Chapter 150

What does it mean to drop a bombshell?

Wang Yuan’er’s words did just that, leaving everyone in the main house stunned and bewildered.

“What did you say?” Wang Min’er, who had already gone to bed, rushed in from outside with her hair disheveled, grabbing Wang Yuan’er’s hand and asking, “What did you just say? Who got engaged?”

After a day of running around, her face was haggard, with dark circles under her eyes, and her disheveled hair made her look quite pitiful. Wang Yuan’er couldn’t bear to look at her.

“The third young master of the Tang family, Tang Xiuping. I met Matchmaker Zhu at the grocery store today, and she said it herself. The Tang family has arranged for Tang Xiuping to marry Miss Rong, the daughter of the Deputy Commissioner of Salt Transport in Dingzhou. The families have exchanged betrothal documents and are just waiting for the wedding date,” Wang Yuan’er said calmly.

Engaged? Her Brother Tang was engaged to another woman. He was going to marry someone else? If he was going to marry someone else, what about her? What about the child in her womb?

Wang Min’er’s mind went blank, and she felt the world spinning. Her body swayed, and she collapsed to the ground.

“Min’er!” Madam Zhang screamed and rushed over.

Wang Yuan’er, being the closest, quickly caught her but was still knocked down by Wang Min’er. They both fell to the ground, with Wang Yuan’er cushioning the fall. She propped herself up on her elbows, scraping against the floor, and the pain brought tears to her eyes.

Madam Zhang and Wang Er quickly lifted Wang Min’er, their eyes red with worry. At this critical moment, nothing could happen to her.

No one paid attention to Wang Yuan’er. She got up on her own and heard Grandma Wang instruct Wang Er to take Wang Min’er back to her room to rest.

In her view, Wang Min’er had fainted from anger.

Madam Zhang wanted to call a doctor, but Grandma Wang snapped, “Go ahead, call one. Do you want the whole town of Changle to know you have an unchaste daughter?”

Madam Zhang fell silent, and Wang Er carried Wang Min’er back to the west room.

In the main house, Grandma Wang took a deep gulp of tea and looked at Wang Yuan’er. “Is it true that the Tang boy is engaged?”

Wang Yuan’er nodded and recounted everything she had heard from Matchmaker Zhu.

Now, the Wang family was in a dire situation.

“That heartless bastard! The Tang boy is no good!” Grandma Wang cursed, smashing her favorite teacup.

Wang Yuan’er looked over and saw her grandmother crying.

It wasn’t a hysterical or angry cry but a cry of heartache. Heartache for her granddaughter being treated so poorly, and now the entire Wang family was being dragged into hell.

Tang Xiuping was engaged to an official’s daughter. Compared to the Wang family, who were mere farmers with a small shop, it was clear which match was more suitable. This engagement was set in stone.

Grandma Wang’s heart ached, not because they couldn’t match the Tang family, but because of the pain inflicted on her descendants. The Tang family’s actions were pushing them to the brink.

The Tang family might not know, but that scoundrel Tang Xiuping certainly did. He took advantage of her granddaughter and then went to marry another girl. How could this be fair?

But what could the Wang family do against such a powerful household?

Grandma Wang’s tears flowed silently, and she looked ten years older.

“Mother, you have to stand up for Min’er!” Madam Zhang cried as she entered, followed by a disheveled Wang Er.

“Mother, Tang Xiuping has ruined Min’er’s reputation, and she’s carrying his child. He can’t be so heartless. Mother, please send someone to the Tang family to arrange the marriage, or it will be too late!” Madam Zhang knelt in front of Grandma Wang, pleading.

Grandma Wang’s temples throbbed.

Wang Yuan’er quickly intervened, “Aunt, please sit down and calm yourself. We need to come up with a plan while everyone is here.”

The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for the Wang family.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Madam Zhang sat down, still sniffling.

The main house fell silent, with no one speaking.

“Grandfather, do you have any thoughts?” Wang Yuan’er broke the silence.

Grandpa Wang, the head of the family, sighed deeply. “This matter is a bitter pill for the Wang family to swallow.”

Wang Yuan’er pursed her lips. The Wang family was indeed at a loss. Now, they had to discuss Wang Min’er’s future.

“Father, how can you be so indifferent? Min’er is your granddaughter, too! Mother, please send someone to arrange the marriage!” Madam Zhang pleaded.

“Do you think it’s that easy?” Grandma Wang snapped. “The Tang family is powerful, and now that the boy is engaged, what can we say?”

“But Min’er is carrying their child!” Madam Zhang cried.

“She brought this upon herself, breaking the rules and acting foolishly,” Grandma Wang scolded, taking a deep breath.

Wang Yuan’er saw the argument escalating and intervened, “We need to think this through. Aunt, big families aren’t as simple as you think. It’s not just about wanting to marry. Especially now that the Tang family has an engagement, it’s even harder.”

Madam Zhang opened her mouth to argue, but Wang Er stopped her, “Listen to what Mother and Yuan’er have to say.”

“Min’er is in a difficult position. If the Tang family acknowledges her and gives her a concubine position, that would be the best outcome. But even then, being a concubine won’t be easy. No main wife would welcome a concubine, especially one already pregnant,” Wang Yuan’er explained.

Madam Zhang’s face turned pale.

Wang Yuan’er then described Miss Rong’s character, making everyone even more uneasy. If Min’er entered the Tang family, she would be in for a tough time.

Madam Zhang, imagining the scenario, felt weak and drained of energy.

“So, what do we do?” Wang Er was at a loss.

It depended on the Tang family’s attitude. If they acknowledged Min’er, they could quietly bring her into the family, perhaps sending her to a distant estate until the child was born. That would be the best outcome.

If the Tang family didn’t acknowledge her, Min’er would have to abort the child and marry far away. Finding a good match would be difficult. That was the second option.

The third option was death.

“How can you be so cruel? She’s your sister!” Madam Zhang screamed.

“Shut up,” Grandma Wang scolded. “Yuan’er is right. What other options do you have?”

“Mother, the Tang family hasn’t held the wedding yet. Can’t they break the engagement?” Madam Zhang asked, unwilling to give up.

Wang Yuan’er almost laughed. “Aunt, breaking an engagement isn’t easy. Especially with the Rong family’s status compared to ours. What do we have to offer?”

“But Min’er is carrying their child!”

“There are plenty of women who can bear children,” Wang Yuan’er sneered. “Big families value bloodlines, but they value reputation and legitimacy even more. Min’er’s child is illegitimate. Who would willingly accept that?”

Her words were harsh but necessary to awaken Madam Zhang from her delusions.

Madam Zhang was stunned, knowing Wang Yuan’er spoke the truth.

“What do we do? Let that boy marry someone else?” Madam Zhang asked weakly.

“They value their reputation. If we take this to the authorities, they will have to…” Madam Zhang trailed off, knowing the consequences.

Taking it to the authorities would expose the scandal, ruining Wang Min’er and the Wang family’s reputation. No one would want to marry the Wang family’s daughters. Premarital loss of chastity and pregnancy were death sentences for women. The Tang family’s reputation might suffer, but they could deny everything. With their connections, the Wang family couldn’t fight them.

The only option was to appeal to the Tang family’s sense of family.

“Grandmother, you need to handle this,” Wang Yuan’er said.

“Handle what? Just give her medicine and marry her off far away,” Grandma Wang said, dreading the thought of losing face.

Madam Zhang cried.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

Wang Qing’er ran in, shouting, “Min’er is going crazy!”

Everyone rushed out to see Wang Chun’er trying to restrain Wang Min’er, who was kicking and scratching, crying, “Let me go! He promised to marry me!”

Grandma Wang’s face darkened, and she shouted at Wang Er, “Tie her up and take her back inside!” She glanced nervously at the neighboring house, fearing they would hear the commotion.

Wang Yuan’er was furious. Min’er was acting like a fool, exposing their scandal.

“Let me go! I want to find him!” Wang Min’er cried.

Wang Yuan’er walked up to her and slapped her, “Go ahead, make a scene. Let everyone know you’re pregnant before marriage. See how you live then. Forget about marriage. You’ll be drowned in a pig cage!”

Her cold words silenced Wang Min’er, who looked at her in fear.

“Go back to your room. Your family will handle this,” Wang Yuan’er said.

Wang Min’er ran back inside, crying.

Grandma Wang shook her head, “It’s too late. Let’s rest and discuss this tomorrow.”

Madam Zhang opened her mouth but was pulled back into the west room by Wang Er.

Wang Yuan’er knew that this matter wouldn’t be resolved quickly, so she returned to her own room. However, when she got up before dawn, she saw that the lights in both the main house and the west room were still on. It seemed her grandparents hadn’t slept all night.