Madam Tao rubbed her forehead and reached out to take the wine cup from Shi Changhuai’s hand.

Though Shi Changhuai couldn’t control his mouth, his mind was still quite clear. Madam Tao had set rules for him – he could drink at most one cup at a time, and no more than two cups even during happy occasions.

This was exactly two cups now.

So he obediently let Madam Tao take away his wine cup and switched to drinking water.

Shi Changhuai continued engaging in various elaborate ways of praising his daughter with He Kexian, who very tactfully played along. The two chatted back and forth quite congenially. Shi Fa Ke was only somewhat surprised at first, but later became numb to it and instead began observing the interaction between Ketian and Third Brother with great interest, though she gained an entirely new understanding of Big Brother He’s degree of admiration for her father… it was absolutely complete blind devotion.

Madam Tao was naturally different from her thick-nerved daughter. She glanced at He Kexian, who was earnestly accompanying the rambling Shi Changhuai in praising A’Ke, her eyes showing understanding, then felt somewhat wistful – A’Ke had grown up too.

There were already young men keeping an eye on her.

She looked with some amusement at Shi Changhuai, who was chatting so congenially with He Kexian. If he knew that sitting before him was a big bad wolf coveting his daughter, would he still be able to chat so happily?

After He Ketian and Third Brother Shi finished their mutual understanding, she suddenly noticed an unavoidable gaze staring at her. She couldn’t help but shiver, turned her head, and saw Shi Fa Ke looking at her intently.

“What are you looking at me for?” He Ketian was startled, then lifted her chin defiantly.

“…Nothing.”

Shi Fa Ke was pondering that if Third Brother and Ketian truly had mutual feelings, she could only help them. But obviously this wasn’t the right place to discuss such matters – one wrong move could add fuel to the fire.

As a matchmaker, Shi Fa Ke had plenty of experience with this.

Shi Fa Ke thought quite confidently.

“I’m still angry, you know.” He Ketian snorted lightly, saying with dissatisfaction: “How long have you and I known each other? How long have you known Zhu Yanyan? Yet you actually helped her bully me?”

As she spoke, still feeling indignant, she glared at her angrily again.

At that time, she had been so angry she went home and wrote thirty pages of large characters, writing until her wrist could barely lift!

Hey, who was bullying whom exactly? It was clearly you who inexplicably ran up and maliciously bumped into Zhu Yanyan, causing the things in Jin Man Lou to break, yet you and Shen Tongyun wanted to work together to make Zhu Yanyan pay for everything alone – how could there be such a thing!

However, Shi Fa Ke naturally knew that He Ketian wouldn’t listen to these words, and might even become angry from embarrassment.

So she smiled and said quite straightforwardly: “Who told her to hire me as her matchmaker? I’m earning her money, so naturally I have to protect her.”

Hmm, this reasoning was sound.

He Ketian was speechless with anger. “Have you fallen into a money pit?!”

“Not only did she give me money, she also supported my beloved matchmaking career.” Shi Fa Ke said seriously.

“What’s so great about that? I can hire you as a matchmaker too.” He Ketian’s eyes turned, and she suddenly said smoothly.

She had learned that the house in Willow Leaf Lane hadn’t been returned, which meant Master Linyuan would return after attending his elder brother’s wedding. Rather than trouble two people for one matter, it would be good to establish things with A’Ke now for easier discussion later.

Shi Fa Ke was somewhat surprised to hear this… she was hiring a matchmaker already?

She had previously told Third Brother about keeping good things in the family, and if he needed a matchmaker, he should definitely find her… but she hadn’t expected that it wouldn’t be Third Brother who spoke up first, but rather Ketian. Thinking of this, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but secretly glare at Third Brother sitting diagonally across from her, her gaze carrying naked condemnation and disdain.

Third Brother Shi was completely bewildered by her glare – what had he done wrong this time?

After glaring at the confused Third Brother, Shi Fa Ke withdrew her gaze and thought with some emotion that Ketian had always been proud and aloof, yet she had become so devoted to Third Brother. This was probably what they called “one thing conquers another.” However, even if Ketian and Third Brother had mutual feelings, this marriage would still face considerable difficulties. First, there was the obstacle of Ketian’s brother – from Big Brother He’s earlier attitude toward her Third Brother, he clearly disapproved of this match… Then there was an even more serious problem that directly related to why none of the three Shi brothers had married yet…

The reason was her father. Her father Shi Changhuai ran Bronze Gong Town’s largest pawnshop and underground bank, and was a man with a fierce reputation. When she was young, intimidated by her father’s fearsome reputation, she had also dominated Bronze Gong Town with no one daring to challenge her. Correspondingly… no children dared to befriend her either. In all her years, she had only a few friends…

Moreover, they said to “marry daughters upward and take wives downward.” She had previously guessed that the He family would have Ketian marry into the capital, and though Ketian had firmly denied it, marriages were usually arranged by parents and matchmakers… Eh? Parents’ orders and matchmaker’s words?

Speaking of which, Ketian’s parents had been traveling for quite a while… they should be returning soon, right?

Thinking of this, Shi Fa Ke suddenly had an idea.

“A’Ke? A’Ke?” After He Ketian said those words, she was feeling anxious inside, but Shi Fa Ke didn’t respond for a long time and actually started daydreaming right under her nose. She couldn’t help but feel angry from embarrassment, waving her hand in front of her face and lowering her voice: “I’m talking to you – what are you daydreaming about!”

Shi Fa Ke came back to her senses, looking at her with a somewhat complex expression. “What did you say?”

“I said I want to hire you as a matchmaker.” He Ketian lifted her chin, challenging her in a low voice: “What, don’t you dare?”

“Really?” Shi Fa Ke confirmed.

“Really.” He Ketian nodded.

“Then it’s settled.” Shi Fa Ke raised her hand, wanting to clap hands to seal the promise.

“Childish.” He Ketian rolled her eyes but quickly slapped her hand against Shi Fa Ke’s. “It’s settled!”

Seeing her so readily clap hands to seal the promise, Shi Fa Ke sighed secretly – Ketian was truly wholehearted about Third Brother, even throwing aside her usual reserve. Since she had already hired a matchmaker, no matter how difficult it was, she would definitely try her best for her. So she gave her a reassuring smile.

He Ketian thought that Shi Fa Ke still had some ability – after all, she had succeeded in such a difficult marriage arrangement for the Zhu family, and she was also familiar with Master Linyuan. This matter would definitely be fine in her hands, so she also smiled back.

The two young ladies smiled at each other.

“A’Ke and Ketian have such a good relationship.” Shi Changhuai nodded approvingly.

“Indeed.” He Kexian nodded in agreement.

Shi Fa Ke: “…”

Father, you’re really drunk.

He Ketian: “…”

Brother, is it really okay for you to lie with your eyes wide open like this?

The grand spectacle of the Lu family’s betrothal gifts and wedding procession became a topic of great interest among the people of Bronze Gong Town, and Shi Fa Ke, who had arranged this marriage, also gained great fame as a result. For a time, people seeking matchmaking services came in endless streams, giving Shi Fa Ke quite a taste of being a renowned matchmaker.

After that meal at Sheng Xing Restaurant, He Ketian and Shi Fa Ke made up.

Actually, ever since learning that the person marrying Zhu Yanyan wasn’t Master Linyuan, He Ketian hadn’t been very angry anymore. After all, she had gone to cause trouble that day because she mistakenly thought Master Linyuan was going to marry Zhu Yanyan… It was just that she had been angry for so long that she couldn’t immediately give in – she needed to find a way to save face.

That meal at Sheng Xing Restaurant had been a perfect opportunity.

Moreover, in the course of their conversation, she had even managed to hire Shi Fa Ke as a matchmaker.

Since she had already made this request, and to ensure everything went smoothly, He Ketian was eager to repair her relationship with Shi Fa Ke. Therefore, He Ketian had been visiting the Shi family very frequently recently – so frequently that everyone in the Shi family had noticed something unusual. Only Shi Fa Ke remained quite calm, because she felt she had completely understood He Ketian’s little thoughts.

It was nothing more than using the pretext of coming to play with her to see Third Brother…