Chapter 93 Rival in Love

The Xue family's mother learned about Xue Huai'an and Song Yushu's affair from a relative.

Zhu was a relative of Xue's mother's family, and the two families had frequent interactions since Xue's mother and Xue Huai'an returned.

"The old lady doesn't know? It's all over the county, they've even put Huai'an and the restaurant owner together, I wonder what they're up to," Zhu said hurriedly after hearing this, wanting to find out what was going on, but Xue's mother was completely unaware.

"How can we take the rumors in the county seriously? I really hope he can find someone to settle down with, but unfortunately, I haven't seen him find anyone he likes all these years," Xue's mother said, not taking the matter seriously.

"Why not ask Huai'an? After all, scholars value their reputation most. If there's really no connection, it's best to distance yourself," Zhu Shi said, seeing Xue's mother so calm. She also felt that the rumors were unbelievable and breathed a sigh of relief for her daughter.

“He has his own ideas, why does this old woman like me need to interfere?” Xue’s mother had initially thought of finding Xue Huai’an another woman, but after being rejected by Xue Huai’an one after another, she had long since given up on the idea and stopped interfering in his affairs.

"That's true, but Huai'an is only thirty years old now, and he's a teacher at the best academy in the county. It's normal for him to be targeted. He should get married sooner rather than later, otherwise some ill-intentioned people will find an opportunity to take advantage of him and ruin his reputation for nothing," Zhu said, taking the opportunity to bring up Xue Huai'an's marriage again.

"Qiuyue is a good person, but it's a pity that Huai'an doesn't have the heart for it. Let the younger generation handle their own affairs. You can't force things."

How could Xue's mother not understand her thoughts? However, Xue Huai'an had clearly told her before that he had no romantic feelings for Zhu's daughter and asked her not to interfere. She couldn't force her son to marry Jiang Qiuyue.

Zhu felt bad upon hearing this. Her daughter was excellent in both appearance and temperament, and it wouldn't have been bad if she had married a son from a wealthy family. But she had fallen for Xue Huai'an, who was more than ten years older than her. Unfortunately, her daughter was unrequited. As her mother, how could she not feel sorry for her daughter?

After seeing Zhu off, Madam Xue thought for a moment and then sent someone to fetch Xue Huai'an.

"You haven't had any women around you all these years, so why are there rumors circulating in the county about you and that restaurant owner?"

"It's not a rumor; my son has long admired her."

"Is this really true?" Xue's mother was truly shocked by his words. Over the years, she had long given up on the idea of ​​him remarrying, but she never expected that he would suddenly come to his senses.

“It’s true, but she doesn’t want to talk about marriage yet. She only said that we should spend more time together and we will know what’s going on. I hope Mother won’t interfere.” Xue Huai’an still didn’t want to put too much pressure on Song Yushu. Anyway, she already had her own place in her heart, so there was no need to push her too hard.

"Since you've made up your mind about her, I don't want to interfere. But what is that woman's character like?" Seeing how protective he was of that woman in his words, Xue's mother knew he was serious. However, after hearing Zhu's words, she became somewhat worried.

"If they weren't all of good character, why would my son associate with them?" Xue Huai'an knew that Madam Zhu had come today and must have said something that might have made his mother worry, so he spoke up to explain, so as not to make her think too much.

“Since that’s the case, then so be it. But does Qingyao know about this? She’s still young. If she misunderstands things, you, as her father, will have to talk to her and make things clear,” Mother Xue said, giving her son a word of advice as she thought of her granddaughter.

"Qingyao already knew about this."

"Alright, hurry up and get on with your business. It's so boring to keep it from an old lady like me," Old Mrs. Xue said, annoyed, and shooed her away.

Upon hearing the old lady's words, Xue Huai'an felt a rare pang of guilt and exchanged a few more words of greeting before leaving.

Song Yushu waited anxiously for several days, but when she didn't see Xue's mother come, she felt relieved and focused on running her restaurant.

Her only problem now is that these diners always ask when her wedding with Xue Huai'an will be held, and they're all waiting to drink the wedding wine. She can only change the subject.

"Are you the proprietress of this delicious restaurant?"

When Song Yushu heard someone ask her a question, she looked up and saw a woman scrutinizing her critically.

"Is this lady here for a meal?" Song Yushu asked calmly.

"Mother, let's find a place to sit first. You can bring out a few of your signature dishes," said the woman behind the woman, who had a gentle demeanor. She glanced at Song Yushu and then spoke.

“There are private rooms upstairs. The guests can go up first. Erni, you take the two guests up.” Song Yushu treated them as ordinary guests. As long as they didn’t cause trouble, a little problem could be ignored.

Jiang Qiuyue was afraid that Lin's temperament would cause trouble, so she quickly pulled Lin upstairs.

"What are you doing? I just saw her. That woman is somewhat pretty, but how can she compare to you? And she has two children this big. I don't know how Xue Huai'an could have fallen for her! He must be blind!" Lin entered the private room and, completely ignoring Xiong Erni's presence, started babbling on and on.

Jiang Qiuyue looked embarrassed under Xiong Erni's strange gaze. After everyone left, she began to speak to Lin Shi: "Mother! If you continue to be so unreasonable, I will never come out with you again!"

"I did this for you! And now you're blaming me. I picked out so many men for you, but you insisted on choosing someone like Xue Huai'an and even wanted to marry him as a second wife! What could I do?" Lin felt bad after hearing her words. What could she do about her precious daughter?

“I know Mother is worried about me. I thought that with time I would eventually win him over, but now that he has someone he loves, why should I chase after him and slander him? This time I just wanted to see what his beloved is like. Mother, there's no need to make such a scene.”

Jiang Qiuyue was not an ungrateful person. She knew Lin's temperament well and would usually give her some pointers. This time, Lin was so agitated because she wanted to stand up for her. But matters of love cannot be forced, and she was not the kind of villain who would destroy other people's relationships.

"Alright, alright! You're too soft-hearted. It's only because you still have me, your mother, to protect you at home. But since you've said you can let go of Xue Huai'an, then tomorrow I'll help you find a suitable husband so you won't be looked down upon!" Lin Shi said, bringing up Jiang Qiuyue's marriage again.

Jiang Qiuyue was also helpless, but seeing that she had changed her mind, she did not refute. Back then, she had refused to let her family arrange a marriage for her in order to wait for Xue Huai'an. Now that she was eighteen, she could be considered an old maid.

After Xiong Erni came down from the second floor, she went to find Song Yushu to explain the background of the mother and daughter.

"A love rival? No way! That girl is so young, she'll find someone better. Alright, go get back to work!" Song Yushu was a little confused by Xiong Erni's words.