Cheng Taotao was practically being dragged along by Widow Zhang, but Widow Zhang was so focused on getting away from this uncomfortable place that she didn't notice anything unusual about Cheng Taotao.

Zhao Yan wore a light blue robe and black cloth shoes. He had a serene face, a slender build, bright eyes, and long, black hair tied up in a bun.

Especially when he speaks, his voice is clear and gentle.

When Cheng Taotao was young, she didn't know what kind of ideal man she would marry until she met Zhao Yan.

She felt that only a man like him was worthy of her.

Instead of a burly, dull, and honest man like Zhao Dagou. Although, for now, Zhao Dagou seems to treat her quite well.

Cheng Taotao was lost in her own thoughts and paid no attention to what the women were saying.

After they had finished talking and left, Cheng Taotao couldn't help but ask Widow Zhang, "Auntie, who was that person just now?"

Widow Zhang followed Cheng Taotao's finger and pointed in the direction of Zhao Yan's house, then looked at Cheng Taotao with that same gaze.

She suddenly understood something.

"Oh, you mean the scholar from our village? His name is Zhao Yan. He passed the imperial examination this year and I heard that the academy and the county magistrate rewarded his family with one hundred taels of silver."

Zhang the widow had never witnessed the glorious scene when Zhao Yan had just passed the imperial examination and become a scholar.

At that time, she worked in the mine every day, leaving early and returning late, completely out of touch with the affairs of the village.

However, that one hundred taels of silver was something every household was talking about.

One hundred taels of silver! Everyone says that Zhao Yan's mother is incredibly lucky to have such a promising son like Zhao Yan.

Cheng Taotao couldn't help but gasp; she was also stunned by the hundred taels of silver.

"Then...then he's not young anymore, is there any marriage proposal?" Cheng Taotao looked at Widow Zhang, then, as if afraid she might misunderstand, quickly added, "I have a younger sister on my family, if..."

"Don't even think about it," Widow Zhang interrupted with a hint of disdain. "He's a future scholar who's about to pass the imperial examinations. He's just waiting to pass the exams next year. When he does, he'll be good enough to marry not only a daughter of an official, but even a princess from the palace."

What Widow Zhang said was indeed true.

The emperor had many princesses, and there were precedents of bestowing titles upon the princesses who won first place each year and were particularly favored by the emperor.

Cheng Taotao silently shut her mouth, not knowing what else to say.

Widow Zhang's shrewd eyes darted around, "But in our area, Zhao Yan isn't the only one with better conditions."

Cheng Taotao looked at Widow Zhang in confusion. What did she mean by that?

Widow Zhang explained, "You know the mine next to our village, right?"

Cheng Taotao nodded; she had heard about it before. A few years ago, when the county came to recruit workers, many men from their village signed up to work in the mines.

"The director there is quite handsome, seventeen or eighteen years old and still unmarried. He's from the capital, after all. By the way, do you see those two rows of blue-tiled houses in our village?" Widow Zhang pointed to the blue-tiled houses at the village entrance with immense pride.

"That was built by Director Song specifically for his elderly mother, so she could live there in her old age. She's good-looking and filial, but her marriage is still unsettled," Widow Zhang said, clicking her tongue in admiration.

She had dreamed of getting close to Director Song, but she had been working in the mine for a year and rarely had the chance to see him.

Before that old lady came, she could still find a slick-haired man to meet her every now and then.

Ever since that old lady from Beijing came, the people in the mine have been wary of her like she's a wolf.

Especially her maids, who spoke coldly and sarcasticly to her.

Widow Zhang was enthusiastic for a while, but then she was doused with buckets of cold water and her enthusiasm was completely dampened.

Over time, she stopped dreaming about it.

However, seeing Cheng Taotao's thoughtful expression today, she couldn't help but want to stir things up a bit.

Widow Zhang also wanted to see, while others looked on with longing but unable to get it.

Cheng Taotao's thoughts were somewhat complicated, but ultimately, it was because she hadn't thoroughly investigated the situation in Changfeng Village before marrying into the village without fully understanding the situation.

It's all that old man's fault; he just used his words to fool her and her parents.

Fortunately, she has a younger sister who is also quite pretty. It seems she'll have to make some time to go back and bring her sister to stay here for a while.

If I could find an opportunity to get to know Zhao Yan, or Director Song, what if we hit it off? These young men and women are so close, who knows, maybe we'd find someone we like.

When Tao returned to the Zhao family home, she announced that she was going to work in the city.

Zhao Xiangbei, Zhao Daniu, and Zhao Tiezhu didn't say anything. Anyway, they were all grown up and could manage their own affairs.

Zhao Fengnian, however, was only six or seven years old, and they were somewhat reluctant to part with him.

He tugged at Tao's sleeve and murmured, "Mother, if you go to the city, will I never see you again...?"

Just like Sister Wanzi, Second Aunt only comes back every now and then.

Before Tao could speak, Zhao Xiangbei said, "Fengnian, you're a little man now, don't always cling to your mother."

He thought for a moment, looked at Tao, and said gently, "Working in the city is better than staying at home. This job was introduced by my second sister-in-law, which is a sign of respect for us. I have to take the bus to the city every day, so it's convenient for you to come back if you want."

Tao nodded, sighed, and said hesitantly, "I'm just worried about Fengnian; he still needs to study. And our mother needs someone to take care of her too."

Wan Cunhua held her bowl, but had no appetite.

Hearing this, she glanced at me with her shrewd eyes, smiled, and said, "Mother, you don't need to worry about that. I can manage all the housework and cooking by myself at home. You can go to the city to earn money without worry."

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