Chapter 54 Returning the Bride Price

Chen Zhanliang was so scared that his legs were shaking like cotton, and his eyes were full of resentment when he looked at Old Lady Chen.

I didn't want to speak out loud, but seeing that Li the butcher was really going to demolish the house, I couldn't help but speak.

"Mom, please say something! It's already this late, and you still haven't called off this marriage. Do you really want them to tear down our house before you give up?"

Sun nodded vigorously. "I told you not to let Zhancai take the money and leave, but you refused to listen. Now let me see how you handle this matter."

At this time, the Chen family courtyard was already surrounded by villagers who were going to work in the fields.

He was very angry that Old Lady Chen failed to sell her granddaughter and then drove Chen Zhanshan's family out.

Seeing her kneeling down and threatening Chen Zhanshan, they all showed contempt.

Some people couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

"Mrs. Chen, you are such a jerk! You've forced the eldest brother's family out, and you still won't let his daughter go. Are you his real mother?"

"That's right, how can you push your own granddaughter into the fire? You are really not a human being."

"You're right. I don't think she's a human being. She's gone crazy for her good-for-nothing third son."

"Who says it's not true? She forced the daughter of the eldest family to marry, and raised the daughter of the third family like a rich girl. How could there be such a biased grandmother?"

"Chen Zhancai also has a daughter. Why should he sell other people's daughters while he is studying? If anyone should sell, it should be his daughter."

......

Hearing the villagers' discussions, Old Mrs. Chen's face turned pale and blue, and she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

On second thought, these people were just jealous, jealous of her third son. When her third son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, she would tear these people's mouths apart.

Old man Chen was shaking all over. "Old lady, if it really doesn't work out, just return the betrothal gift and send them away quickly. Otherwise, how can we stay in the village in the future?"

Old Mrs. Chen nodded helplessly. One wrong move and everything was lost.

Although I was unwilling, there was no other way and I had to compromise.

She gritted her teeth, her face full of pain, "Sister Zhao, this is all my fault. It's all my fault. I agree to return the betrothal gift."

Matchmaker Zhao snorted coldly, "What kind of business are you doing? I've been matchmaking for so many years, and I've never had any problems. You're trying to smear me. If this gets out, who will dare to ask me to be their matchmaker in the future?"

"Good sister, I beg you, as long as you can settle this matter, I will prepare a sumptuous banquet to express my gratitude before the New Year."

"Alas, you are making things difficult for me!" Zhao the matchmaker shook her head and sighed. She did not want to make a big deal out of it, and was also worried that Li the butcher would get angry.

If the Chen family's house is demolished or someone is killed, she will also be in trouble.

After weighing the pros and cons, she approached Li the butcher with a smile on her face.

"Nephew, calm down first. How about this? Since they don't have a daughter to marry you, let them return the fifty taels of silver to you. Then the matter will be over and you won't have to get so angry."

"What? Forget it? I let them fool me like a fool. How can I let them get away with it like this?" Li the Butcher's eyes were red, and the flesh on his face was trembling. "You can give me back the money, but first, let me satisfy my desire to beat this deceitful old woman. I won't be able to appease my hatred until I beat the shit out of her."

Old Mrs. Chen's legs went limp and she almost fell to her knees. She was so frightened that her mouth was drooping. "Grandpa, grandson, no no no, Master Li, calm down. My old bones can't take a beating!"

Zhao the matchmaker saw that Old Lady Chen's face had turned pale. She was afraid that she would be frightened to death, so she quickly stopped Li the butcher from attacking her. "My dear nephew, please don't do anything rash. We are in a legitimate situation now. If you scare this old man to death, not only will you not get the fifty taels of silver back, you will also be involved in a lawsuit. It's not enough. Listen to what I say. Just return the betrothal gift and forget about it. I will introduce you to a beautiful girl in the future."

Butcher Li frowned and thought carefully. Since the girl didn't want to, he couldn't force her. As for this young girl, he would have fun with her no matter what if he got the chance.

The most important thing now is to get the money back.

"Okay, for my aunt's sake, I won't make things difficult for them. Just give me the silver." Butcher Li said as he stretched out his hand.

"Oh, that's right." Matchmaker Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Old Lady Chen, "I've settled the matter for you. Hurry and take out fifty taels of silver so I can send them away."

"Thank you, Sister Zhao, but, but." Old Mrs. Chen's forehead was sweating and she glanced at Old Man Chen beside her.

Old man Chen stamped his feet anxiously, "Why are you looking at me? I don't have any money. Let them wait a few more days and think about what to do."

"Oh, you damn old man, I'm so unlucky to marry you. You can't even speak a word, and you rely on me for everything."

"Now, what are you asking me to say? You're the one who makes the decisions in this household. When have you ever asked for my opinion? If I were the head of the household, I would never do such a rotten thing."

“.......”

Zhao the matchmaker saw the two of them arguing and sensed something was amiss. She quickly raised her hand to stop them. "Shut up first and take out the money. It's not too late to argue again."

Old Lady Chen raised her hand and pounded her head, then gritted her teeth and told the truth, "Sister Zhao, I'm telling you the truth, our family is out of money right now. Can you talk to Butcher Li and ask for a few days' grace? I'll try to get some money together."

"What, no money?" Matchmaker Zhao was surprised. "That's fifty taels of silver. If I didn't do anything every day and had delicious food every day, it would last me two years. And it's only been a dozen days, and you say you don't have money? Did you eat it?"

Old Mrs. Chen smiled awkwardly, "Big sister, you don't know, isn't my third son going to take the exam for the scholar next year? He has already taken it, so, there is no eldest son in the family."

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhao the matchmaker was furious, her eyes blazing. "Ten taels of silver a year is more than enough for the imperial examination, how could you possibly need fifty? Now you say you don't have the money, but I think you're just playing a trick, trying to get away with the fifty taels. Don't you think about the kind of man Li the butcher is? If he knew you were trying to default on your debt, he'd have your skin peeled off."

Old Lady Chen hurriedly explained, "What are you talking about, eldest sister? How could I dare to have such thoughts? To tell you the truth, I love my youngest son the most. I am worried that he will not have enough food and warm clothes outside. I would rather let my family starve than let them suffer any injustice. So I gave him all 50 taels of silver. Please say a few good words to Li the butcher and ask him to give me ten days or half a month. Then I will guarantee to give him the full 50 taels of silver."

"Stop making excuses and just go and talk to him in person!" Matchmaker Zhao turned her face away and ignored her.

Butcher Li was getting impatient, foaming at the mouth and yelling angrily, "What the hell are you talking about? Give me the money!"

The two big bald guys also followed suit, puffing their beards and glaring.

"Hurry up! If you keep dawdling, we won't be polite to you!"

"That's right, you think we're easy to talk to? If you dare to waste time again, I'll give you a taste of my fist."