Chapter 10 Proposal
The winter rain falls and the cold wind dances.

Shanzhang Cai Rupu and Wu Xun were sitting in the warm room drinking wine and chatting, looking very carefree.

Ever since Ou Zanghua passed the imperial examination and won the title of Jieyuan, Shigu Academy has no shortage of good students. The two of them no longer have to worry about these things and have more time to do what they like.

At this time, Ou Zanghua came in holding an oil-paper umbrella. He came under the eaves, put away the umbrella, looked at the two people, bowed slightly and said, "Principal, teacher, I am sorry to disturb your rest."

Cai Rupu smiled, took out an envelope and handed it over, asking, "It's no big deal. Your pass is ready. When are you going to leave?"

"Thank you, Principal. I plan to leave in early December."

Ou Zanghua took the envelope and put it in his arms. He looked at the two teachers and said with a smile, "There is something I would like to ask the headmaster and teacher for help."

"What's the matter?"

Wu Xun put down his wine glass and asked with interest.

Ou Zanghua asked seriously, "I am in love with Master's daughter Liu Qing. I dare to ask the headmaster and the teacher to be my parents and propose marriage to Master."

"Oh? That's good!"

When Cai Rupu heard this, he said happily, "Zanghua is 18 years old this year, and it's time for him to get married and have children."

"It is indeed a happy event, but has Zanghua thought it through?"

Wu Xun thought for a moment and reminded him solemnly, "If you have a virtuous wife, she can be a helper in your high position in the government."

Ou Zanghua naturally understood what Wu Xun meant. Given his age and looks, even if he failed the imperial examination this time, many young ladies from official families would be interested in him if he wandered around the capital.

but
"I understand your painstaking efforts, but I have made up my mind. Please grant my wish." Ou Zanghua bowed slightly and said seriously.

Having lived two lives, he has already understood many things.

The most important thing in life is to live happily, and then think about other things.

As the saying goes, if you are poor, you can benefit yourself; if you are prosperous, you can help the world.

Ou Zanghua still considers himself a poor person, both spiritually and materially.

Seeing this, Wu Xun said no more. The three of them discussed for a while and decided to go to Liu's house to propose marriage three days later.

Due to historical inertia, the marriage etiquette of the Ming Dynasty basically continued the wedding system of the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties. The government advocated that the common people follow the rituals of offering gifts, offering money and asking for a date in Zhu Zi Jia Li as a guide to standardize the folk marriage customs.

Three days later, Shanzhang Cai Rupu and Wu Xun came to Liu's house with a letter of appointment. When Liu Zhengfeng heard that two great scholars were coming to visit, he immediately opened the main door, welcomed them in, and asked the maid to serve them good tea.

When Cai Rupu handed the engagement letter to Liu Zhengfeng, he was stunned for a moment, and then he heard Wu Xun say with a smile: "I have a good disciple, Zanghua, whose name is Jingyu, who is at the age of twenty. My beloved daughter Liu Qing is at the age of marriage, blah blah blah."

"Etc., etc."

Old Liu quickly stopped Wu Xun and asked in shock, "Were you talking about Zanghua and Qingqing?"

"Yup!"

Cai Rupu and Wu Xun looked at Old Liu's appearance and asked in surprise, "Doesn't Patriarch Liu know?"

"."

I know a hammer!

Liu Zhengfeng's face turned red. The pigs he had raised for eight years were actually silently eating the cabbages he had raised for sixteen years. He felt very complicated.

After the maid who served tea overheard these words, she happily ran to the backyard and told the young lady the news.

"Really?"

Liu Qing was accompanying Ouyang and learning to do accounting. She stood up in surprise after hearing the news. "Yes, what I heard must be correct." The maid nodded and answered without hesitation.

"Mother!" Liu Qing's eyes turned red. She turned around and looked at Ouyang, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Ouyang smiled and said gently: "You should be happy that you got what you wanted. Zanghua is a good child, and you are also a good child. You should live a good life in the future!"

"Well, thank you, mother." Liu Qing nodded vigorously, then sat next to Ouyang, but his mind was wandering and he even smiled foolishly from time to time.

Ouyang was speechless upon seeing this, so she rolled her eyes and drove her daughter away, so that she wouldn't have to sit here and disturb her while she was settling accounts.

Liu Qing's pretty face turned red. She picked up the sachet she had just made, made a face at her mother, and ran out quickly, lifting her long skirt.

She ran all the way to Wu Garden, and through the archway she saw Ou Zanghua standing by the pond, absentmindedly feeding the goldfish in the pond.

"Big Brother!"

"Ok?"

Ou Zanghua turned around and saw Liu Qing rushing towards him like a young swallow returning to its nest. He quickly poured all the fish food in his hand into the pool, then hugged the girl with both hands.

Liu Qing is 1.7 meters tall, which is quite tall for women of that era.

However, in front of the 186cm tall Ou Zanghua, she still looks like a little bird.

"Hehe." Liu Qing looked up at Ou Zanghua, her beautiful eyes full of stars: "Big Brother, I like you so much!"

"How much do you like it?" Ou Zanghua was stunned and asked with a smile.

"Um"

Liu Qing thought about it and said seriously: "Like the stone of Hengshan Mountain, the love is more ancient and everlasting!"

"So corny~" Ou Zanghua said, and then he leaned his head on Liu Qing's shoulder and whispered in her ear: "But I like it, can you say more?"

"Like the water of the Xiang River, my love is endless!" Liu Qing laughed and then asked, "Where is the senior brother?"

"We are the same, one mountain, one river, one life, one pair."

"I like to listen to it too. Big Brother, please say more!"

Seeing Ou Zanghua trying hard to think of love words, Liu Qing couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and kiss his cheek.

Ou Zanghua was stunned and was unable to react for a moment.

The girl is very proactive, he likes it very much!
Liu Qing came back to her senses, her face suddenly turned red with embarrassment, and her mind went blank.

She was reluctant to leave Ou Zanghua's arms, so she hurriedly took out the sachet and stuffed it into Ou Zanghua's hand, stammering: "This is the cocoa I made myself."

Even through the clothes, Ou Zanghua could feel how fast the girl's heart was beating. He patted Liu Qing's back gently and said gently, "I know, I know. Take a deep breath. Don't be nervous."

"Hu~~~" Liu Qing took two breaths obediently, but it seemed to have no effect. His face was still red and his heart was still beating loudly.

Ou Zanghua helped her sit under the eaves and tied the sachet around her waist.

He returned to the room, took out a jade bracelet, put it on Liu Qing's wrist, and said with a smile: "This way, Qingqing can't escape."

"I won't run away." Liu Qing covered her face with one hand and whispered, "My wish is to marry the senior brother."

"Yes, I know." Ou Zanghua nodded and said seriously: "I will discuss it with the master. Qingqing, wait for me."

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)