I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 133 - 90: The Banquet

June brought with it the sweltering heat of summer.

Xu Qing was recently quite busy with work. Besides tending to the bodies planted near the Shuimen Bridge Residence that were soon to yield Rampant Soldier Fruit, he also received a wedding invitation from the esteemed Wu Zhiyuan of the neighboring Paper Mache Shop.

Ever since Wu Zhiyuan achieved top rank in the student examination, the threshold of the Paper Mache Shop was nearly worn out by matchmakers coming and going.

Wu Zhiyuan was already quite handsome, and his reputation as the top-ranked scholar only added to his appeal. Despite his family’s involvement in the funeral business, matchmakers couldn’t resist trying their luck.

It’s said that a quiet courtyard can suddenly become famous and bustling after a stroke of success.

County Magistrate Zhang Yong, having heard of the Wu family brothers’ renown, decided to investigate in disguise.

Just as the rumors suggested, Wu Zhiyuan indeed possessed the qualities of a fine young man, with elegant manners that promised great future potential, like a dragon ready to soar.

Zhang Yong had two daughters; the elder was already married, but the younger one had yet to find a suitor.

Admiring Wu Zhiyuan’s talents, Zhang Yong sought the help of a middleman to arrange a marital match, hoping to bring Wu Zhiyuan into their family.

To persuade Wu Zhiyuan, Zhang Yong mentioned their extensive library and connections with famous teachers, promising to fully support him in his pursuit of fame and glory.

The Wu family, though of lower social standing and long involved in the Paper Mache Shop, was not driven by material concerns.

During this period, Wu Zhiyuan visited the county magistrate’s residence, ostensibly to pay respects but truly to investigate.

Midway through his visit, he met Miss Zhang, who was very gentle and moderately beautiful.

The two exchanged glances and small smiles, clearly showing mutual affection.

Thus, at the end of May, the two families chose an auspicious date for the wedding, prompting Xu Qing to receive the joyful invitation.

"The County Magistrate Zhang’s daughter?"

Xu Qing immediately thought of the county magistrate’s daughter with the Sacred Body of tofu-grinding.

However, upon inquiring further, he learned that the lady who loved to dress as a man and visit the theater was in fact the magistrate’s elder daughter, who was already married.

"Zhiyuan, are you really going to become a live-in son-in-law?"

Wu Zhiyuan shook his head and responded, "If I get married, I can’t have Miss Zhang live with me in the Paper Mache Shop. The county magistrate cherishes his reputation, and won’t let his beloved daughter marry into lower status. That’s why he lets me stay temporarily at the Zhang Mansion, not as a live-in son-in-law.

The county magistrate has also made it clear that once I make a name for myself, I can move out and establish my own home."

Xu Qing nodded, "That makes sense. But County Magistrate Zhang doesn’t have a son, so he can’t continue the family line."

"Don’t end up turning an act into reality and becoming a live-in son-in-law; otherwise, your father might come to complain to me daily."

"Brother Xu, no worries, I, Wu Zhiyuan, though my name isn’t particularly illustrious, have enough backbone..."

Wu Zhiyuan laughed heartily, exuding the joy of a man in high spirits.

Seeing Wu Zhiyuan off, Xu Qing opened the invitation and checked the date.

It was merely one day ahead of the funeral arranged by Hu Baosong earlier.

Indeed, his business really was busier than ever!

...

In the evening, a woman dressed in a gray embroidered jacket arrived at the Funeral Shop.

Xu Qing took one look and found the woman with a floral green headscarf quite familiar.

"Oh, isn’t this Matchmaker Wang? Do you have some business to introduce to me?"

"Pah, pah, pah, stop talking nonsense!"

"As a matchmaker, how would I have business for you?"

"Then what brings you here?"

"Scholar Xu, Aunty asks you, would you be interested in a delicate young lady?"

"..."

Xu Qing straightened up and replied without answering, "Aunt Wang suddenly coming to find me, could it be that someone put you up to this?"

"As expected of a scholar, quick-witted!" Matchmaker Wang said with a smile, holding her handkerchief, "Aunt heard from Wu Yaohua that you ranked fourth in the scholar exam, but never married. Then, Vegetable Market’s Master Wan, hearing this news, thought of pairing his daughter with the young master Xu."

"Young Master Xu, being a scholar, shouldn’t be working at a funeral shop. If you pass the next exam to become a higher scholar, you might even become an official."

"Master Wan, hearing you have no family and no close relatives, specifically explained that he’s willing to provide a house for you to reside in and support you financially to pursue your studies and obtain titles."

Xu Qing glanced at Xuan Yu, who was watching the spectacle from the counter, and thought to himself that Wu Yaohua really knew how to complicate matters.

His funeral shop was operating just fine, and he never thought that one day a matchmaker would come to draw him into a match.

Xu Qing found the situation amusing.

As he had nothing else to do, he decided to chat with Matchmaker Wang.

He started by asking what business Master Wan was involved in, and the amount of the dowry.

It’s generally known that for live-in son-in-law situations, the bride’s family pays the dowry, and the groom provides the dowry items.

Xu Qing thought, if there weren’t a thousand or eight hundred bodies, it wouldn’t be enough to marry him.

"Master Wan runs a big business, making a substantial income daily, ensuring rich meals twice a day, you won’t be shorted, Scholar Xu." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"Don’t tell me it’s the butcher Wan from the Vegetable Market?"

"How could you say that! Though Master Wan is a butcher, he’s a leading figure at the Slaughterhouse Pavilion, and his business is certainly more thriving than Scholar Xu’s now..."

Xu Qing’s face turned humorous upon hearing this; he thought it might be a prominent family, but it turned out to be the butcher who often sold him pig’s blood.

He had heard of Master Wan’s daughter, who was known to some as a thousand-gold-like lady, or in reality, a lady of considerable weight.