Glory

She patted Ye Yaming's hand: "I've seen this young gentleman with my own eyes, and he's truly quite good."

Ye Yaming responded indifferently: "Then I'll meet him after I finish this busy period."

"When is there ever an end to being busy? Once the Spring Tea emerges, your father used to be so busy he couldn't even sleep. Don't delay, meet him tomorrow."

Ye Yaming thought for a moment. The weather wasn't warm enough yet, and there were still half a month until Qingming Festival. If she went up the mountain now, the tea plants probably hadn't even sprouted buds. Taking two or three days to handle this matter would be manageable.

She said: "Alright then. Let's meet him."

"Good, good, good." Seeing her granddaughter agree so readily, Old Mrs. Ye was overjoyed, her smile so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.

Ye Yaming glanced at her, thought for a moment, and said: "You just have him come tomorrow. I'll arrange the specific details of how we meet."

"Agreed." Old Mrs. Ye replied with a beaming smile.

The next day, Ye Yaming accompanied Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye for breakfast. Seeing that the elderly couple had almost finished eating, she instructed Granny Yu: "You can go call him now."

Granny Yu understood immediately and went out to notify the page.

Noticing Old Mrs. Ye was about to set down her chopsticks, Ye Yaming picked up a xiaolongbao for her: "Doesn't he live in the northern part of the city? It'll take quite a while for him to arrive. Take your time eating."

Old Mrs. Ye said: "I sent someone to notify him yesterday. He said he would come early and wait at the gatekeeper's lodge."

Ye Yaming paused her chopsticks and said helplessly: "Alright then, let's go."

Ye Chongming put down his chopsticks: "I'll go with you."

"Grandfather, haven't you already met him?" Ye Yaming asked.

She had heard from the old madam that this person had been evaluated by both her and Ye Chongming, and they found him satisfactory in all aspects before arranging this meeting.

Otherwise, if she met just anyone and the marriage didn't work out, who knew how those people would gossip and disparage her afterwards. Her reputation would be ruined.

Ye Chongming paused his steps toward the door: "If you feel uncomfortable, then I won't join."

He had forgotten that no matter how capable his granddaughter was, she was still an unmarried young lady. Having her grandfather present during a meeting with a potential suitor would surely make her uneasy.

Ye Yaming didn't really mind: "You can join if you wish, it doesn't bother me."

Ye Chongming wanted to attend because Old Mrs. Ye had mentioned that Ye Yaming had made special arrangements for this meeting, and his curiosity was piqued.

Seeing Ye Yaming's open and casual attitude, as if she didn't particularly care, his curiosity ultimately got the better of him, and he followed them to the outer courtyard.

Upon entering the outer courtyard, just as Ye Yaming was about to take out the key to open Ye Hongsheng's study, she found the door wide open. Walking in, she saw Ye Hongsheng sitting behind the desk writing something.

Ye Yaming raised her eyebrows: "Father, weren't you going to the Tea House?"

Because tea production was about to begin, Ye Hongsheng had returned a few days earlier than Ye Yaming's group.

Since the matrilocal marriage matter was still uncertain, Ye Yaming didn't want to publicize it and had instructed Old Mrs. Ye not to tell anyone, not even Yin Shi.

For today's meeting, Ye Yaming had asked Ye Hongsheng for the study key last night, saying she needed to find a book. Ye Hongsheng always indulged his two daughters, and without question, he immediately gave her the key.

Unexpectedly, at this hour, Ye Hongsheng - who had said he would go to the Tea House first thing in the morning - was still in the study.Before Ye Hongsheng could speak, Ye Chongming chuckled and said, "Haha, regarding Wang Fusheng, I mentioned it to your father when he returned. Your father has been wanting to meet Wang Fusheng. I thought since you hadn’t met him yet, and everyone was eager to see him, we might scare him off if we all showed up at once. So I advised your father to wait. Anyway, since you didn’t mind me tagging along, your father might as well join us too."

Ye Yaming was speechless.

This was just like modern blind dates, where a man and a woman arrange to meet at a café or restaurant, only for one side to bring along a whole crowd of relatives. Their family was doing exactly the same thing.

"Alright, let’s all go together then," she agreed readily.

They all entered the room, and Ye Yaming pointed to the window, explaining to everyone, "I chose this room because there’s a stone table and stools outside. The window is covered with gauze, so people outside can’t see inside. Let’s stay quiet for now and observe first. If it seems appropriate, I’ll go out to meet him. The rest of you should stay in the room."

Upon hearing this, Ye Hongsheng didn’t think much of it, but Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye, both having lived for many decades, exchanged thoughtful glances.

After the maids served tea, Ziyuan entered quietly and reported, "They’re here."

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Ye Yaming stepped in front of the window.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ye Hongsheng also moved to stand beside her.

Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye exchanged another look and positioned themselves behind Ye Yaming and Ye Hongsheng.

Soon after, Fang Xing led over a man about 1.7 meters tall, dressed in a short, coarse robe.

"Please wait here for a moment, Young Master Wang. I’ll have someone bring you some snacks and tea," Fang Xing said to Wang Fusheng. "I’ll go to the backyard to inform the young lady."

Wang Fusheng rubbed his hands nervously. "O-okay."

After a moment’s thought, he added, "Thank you, Housekeeper Fang."

Inside the room, Old Mrs. Ye frowned.

When she had met Wang Fusheng before, he had also appeared very reserved. At the time, she hadn’t paid it much mind.

Given her status and the fact that the Ye family was arranging a matrilocal marriage, it was natural for Wang Fusheng to feel restrained and uneasy in her presence.

But now, standing next to Fang Xing, who carried himself with ease and confidence, Wang Fusheng’s petty, timid demeanor became glaringly obvious. Even in front of a mere servant of the Ye family, he acted subservient, ingratiating, and even somewhat obsequious.

Ye Chongming and Ye Hongsheng’s expressions also darkened.

Fang Xing left, leaving Wang Fusheng alone at the table.

Shortly after, several maids arrived.

Wang Fusheng, who had just sat down, immediately stood up awkwardly, offering the maids an uncomfortable smile.

The maids placed the snacks, fruit platters, and tea they were carrying on the table, filling the small stone surface to the brim.

"Young Master Wang, please help yourself," one of the maids said politely before withdrawing.

"Th-thank you, thank you," Wang Fusheng replied, bowing and nodding repeatedly. He waited until the maids were out of sight before sitting down again.

Staring at the table laden with snacks and fruits, he swallowed hard. After a moment’s thought, he glanced around cautiously, then finally made up his mind. He picked up a small piece of pastry, quickly tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed it almost without chewing.

While doing this, he kept looking around nervously, as if afraid someone might see him.

After finishing that piece, he realized nothing had happened and no one was around. Emboldened, he repeated the furtive act, stealthily eating two pieces of each type of snack. Then, he rearranged the remaining pastries to hide the fact that some were missing.Feeling that it was about time and someone might come soon, he took a sip of tea, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then sat up straight and pretended as if nothing had happened.