Chapter 12: Gradually Getting Deeper

“Tsk, this is really annoying.”

Xia Yingzhen spoke irritably, furrowing her brows as she looked at Xia Li.

“My mom asked you to come over for dinner! Look at you, all dirty and disheveled. Hurry back and tidy yourself up before coming over. We have guests from the town, and don’t embarrass our family!”

Xia Li had just returned from the mountain, her hair slightly messy.

But her jade-white face was glistening with a light sheen of sweat, with a couple of strands of hair casually hanging by her forehead. Her delicate cheeks had a hint of rosy color, making her features appear even more beautiful and lively. How was she dirty and disheveled?

Xia Yingzhen noticed this and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

She naturally knew that Xia Li had always been particularly delicate since childhood and had never liked her.

However, seeing Xia Li in her old, tattered clothes, with her shoes covered in grass clippings, and struggling under the weight of a large bamboo basket, she still felt a sense of superiority, and her words became even more mocking.

The more she said this, the more Xia Li would feel inferior and ashamed, not daring to lift her head.

This made Xia Yingzhen feel much better.

Xia Li was already tired from a long day, and with Xia Yingzhen suddenly coming at her with insults, she thought of something and coldly curled her lips.

“Uncle’s family has guests, and it seems like it’s something important. I won’t be going.”

Xia Yingzhen was puzzled and raised her eyebrows. “You’re not going?”

Xia Li was very poor and only got to eat meat dishes when dining at their house. How could she not come?

But before leaving, her mom had instructed her to call Xia Li back for dinner.

She was already annoyed and didn’t want to make this trip. Now seeing Xia Li’s indifferent demeanor, she impatiently frowned.

“What are you dragging your feet for? My mom asked you to come for dinner, and you’re still making excuses? Tsk!”

Xia Li suddenly smiled faintly and looked at her with her bright eyes.

“I know Auntie’s intentions. It’s a big deal like matchmaking; I’m the older sister, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be there.”

“But look at me like this; wouldn’t I just draw all the attention if I went? That wouldn’t be good, right?”

Xia Yingzhen was momentarily stunned.

After a while, she widened her eyes in disbelief. “…What?”

“Who are they matchmaking for? What nonsense are you talking about?”

Xia Li looked surprised and innocent. “Ah, you didn’t know?”

“Your guests today are from the town, right? An older man around fifty years old?”

“Oh, he’s not that old; he’s just a little older than you. When looking for a man, it’s important to find someone stable and reliable, right? That’s what Auntie thinks, and I agree with her.”

Xia Yingzhen listened, dumbfounded, as images of the guest they had just hosted at home flashed through her mind—someone who looked older than her own father.

A shiny bald head, a big belly covered in fat, a lewd smile with a double chin, and calling her “Zhenzhen” affectionately, his gaze had indeed lingered on her for quite a while…

She furrowed her brows and jumped back, her chubby little face trembling with excitement. “How is that possible! You’re just talking nonsense! My mom would never match me with someone like that! I’m still in school!”

Xia Li suddenly raised her hand to cover her mouth, looking flustered as if she had said something wrong, her eyes dropping.

“Ah, I—I shouldn’t have mentioned it to you in advance. Auntie over there…”

“Zhenzhen, pretend you didn’t hear that. You should go back first! After all, nothing has been decided yet… I won’t eat, so you all take good care of your esteemed guests.”

After saying that, she hurried away.

Xia Yingzhen stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning.

Once she reacted, she immediately felt furious, her lips trembling with indignation.

What was up with her mother acting so sneaky lately? Buying her new clothes and shoes, and looking inexplicably happy!

Oh great! They actually had such thoughts!?

If they really wanted to marry her off to that fat, ugly, lewd old man, she would make a scene! She would rather not live!

Xia Yingzhen angrily ran back home.

Xia Li hummed a soft tune as she took off the bamboo basket from her back and unlocked her door.

Next door, the neighbor’s front door was also open.

Old Lady Cui came out leaning on her cane, casting a vague glance at her, then quietly looked away.

?

Xia Li found it a bit strange but said nothing and went straight into the house.

Old Lady Cui had a rather odd temperament and seemed to have some unresolved issues with the old man from the Xia family. Therefore, even though they were neighbors, she never greeted the Xia family or interacted with them, treating them like strangers.

Today’s dinner at the Xia family was, of course, a trap.

Xie Shuangxiu had secretly invited the owner of the pork shop to come over to see Xia Li, intending to settle the marriage.

In the original storyline, the original owner had gone to dinner, and while accompanying the guests out in the evening, she was almost harassed by that old man’s lewd hands.

She refused to marry, causing the Xia couple to be furious and wanting to scold her. Later, it was Wei Tianhong who intervened to help her out, and that marriage proposal was dropped.

As for Wei Tianhong, who usually stayed out of other people’s business, why did he suddenly become so involved that time…

Hehe.

Because according to the original trajectory, he had obtained the porcelain bowl from the original owner ahead of time, and on that day, he learned the identification results of that bowl, which was likely a precious gift from a certain dynasty.

Wei Tianhong felt as if he were dreaming, immersed in joy and excitement, and was very grateful for his intuition.

When he returned home, he happened to catch the original owner being pressured by her uncle and aunt, and finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He sternly criticized the Xia couple’s coercive marriage behavior.

That was how it ended.

He thought of it as a way to repay Xia Li.

However, it was precisely from that moment that the original owner began to feel that Tianhong really had feelings for her, and she started to secretly develop a crush on him.

Wei Tianhong was quite the catch, the most popular and promising young man in the village.

He had seen many young girls admire him, always remaining nonchalant, neither actively pursuing nor outright rejecting anyone.

It was then that the original owner gradually fell deeper and deeper into her infatuation.