Chapter 8: My demands are not high

"What kind of girl do you like?" Jiang Huahong and others listened as the children asked, and for a moment they looked at each other in confusion, as they had never really thought about this question.

Jiang Huahong picked up the cup and took a sip of water. Upon hearing Jiang Bai's words, he nearly spat the water out of his mouth. He put down the cup and said, "You little kids want to help us? Help with what?"

"Ahem, my requirements for a young lady are not high, so let me state them clearly." Jiang Hua was the most simple-minded among the brothers, with a straightforward nature. When he heard the young ones asking what type of girl he liked, he pondered for a moment and replied: "As for height, I prefer someone around my ear level. A figure that is neither too fat nor too thin is best. The hair should be jet black, and the skin should be fair. The eyes should be large and bright. A smile with dimples is ideal. The temperament should be just right, neither too warm nor too cold; gentle when needed, and strong when necessary. A figure that is neither too fat nor too thin is best. The hair should be jet black, and the skin should be fair. The eyes should be large and bright. A smile with dimples is ideal. The temperament should be just right, neither too warm nor too cold; gentle when needed, and strong when necessary. The taste should be..."

Jiang Huagai also felt that it would be safer to have Jiang Bai and the others inquire about the news tomorrow. This time, I am determined to arrange marriages for myself and a few brothers, and there is no room for refusal. It is certainly better to have the children investigate the temperament of the young ladies than to know nothing at all. Moreover, the children are not as anxious as I am to marry, so they will speak more objectively. They will naturally express the good and bad qualities of the young ladies straightforwardly, without only mentioning the good and omitting the bad. With this in mind, he cleared his throat and said, "Third Brother, having Xiao Bai and the others help out is indeed a good idea."

Shen Tiantong suggested: "For example, do you prefer tall or short, fat or thin? Furthermore, do you like gentle or straightforward?"

"Are you still young?" Upon hearing Jiang Hua's words, Jiang Huahong looked him over and couldn't help but shake his head. "Old Four, you are already twenty-nine this year. Why do you speak about marriage as if you were only nine years old? This won't do. You don't need to look at me; I have already compromised myself and cannot concern myself with you all."

"Old Four, you underestimate the charm of Third Brother." Jiang Huahong rested his chin on his right hand, with his left hand supporting his right elbow, his eyes fixed on Jiang Huaji's face, adopting a look of deep affection, and sighed softly: "I have yet to encounter a girl I admire. If I do, with the profound gaze I have developed from practicing archery, I am sure to captivate her on the spot. Nowadays, I don't even need to choose; my mother will arrange it for me. It is a pity that my enchanting gaze is of no use at all."

Since the last time Shen Tiantong fought with Jiang Bai, the Shen family has quietly hired a skilled martial arts master to teach him. He followed Gu Qiubo to the General's residence and diligently learned martial arts. Noticing that Jiang Huahong and others treated him the same as other young masters from different families, without any special consideration for being a member of the Shen family, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he is still a young man; although he still harbors some resentment towards Jiang Bai, whenever he returns to the General's residence, the playful banter among everyone allows the previous matters to be temporarily set aside. This time, upon hearing that the Jiang family was discussing marriage for Jiang Huahong and others, Jiang Bai and Jiang Xuan clamored to help find a suitable aunt, but there was no clear plan on how to go about it, which made him shake his head in silence. Gu Qiubo, being observant, noticed him shaking his head and immediately pulled him aside, saying, "Tong Ge, do you have a solution? If you do, just say it!"

What Fifth Brother said is true. This time, when it comes to discussing marriage, the most frustrated one is Jiang Huagai. Being the youngest, he is unexpectedly forced to discuss potential brides with his older brothers. With such a tight timeline to select four young ladies to marry, naturally, the best choices will go to Third Brother first, then Fourth Brother, followed by Fifth Brother, and finally himself. When it comes to selecting a bride for himself, he can easily guess that he will only be left with the choices that his brothers did not pick. No, I cannot just sit back and wait like a book. I must take the initiative; rather than waiting for my brothers to finish their selections and leave me with the leftovers, it is better for me to take action and secure a choice for myself.

Hearing that he should arrange his marriage, Jiang Huahong did not decline this time. Early in the morning, he sat in a daze in the lounge behind the martial arts hall. When he saw a few brothers coming down, he glanced at them and said: "Seeing that Xuan and the others are already this age, calling me 'third uncle' all day long, I too feel moved and want to marry and have children. However, the girls I have met over the past few years are either coy and pretentious or have a stern expression, lacking any charm. After looking around, I find that none can compare to my elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law. How can I agree to this? But with my grandmother's illness being so serious, I must fulfill her wishes. Now, I do not dare to ask for a girl who is perfectly suited; I only hope that my mother can use her discerning eye to choose a girl who resembles my elder sister-in-law or second sister-in-law for me." Jiang Huahong said this, sighing deeply, reflecting on how he had preserved his chastity until the age of thirty-one, only waiting for a virtuous partner to appear. Who would have thought that now he still had to enter into a blind marriage, not knowing what kind of girl his mother would choose for him!

"Is there any difference in looking at it with the same affection and focus?" Jiang Huahong brushed aside Jiang Huaji's hand, no longer pretending to be sentimental. He shot Jiang Huaji a glare and snorted, saying, "I've heard the rumors that this time not only will you choose a marriage for me, but the three of you will also be chosen together, and I will no longer tolerate your excuses."

Jiang Huaji and others naturally heard the news, saying that this time the marriage of the four brothers would be handled together. They hurried to see Jiang Huahong, hoping to discuss the matter. However, upon seeing that Jiang Huahong was at a loss and prepared to accept his mother's arrangements, they could not help but lament: "Third brother, you are already of an age where you cannot delay any longer. It is pitiful that I am still young and yet I am being dragged into this, forced to take a girl as my wife. What can be done about this?"

Among the brothers, Jiang Huagai is the most perceptive one. He has already realized that the older brothers cannot be relied upon. His mother not only sends people to inquire about the daughters of various families, but she also plans to host a banquet tomorrow to invite the ladies and daughters from several families to their residence. The daughters invited are those that his mother has already set her sights on, and at that time, he and his brothers will naturally take a discreet look to make a final decision. Since his mother has chosen them, their appearance and character must be decent. The issue is that what they desire is a girl whose temperament matches theirs. Just look at the eldest brother and sister-in-law; despite the ten-year age difference, they are still so affectionate. Then look at the second brother and sister-in-law, who are as sweet as honey. Their harmony is all due to their compatible temperaments. If one were to marry someone incompatible, even if she had the beauty of a celestial being, it would still be a source of frustration. However, finding a compatible temperament cannot be determined by a mere glance. It requires conversation to observe the other person's speech and behavior to get a sense of compatibility. If it were a matter of martial arts or battlefield prowess, who among them would be afraid? But when it comes to conversing with a girl, it is...

Listening to Jiang Huahong's words, the fourth brother, Jiang Huaji, crossed his arms and looked at him sideways, saying: "You are already in your thirties, what are you still being picky about? If there is a girl willing to marry you, you should be counting your blessings."

Jiang Huahong looked at Shen Tiantong and saw that he had already become a graceful ten-year-old boy. His appearance inherited the handsome features of the Shen family, and he spoke eloquently, pretending to be a little adult. He couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Matters of adults are not for you little ones to worry about; just focus on your martial arts training!"

With a sound of "whoosh," Jiang Xuan, Jiang Bai, Jiang Qing, along with Gu Zhengbo and Shen Tiantong, pushed the door open together, their small faces quite serious, as if they were here to discuss an important matter

Hearing Shen Tiantong's words, Jiang Xuan immediately exclaimed, "This is easy; just go ask the uncles what kind of girls they like, and it will be settled like a library."

Isn't this asking for too little? Although Jiang Bai and others are young, they are now gaping in astonishment. No wonder they can't find wives; it turns out the crux of the issue lies here

Let the little ones gather some information and pass a message; it is indeed a good idea, and Jiang Huahong felt somewhat tempted. Looking around at the five little ones who had come in, the eldest, Shen Tiantong, was already ten years old and had long understood the situation, so she would not speak carelessly. Jiang Bai was also eight years old and was usually the most clever; having her gather information was undoubtedly the best choice.

The General's residence is not inclined to take concubines, only marrying one legitimate wife. In selecting a wife, it is not solely a matter of family background; health and the ability to bear children, particularly from the maternal line, are also considered. It is believed that if the sons choose their own wives, love between the couple will naturally lead to more offspring. For this reason, Jiang Zhen and He Shangjie did not forcefully arrange marriages for Jiang Huahong and the others. However, the current situation is different. Firstly, it is to fulfill the wishes of Old Madam Jiang, and secondly, the ages of Jiang Huahong and the others cannot be delayed any longer, necessitating a forced arrangement.

Jiang Huahong thought they had come to seek martial arts instruction. Considering he was not in the mood to teach them today, he decided to casually correct a few moves and let them practice on their own. He then called out, "Come in!"

As five little children came in at once, Jiang Huahong felt a bit of a headache. He looked at Jiang Huagai and said, "You can take them outside. Without anyone supervising them, they won't focus on their studies."

Jiang Bai raised his hand weakly and said, "Third Uncle, we are here to help you."

Due to the enthusiastic inquiries of the little child, the results emerged after a round of discussions: Jiang Huahong is looking for a young lady who is well-read in poetry and literature, and knowledgeable in propriety. Jiang Huaji is seeking a young lady who is straightforward in speech and robust in health. Jiang Huagai desires a young lady who is gentle, considerate, and shares a compatible temperament. As for Jiang Huaceng, everyone believes that the young lady he is looking for may not yet have been born.

We need to help the teachers find a suitable partner, but we must first inquire about the type of woman the teachers prefer in order to proceed appropriately. What we find appealing may not necessarily align with the teachers' tastes

"Third Brother, Fourth Brother, at your age, you certainly cannot delay any longer. The unfortunate ones are me and Sixth Brother," said Fifth Brother Jiang Hua, with a pained expression. "I am twenty-seven years old, and Sixth Brother is twenty-six. We could have postponed for a few more years, but because you are not getting married, we are being forced into discussions about marriage, dragging us down with you."

"Isn't Uncle looking for Aunt? If he finds an unsuitable Aunt, he will be in a bad mood, and when he's in a bad mood, he will naturally be careless when teaching us martial arts. We discussed it and thought we should help Uncle find a good Aunt." Jiang Bai said, pointing her delicate little finger at Shen Tiantong and said, "You speak!"

They were in distress when they heard Jiang Baicui's clear voice from outside the door: "Third Uncle, are you in there? We are coming in!"

Jiang Bai observed that Jiang Huahong indeed looked down on them, these little ones. His eyes rolled around, and he leaned closer to Jiang Huahong's ear, saying: "Third Uncle, precisely because we are little ones, it is easier for us to act. My mother said that whatever we little ones say, people will merely remark that it is the innocent talk of children, and they won't take offense. Tomorrow, there will be a family banquet at the residence, and we little ones are most convenient for sneaking around to gather information, and we can also pass messages to you, Uncle. If you collude with us little ones, you are sure to find a suitable aunt. Tomorrow, there will be a family banquet at the residence, and we little ones are most convenient for sneaking around to gather information, and we can also pass messages to you, Uncle. Rest assured, we will take a military oath and will definitely not let you uncles lose face."

"You can keep boasting; after all, boasting doesn't cost anything." Jiang Hua Ji felt a chill all over from Jiang Hua Hong's gaze, and he raised his hand to block his line of sight, helplessly saying: "With that look of yours, any girl who sees you will definitely faint. It's not because you've charmed her; it's because she's disgusted. I say, Third Brother, you can't use that obsessive gaze you have for archery as a charming gaze!"