"Whether the deal goes through or not is another matter. Your daughter is not only beautiful but also very skillful. With such ability, finding someone even better won't be difficult. Are you really willing to give her up? Don't go back on your word and make this old woman lose face!"
Matchmaker Li's shrill voice carried a hint of probing, her thick lips opening and closing like a toad waiting for its prey.
At the doorway, Gan Tao's hand froze in mid-air. The sharp voice was like a thorn, making her heart tremble.
She recognized the voice; it belonged to Li, the famous matchmaker from the next village.
Gan Tao had encountered this matchmaker, Li, several times on the road. The way she looked at her was like sizing up livestock waiting to be sold, which was disgusting.
This matchmaker Li is adept at twisting the truth, portraying the mute as someone whose silence is golden, and exaggerating the inability to have sex as someone who remains unmoved by temptation. Countless girls have been deceived into this hellish situation by her!
When the person came to her door demanding an explanation afterward, she retorted confidently, "How did I lie? Isn't being mute just being silent? Isn't being unable to have sex just being averse to women?"
Because of these things, Matchmaker Li's reputation was ruined in the surrounding villages. Families who loved their daughters would chase her away with a broom whenever she came to their door.
However, some men who intend to sell their daughters treat her like an honored guest, even begging her to find a "good family" for their daughters.
Gan Tao felt a chill in her heart—how could such a vicious woman appear in her home?
Just as I was filled with fear, another familiar voice rang out, carrying a strong sense of bitterness and helplessness.
"Sister Li, you have no idea how much I've suffered! You don't know how wild this girl has become! She's filial on the surface, but behind my back... never mind, let's not wash our dirty linen in public!"
Then, his tone changed, becoming resolute: "Don't worry, I will never go back on my word! Just go and tell the Wu family that I agree to this marriage, and let them come to pick up the bride on the appointed day."
Gan Tao knew that voice all too well—it was her mother's!
Gan Tao felt as if struck by lightning; a chill instantly shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
Her mind was buzzing, and fragmented information exploded in her head like firecrackers.
Matchmaker Li shouldn't be here... The Wu family's marriage... Picking up the guests according to the appointed day...
The Wu family... there's only one Wu family within a hundred miles.
The family owned hundreds of acres of fertile land, a two-courtyard house, and several maids.
Although they couldn't compare to the Zhao family, the former richest family that fell from grace, they were still considered a wealthy household by ordinary people.
Two years ago, when the young master of the Wu family proposed, countless girls were eager to marry into the family. But now… anyone who gets involved in this marriage is considered extremely unlucky!
The reason is simple: the young master of the Wu family is a jinx to his wives! In just two years, he married three women, and two of them died!
At first, everyone thought he was just tough, but when the third wife caused trouble, everyone learned the truth—it turned out that the young master was addicted to alcohol and turned into a beast when drunk, abusing his wife in bed!
The first two wives, unable to bear the torment and too ashamed to speak out, could only silently commit suicide. It was only thanks to the third wife's outspokenness that this shameful affair was exposed.
The thought that her mother was willing to push her into a pit of fire for an exorbitant dowry left Gan Tao's mind blank, her reason consumed by rage. She no longer cared about propriety and flung open the door!
In the courtyard, sunflower seed shells were scattered all over the ground. The people inside were startled by the sudden noise. Upon seeing who it was, Matchmaker Li forced a smile:
"Oh dear, the young lady is back. She must be so excited to hear that her good fortune is near that she wants to serve tea to me, Granny Li?"
Looking at that disgusting, hypocritical smile, Gan Tao felt a wave of nausea. Suppressing her anger, she forced out through gritted teeth, "Get out!"
The smile on Matchmaker Li's face vanished instantly, replaced by a gloomy gaze as she stared at Gan Tao and gave a cold laugh:
"Oh, you have quite a temper. With a temper like that, you're bound to be tormented when you get married."
Gan Tao Niang was startled to see her daughter suddenly return. She was initially somewhat uneasy, but upon hearing the anger in Li the matchmaker's words, she immediately forgot everything else and put on a fawning smile, saying obsequiously:
"She's just a child and doesn't know any manners, Sister Li, please don't take it to heart..."
“Of course I won’t argue with a child, but this girl has such a strong personality, I’m afraid she won’t easily agree to the marriage with the Wu family, right?” Matchmaker Li said with a half-smile.
"Agree?" Gan Tao said sternly, "You do..."
"Gan Tao!"
Gan Tao's mother interrupted Gan Tao with a sharp shout, then turned to the matchmaker, Li, and said with a forced smile:
"Marriage is always decided by parents and matchmakers. Her marriage is naturally my decision, so please don't worry!"
"That's fine then. I'll go tell the Wu family." Matchmaker Li didn't even lift her eyelids. She glanced at Gan Tao with disdain, then swayed her fat waist and left with an arrogant air.
When Gan Tao Niang saw that the matchmaker Li had left, her face immediately changed, and she shrieked at her eldest son, "Quick, close the door! Don't let people laugh at us!"
Gan Tao then noticed that her younger brothers were all huddled silently in the corner. Except for the youngest one who looked at her with a blank expression, the others had shifty eyes and didn't dare to meet her gaze.
The younger brother lowered his head and quickly ran to close the door, then disappeared into a corner in a flash.
The courtyard fell silent instantly, the atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
After a long pause, Gan Tao, her voice hoarse, almost squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "You...don't you have anything to say to me?"
The fleeting panic that had crossed Gan Tao Niang's face when her daughter appeared had vanished without a trace, leaving only a numb indifference.
"Since you've heard everything, I don't need to hide it from you anymore. I've arranged a marriage for you with the Wu family, and the wedding date has already been set for one month from now."
You're getting married now, so it's not good for you to go out anymore. Don't go out for the time being, stay home and embroider your wedding dress..."
She narrated calmly, as if she were talking about a trivial matter, without a trace of guilt, unease, or maternal warmth.
Gan Tao's rationality completely collapsed with these seemingly ordinary words.
"Is that what I wanted to ask?! Don't you know what kind of family the Wu family is?! You actually want to marry me off to a place like that?!"
Tears welled up in Gan Tao's eyes, her face filled with confusion and despair.
"I told you I would support you, why... why did you do this?!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
