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“Wu Xinlin is still studying, and his family has many members. To support his education, they scrimp and save, rarely having any meat throughout the year. Even eating an egg is considered a luxury. Have you thought about all of this? Are you really willing to live a life of frugality and hardship?” Rong Shi asked her daughter earnestly.
“Mother hopes that the person you marry will treat you well, and the family won’t be too complicated, with slightly better conditions to spare you from suffering. But can Wu Xinlin provide that? He’s simply not cut out for studying. The only reason he became the top scholar a few years ago was all thanks to Jinhe’s brother, Wang Jingyu.” Rong Shi sighed.
“Since you brought up this topic today, let me be direct with you. I have indeed found another family that I think highly of. In their family, there are only two brothers. The elder one is already married. The prospective groom runs a small business and can earn one or two hundred taels of silver per year. Although they haven’t officially divided the family property yet, it’s already clear that once he gets married, they will split the family. His parents will go with the elder brother, and you can manage your own household. In the future, they’ll provide some money for your parents’ retirement. So, it’s up to you whether you choose Wu Xinlin or this family. Think it over carefully,” Rong Shi explained the conditions of the family she had in mind for Xie Wanwan, leaving the decision to her.
Xie Wanwan was momentarily unsure of what to do. One was her preference, and the other was her mother’s choice. She trusted Rong Shi would not deceive or harm her. Since Rong Shi had put it this way, it must all be true.
“Mother, I choose the family you approve of,” Xie Wanwan said, looking at Rong Shi with difficulty.
Looking at her daughter in this state, Rong Shi felt relieved. “Don’t blame me.”
Xie Wanwan shook her head. “I know you’re doing it for my own good and won’t harm me.”
Rong Shi smiled happily. “It’s wonderful that you think that way. If Wu Xinlin’s family situation were similar to the family I’ve chosen, I would definitely have allowed you to marry the person you love.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Xie Wanwan cuddled against Rong Shi and felt completely at ease.
Meanwhile, at Wu Xinlin’s home, his mother looked at him and asked, “Xinlin, what exactly are you thinking? If you marry Xie Wanwan, our family’s situation will improve significantly. Why do you keep delaying and not wanting to marry her?”
Wu Xinlin felt a bit impatient. “Mother, how can Xie Wanwan’s family background support ours? She even has an older brother. Even if there are any benefits, they will all go to her brother. How could they give everything to her, a girl? If it were you, would you give away all the good things in our family as part of a dowry for your sister?”
Wu Xinlin had had enough of their family’s situation. He wanted to marry a wealthy girl, he wanted to elevate himself, and he didn’t want to continue living in a small mountain village with this kind of wretched life.
“Are you still thinking about that trash Wang Jinhe? Let me tell you, that cheap woman will never become our daughter-in-law,” his mother said.
Wu Xinlin frowned at his mother. “After breaking off the engagement, I have nothing to do with her anymore. Why do you bring her up?”
The attitude of his family irritated Wu Xinlin, especially his mother, who seemed no different from a shrew.
“That’s good then, but you can’t keep avoiding marriage like this,” his mother said.
“I have it all figured out, no need for you to worry,” Wu Xinlin said impatiently, his brows furrowing.
“Alright then.”
After Xie Wanwan gave up, Rong Shi started to arrange the matter she had in mind, and it was quickly agreed upon. When they met, Xie Wanwan found the person to be quite nice, and her feelings for Wu Xinlin faded a bit.
“Jinhe, are you at home?” One day, Rong Shi came happily to Wang Jinhe’s house to look for her.
Wang Jinhe walked out from her house. “Auntie, what brings you here? Is there something you need?”
“Well, today is the day Wanwan’s potential suitor is coming over to finalize things. The vegetables in my house aren’t great, so I thought I’d come and buy some from you,” Rong Shi explained.
Wang Jinhe looked at Rong Shi in surprise. Xie Wanwan was going to marry Wu Xinlin? That was quite unexpected. They were allowing their daughter to marry into a family like Wu Xinlin’s?
“Congratulations, Auntie. By the way, where is her fiancé from?” Wang Jinhe asked.
“He’s from Xiaowu Village, his name is Wu Yue. He’s quite nice, does some small business on his own, and his parents are easygoing,” Rong Shi briefly introduced.
Wang Jinhe was somewhat surprised when she heard this. It wasn’t Wu Xinlin? Didn’t Xie Wanwan like Wu Xinlin? What was going on?
“What’s wrong, Xiaojin? You seem quite surprised by this,” Rong Shi asked, curious.
“It’s nothing, just found it a bit unexpected,” Wang Jinhe replied.
“Is that so? I just thought he seemed like a good person, so we decided to move forward with it,” Rong Shi said with a smile.
“Well, congratulations, Auntie, on having a satisfactory son-in-law soon. You can pick the vegetables yourself; no need for payment,” Wang Jinhe declined, deciding not to sell to Rong Shi.
“Thank you then,” Rong Shi said.
After Rong Shi picked the vegetables and left, Wang Jinhe still found it somewhat unbelievable. “She actually gave up on Wu Xinlin. That really surprised me.”
Su Yu walked over curiously and asked, “Why do you say that?”
“Xie Wanwan liked a scholar, but honestly, that man’s family background is terrible. Any girl who marries into that family is basically jumping into a pit of fire,” Wang Jinhe explained the situation in the other family’s household, and Su Yu’s lips twitched after hearing it.
“This girl should consider herself lucky to have such a good mother,” Su Yu couldn’t help but comment.
Indeed, that family was just as Wang Jinhe described, and it was more like being a servant than getting married. The village head’s daughter couldn’t have fallen to such a point, could she?
“When Auntie was talking to me just now, I thought she was talking about marrying Wu Xinlin. I didn’t expect it to be someone else,” Wang Jinhe still found it very unbelievable.
“How could a mother let her daughter jump into a pit of fire? Knowing that the other family is no good, yet allowing her daughter to marry into it, isn’t that insane?” Su Yu couldn’t help but comment.
Wang Jinhe nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. I share the same thoughts as you.”
“Enough about these people. I might need to go back to the capital city soon,” Su Yu said seriously to Wang Jinhe.
“Back to the capital city? Is something wrong?”
“When I arrived, I was in the middle of dealing with my mischievous half-brother. These past few days, I received news from my subordinates that the people behind him have shown themselves. It’s a bit troublesome, so I need to go back and keep an eye on things,” Su Yu said with a slightly displeased expression.
He had been trying to build a relationship with his so and wife, and now these people were causing trouble for him. It was like they were asking for trouble.
Watching Su Yu’s displeased expression, Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but find it amusing. “If you have to go back, then go.”
Hearing Wang Jinhe’s words, Su Yu was not pleased. “Do you really not want to see me that badly? Just want to chase me away?”
Wang Jinhe looked speechless and glanced up at the sky. Did he realy interpret it that way?