If they weren’t satisfied with this shopfront, he could find another client elsewhere and still earn his cut—it made no difference.
For now, he wasn’t yet free, so he rarely bought new clothes. Fortunately, having grown up under the steward’s guidance, he knew how to present himself properly: his clothes, shoes, and socks were all tidy—nothing new, but clean. He had even had someone shave and trim his beard, so when he stepped outside, no one could tell he was a “yazi” apprentice.
The young man he was to meet hadn’t arrived yet. Worried the tea would get cold, Hai Youtian only ordered a plate of melon seeds. He didn’t even crack any, just sat there stiffly.
He had chosen a seat carefully, diagonally across from the stairs, so he wouldn’t miss anyone. When Shun Geer finally appeared, he noticed him immediately.
Seeing Shun Geer, he was startled, jumping up so abruptly that he knocked over his chair.
The noise made Shun Geer pause mid-step. Only after Hai Youtian waved did he continue toward him.
Being tactful, Hai Youtian picked up his chair and moved a few steps closer to start a conversation. “Why are you here? You’re here to meet me too? Same as me—Aunt Chen introduced us.”
Shun Geer gave him a strange look, then sat at the table next to Hai Youtian.
For a moment, the air went quiet. Shun Geer kept his eyes on Hai Youtian, taking in his reactions.
Hai Youtian’s responses were a mix of shock and awe, with a hint of “so it’s really true,” and seamlessly transitioned into shyness as he sat down.
Shun Geer: ?
He was just puzzled. But Hai Youtian’s shyness escalated repeatedly, growing more embarrassed as his face and neck flushed.
Shun Geer, unsure why, diverted his gaze left and right, subtly tugging at his sleeves and adjusting his clothes. It had to be the new outfit! This was too strange!
He had come confidently, yet Hai Youtian’s reaction had flustered him completely. Finally, he urged, “Speak! If you don’t say something, I’m going home!”
In a matchmaking meeting, if someone says nothing, it means they’re not interested.
Hai Youtian hurriedly spoke. “The last time I came to meet, I guessed that the young man Aunt Chen mentioned might be you, but I didn’t dare imagine—it couldn’t be possible.”
His words, “didn’t dare imagine,” made Shun Geer glance at him several times.
“Why not dare imagine? You’re wealthy, I’m modest—what’s there to fear?”
Hai Youtian knew exactly what this meant. The last time they went to find Old Ma, they had discussed social status.
He had said it didn’t count, “You’re definitely wealthier than me, much more.”
When pressed for a number, he couldn’t provide one. When forced, he said, “Even all the silver combined wouldn’t be enough.”
Shun Geer snorted and glanced at the storyteller in the hall. “Smooth talker.”
Hai Youtian didn’t know who he meant.
Having grown up in the jade trade, Hai Youtian prided himself on reading people and smooth speech. Now, not understanding Shun Geer’s meaning, he simply sensed that Shun Geer’s attitude had softened, not as rigid as when he first sat down. Recalling the earlier conversation about wealth, Shun Geer had even said he might “buy a man home.” Hai Youtian’s face flushed again, eyes misting.
He stammered, “So you said it before… I didn’t catch it—you meant to buy me? Actually, buying me is a bit more expensive than a son-in-law; I really don’t know what to say…”
Shun Geer understood immediately.
It wasn’t about the new clothes or jewelry. Hai Youtian’s misunderstanding had started long before.
He hurriedly clarified, “No, no, I didn’t mean that at the time…”
Hai Youtian understood. Shun Geer’s face was thin-skinned; such matters were hard to say directly. He nodded repeatedly, following Shun Geer’s lead. But Shun Geer could see that Hai Youtian was only verbally compliant—his heart had already made up its mind.
Shun Geer explained further. He hadn’t thought that way at the time, just curious. To Hai Youtian, every word sounded considerate, carefully phrased to avoid hurting feelings.
Shun Geer closed his eyes and silently repeated his sister-in-law’s advice: “Let it be a misunderstanding! As long as the match goes well, that’s what matters. If not, it doesn’t matter at all.”
“Okay, next question. What else do we need to discuss for a matchmaking meeting?”
At that moment, the tea house attendant passed by, smiling. “In a matchmaking meeting, you should serve good tea and some snacks. Just cracking melon seeds? How can you talk like that?”
That single sentence made both of them blush.
They had been chatting for a while, yet the table had only a single untouched plate of seeds—it looked so shabby!
Hai Youtian panicked. How could he make such a mistake?
He hurriedly named several pastries and asked for a pot of Maojian tea.
The San Shui Lane people had come from the county town, used to not indulging in good tea. Influenced by Lu Yang, they favored Maojian.
Shun Geer left some tea, ate most of the pastries, leaving only small crisp cakes and fried dough twists.
There were only two of them; they didn’t need much. Hai Youtian also knew the limit of his monthly allowance—buying all this wasn’t unreasonable, given it wasn’t the New Year.
The attentive attendant brought two pieces of winter melon candy, saying it was “sweet for your mouth, may your match go well, and life be sweet.”
The interruption relaxed them, letting them skip past the earlier awkwardness. They sipped tea and continued the normal matchmaking process.
Shun Geer wanted a son-in-law; if Hai Youtian agreed, he would live with their family. Shun Geer carefully explained the family situation again, adding patience because he trusted Hai Youtian. He also added that, though he wasn’t the easiest-tempered person, the household was crowded, so living together would naturally involve friction.
Next, Shun Geer explained what Hai Youtian would do after marriage: he couldn’t stay at the jade shop, he’d need to work at a business, but he couldn’t neglect the family.
“My elder brother, no matter how busy, manages household affairs. He won’t leave my sister-in-law to do everything alone. You shouldn’t be lazier than him—you need to keep your eyes open. I’m not trying to make you a workhorse; if you’re tired, just say so. No one in our family will force you to be a beast of burden.”
Regarding Hai Youtian’s own family, since he had one, he could visit them like a married young lady visits her natal home. They would help each other when needed.
Because his second brother and sister-in-law set a bad example, Shun Geer emphasized: “You know how normal family visits work, right? We agree—you can’t constantly worry about your own family. If anything comes up, discuss it. We keep some personal savings at home; it’s not much, and daily food expenses aren’t included. You can use that money however you want.”
He stressed that personal savings were free to use, just as their mother and elder brother wouldn’t care if he spent money on treats or personal items. But if it’s the family’s main funds, he had to consult them first.
Hai Youtian thought: With Aunt Chen’s scolding style, even giving him a hundred chances, he wouldn’t dare take money without permission.
Having seen this kind of thing in the jade trade, and always keeping his hands clean, he had no worries.
Since the topic shifted to returning home, Hai Youtian asked how often he would go back.
Shun Geer was slightly puzzled: “Once you’re free, you can return whenever you want. You can even stay longer if you like.”
Hai Youtian had nothing to argue with.
Shun Geer wanted him to fully understand, so he listed the household chores in detail.
Hai Youtian often dealt with their family, so he knew they were all diligent people. Things sounded like a lot, but every household lived this way—it wasn’t much different from usual.
More specific details, like the dowry and daily life, would need the elders of both families to discuss.
At this point, for the first time in the matchmaking meeting, Shun Geer’s own face flushed slightly.
How did it come to this point? Something felt off. Previously, he had gone with his mother and sister-in-law to meet prospective matches, answering for others out of habit. Now that he was attending himself, he was speaking as if he had already taken a liking.
