Wen Wan kept hiding behind the door of her room, eavesdropping, occasionally catching bits of Matchmaker Feng's voice from the main room, but unable to hear Father Wen's opinion.
This marriage proposal was something she "planned" herself. No matter if Song Sanlang was plagued by bad luck or missing an arm or a leg, as long as she could escape the fate of being someone's concubine, she accepted it. Her fear was that her father would find Song Sanlang unlucky and refuse this marriage.
Wen Wan felt a bit uneasy.
After all, it's a serious matrimonial matter that a girl is shy to speak about; she couldn't just step forward and directly tell Father Wen that she's willing.
At this moment, Mrs. Wu's voice came from the main room, "How much is the dowry from the Song family?"
Matchmaker Feng glanced at Mrs. Wu, ready to say a figure, but Father Wen interrupted her, "Even though Wan Niang can't speak, she's been decisive since childhood. Her mother is not around, and as her father, I cannot disregard her wishes. Whether the marriage can be decided depends on Wan Niang's opinion."
This meant that as long as Wen Wan nodded, Father Wen had no objections.
Matchmaker Feng was somewhat dumbfounded; in all her years of matchmaking, it was the first time she encountered a decision requiring the daughter's opinion. Indeed, Wen the Second treated his mute daughter with tender affection, as though she were his very eyes.
Mrs. Wu couldn't bear listening anymore, "Wan Niang can't speak a word, asking her is useless. You're her father, you should decide such a big matter like marrying a daughter!"
After speaking, she looked at Matchmaker Feng, "You talk first, how much is the dowry from the Song family? If it's appropriate, then this marriage is settled."
Matchmaker Feng hadn't opened her mouth when Father Wen heavily tapped his pipe against the table, his voice carrying a trace of suppressed anger, "I am marrying a daughter, not selling her!"
Surely, no man is willing to have a woman outside pointing fingers at his household affairs, even if she is the mother-in-law.
Mrs. Wu was startled and wanted to say something, but Mrs. Zhou tugged at her and whispered, "Mother, you'd better not interfere in our family's matters."
Mrs. Zhou always feared Father Wen lowering his face and speaking sternly.
Mrs. Wu felt indignant, "Why shouldn't I interfere? If it weren't for that mute girl, would I have paid five taels of silver for nothing?"
Father Wen's eyes twitched, "What five taels of silver?"
Mrs. Wu realized she had slipped but refused to admit it, got up, patted herself, and left.
Father Wen set the matter aside for the time being, asked Mrs. Zhou to call Wen Wan and told her about the Song family sending a matchmaker to propose, "Song Sanlang is a good scholar, but he doesn't have the fortune; he encountered troubles several times, and finally didn't even go to the examination because his brother and sister-in-law were harmed.
The Song family is in good condition, but Song Sanlang has a seven-year-old son under his care, not biological but raised by him since infancy, just like a real son. I've seen him twice, the child is quite mischievous, probably difficult to get along with.
As for advantages, there are some; the Da Lang couple passed away early, the second branch separated from the elders, once married, you won't have to deal with the second branch, life could be much easier.
Wan Niang is already fifteen. Even if she can't speak, as her father, I know she's a smart child. In this major issue of marriage, I can only guide you. Whether you're willing to marry, you must decide for yourself, otherwise if I force you to marry, and life is unhappy later, you won't be comfortable."
Wen Wan lowered her head, feeling warmth in her heart.
In these years since her birth mother passed away, even with a stepmother, her father never neglected her, the "money-losing girl," in favor of her brother Wen Shun, treating her with loving care consistently for over ten years.
A father who allows his daughter to decide her lifelong affair is rare even in the surrounding villages.
Wen Wan almost didn't think about it and directly nodded.
Father Wen was surprised, "You are willing to marry Song Sanlang?"
Song Sanlang's family background and appearance are impeccable, yet given his streak of bad luck, Father Wen thought Wen Wan would at least hesitate like she did with Limp Wang, not directly agree.
Actually, Father Wen did not want his daughter to marry Song Wei. He heard that Granny Song privately arranged a marriage for Song Wei, but before the engagement was even formalized, the girl suddenly died from a strange illness.
The Song family probably didn't want to add a "wife-cursing" aspect to Song Sanlang's unlucky fate, so they covered it up quietly.
Father Wen learned this by chance and intended to stop it, but Song Wei once saved his daughter's life, and now, marrying Song Wei could be considered repaying that debt.
Thinking of this, Father Wen could only silently sigh and accept fate.
——
Matchmaker Feng had already returned from Lower River Village when Granny Song learned that Song Wei had sent someone to the Wen family to propose. She immediately flew into a rage, scolding Song Wei, "Sanlang, oh Sanlang, why marry a mute girl? Isn't this intentionally bringing bad luck to yourself?"
Already unlucky enough, if he marries a mute wife, won't his life be ruined?
Song Wei smiled calmly, "When I wasn't interested in marrying, mother kept urging me; now that I'm ready to marry, you disagree. What do you want, mother, for me to marry or to remain a bachelor for life?"
Granny Song was adamant, "Even if you're to marry, you should find a normal wife. Bringing a mute girl into our home, what will it be like if she has something to say? Not only would your father and I not understand, but you, as her husband, might be clueless too."
"I can understand Wen Wan's sign language." Yuanbao poked his head in through the window, grinning cheekily.
"Shoo shoo shoo, what are you meddling about, you little brat?" Granny Song waved him away like a fly.
Yuanbao remained by the window, chin resting on his hands, "Grandma always says my father is unlucky, right? So why not find him a wife who brings prosperity!"
Granny Song laughed angrily, "What do you know?"
"Why don't I know?" Yuanbao shook his head, "The fortune teller said she's someone who brings prosperity; surely he can't be wrong."
"What?" Granny Song widened her eyes, "Fortune teller?"
"It's the one you secretly visited to ask about my father's fate, grandma. He said it himself."
Two years ago, indeed for Song Wei's future, Granny Song secretly sought a fortune teller, something she hid from the whole family. Who would have thought her mischievous grandson saw it?
Granny Song couldn't care about Song Wei's speechless expression and eagerly asked Yuanbao, "What did the fortune teller say?"
Yuanbao imitated the old man's gestures at the time, stroked his non-existent goatee, coughed, and gravely said, "The young girl has a special fate, brings prosperity to her husband, and will surely enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future."
He couldn't recall the exact words but the general meaning was that.
Granny Song appeared somewhat dazed.
The old fortune teller had been quite accurate about many things regarding her Third Son, and she believed deeply. But now, hearing Yuanbao's interpretation, it seemed a bit mystical?
"Yuanbao, are you telling the truth?" Concerned with her son's lifelong event, Granny Song dared not be vague.
"I was right there with Wen Wan, heard it clearly myself; how could it be fake?" Yuanbao pouted his little mouth.
"This is too ridiculous." Granny Song frowned, "A mute girl, not able to speak, how could she live a good life in the future? If one were to deceive someone, they should at least choose a more plausible story. Sanlang, would you reconsider?"
"Let it be!" Song Wei decisively said, "Since the matchmaker has already been invited to propose, there's no sense in backing out now."
Granny Song wanted to ask Song Wei why he suddenly decided to propose to Wen's family but saw Song Wei had already returned to his room, leaving her unable to ask.
The matchmaker obtained Wen Wan's birth date characters, and Granny Song, still worried, sneaked to the town the next day to ask someone to predict for her son.
The fortune teller said the two people's birth characters complement each other. Separately, the man's fate is too strong and the woman's fate too soft, neither good alone. But together, as one governs external affairs and the other domestic, they supplement each other's strengths and weaknesses, making such a marriage most harmonious.
This, Granny Song was left speechless.