Gradually, the original owner frequently mentioned the name Jin Chuyao among the servants.

She also learned that at the spring banquet in the county on a certain day, the person Madam Jin brought was not her, but Jin Chuyao.

Even when she went to inspect the store or collect debts, Madam Jin would bring Jin Chuyao with her.

The original owner could tolerate it once or twice, but she couldn't stand that her own daughter was being neglected every time, so she immediately went to Jin Chuyao's courtyard and made a scene.

Not only did they smash all her things, but they also threatened to kick her out.

Jin Shu's outburst was completely unreasonable in the eyes of the Jin family; it only made her seem arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable.

Madam Jin scolded the original owner of the body a few times, and the mother and daughter started arguing loudly in front of Jin Chuyao.

Madam Jin was also a shrewd woman. She usually spoiled her daughter, but when it came to right and wrong, she was extremely strict with her.

Seeing her mother protecting Jin Chuyao so much, and Jin Shou'an, that good-for-nothing, still speaking up for Jin Chuyao, implying that Jin Shu was ignorant and disobedient.

And just like that, Jin Shu simply dropped a sentence.

"From now on, we will no longer be mother and daughter!!"

The original owner was already furious, and coupled with his eye ailment, his temper became increasingly strange and extreme over time. In a fit of rage, he uttered these extremely unfilial words, which completely broke Madam Jin's heart.

The rift between mother and daughter was thus established.

Even though the two of them still act like an ordinary mother and daughter when they are face to face, Jin Shu knows better than anyone that they can no longer be as intimate as before.

After all, she was a piece of her own flesh and blood, and Madam Jin still doted on Jin Shu. However, once a rift appeared, it was very difficult to bridge.

Jin Shu understood the original owner's madness and extremism.

People with disabilities are naturally sensitive and suspicious. Just then, Jin Chuyao appeared in the mansion as a substitute. The relatives who should have stood firmly on her side all stood on the opposite side, protecting Jin Chuyao while also blaming the original owner for being ignorant.

Unfortunately, the original owner's suspicious and sensitive nature made her the only one in the family to realize that Jin Chuyao was not as docile and sensible as she appeared on the surface.

But once she said it out loud, it would be seen as her jealousy causing trouble for Jin Chuyao for no reason.

From then on, the original owner gradually distanced himself from his family, locked himself in the Begonia Garden, and treated a group of unruly servants as his confidants.

This is why the group from Haitangyuan were able to gang up on Jin Shu.

It's her fault for not telling her family when she was wronged.

Thinking of this, Jin Shu looked in that direction.

Those misty eyes looked somewhat innocent and bewildered because they were lifeless when they looked at things.

Jin Chuyao walked over and sat down next to her.

"You can tell me what's going on directly. Did that man in your yard bully you again?"

Jin Shu usually gets angry because of this.

"Tell you? What can you do? Beat him up for me?"

"I...I can talk to him for you. You're my sister, and I hope you can find a good match."

Jin Shu nodded.

"Well, thank you very much, little sister."

"Your aunt is still angry with you about this. She hopes you can find a normal man to marry. There are so many good men in the county. You don't need to cling to one of them, especially since that person is a poor scholar with nothing."

Your aunt plans to take you with her to this autumn banquet, saying she wants to find you a good husband at the banquet.

This time, you absolutely cannot let your aunt down again.

The Autumn Banquet is one of the two most important festivals in He'an County every year.

There will be a worship ceremony to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

Because He'an County boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, stunning scenery, and a pleasant climate, many powerful and influential people from Beijing would come here for leisurely strolls.

Changju Lake, which is adjacent to Anxian County, has direct access to the capital, making travel between the two places more convenient.

When Jin Shu reached marriageable age, Madam Jin naturally wanted to find her a good husband.

The autumn banquet is the best opportunity. Not only will the powerful and influential people in the county attend, but also high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital. Imperial relatives and nobles would not dare to dream of such a thing, but as the daughter of a sixth-rank county magistrate with real power, she could easily be matched with the son of a fifth-rank honest official.

Unfortunately, Jin Shu had an eye ailment and a bad reputation. Although her family thought she was perfect and deserved the best man in the world, Madam Jin knew in the face of reality that it would be enough for her daughter to marry the son of a seventh-rank official.

We will prepare a generous dowry so that our daughter will not suffer any mistreatment when she goes to her husband's family.

However, there was a reason why Madam Jin did not come to Jin Shu about this matter.

Jin Shu was stubborn and had her sights set on Li Yong. If she had known beforehand that Madam Jin was taking her to the Autumn Banquet to find her a husband, Jin Shu definitely wouldn't have gone.

Therefore, Madam Jin specially asked her to make several beautiful clothes first, and then took the opportunity of Jin Shou'an's recent frequent visits and persuasion between the mother and daughter to repair her relationship with Jin Shu.

After all, they are mother and daughter; there's no deep-seated hatred between them.

But now, Jin Chuyao directly told Jin Shu about this, and made it clear that Madam Jin took her to the autumn banquet in order to marry her off as soon as possible and to break her up with Li Yong.

In the original story, after hearing Jin Chuyao tell her about this, the original owner threw away the several bolts of fine fabric and told Jin Chuyao to tell her that she would never marry anyone other than Li Yong, even if she became an old spinster.

After returning home, Jin Chuyao only needed to repeat what she said, and Madam Jin was so angry that she almost fainted and vomited blood.

Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them.

Jin Shu's eye disease is incurable. When the county magistrate and Madam Jin get old, someone will have to continue to take care of her.

But Li Yong looked aloof and arrogant, and was definitely not the type to humbly take care of others, so Madam Jin would never agree to the two of them being together.

Taking advantage of the autumn banquet, she only wanted to find Jin Shu a reliable partner so that she wouldn't have to suffer any hardship for the rest of her life and could live a leisurely life.

However, the mother and daughter never said anything intimate to each other. The original owner only thought that her mother deliberately separated them, only thinking about marrying her off as soon as possible so that she would have one less burden.

With Jin Chuyao acting as a middleman, all she needs to do is add one or two words to a sentence, and the relationship between the mother and daughter will become extremely tense.

Madam Jin was not easily fooled, and Jin Chuyao dared not deceive her in the slightest.

But Jin Shu is different. She's fragile and sensitive, and she'll explode at the slightest provocation. Jin Chuyao is too good at manipulating her emotions.

"Sister, I do hope that you and that young master Wu will have a good outcome, but Aunt will definitely not agree. You should prepare well for the autumn banquet this time. Who knows, you might find your ideal husband at the banquet?"

After saying this, she silently waited for Jin Shu's next reaction.

Will he just cut up this fine fabric with scissors, or will he just throw the fabric away and continue his madness?

(End of this chapter)