Chapter 442 Give up on that idea.
The area under the big locust tree was particularly lively.
"Mother Mingxuan, you're not making this up, are you? Was Miss Lin really pushed into the water by Miss Zheng?"
Madam Sun nodded and described it vividly: "Of course it's true, I heard it from Madam Zheng herself. She said the Lin family are high-ranking officials in the capital, and if their son marries Miss Lin, he can get promoted and become rich. That's why she planned this drowning incident. Think about it, a man saves a woman from the water, a hero saves a beauty, and the woman will definitely want to marry him. Even if Miss Lin doesn't like the young master of the Zheng family, her reputation is ruined, so she can only marry him. Madam Zheng's plan is really brilliant."
"Isn't this forcing Miss Lin to marry her son? This Madam Zheng is no good."
"Isn't Young Master Zheng the man that Zhang Po's niece, Li Xiuhong, married back then? I heard that Li Xiuhong is pregnant with Zheng's child. Ugh, she already has a child, and she still wants to marry a respectable young woman from an honest family. How shameless are the Zheng family?"
“Didn’t we go to the city to see the plays? That’s how it’s portrayed in those plays: a man of low status falls for a woman of high status, so he saves her like a hero; and if the woman of low status wants to marry into a higher social class, she falls into the water. That marriage is guaranteed to happen.”
Madam Sun said mysteriously, "Back then, Zhang's niece was able to marry Young Master Zheng as a concubine, wasn't it all a secret affair? Young Master Zheng had no choice but to take responsibility. I have to say, this trick is disgusting, but it's also undeniably effective..."
"Cough cough!"
A cough interrupted Sun's words.
As soon as Madam Sun looked up and saw Cheng Wanwan walking over, she immediately said, "Sister-in-law, Madam Lin finally found out that it was Madam Zheng who orchestrated this..."
"Don't talk nonsense here." Cheng Wanwan said calmly, "Madam Zheng and Madam Lin are good friends, and the two young ladies are also close friends. The kind of thing you said did not happen. Miss Lin fell into the water by accident, it was just an accident."
Mrs. Sun hurriedly defended herself: "But I heard it with my own ears..."
“His third aunt misheard.” Cheng Wanwan said in a calm tone, “Don’t gossip about the Zheng and Lin families in the village anymore. If someone hears you, you’ll be charged with a serious offense of disrespect.”
Sun shrank her neck.
Both the Zheng and Lin families had officials, and as a village woman, she couldn't afford to offend them, so she had to suppress her gossipy desires.
The others nearby quickly stopped talking and dared not echo Sun's words any further.
At this moment, a young man ran over; he was Sun Xiaolei, the youngest son of Sun's maternal elder brother.
"Auntie, everything at the shop is done." Sun Xiaolei scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "My mother made a pair of insoles for Chunhua and asked me to deliver them to her personally. Can I go to the city to find Chunhua?"
The village canteen only serves lunch, so he has nothing to do after he finishes his work at noon.
Sun beamed with joy. It seemed that her sister-in-law was also interested in marriage. She quickly said, "There's not much work to do this afternoon. You should go quickly and help out."
Sun Xiaolei smiled憨厚ly and turned to walk towards Ping'an County.
Cheng Wanwan frowned slightly: "Third Aunt, are you really sure you want Xiaolei to be your son-in-law?"
"Xiao Lei is so good. I watched him grow up. He's honest and hardworking. He's been working at the shop for so long, and he does all the hard work without ever complaining." Mrs. Sun was very satisfied. "What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Every time Cheng Wanwan went to the canteen, she saw that the boy was working hard. Generally speaking, the people in Guihua Village were very lazy, but Sun Xiaolei was different. He was very honest and hardworking. If he wasn't Chunhua's cousin, she would definitely have wholeheartedly agreed to the marriage.
Besides being related by blood, there's another reason: Chunhua simply doesn't want to marry into that family, so why force her?
“I don’t think it’s good for the relationship to be too close.” She carefully chose her words. “If the couple has any conflicts in the future, won’t you and your family fall out? It’s not worth it.”
“Xiao Lei has a very good temper, it’s impossible for him to have a conflict with Chunhua.” Madam Sun said nonchalantly, “It’s just that Chunhua is too stubborn, she absolutely refuses to agree, but as long as Xiao Lei treats Chunhua well, this girl will be willing to marry him sooner or later.”
Cheng Wanwan was speechless.
Chunhua isn't her daughter, so no matter how much she says, it's useless. It's better to whisper in Old Mrs. Zhao's ear; the old lady's words are more effective.
Sun Xiaolei walked for a long time before finally arriving at Ping'an County.
The Dahe Banquet Restaurant is located at the end of a street. It wasn't a lively place before, but since the Dahe Banquet Restaurant became famous, some shops at the end of the street have seen their business improve.
There was no business in the shop in the afternoon.
Zhao Ergou sat at the counter looking at the ledgers, Dawang was cleaning the warehouse, Yan Tiezi was wiping the table, Cheng Fang was sweeping the floor, and Wu Huiniang and Chunhua were in the kitchen preparing ingredients for the afternoon.
Sun Xiaolei stood at the door, not daring to go in, and called out, "Brother Ergou, is Chunhua here?"
"It's Xiao Lei, come in quickly." Zhao Ergou looked up. "Do you need to see Chunhua? She's busy in the kitchen, you can go directly there."
"Thank you, Brother Er Gou!"
Sun Xiaolei wiped the soles of his shoes outside before stepping over the threshold and going inside.
Chunhua was cleaning a live fish when she slammed a knife into its head. The fish slipped away and fell to the ground.
Just as she was about to bend down to pick it up, a hand picked up the fish from the ground faster than she could.
She looked up and saw Sun Xiaolei. Her previously expressionless face immediately darkened: "Why are you here?"
She didn't dislike her cousin before, but ever since her mother had that absurd idea, she has found him very unpleasant.
"Chunhua, wash your hands and go out to talk to your cousin," Wu Huiniang said with a smile. "Take this plate of pastries out of the kitchen and bring out a cup of tea as well."
Sun Xiaolei quickly waved his hand: "No need to trouble yourself, I'll help with the work."
He picked up a kitchen knife and deftly helped gut the fish, then buried himself in his work, killing the fish and then slaughtering the chickens and ducks.
Wu Huiniang couldn't help but praise, "You look so young, yet you can do everything. But we don't need you here. Don't get your clothes dirty. Go sit in the main hall for a while."
"I've got nothing better to do anyway," Sun Xiaolei said honestly. "My mom told me to come help Chunhua with chores every day from now on. I'm strong, I can do any kind of work..."
Upon hearing this, Chunhua's face darkened.
Does he think he's got her figured out? Is he trying to set up the marriage after just a few conversations?
She rolled up her sleeves, snatched the knife from Sun Xiaolei's hand, and pushed him out of the store: "Go away, get out of here now, and don't ever come back again. I hate seeing you!"
Sun Xiaolei was extremely anxious: "I didn't mean anything by it, I just saw that you were too tired every day, so I came to help you. Don't feel guilty. Also, these insoles, my mother made them for you by hand..."
“You have a ton of farm work to do at home, go back and help your parents!” Chunhua paused, then lowered her voice and said, “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m telling you, no matter what, I will not marry into your Sun family. Forget about it!”
She turned around and slammed the shop door shut.
The people in the shop were all dumbfounded.
Chunhua was always gentle and reserved; this was the first time they had ever seen her get angry.
"Bang bang bang!"
There was a sudden knock on the shop door.
Chunhua gritted her teeth and said, "I told you not to come!"
"Why is the door closed in broad daylight?" Afu's voice rang out from outside. "Open the door, I'm looking for Dawang."
Zhao Dawang quickly said, "Oh, Afu must have something to pass on to Grandpa. Let him in quickly."
Chunhua blushed slightly and opened the shop door.
When Afu came in and saw that Chunhua looked unwell, he asked in surprise, "Who made Chunhua angry?"
"Still asking? Are you trying to get yourself into trouble?" Zhao Dawang put his arm around Afu and walked towards the backyard. "What good stuff did you bring back for my grandfather this time..."
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