Chapter 3: The Obscene Fat Man’s Proposal

Matchmaker Dong? Du Yun’s mind whirled rapidly, and in an instant she realized who this person was. It seemed that before the original owner had knocked her head, a marriage proposal was already underway. The prospective groom, as it was said, was the only son of the wealthiest family in the village. It looked like this Matchmaker Dong was here for that very matter.

Speaking of marriage, Du Yun couldn't help but feel a secret anticipation. If the match was a handsome man, she might as well agree. But then she felt she was daydreaming. After all, with her bean sprout of a figure, it would be a miracle to attract a handsome man.

"Little sister, you’re here!" While Du Yun was still lost in her thoughts, the visitors had already entered. Her mother hurried up to greet them, her manner exceedingly attentive. When it came to the matchmaker arranging a marriage for her daughter, Du Yun’s mother truly respected her from the heart.

From her newly acquired memories, Du Yun knew Aunt Dong was a famous matchmaker in the village, sharp-tongued, thick-skinned, even a little ruthless—but a great many marriages had indeed been arranged by her.

Seeing the black, chubby man behind Aunt Dong, Du Yun’s mother paused, clearly not knowing what he was here for, but out of courtesy she greeted him, "Leap, you’re here too! Come inside, have a seat!"

"Ah, hello Aunt Du," the black, chubby man had been sizing up the humble, cramped room, his face betraying obvious disdain. But as soon as Du Yun’s mother greeted him, his smile brightened, though it was a smile that never quite reached his eyes.

Du Yun searched her memory: this black, chubby man was named Dong Yuejin, the only son of the Dong family—the wealthiest household in the village. It seemed he had a particular interest in her. Glancing at his greasy, sullen face, Du Yun felt a wave of aversion, especially as his gaze swept over her with a predatory glint that set her on edge.

“Crap, the only son of the wealthiest family! Don’t tell me this guy is the one they want to match with me!” Her eyes widened. As an inveterate face-con, even if her future husband wasn’t a beauty for the ages, he couldn’t possibly look like this! And this man didn’t seem like a good person at all! Oh no, no!

"Yun’er, greet the guests!" Her mother, seeing Du Yun’s dazed look, tugged at her sleeve and whispered.

"Oh, um! Auntie, you’re here!" Du Yun snapped back to herself, instinctively smiling at the matchmaker called Aunt Dong and offering a sweet greeting. Her voice was crisp and clear, as refreshing as biting into a sweet apple, a pleasure that lingered in the heart.

Hearing Du Yun speak, the black, chubby man’s eyes lit up with a fiery gleam, staring at her so intensely that she felt deeply uncomfortable. Du Yun shot him a fierce glare; his lascivious gaze seemed to want to strip her of her few shabby clothes right then and there.

Aunt Dong, meanwhile, clung to Du Yun’s mother, chattering away. Her mother, unused to such warmth, smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say, one hand held in Aunt Dong’s grasp, the other nervously clutching her own sleeve.

"Oh, our Du Yun is wonderful! Good-looking, good-tempered, even a middle school graduate—so cultured! Plenty of families in the village have been asking me about her!" Aunt Dong praised as she held Du Yun’s mother, seeing she wasn’t much of a talker, before turning to Du Yun, taking her hand and beaming so widely her eyes vanished.

Du Yun stood at the doorway, watching Aunt Dong’s face bloom with a smile like a bursting chrysanthemum, and then glanced at the leering black, chubby Dong Yuejin. Disgust welled up in her chest, and her own smile stiffened.

"Hurry, come inside! Come inside!" At that moment, a gray-haired old woman emerged from another room—it was Du Yun’s grandmother. She looked to be in her mid-fifties, her hair neatly twisted into a bun, and her presence radiated stern authority.

Everyone bustled into the main room. Du Yun, wary of the lecherous black fat man, lingered by the door, watching the legendary matchmaker Aunt Dong closely.

Aunt Dong looked to be about thirty-seven or thirty-eight, dressed in a blue homespun shirt and black velvet shoes, her hair braided and coiled tidily at the back of her head. She looked clean and capable, and one would think she’d be well liked, but the shrewd calculation and sly amusement in her eyes made it impossible for Du Yun to take to her.

“She’s nothing like the matchmakers you see in TV dramas,” Du Yun silently mused as she observed Aunt Dong.

"Aunt Du, I’m here!" Aunt Dong called out warmly as she entered the eastern room, greeting Du Yun’s grandmother with practiced cheer. The eastern room was where Grandma lived with Second Uncle’s family and Third Uncle, and as the eldest and most authoritative member of the Du family, Grandma was the one to handle marriage arrangements.

"Ah, niece, you’ve come!" Grandma was clearly waiting for Aunt Dong, greeting her hospitably. She shuffled to the red lacquered cabinet, fumbled out a yellowed paper packet the size of her palm, and shook out a thimbleful of white sugar into a bowl, making sweetened water for Aunt Dong and the black, chubby man.

"Oh, Auntie, you really do spoil your guests!" Aunt Dong accepted the sweet water without hesitation, downing the whole bowl with a smile.

The black, chubby man glanced at the rough, yellowing ceramic bowl with obvious distaste. He left it untouched on the kang’s edge, instead turning his gaze toward Du Yun. His little eyes glinted, staring at her again and again until Du Yun felt thoroughly unsettled and glared right back at him.

After finishing her sweet water, Aunt Dong wiped her mouth, eyes bright with excitement, and finally spoke, "Auntie, I’ve come to bring you good news!"

Good news! As soon as Du Yun heard those words, her skin prickled. If Aunt Dong was here bringing “good news,” what else could it be but her marriage? And the black, chubby man she’d brought—was he truly the intended groom? Du Yun narrowed her eyes, her expression growing grave. As a diehard face-con, no matter what benefits were promised, she would never marry a short, ugly, greasy man like this! Never!

At the word “congratulations,” Grandma’s face broke into a broad smile, her eyes full of anticipation as she waited for Aunt Dong to continue.

Seeing her grandmother’s expression, Du Yun realized at once that Grandma clearly knew exactly what this “good news” was about.

Grandma rubbed her hands together in delight and glanced at Dong Yuejin, who was staring absentmindedly at Du Yun. It seemed the Dong family truly valued this match and had agreed to all the terms the Du family had set. Grandma was eagerly awaiting Aunt Dong’s next words, but Aunt Dong noticed Du Yun was still present and shot Grandma a meaningful look.

"Yun’er, go on, it’s almost noon. Fix something to eat for Aunt Dong and Yuejin!" Grandma caught on immediately and tried to send Du Yun away with a few words. After all, discussing a marriage with both parties present was awkward.

"Grandma, I’m not going!" Du Yun, terrified at the prospect of being proposed to by the lecherous black fat man, refused stubbornly, eyes wide.

"You insolent child, refusing to obey!" Grandma bristled, sitting by the kang, and snatched up the tobacco pipe hanging from her waistband, about to swat Du Yun.

"Aunt Du, Aunt Du, please, what are you doing? We’ll be family soon anyway—let her stay," Aunt Dong hurriedly intervened, signaling the black, chubby man with her eyes.

"Yes, Grandma Du, it’s fine, really. I’m here today to discuss the match with Du Yun," said the lecherous man, his tone lofty, as if he were bestowing a great favor upon the Du family.

So it was true—he was the one they wanted to match her with! Du Yun felt as if her whole world had suddenly turned gray.

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Lalala, a new story begins! Since my baby is still young and I’ve only just returned to work, I plan to update once daily before the book launches, at 6 p.m. If there are super fans or generous donations, there will be bonus chapters—details to come. The new book is still delicate and needs your loving care—please collect, vote, and shower it with your support! Mwah~