Chapter 127

Although Wang Yuan’er had firmly told Grandma Wang that she would not marry someone like Landlord Li and had sent a letter to her maternal grandparents for help, she still kept an eye on Grandma Wang and her second aunt, fearing they might do something behind her back.

Sure enough, she noticed something suspicious. When she saw that unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar fat figure, Wang Yuan’er froze, and the pot in her hand fell, smashing the tofu on the ground.

“Eldest sister!” Wang Qing’er exclaimed, heartbroken. That tofu was meant for making fermented tofu today!

She was distressed for a while, then noticed her elder sister was unresponsive, staring at something. Curious, she followed her gaze.

“Hey, isn’t that our second aunt? Who’s that fat old man?” Wang Qing’er asked, puzzled.

Their second aunt was standing with a woman in a dark blue cotton dress and a fat man around fifty, with his hair tied up and wearing a two-piece cap, looking at their stall.

“Eldest sister, who is that?” Wang Qing’er sensed something was wrong and nudged Wang Yuan’er, seeing her pale face. “Eldest sister, what’s wrong?”

Wang Yuan’er snapped out of it, seeing her third sister’s worried eyes and the smashed tofu on the ground. “It’s nothing. I just have a headache. You clean up; I’ll go drink some water.”

She couldn’t believe her second aunt was still persistent and had brought that man along. It was truly disgusting and hateful. That scoundrel was just as lecherous and repulsive as in her past life.

Landlord Li reluctantly watched Wang Yuan’er disappear, swallowing hard, and said to Madam Zhang, “Not bad, not bad.”

He had come to see the girl, expecting a village girl, but she was quite attractive, especially her full chest and round hips, indicating she would be a good breeder.

Madam Zhang beamed, “Our girl is naturally good, but she heard some rumors about you and is a bit resistant. What about the betrothal gift…”

“Add more, add more!” Landlord Li gritted his teeth. “If she doesn’t want to, her younger sister will do.”

That younger girl hadn’t fully developed yet but looked even better than her elder sister. Being from the same parents, she wouldn’t be much different. A feisty young girl would be even more exciting.

Madam Zhang was stunned, feeling uneasy. She turned and saw Landlord Li leering at Wang Qing’er, who was scolding a boy with her hands on her hips. Did he eye both sisters? She didn’t know if her mother-in-law would agree!

Feeling anxious, she looked at the woman beside her, who held up three fingers. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Landlord Li, please wait. I’ll ask my mother-in-law to join us for tea.”

She wasn’t Wang Yuan’er’s mother and couldn’t decide on the marriage alone. Her mother-in-law had to agree.

Thinking of Grandma Wang, she added, “My mother-in-law cares a lot about her granddaughter and likes refined people.”

Landlord Li, seemingly not listening, continued to drool over Wang Qing’er, waving dismissively.

Feeling frustrated, Madam Zhang touched the hard object in her sleeve, gritted her teeth, and headed home, instructing the woman to accompany Landlord Li.

Chapter 128

Wang Yuan’er quickly returned to the east room, lay on the bed, and pulled the quilt over her head, tears flowing like a flood, soon soaking the pillow. With her eyes closed, scenes from her past life’s miseries flashed through her mind until the moment of her death, which was her true liberation.

Yes, liberation!

With her parents gone early, she had no extra thoughts back then, choosing what she thought was the best path for herself and her siblings, only to realize it was an illusion.

It wasn’t until her death that she felt truly free, reborn in a new life, which she now saw as a gift from the heavens. But now, some things had changed, like the imperial examination, but others remained the same. Her parents’ early deaths and Landlord Li still appeared in her life.

“Is it still inevitable? Will it be the same as before?” Wang Yuan’er sat up, her eyes empty, speaking to herself.

When Wang Chun’er entered with their little brother on her back, she was shocked to see her elder sister sitting on the bed, crying, and hurriedly asked, “Eldest sister, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”

She had never seen her elder sister so sad, except when their parents died.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Xiao Baolai saw his sister and excitedly reached out, wanting to be held.

Seeing the concern in her sister’s eyes and the clarity in her little brother’s eyes, Wang Yuan’er felt a refreshing clarity in her mind. She took the little brother from her sister’s back and held him in her arms. The little one giggled, drooling and grabbing at her braid.

Yes, some things would come, but many things are different now.

Her parents were gone, but she was still here, leading her sisters in business. Their lives were getting better, and her younger siblings were still with her. Many things had changed, and the future would be different.

“Eldest sister?”

“I’m fine,” Wang Yuan’er wiped her tears and smiled, “I just had a moment of weakness.”

Yes, she had a moment of weakness. Knowing the trajectory of her past life, she could avoid misfortunes. Wasn’t this a gift from the heavens and her fortune?

Landlord Li was a dark part of her past life that she didn’t want to remember. Knowing this, why couldn’t she avoid it?

Just then, she heard voices outside and saw her second aunt leading Landlord Li into the house.

Wang Yuan’er pursed her lips, angrily gritting her teeth. Her second aunt was so enthusiastic about this marriage, even bringing the man over for a meeting.

Soon, Madam Zhang came to say there was a guest and asked her to make two cups of tea and take them to the main house.

Wang Yuan’er coldly laughed but said nothing, instead returning to her room and taking out a small cloth bag from the cabinet. She crushed two or three beans and put them in the teacups.

In the kitchen, she boiled water and called Wang Min’er, saying, “Your mother said there are esteemed guests, and I need to make tea for them. But my stomach is acting up, and I must go to the latrine. Could you help me take the tea?”

Hearing the word “esteemed,” Wang Min’er’s eyes lit up, but she said, “You’re just lazy and go to the latrine too often. Go, go.” She adjusted her appearance and took the tray, swaying her hips as she walked to the main house.

Seeing this, Wang Yuan’er’s lips coldly curled up. She didn’t mean to be heartless, but her second aunt was so eager. She believed Wang Min’er’s appearance was more to Landlord Li’s liking than hers. She didn’t believe her second aunt would still want to marry her off to that old man.

Every person for themselves. She was only seeking self-preservation, forced by them to redirect this disaster.