young lady, be the one to request matchmaking services. How thoughtless!

Even so, Shi Fa Ke considered herself a responsible good matchmaker. Since she had agreed to Ketian’s request, she would naturally give her all… She hadn’t taken action yet only because she was waiting for the right opportunity.

And this opportunity came quickly.

Master He and Madam He, who had been traveling far from home, finally returned.

Shi Fa Ke visited them the day after their return.

Madam He was a beauty, originally surnamed Zhou, whose family ran a small tofu workshop. Because of her exceptional beauty, she was called “Tofu Xi Shi” when she was an unmarried young lady at home, and was a famous beauty in Bronze Gong Town in her youth. Her appearance was even more striking than Madam Tao’s, and her son He Kexian’s looks took after her.

Master He, however, was quite ordinary-looking, with a very plain face, but he had money! Therefore, he married the most beautiful young lady in town.

At that time, it was arranged through Shi Fa Ke’s maternal grandmother as matchmaker, and they hit it off immediately.

Everyone said Master He married Madam He for her beauty, and everyone said Madam He married Master He for his wealth. Master He wasn’t angry at all, and laughingly said this was “man’s wealth, woman’s beauty” – wasn’t it a match made in heaven?

Some people weren’t optimistic about them, after all, how could relying on beauty to serve others last long?

However, in reality, Master He and Madam He truly lasted a lifetime together, slapping many people in the face. Though Master He was wealthy, he only devoted himself to Madam He his entire life, never having thoughts of taking concubines. He even felt sorry for Madam He’s hardships in childbirth, and after she gave birth to the twins He Ketian and He Kexian, he said that having both a son and daughter was enough for this life, and he wouldn’t let Madam He suffer this hardship again.

He Kexian surpassed his father, showing considerable business talent. Under Master He’s careful guidance, he began getting involved in the family business at thirteen, and by fifteen had basically mastered the ins and outs. From then on, he became increasingly skilled. Master He was delighted and exclaimed that he had a successor. Since he only had these two children, the He family had no unseemly disputes over wealth… So Master He straightforwardly entrusted all the family business to his son and took Madam He on travels.

It was said that one afternoon, Master He inadvertently opened a poetry collection and happened to see the line “Merchants value profit over parting,” which immediately filled his heart with emotion. Thinking of how he had been busy with family business in his youth and neglected his wife, he felt truly guilty. Now that his son could handle affairs, he wanted to properly compensate for his debt to his wife. After all, didn’t story books also write, “When all trivial matters are set aside, I’ll promise you wandering to the ends of the earth”…

After He Kexian became so entangled in trivial matters that he couldn’t free himself… he realized he had been tricked by his own father. But it was too late.

Here, Master He and Madam He returned home travel-worn, took a hot bath, ate a warm meal, then had a good night’s sleep. When they woke up in the morning, they looked even more radiant.

“Though the scenery outside is beautiful, it becomes tiresome after seeing it for so long. Nothing compares to the comfort of home.” After a sumptuous breakfast, Madam He sighed while taking a stroll to aid digestion.

“Then let’s stay home for a few more days this time. Kexian went out to collect debts and won’t be back for at least half a month.” Master He supported Madam He, smiling warmly.

“Wonderful!” Madam He nodded happily.

Master He immediately felt that his wife was as lovely as ever.

Ahem, if you ask why they would avoid their son even when returning home, it’s because this time their travels had deeper reasons…

The problem stemmed from that embroidered ball throwing to choose a husband event.

The idea was Ketian’s, and Madam He also thought throwing embroidered balls to choose a husband was fresh and interesting – why hadn’t she thought of playing this way when she was young? When Master He heard that both his wife and daughter wanted to play, he naturally agreed.

But agreeing was one thing – Master He wisely understood that his son would definitely blame him when he returned, and knowing his son always had strong opinions, he quickly took his wife and fled before his son returned… cough, no, went traveling.

When Shi Fa Ke arrived, Master He and Madam He were busy in the kitchen making new food, having driven out even the cook.

Madam He loved good food, and the family cook was someone Madam He had found during one of her travels. Madam He was not only skilled at tasting food but also had talent in cooking. This time, she and Master He had eaten a very delicious small pastry during their travels, and Madam He had specifically learned how to make it. Master He was now craving this treat…

So Madam He was personally cooking in the kitchen.

Hearing that someone was visiting, both of them came out of the kitchen, with Madam He’s hands still covered in flour.

“Isn’t this A’Ke!” Madam He was happy to see Shi Fa Ke. “You’re here to find Ketian, right? Ketian isn’t home – she went to play with the Shen family girl.”

Shi Fa Ke smiled sweetly. “No, I’m here to arrange a marriage for Ketian.”

Both Master He and Madam He were startled, then overjoyed. They completely forgot about their previous plan to make pastries, quickly washed their hands, and pulled Shi Fa Ke to the main hall.

“Who has taken a fancy to our Ketian?” Madam He asked with bright, shining eyes.

“Madam He, this is somewhat embarrassing to say…”

“Child, why are you being so formal with me? Call me Aunt.” Madam He interrupted her words, chiding gently.

Shi Fa Ke obediently changed her address to “Aunt.” Speaking of her relationship with He Ketian, calling her Aunt was appropriate, but in fact, because these two uncle and aunt from the He family were often traveling, the number of times she had seen them… could be counted on one hand.

“Quickly tell Aunt what’s going on,” Madam He held Shi Fa Ke’s hand, asking impatiently. “Who has taken a fancy to our Ketian?”

“This is somewhat embarrassing to say, but I’m here to arrange a marriage for my Third Brother.” When Shi Fa Ke said this, she felt slightly anxious, remembering how Big Brother He had