The matchmaker cackled a few times, rhythmically waving the handkerchief in her hand, stirring up a scented breeze. In her shrill voice, she exclaimed, "Old sister here must be the matriarch of this family, right? Listen to what you’re saying. I’ve been in this business for decades; how could I possibly deliver happiness to the wrong doorstep? It’s the Gu Family at the end of Da Feng Village." Having finished speaking, she then turned to the two boys behind her, "The family we’re delivering happiness to has arrived. Start playing the joyous drums, quick!" The two boys, each with a drum the size of a face hanging from their bodies, immediately began to beat the drums—thud, thud, thud—at her command. Hearing the drumming, the matchmaker started singing with her voice raised. Third Grandma hurriedly opened the door and chastised them, "Stop it right now, who allowed you to play the drums and sing? Stop immediately." Making such a ruckus, if the villagers heard it, regardless of who came to propose and whether they agreed or not, the reputation of the family’s child would suffer. With many families discussing engagement with the girl, she was bound to receive gossip. Country folks are particularly gossipy, especially when it comes to embellishing stories about young ladies. Even if the girl is not at fault, just a little commotion will have these busybodies concocting numerous sensational tales. The matchmaker, seeing Third Grandma open the door, finally ceased her singing and stepped forward intending to enter, but was blocked by a cleaver. Startled by the cleaver, she saw it was held by a young girl, patted her chest annoyed, and with a glance chided, "You little lady, why do you scare people ? Are you chopping firewood here?" Gu Jinli scoffed coldly, "Not chopping firewood, I’m thinking of chopping people!" As she spoke, the cleaver in her hand spun and landed on the two individuals who were still playing the drums: "Try hitting it one more time?" The two men were taken aback and stopped drumming, looking at the matchmaker, "Matchmaker Lao, should we keep drumming or not?" They also complained, "How did you act as a matchmaker? Making such joyous commotion, haven’t you arranged this with the lady’s family in advance?" Matchmaker Lao had not made any arrangements with the family indeed; she had taken a tael of silver from someone and was bluffing, putting on a grand scene to propose marriage as instructed by that family. Yet now she insisted loudly, "What do you mean not arranged in advance? It was agreed upon a long time ago. Hurry up and play the drums, make it lively." Let all the villagers come and see; when more people see it, everyone will think that the girl of this family is already engaged. Then, even if the family is unwilling, for the sake of the girl’s reputation, they would feel compelled to agree and would not dare to easily reject this proposal. Hearing this, the two young men quickly resumed drumming. Gu Jinli narrowed her eyes, turned around to grab a wooden stick as thick as a wrist from behind the courtyard door, and swung fiercely at them. With the weight behind it, the stick landed heavily on the hands of the two boys, beating them until they cried out, "Little miss, why are you hitting us? We came to deliver happiness to your family." Gu Jinli continued to wield the stick, cursing as she did so, "Delivering happiness? Did my family ask for your happiness delivery? Bastards, I’ll beat you to death." Gu Jinli aimed for their heads and faces, leaving them bruised and swollen. Still hanging on to the joyous drums, they fled towards the direction of the old well. Gu Jinli did not pursue; she turned around, pointing the wooden stick at Matchmaker Lao: "Old Devout Woman, what are you doing at my house? Who let you in? Speak!" Matchmaker Lao was startled, the thick layer of powder on her face fell off in fear as she stepped back a few steps and said, "You young girl, why such a fierce temper? I am a well-known matchmaker in Qingfu Town, and this time I am following the order of Old Master Sun to propose a marriage to his eldest grandson." "That Old Master Sun’s eldest grandson is a scholar, only sixteen this year, has already mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, and next year he will participate in the college examination, if he passes, he will be a Scholar..." "Shut up! All this nonsense, I’m asking you, who is Old Master Sun?" Gu Jinli’s face was stern as she stared at Matchmaker Lao: "Don’t tell me it’s Village Chief Sun." Matchmaker Lao clapped her hands and laughed: "Indeed, it’s none other than Village Chief Sun from Beigou Village, a prominent household in Qingfu Town. In earlier years, a granddaughter married the Lord County Magistrate, and became related to an official family." So it really was Village Chief Sun. Gu Jinli’s face grew even icier, "Roll back and tell that surname Sun bastard, not to covet things he shouldn’t, or else he’ll incur divine retribution!" This old codger Village Chief Sun is truly relentless with his schemes, thinking he’s a big shot just because he’s a village chief? Now he wants his grandson to pursue Luo Huiniang, and then he wants his own grandson to pursue our family’s girl, is there no end to this? Matchmaker Lao looked at Gu Jinli’s cold face, and the stick in her hand, along with the wood knife at her waist, feeling a bit scared; she turned to Third Grandma and said, "Older sister, Old Master Sun’s eldest grandson and your family’s eldest granddaughter are truly a match made in heaven. This would be a most excellent marriage, don’t ponder any longer, please hurry and agree. If you delay, the Young Master of the Sun Family might have to marry someone else." Third Grandma, her face turning blue with anger, spat at Matchmaker Lao, "Just get lost, if you don’t leave now, I’ll never let you off!" Who is Matchmaker Lao? She’s someone who goes from village to village proposing matches and has been beaten no less than ten times a year, how could she be frightened by Third Grandma’s words? She looked into the courtyard, and seeing Mrs. Cui dragging Brother Cheng toward the gate, immediately addressed Mrs. Cui, "You must be the birth mother of Eldest Miss Gu, oh my, congratulations to you. Your daughter has caught the eye of Son Sun from Old Master Sun’s family, she’ll now be able to live a good life of eating meat at every meal." "Don’t talk nonsense; my Sister Xiu doesn’t know any eldest grandson from Old Master Sun’s family," Mrs. Cui was quite infuriated as Matchmaker Lao’s words hinted at some affair between Sister Xiu and Village Chief Sun’s eldest grandson. "Old hag, don’t you spout lies, keep it up and I’ll hit you," Brother Cheng clenched his small fists, threatening to hit Matchmaker Lao. Matchmaker Lao didn’t regard Mrs. Cui as a pushover or Brother Cheng as a mere child, she looked at Third Grandma with a mocking tone, "You’re the matron of this house, yet not a blood relative; if you can’t make the decision, then step aside. Let me speak to Eldest Miss Gu’s parents, don’t let a side-relative like you ruin a fine marriage." These words hit Third Grandma’s sore spot; she was so angry that her eyes reddened, nearly bursting into tears. Gu Jinli fixed her gaze on Matchmaker Lao’s receding figure and questioned, "Are you leaving or not?" Matchmaker Lao was still somewhat afraid but then she thought, she’s just a young girl, how fierce can she be? "Little miss, you shouldn’t be so fierce, in another year or two, when you are speaking about suitors, you might have to come to me for help." Gu Jinli sneered, "Are you saying you won’t leave?" Matchmaker Lao frowned and snorted coldly, ignoring Gu Jinli, as she swung her bulky waist and flapped her handkerchief, trying to bypass Third Grandma and walk towards the Gu family courtyard. "Ungrateful wretch!" Gu Jinli grabbed Matchmaker Lao by the collar of her clothes from behind with one move and fiercely slammed her to the ground. Matchmaker Lao hit the ground hard, and just as she cried out in pain, Gu Jinli straddled her body, grabbed her clothes, and with a raised hand, slap slap slap, fiercely delivered several slaps to her face.