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Old Madam Lin sat at the head seat. Seeing how well-spoken Yun Shiyue was, a satisfied smile spread across her face.
“Just look at this child, Shiyue—so sensible, so well-mannered. Tell me, who else in Baishi Village among the younger men is as polite as he is?”
“I think this child is a good one—he and Ruhua make a fine match.”
Zhao Ruhua frowned. “Grandmother, how can you say we’re a good match? He and I haven’t even spoken before.”
Old Madam Lin was clearly spouting nonsense with a straight face.
At that moment, Zhao Ruhua was still racking her brain, trying to figure out how to resolve her current predicament.
Old Madam Lin’s brows furrowed. “Marriage is a matter for the parents to decide, with matchmakers in between. Your Father and Mother have already discussed it with me. You’re just a girl—what are you doing with so many opinions?”
“Eldest Daughter-in-law, you’d better teach your daughter properly. Otherwise, once she’s married off, she won’t know how to be a good wife, and she’ll bring shame to our Zhao family.”
Zhao Ruhua wasn’t pleased either. “This is my business. Why are you blaming my Mother? She raised me well.”
Hearing her say that, Madam Hu immediately grew anxious and reproached her on the spot. “Ruhua, how can you talk back to your Grandmother?”
Zhao Ruhua: “…”
She really hated all the rules and customs of this era.
Both Madam Hu and Zhao Father were dutiful and obedient. Whenever Old Madam Lin spoke, they didn’t dare contradict her.
Zhao Ruhua wasn’t afraid to talk back, but Madam Hu and Zhao Father would end up being criticized for it.
The two of them cared deeply about saving face—public reproach felt as unbearable as a death sentence to them.
“I’d like to speak with him alone for a moment,” Zhao Ruhua said, no longer confronting Old Madam Lin directly but shifting the topic instead.
With a guest present, she wouldn’t say anything that might embarrass Zhao Father and Madam Hu.
As for her situation with Yun Shiyue, she would handle it privately.
Old Madam Lin’s expression darkened, but Zhao Father spoke up on Zhao Ruhua’s behalf. “Mother, Ruhua has something she’d like to say to Shiyue. Do you think she could…”
Old Madam Lin waved her hand impatiently. “Go on, go on.”
Zhao Ruhua turned to Yun Shiyue. “Come with me.”
“Alright.”
He stood up and respectfully nodded to Zhao Father and the others before following Zhao Ruhua out.
Zhao Ruhua led Yun Shiyue to a corner near the pigpen. Once she confirmed no one was around, she got straight to the point:
“Yun Shiyue, you came here today to settle scores with me, didn’t you?”
“That day, I didn’t know you were there… Besides, it was broad daylight—how was I supposed to know you were in there, stark naked, taking a bath? If I had known you were inside, do you think I would’ve run over?”
Yun Shiyue, his face covered in scars, stared intently at Zhao Ruhua. His gaze was dark and unreadable, with a faint undercurrent of something restrained.
Zhao Ruhua looked at Yun Shiyue’s face and met his eyes, feeling a twinge of fear in her heart.
If this man got angry… would he silence her for good?
When she argued with Li Hongyun, her words had been sharp and fearless—but only because she knew her life wasn’t in danger. She wouldn’t have dared speak that way otherwise.
But this man… he looked like the kind who might really grab her by the throat at any moment.
Yun Shiyue continued to size her up. As his gaze slowly trailed over her, an unexpected expression of satisfaction surfaced in his eyes.
“I think we’re quite well-matched.”
Yun Shiyue finally spoke.
There was less coldness in his voice this time.
Zhao Ruhua’s heart tensed.
He thought they were well-matched?
Was this man insane?
“Yun Shiyue, if you have any complaints, just say them outright.”
“There’s no need to ruin your entire life just to get back at me.”
“Look at me—I’m ugly, dark-skinned, an old maid by local standards, and probably barren. I’ve got no chest, no curves—you’d be better off marrying a man.”
“Marrying me would only bring you misfortune!”
“So how about this—you go tell my Grandmother that you don’t like me and won’t marry me. If you ever need help in the future, as long as it’s within my ability, I’ll do everything I can to repay you.”
Yun Shiyue’s gaze fell on Zhao Ruhua again. “Why don’t you go say it yourself?”
Zhao Ruhua replied, “Because I’m afraid they’ll scold me.”
A flicker of amusement flashed in Yun Shiyue’s eyes. “I’m afraid of being scolded too.”
Zhao Ruhua almost cursed out loud.
This guy was messing with her.
Fine—she’d had enough.
With hands on her hips and eyes glaring, Zhao Ruhua snapped, “What exactly do you want?”
Yun Shiyue seemed to be pondering how to answer.
After a moment of thought, he didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he said, “I don’t mind that you’re dark-skinned.”
Zhao Ruhua’s face darkened further. “You don’t mind? As if I should be grateful? I’m not even complaining about how ugly you are!”
The muscles on Yun Shiyue’s face twitched slightly—almost imperceptibly.
She didn’t think he was ugly?
Oddly enough, that seemed to lift his mood. His expression softened, and there was a hint of warmth in his eyes.
With both hands clasped behind his back, he turned slightly and said, “No one else is willing to marry you but me.”
His voice was full of confidence—yet he still didn’t say why he wanted to marry Zhao Ruhua.
Another wave of fury surged inside Zhao Ruhua, threatening to burst out.
Did he think she didn’t know she was dark-skinned?
Did he think she didn’t know she was older than the average bride?
Did he think she wasn’t aware no one wanted to marry her?
“And you say that like someone’s lining up to marry you,” Zhao Ruhua shot back.
Yun Shiyue didn’t seem the least bit fazed by her retort.
After a pause, he spoke again. “Two years. Let’s make that the term. You marry me for two years—I won’t touch you during that time. After two years, we part ways peacefully. I’ll give you ten mu of farmland and fifty taels of gold as compensation. Do you accept?”
Ten mu of farmland and fifty taels of gold as compensation?
This…
Zhao Ruhua was stunned.
Who exactly was this scar-faced man in front of her?
“You’re sure?” she asked cautiously.
Wasn’t this exactly what she needed?
Just yesterday—or maybe the day before—she’d been thinking about how to find a man to partner with, just to stop Madam Hu and Zhao Father from worrying over her marriage.
Who would’ve thought someone would come knocking on her door today?
Heaven was truly on her side!
Zhao Ruhua was thrilled on the inside, but she kept a calm expression on her face.
Yun Shiyue said, “I’m certain.”
Though she’d just struck gold, Zhao Ruhua still felt the need to play a little coy.
“Only ten mu of farmland? Don’t you think that’s a bit stingy?”
Yun Shiyue’s face remained unchanged. “Twenty mu. Plus one hundred taels of gold.”
Zhao Ruhua’s heart almost couldn’t take it.
This man—he had to be a big shot.
Sure, he wasn’t much to look at, but that calm composure of his—she was starting to find it quite pleasing.
“You’ll need to put it in writing,” Zhao Ruhua added another demand.
Yun Shiyue replied, “I’ll draw it up later.”
A smile finally bloomed on Zhao Ruhua’s face.
“Let’s go—time to go back and discuss our marriage.”
With that, she turned and walked back, her steps light and her mood visibly cheerful.
Behind her, Yun Shiyue followed with steady steps, his expression composed, his demeanor serene—neither joyful nor impatient.
It was as if he had foreseen everything that happened today.
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