Chapter 173

Aunt Fan truly didn’t expect to be rejected.

And rejected so bluntly.

Hadn’t Sun Jinhua always been saying that the Ding family had their eyes on her son, that since they had no son of their own, they were always scheming about hers? Why was the scene now so different from what she’d been told?

She turned her head to look at Sun Jinhua in a daze.

Sun Jinhua’s face was long and gloomy, her slanted eyes filled with darkness, and she signaled her son with a look.

Fan Erzhu received the cue and, addressing Qin Yilin, said, “My mother has finally agreed to let your daughter marry into our family. Don’t think you can act high and mighty and manipulate her.”

Their family had a house, land, and forest in Shanshui Village, with several relatives in the clan, making them the largest family in the village.

The Ding family had no roots. Marrying into the Fan family would give them a strong backing, so how could they be dissatisfied?

Qin Yilin was truly shocked.

She had seen thick-skinned people before, but never anyone this brazen!

What was this, a royal selection of a concubine needing the empress dowager’s approval? Those who knew would understand the Fan family was poor as dirt, but those who didn’t might think it was some prestigious family eyeing her lowly Ding family.

“Manipulate? I’ll manipulate your grandpa! Get out! If you bother me again, I’ll go to the old village head and make you pay for the herbs!”

“Hey, why are you getting angry? Besides, didn’t you say those herbs were free? Why are you charging now after they’ve been used?” Fan Erzhu, feeling humiliated and hearing that they might have to pay for the herbs they thought were free, turned red with anger.

Qin Yilin retorted furiously, “Who said they were free? You just never paid! I thought you might be grateful, but it turns out your way of showing gratitude is to try and cut off my Ding family’s line. Fine, we’ll let the whole village judge. If paying for the herbs can stop your ‘gratitude,’ then we must collect payment!”

Damn it, she could hardly contain her fiery temper.

Calm down! In the village, she had always maintained a gentle and virtuous image. She couldn’t afford to lose it by cursing.

Fan Erzhu and Sun Jinhua thought carefully and realized they never actually said they wouldn’t pay. They had always thought those wild herbs weren’t worth much and never mentioned money, only coming to demand more.

If this really went to the village head and the villagers, they couldn’t avoid paying.

Aunt Fan, seeing the usually gentle Aunt Ding now cursing, finally believed she wasn’t interested in Sun Jinhua’s son at all.

But still thinking about the matchmaker’s gift of clothes and shoes, she decided to make one last effort, “Aunt Ding, look, the Fan family’s boy has a good family background and is strong. He matches well with your daughter, doesn’t he? How about it?”

Qin Yilin snorted coldly.

Good family background?

With those few acres of land they guarded more than their lives, other families, like the old village head’s and others, still went out to work during the off-season to earn some extra money for emergencies.

Their womenfolk tended to vegetable gardens and raised livestock to supplement the household income.

Only the Fan family relied on Fan Er copying books to earn money and the second household to tend the garden and raise some chickens and ducks.

Five able-bodied workers in the Fan household, with the men not going out to work and the women not managing the household or the garden—lazy and greedy, how could they possibly improve?

As for being strong?

Ha, it was only appearance.

She straightened up and calmly delivered the pre-discussed explanation, “My daughter has been betrothed early on, but the children are young, so we haven’t announced it. Thank you for your concern.”

Jiajia was still young. They could nurture her for a few more years, and in the meantime, they could find an orphan with good character. With her and her husband’s support, they could have a harmonious and happy life together.

Aunt Fan opened her mouth in surprise. So, the Ding family had already chosen someone. How could they possibly be interested in Sun Jinhua’s son?

Sun Jinhua had always been delusional, hearing what she wanted to hear and jumping to conclusions.

Sun Jinhua and Fan Erzhu came with a look of tragic determination, confident it was a sure thing, never expecting this outcome.

In the past, they might not have felt much loss, but now, being rejected, the more they thought about it, the more they realized the Ding family was a good match.

The Ding couple had skills, surely they had taught Ding Jiajia as well. They had a house and probably some savings, and with only one daughter, everything would eventually belong to her.

Fan Erzhu suddenly felt that marrying Ding Jiajia would save him twenty years of hard work.

A sense of regret surged within him.

But seeing Aunt Ding’s fierce demeanor, the two of them imagined being force-fed medicinal herbs by her, showing no regard for their well-being.

Their throats felt dry, and they dragged their feet as they walked back.

Fan Erzhu consoled himself along the way, thinking that Ding Jiajia was a toad with a pockmarked face, and whoever married her would be unlucky.

Aunt Fan pursed her lips with a look of amusement, already planning to gossip with her old friends.

After sending off the three, Qin Yilin dusted off her clothes to get rid of the bad luck.

Then she headed back inside.

As soon as she entered, Ding Heli gave her a thumbs up.

They had heard everything clearly from inside the house.

Qin Yilin complained, “Look at you, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have had to deal with this today.”

All that talk about repaying evil with kindness—this family should be met with an eye for an eye.

Now, it would be difficult to make a move openly.

Ding Heli shrank his neck and remained silent.

Ding Jiajia timely changed the topic, “Mom, the honey is filtered. Should we bring two large jars?”

Facing her precious daughter, Qin Yilin’s tone softened again, “You don’t understand. In the village, two large jars are already quite generous.”

Ding Jiajia: … She was just worried it might be too much and cause a stir.

Her parents had a habit of giving neighbors things in such quantities or values that it always drew attention.

She didn’t know where they had picked up this habit.

Luckily, they knew how to keep a low profile and didn’t give gifts frequently.

Qin Yilin held a large jar in each hand and carefully instructed her daughter, “Be careful walking. The road is slippery; don’t fall. I can’t help you while carrying these.”

Ding Heli immediately became nervous and hastily suggested, “How about I carry the jars and walk with you, supporting our daughter?”

Ding Jiajia laughed, “Mom, Dad, I’m sixteen, not a child. I can walk by myself.

Dad, stay home and watch over the herbs. Don’t let any wild animals damage them. Mom and I will be fine.”

Ding Heli still wasn’t reassured and watched them until they were out of sight before starting to process the herbs.

Ding Jiajia followed her mother, feeling her heart pound more the closer they got.

“Oh dear, my heart is racing. Jiajia, are you nervous?” Qin Yilin asked in a low voice.

Ding Jiajia was startled but steadied herself and replied, “… A little.”

Hearing that her daughter was also nervous, Qin Yilin felt it was normal. She looked up at the imposing house ahead and sighed, “I said we should build a brick house, but your father thought it would be too conspicuous.

Look at this house; it’s perfectly fine, with a big yard that’s convenient for drying herbs.”

As they approached the yard and saw the burly youth who looked like a small mountain, Qin Yilin was taken aback.

Earlier, she had said Fan Erzhu looked strong, but she had been mistaken.

Compared to this young man, Fan Erzhu didn’t even look strong!