Chapter 35: Attitude

Zhao Shi stood up quickly. “Won’t you stay for a while? Have dinner before you go?”

Tian Shi and Fang Shi waved their hands. “No, you have guests. We’ll discuss it and have the matchmaker convey the message.”

The matchmaker also waved to Zhao Shi. “Go ahead. I’ll handle it beautifully.”

“Okay, please go slowly.” Zhao Qiao’e saw them off, then returned to the hall, apologetic. “Mr. Zhuang, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

She winked at Song Yuntang.

“Tang’er, what are you doing? Get Mr. Zhuang some tea!”

Song Yuntang pursed her lips and reluctantly went to get water.

Zhao Qiao’e smiled.

“Mr. Zhuang, please forgive us. Our Tang’er is spoiled. Don’t mind her.”

“It’s fine.” Zhuang Zian waved his hand, looking towards the gate. “Aunt, are you arranging a marriage for Cousin Tang’er?”

“Yes, Tang’er is sixteen. This family seems nice. I plan to have Tang’er’s second brother check them out. If there’s no problem, we’ll arrange her marriage quickly.” Zhao Qiao’e said excitedly, clearly satisfied.

Zhuang Zian nodded. “That’s good. Having a mother like you is Tang’er’s blessing.”

“It’s my duty as a mother.” Seeing Song Yuntang enter with tea, Zhao Qiao’e quickly said, “Mr. Zhuang, have some tea. We don’t have anything good. Please don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Zhuang Zian took the cup. “Thank you.”

Song Yuntang didn’t speak. After giving him the tea, she moved away, seemingly unwilling to participate in their conversation.

Zhuang Zian took a sip of tea and looked at Song Yuntang. “It’s been three years. Cousin’s personality has changed a lot.”

Song Yuntang crossed her arms, leaning against the door. “We haven’t met many times. Don’t act like you know me well.”

Zhao Qiao’e scolded, “Tang’er, don’t be rude to Mr. Zhuang!”

Zhuang Zian didn’t mind. “I didn’t know you well before, but I thought you were gentle. Now you’re like a little hedgehog.”

“Lin Zhaozhao seems gentle and sensible. Mr. Zhuang, why not find her? She’s your cousin. I have something to do; I won’t keep you company.”

Then, she returned to her room.

The sun was high, and it was getting hot. Song Yuntang didn’t want to go to the mountains.

Zhao Qiao’e looked at Song Yuntang’s back and apologized to Zhuang Zian.

“Mr. Zhuang, my Tang’er is spoiled. Don’t mind her.”

Zhuang Zian smiled faintly.

“A bit of a temper isn’t necessarily bad. I think it’s good.”  For a farmer’s daughter, being a bit fierce isn’t a bad thing.

He put down his teacup and stood up. “It’s getting late; I should go. Farewell.”

“Please go slowly.”

After seeing Zhuang Zian off, Zhao Shi looked at Song Yuntang’s room.

This was the first time Song Yuntang had been so cold to someone from the Lin family. It surprised her. She’s changed a lot. Has she really decided not to return to the Lin family?

“Tang’er, I finished embroidering a handkerchief. Take a look. If it’s okay, I’ll embroider more.” Zhao Qiao’e entered Song Yuntang’s room with a handkerchief.

Song Yuntang sat up and looked at the handkerchief.

It was neat, with exquisite embroidery and beautiful color transitions. Zhao Shi’s needlework was excellent.

“Okay, embroider more like this.”

Hearing Song Yuntang, Zhao Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Okay, with this sample, the rest should be faster.”

…

After leaving the Song family, Zhuang Zian rode to the Lin family in Cile Town.

Madam Zhuang had a headache and was exhausted, so her sons received her cousin.

The three brothers sat in the room. Lin Jingyao poured him tea.

Zhuang Zian took a sip. “Guess who I met today?”

Lin Jingyao and Lin Gengshi looked at him puzzled.

“Who?”

Zhuang Zian put down his cup. “I met Cousin Tang’er in Rongshu Village. I even visited her home.”

Lin Jingyao and Lin Gengshi exchanged glances. Lin Gengshi asked, “Was she happy to see you?”

Zhuang Zian shook his head. “She was cold to me, saying she didn’t want anything to do with the Lin family.”

“Really?” Lin Gengshi was disbelieving.

Zhuang Zian said calmly, “It looked real.”

Lin Gengshi frowned. “What happened to her? Or is she trying to get our attention?” He muttered, “Her methods are getting more sophisticated. Zhaozhao isn’t like that.”

“She didn’t seem to be using tricks,” Zhuang Zian said. “Maybe it’s because she’s getting married? You’re not her real brothers. Being too close might damage her reputation.”

“Getting married?”

Zhuang Zian nodded. “The matchmaker and the man’s family just left Song’s house.  Her mother seemed satisfied with the match.”

Just then, Lin Jingyao, who had been silent, spoke.

“She didn’t object this time?”

He had only learned about the situation in Rongshu Village yesterday from A Wang.  She had almost died recently because of the Huang family’s marriage.

He had been startled then.

He didn’t expect the Song family to arrange another marriage so quickly.

Zhuang Zian shook his head. “When I went there, she was calm and didn’t object.”

“She didn’t make a fuss?” Lin Jingyao frowned.

Lin Gengshi said, “Big Brother, it’s good that she doesn’t object. It means she’s accepting reality.”

Thinking of Song Yuntang’s stubbornness and coldness yesterday, Lin Jingyao felt uneasy.

Was her acceptance of reality really a good thing?

“A Wang, go find out who the Song family is marrying her off to. Investigate the man’s temperament, character, and family background. Be thorough.”

A Wang bowed. “Yes.”

Zhuang Zian looked at Lin Jingyao. “Since she’s back with the Song family, they won’t be careless about her. Your hot-and-cold attitude will only make her conflicted and lose her composure.”

Lin Jingyao said softly, “I was her older brother for over ten years. How can I completely let go? I need to see her marry well before I can rest easy.”

…