These past few days!

Although Shen Yunsheng did not go to Li Hongyu's house, she had already thought of a solution. She originally planned to have breakfast before going there, but unexpectedly, Xiang Shi arrived.

"Aunt Xiang, why did the Huang family break off the engagement?" Shen Yunsheng frowned slightly. She planned to find out the ins and outs of the matter before helping the Xiang family solve the problem.

“I…I heard from Matchmaker Wan that Madam Huang is very dissatisfied with my Hongyu. It seems that she already knows that Hongyu is unwilling to marry into the family.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunsheng roughly understood the whole story. She was 100% certain that Li Dashan had accepted money from the Huang family; otherwise, they wouldn't have asked him to pay money for no reason.

"Aunt Xiang, don't worry. There's still room for maneuver. Let's go find Matchmaker Wan first and see if we can get more information from her."

Madam Xiang looked worried. "Yun Sheng, the people who came to break off the engagement are Matchmaker Wan and Huang Zhong, the head steward of the Huang family. They say we deceived them and demand that we pay them money."

Shen Yunsheng pondered a solution. The Huang family's initiative to break off the engagement was a great thing for Li Hongyu.

In fact, all of this was arranged by Xiao Jingchuan.

He knew Li Dashan's greed and shamelessness, which is why he used the identity of Young Master Qingyu to meet Master Huang and ask him to teach Li Dashan a lesson.

Xiao Jingchuan was just about to send Xiang Shi away so he could be honest with his wife when she asked with a smile, "Husband, what do you think about this?"

"The Huang family is demanding compensation, probably because Uncle Dashan accepted a bribe but then went back on his word."

Xiao Jingchuan made up a casual remark, but he knew in his heart that as a husband, he should do his best to protect his wife.

He knew that his wife had been working hard to manage the family and had put in a lot of effort and sweat.

All he could do was silently support her from behind and help her solve some of her problems.

Although this matter seemed simple, it was actually the result of his careful planning. He hoped that by doing this, his wife could have some peace of mind and no longer have to worry about these trivial matters.

Xiang couldn't help but shed tears again. Xiao Jingchuan had indeed guessed correctly; her husband had indeed accepted money from the other party. As for why the Huang family broke off the engagement, she didn't know.

She feared that after her husband resolved the Huang family's issues, he would sell their eldest daughter to someone else.

"Yun Sheng, I have no other choice but to come to you. You must help Hong Yu!"

Xiang grabbed Shen Yunsheng's hand excitedly. She was a woman who had married far away and was not doing well. She was too embarrassed to ask her family for help. Among the people around her, Shen Yunsheng was the only one she could rely on. Today, she was willing to swallow her pride and ask Shen Yunsheng to help them.

"Aunt Xiang, don't cry, let's go to your house first."

Shen Yunsheng gently comforted Xiang Shi. The couple exchanged a glance and then accompanied Xiang Shi home together.

After half a cup of tea

Shen Yunsheng and his wife arrived at the Xiang family's house. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Li Dashan beating and scolding Li Hongyu.

Matchmaker Wan and the steward Huang were also present.

When Shen Yunsheng saw Li Dashan kick Li Hongyu, he quickly stepped forward to stop him, saying, "Uncle Dashan, this is not Hongyu's fault. Even if you beat her to death, it won't solve the fundamental problem."

“Yun Sheng! Hong Yu ruined this marriage. The Huang family not only wants to break off the engagement, but also demands two hundred taels of silver in compensation from us.”

After being pulled away by Shen Yunsheng, Li Dashan complained to Shen Yunsheng that he felt his eldest daughter was a money-loser. She not only failed to get married, but also caused him distress.

Xiao Jingchuan looked at Li Dashan seriously, "Uncle Dashan, did you take money from the Huang family? Otherwise, why would they make you pay money?"

Li Dashan's eyes flickered, and he stammered, unable to speak.

At this moment, the matchmaker, Wan, stepped forward and said, "Oh dear, this matter is really not the fault of the Li family's daughter. The blame lies with her father for being too greedy. He had already accepted our deposit, but then he added more dowry at the last minute. Now that they know the truth, of course they want an explanation."

Shen Yunsheng understood the whole story and immediately looked at Li Dashan.

“Uncle Dashan, this marriage shouldn’t have been forced in the first place. Hongyu has her own ideas, and you should respect them. As for the compensation from the Huang family, we can discuss and resolve it.”

After hearing this, Li Dashan calmed down a bit and deeply regretted adding the bride price at the last minute.

Before Li Dashan could speak, Butler Huang smiled and looked at Shen Yunsheng and her husband. Before he left, his master had specifically instructed him to follow Shen Yunsheng's arrangements. Although Shen Yunsheng was just an unknown peasant woman, she had a powerful husband whom the Huang family could not afford to offend.

Matchmaker Wan gave Steward Huang a meaningful look, and Steward Huang smiled and looked at Shen Yunsheng, "Young lady, what is your relationship with Miss Hongyu? How should I address you?"

Shen Yunsheng smiled faintly, "My name is Shen Yunsheng, and I am Li Hongyu's good friend."

This time, the matchmaker Wan also benefited from visiting Li Hongyu's house. Before Shen Yunsheng could speak again, she smiled and chimed in.

"Steward Huang, this Madam Shen is a fair person. We can ask her to be a witness and cancel this marriage."

Butler Huang nodded and took out the marriage certificate, tearing it to shreds right in front of Shen Yunsheng.

“Madam Shen, this treacherous person is not worthy of being related to our Huang family by marriage. From now on, Miss Hongyu is free.”

Li Dashan asked cautiously, "Then... what about the penalty for breach of contract? Do you still want it?"

"What do you think?" Butler Huang rolled his eyes at Li Dashan. If their third young master wasn't mentally challenged, they wouldn't have taken a liking to Li Dashan's daughter.

Li Hongyu sneered. She couldn't wait for Butler Huang to demand more liquidated damages, preferably by taking her father to pay off his debts, so that he would stop committing further evil deeds.

Shen Yunsheng gave Li Hongyu a wink, telling her not to worry, that she would take care of everything.

Matchmaker Wan pressured Li Dashan, saying, "Master Li, you'd better hurry up and pay the money back to Steward Huang. If this matter gets out of hand, it won't do you any good."

After thinking for a moment, Shen Yunsheng smiled and said to Butler Huang, "Butler Huang, could we extend the penalty for breach of contract for a few days? After all, Uncle Dashan can't come up with so much money all at once."

Butler Huang glanced at Shen Yunsheng, then at Li Dashan, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Alright, then we'll grant you a few more days. However, this money can't be delayed any longer."

Li Dashan nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Definitely, definitely."

Shen Yunsheng continued, "Then it's settled. Don't worry, Steward Huang, Uncle Dashan will return the money to you as soon as possible."

After Steward Huang and Matchmaker Wan left, Shen Yunsheng turned to Li Dashan and said, "Uncle Dashan, Hongyu is a good girl. It might be a good thing if this marriage doesn't happen. As for the penalty for breach of contract, you can borrow it from your relatives first and pay it back slowly later."

Li Dashan frowned helplessly, "Yun Sheng, I... I only have ten taels of silver on hand. Can you help me think of a way?"

Shen Yunsheng chuckled to herself. The opportunity had arrived, and she had to seize it to help Li Hongyu escape.

"Uncle Dashan, I have a good idea to help you, but I'm afraid you won't be willing."