Besides the relatives who came to borrow grain, the Zhang family also had frequent visits from matchmakers.
People had heard that Zhang Yang and the other two students had achieved high rankings in the county and Prefecture Examinations. Even if they couldn't become Scholars in the upcoming academy examination, they were almost certain to succeed next time. Families with eligible daughters began scheming, hoping to arrange a marriage before the young men earned their titles. It was far better than trying to associate with them after they became Scholars, which would look too obvious.
However, most ordinary families, even if they entertained the thought, wouldn't dare make an offer. They were afraid of being seen as beneath them. The ones who did come to propose marriage were the wealthy households and merchants from Xiatang Market. With their considerable family fortunes, they naturally wanted to find a promising young prodigy for their daughters.
