Chapter 28 – Breaking Off the Engagement (Part 1)

Everyone—whether it was the Xia family’s old couple or the Xie family’s—was completely stunned.

The Xie couple finally released their grip on the Xia couple’s sleeves.

The young man’s face turned red with anger. He snapped, “You’re talking nonsense!”

Then he anxiously turned to the Xia elders to explain, “Uncle, Auntie, you know what kind of person I am! You mustn’t believe the lies of that little brat!”

The Xia elders silently looked at the young man for a long time.

His features were decent, tall and sturdy—clearly strong and healthy.

But Xie Jiabao had always been sickly year-round, his face pale and sometimes puffy. Anyone could tell at a glance—he did not have the look of someone destined for a long life.

Xie Jiabao’s great-grandfather had once been someone of status, rumored to have served as an official during the previous dynasty. After the founding of Great Chu, the Xie family moved to Beiguan Town.

Over time, their descendants spread out. Every couple of generations, the family would divide again. Now, over seventy branches of the Xie family existed, scattered across several nearby villages.

With each division, every branch inherited a share of the family’s assets, which were considered quite valuable in the eyes of ordinary folks.

The Xie couple had received a share that included one hundred acres of land, a chest of old books, a spacious courtyard home, and a shop in town.

They had three daughters in a row, and only in their forties did they finally have a son—Xie Jiabao.

But he hadn’t been sickly from birth.

When he was around ten, he was abducted by traffickers. The entire Xie clan mobilized to retrieve their precious child.

No one knew what kind of drugs the traffickers used or if it was the trauma of being abducted—but ever since then, Jiabao had never been well.

The Xie couple had poured time, energy, and silver into healing and caring for him. Though he didn’t die, he grew up frail. A cold wind, a sip of cool tea, or even a bite of cold food would leave him ill for days and downing bitter herbal medicine.

People had advised them to try other options instead of throwing everything into a lost cause.

The Xie couple adored this nephew of theirs partly because—whether consciously or not—they had begun considering him as a possible heir.

If Jiabao were to pass away without leaving a child, they could bring this nephew into the household, make him their heir, and rely on him for their elder years.

They had even considered adopting a child from another branch of the Xie clan.

But since then, Jiabao had narrowly escaped several freak accidents—once hit by a flowerpot, once frightened by a wild cat, and once pushed off a hill.

All coincidental, it seemed.

But the couple grew suspicious and quietly spread word that they would no longer consider adopting from the clan.

If Jiabao died, they would have their youngest daughter take in a husband instead.

But in their hearts, they knew it would be nearly impossible to find a good man willing to marry in. Rather than let some outsider reap the benefits, why not pass it to their close nephew instead?

Most importantly—Xia Daohua was just an eight-year-old girl. What could she possibly understand?

Surely she wasn’t deliberately sowing discord, was she?

In truth, Xia Daohua wasn’t trying to stir trouble.

She just didn’t believe in the idea of “rush marriage” and had simply spoken on a hunch.

Earlier, she had shoved the frozen persimmon into Xia Yujiao’s mouth precisely because she was afraid her aunt would impulsively agree under pressure.

Daohua believed such matters should respect the wishes of the person involved.

But only if those wishes came from clear, calm thought—not from panic or being forced.

Sensing the Xie couple’s growing doubt, the young man grew anxious and blurted out:

“Uncle, Auntie, don’t forget why we came here today! A rush marriage can cure him—Hu Banxian said so!”

Xia Daohua cut in again:

“If a rush marriage is all it takes, then why does it have to be my aunt? Pick someone else!”

The young man glared. “This isn’t something you can just swap out like ingredients! Stay out of grown-up matters, you brat!”

Xia Daohua retorted:

“Did someone specifically name my aunt for this marriage? If not, then choose someone else!

But if they did name her, then let me be clear: our Xia family daughters don’t serve as medicine!”

Her voice rang loud and clear, shocking everyone in the room.

No one expected such righteous ferocity from a short-haired little girl.

Seeing everyone’s expression shift, Xia Daohua scratched the back of her head, puzzled:

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

“You little brat, where’d you even learn to say such things?” the young man sneered, then turned to the Xia elders. “Is this also how you feel?”

Xia Daohua snorted:

“Hmph! Don’t try to guilt-trip my grandparents.

Let me tell you—our Xia family girls don’t serve as someone’s cure, and they’re not to be pushed around!

And that Hu Banxian—if he dares to speak ill of my aunt again, I’ll burn his house down and see if he can still sleep at night!”

“Daohua!” Three voices shouted in unison—Old Master Xia, Madam Zhou, and Xia Yujiao.

They stopped her before she could say anything more outrageous.

Old Master Xia and Madam Zhou exchanged a glance before speaking firmly:

“In-laws, it’s not that we’re heartless—but this youngest daughter of ours, she’s the apple of our eye.

My wife and I simply cannot bear to see her married off just to serve as a rush bride.

Let’s call off the engagement.”

The young man looked utterly stunned.

“Break off the engagement? But a woman who breaks an engagement will have a ruined reputation! She may never marry again!

Even if someone does marry her, it’s likely just to be a second wife or stepmother to another woman’s children. Honestly, that’s not much better than being a rush bride!”

Old Master Xia’s voice suddenly boomed:

“If my daughter never marries, so be it! I’d rather have her stay at home as an old maid—I’ll take care of her for life!”

Even Xia Daohua was surprised. Old Master Xia was normally soft-spoken. What had gotten into him, stealing Madam Zhou’s usual thunder?

Madam Zhou looked at her husband with moist eyes, once again grateful for choosing him all those years ago.

No matter how many decades passed, whenever she needed him, he never let her down.

And just like that, the matter of the broken engagement was essentially settled.

But the Xie couple… had one condition.