"Come inside and sit down."
Grandma Shen glanced at the food box Qiao Lian'er was holding and led the three of them to the main room.
Qiao Lian'er looked around the Shen family's courtyard. In one of the warehouses, there were bags of rice and flour piled up, emitting a unique smell of rice and flour.
She secretly wondered to herself, over the years the Qiao family had often gone hungry, yet the Shen family, as their childhood friend, had never helped the Qiao family.
Although the Qiao family wouldn't make such a request, the Shen family's lack of action seems rather indifferent.
Upon entering the main room, several beechwood armchairs were placed near the shrine. The shrine and the eight-immortal table were both made of oak and were exquisitely crafted, featuring carvings and lacquerwork. They were probably purchased directly, which is rare in rural farmhouses.
In the middle of the lobby, there was a low table with tea sets, a kettle, and a tea canister containing tea leaves.
It seems the Shen family is indeed quite wealthy.
"Liu and Shen Xiu are busy in the kitchen. If you need anything, just tell me." Old Mrs. Shen sat down opposite them. She had brought a broom with her at some point, as if she were about to go about her business.
Grandma Qiao glanced at Qiao Lian'er and gestured for her to take out the desserts, but Qiao Lian'er didn't react and just held the food box.
As far as Qiao Lian'er was concerned, Old Lady Shen didn't show any appreciation. There were tea leaves on the table, but she wouldn't let the kitchen bring hot water to make tea. Why did she bring out such a delicious dessert?
Whether the marriage goes through or not, the host family hasn't even shown any interest, so why should she bother trying to win them over?
Seeing that Old Mrs. Shen remained motionless and the tea set looked unusually deserted, the Qiao elders felt that the atmosphere was a bit awkward. In the past, when Old Mr. Shen was alive, the two families interacted frequently and warmly, as naturally as flowing water, but now it seemed as if something was separating them.
The Qiao family members are known for their straightforward and honest nature, so they were quite uncomfortable in this kind of atmosphere.
Old Man Qiao spoke up: "Sister-in-law Shen, our two families have known each other for so many years. Old Man Shen and I have been close since childhood, like brothers. Even though he is no longer here, he will always be my most important old friend."
"I know, I know," Grandma Shen nodded. "Everyone in the village can see that you're doing well."
Even though Grandma Shen was smiling politely, Qiao Lian'er could still tell that there was a perfunctory tone in her words, and the smile on her face didn't really reach her heart.
“A year after Xi’er was born, our two families arranged a marriage between the children and signed a betrothal letter. We thought that now that the two children have grown up, Shen Liang is sixteen and Xi’er is fifteen, it’s time to discuss their marriage.”
Old Man Qiao spoke very sincerely, but Old Lady Shen's smile had an added subtle twist.
It seems so. See, they really did come to talk about this.
Grandma Shen smiled, but then sighed.
"He's reached the age, but as you all know, my son Shenliang is studying mathematics in town. He's only been there for three months, and it will take him at least two or three years to master it."
"If you get married now, you will inevitably be distracted. If you don't study well, you won't have a good future. How will you support your family then?"
Grandma Qiao said, "It's alright, Sister-in-law Shen. After you get married, Xi'er can take good care of the household, and Shen Liang can just focus on his studies. This will actually help him share the burden, and he won't have to worry about anything."
"It's not that simple. Men change after they get married. Even if their wives are good helpmates, they will always have something on their minds and can't be completely devoted. You should understand that if Shen Liang becomes a peasant, whoever marries him will suffer."
"Why would I need to work as a peasant? The Shen family already has almost two shops," Qiao Lian'er thought to herself.
Grandma Qiao had no choice but to continue to put on a long face: "It's not that I'm saying they should get married right now. The two children are both grown up. Why don't we formally settle down first and have a small engagement banquet? We can pick a date to get married when Shen Liang has learned enough."
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