Chapter 43

Madam Zhou’s maternal nephew, Zhou Shunxing, briefly flashed through Wang Yuan’er’s mind as she recalled the Zhou family’s matters from her previous life. Unfortunately, back then, she was married off to Landlord Li’s family early on and rarely ventured out due to her personality. Although she had some vague knowledge of Madam Zhou, who was closely related to her second aunt, her memory of the Zhou family itself was nonexistent.

One thing she was certain of: she didn’t believe for a moment that Madam Zhou’s sister-in-law had taken a liking to her and deliberately sought out Madam Zhou and the matchmaker to propose the match. If that wasn’t the case, what could they be after? What were their true intentions?

Wang Yuan’er paced around the room anxiously. Her experience with the matchmaking schemes orchestrated by her second aunt in her previous life had left her wary. When it came to matters of marriage, especially those involving her second aunt’s family, she couldn’t help feeling overly cautious.

“Silly girl, look at how flustered you are. I’m just telling you about the young man—I’m not asking you to agree to anything right away. You’ll need to meet him yourself first. Come, sit down.” Madam Liang chuckled and reached out to pull her daughter, who was as restless as an ant, to her side.

Realizing her own impatience, Wang Yuan’er sat down and said, “Mother, putting aside the fact that I’m still in mourning and there’s no rush to settle on an engagement, I can’t help but feel there’s something off about what Min’er’s aunt said.”

“What is it?” Madam Liang tilted her head curiously.

“Mother, she claimed her sister-in-law had seen me before, but when would that have been? I have no memory of it at all. Moreover, while our family isn’t as closely connected to hers as we are to Second Aunt’s, there’s still a link through Second Aunt. Why wouldn’t they first discuss this with Second Aunt before bringing the matchmaker directly here? Could there be something wrong with that family?” Wang Yuan’er questioned.

For such proposals between distant relatives, it was customary to send someone familiar with both families to sound them out first. Only after both sides expressed interest would a matchmaker be brought in.

Madam Liang thought carefully, and her expression grew serious. “Now that you mention it, it does seem odd. However, you’ve spent the past six months outside selling tea eggs. Maybe they saw you and inquired about you during that time?”

“Even if they inquired about me, they should still have sent someone to sound out our views first. After all, it’s not as though we’re complete strangers,” Wang Yuan’er replied, becoming increasingly convinced there was something fishy about the situation.

Madam Liang nodded and pursed her lips. “In that case, we only know what we’ve heard about that family; the real situation is unknown to us,” she said. After a pause, she added, “How about I ask your second aunt? Your second aunt wouldn’t trick you, would she?”

Wang Yuan’er sneered coldly in her heart. She wouldn’t trick her? Then what about pushing her into the pit of fire with Landlord Li in her previous life?

But Wang Yuan’er didn’t say this to Madam Liang. After thinking for a while, she said, “Mother, instead of just listening to others, why don’t we investigate it ourselves? The New Year is around the corner, and you haven’t sent the New Year’s gifts to Grandma’s house yet, have you?”

Madam Liang was taken aback. Since she insisted on marrying Wang Da, her relationship with her own family had been strained. Over the years, she still sent New Year’s gifts, but they were often returned unopened or sent back in equal measure. The number of visits to her mother’s house could be counted on one hand.

Wang Yuan’er could tell from her mother’s expression what she was thinking. She also knew her mother and maternal grandparents’ relationship wasn’t good. But in her past life, after her mother’s death, her grandmother and uncle came to visit once. They even said to go to them. However, Wang Yuan’er had resentment and always acted as if this family connection didn’t exist. She didn’t even notify them when she got married.

Looking back now, she felt she had been somewhat immature and impulsive. As the saying goes, “Blood ties remain intact despite grievances; there’s no irreparable hatred between family members.”

In this life, she only wanted to resolve her mother’s grievances with her maternal family and pave more paths for herself and her siblings.

Besides, her maternal grandparents’ town, Shilong Town, was next to Bashang Town, less than half an hour away. It would be the perfect place to inquire about things.

Chapter 44

Although Madam Liang didn’t have a good relationship with her own family, she always thought about her parents deep down. Now that it involved the marriage of her eldest daughter, she thought it was worth investigating thoroughly—after all, marrying the wrong man could ruin a woman’s entire life.

So, when Wang Yuan’er suggested it, she thought about it briefly and agreed. However, with the New Year just around the corner, going to Shilong Town, though not far, would still take up time. She decided to have Yuan’er take her younger sisters to visit their grandparents during the New Year.

Wang Yuan’er, having not gone there for years, was eager to delay as much as possible and agreed readily.

That evening, Madam Zhang mentioned this matter to Wang Er, who was half-drunk.

“Without saying a word, my sister-in-law dragged the matchmaker, Mrs. Zhu, over. Not a hint of warning beforehand. If I hadn’t been prepared, I wouldn’t have known how to respond when Mother asked about it,” Madam Zhang complained about her sister-in-law’s lack of tact.

They’re family—arranging a match between relatives should involve a heads-up, not catching people off guard. During dinner, when Grandma Wang indirectly made her sarcastic comments, it felt particularly unpleasant.

And really, knowing their eldest son had recently passed away, what kind of behavior was this—especially since it involved family? Coming over without any prior communication was just inappropriate.

The sister-in-law disregarded Madam Zhang’s standing in her in-law’s family, focusing solely on her own interests, which was upsetting. Thinking about the intentions of Madam Zhou’s family made Madam Zhang feel even more disgusted.

“Why would they fancy Yuan’er? She’s still in mourning—surely they’d know that,” Wang Er said with a burp.

“It’s not Yuan’er they’re interested in!” Madam Zhang scoffed, moving closer to Wang Er and batting away his wandering hand. Lowering her voice, she said, “They’re after Yuan’er’s skills!”

“Huh?” Wang Er, half-opened eyes squinting, let his hand roam back as he asked, “What do you mean?”

Madam Zhang spat at him and let him be, saying, “Although Yuan’er’s tea egg business hasn’t earned much money, it’s still a livelihood. My brother-in-law’s nephew, Zhou Shunxing, is a scoundrel. His mother wants to find someone capable of managing him. She learned that Yuan’er was running this business and thought that if they married, once the family separated in the future, Shunxing wouldn’t need to worry about food and drink. Don’t you think this is a well-thought-out plan?”

“What?” Wang Er sat up suddenly, his brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong?” Madam Zhang, feeling half-numb from his earlier massage, saw his sudden withdrawal and sat up, adjusting her clothes.

“Today, I went with my Eldest Uncle to Hongyun Restaurant to drink, along with the eldest master of the Tang family. He showed interest in our family’s five-spice dried tofu and wants me to get the recipe to open a specialty shop. You know, our family shop has been an ancestral business, but it only earns a little every year. The Tang family’s Second Master is a high-ranking official in the capital. If I can get connected with the eldest master, what business won’t I succeed in the future?” Wang Er said, slapping his thigh.

“Why didn’t you say this earlier?” Madam Zhang was startled and said, “Why hasn’t Sister-in-law mentioned this matter to me?”

“I guess Eldest Uncle only mentioned it today.” Wang Er lay back down and said, “Tomorrow, go to your sister-in-law and decline this marriage proposal. Just say that Yuan’er is in mourning, and Mother doesn’t agree.”

“Will that work?” Madam Zhang hesitated.

“Why wouldn’t it? Everyone knows that Yuan’er is observing a period of deep mourning. Besides, it’s better for our family than for someone else’s. And not just anyone else, but your sister-in-law’s maternal family!”

Madam Zhang thought about it and agreed. The couple talked a little more before blowing out the lamp and sleeping.