Chapter 163 Marriage Proposal
"mother……"
Tears streamed down Xie Boyu's face as he knelt beside Xie San Niang's bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Doctor Yan had said before that Xie San Niang's heart meridian was damaged and she would not live much longer. Today, with the chaos in her family, she was so anxious that she lost all hope.
If medication had been used, it might have been able to prolong the illness for another year or two, but now…
Doctor Yan sighed and patted Xie Boyu on the shoulder.
This means it's time to prepare for the old lady's funeral.
Xie Chengzhi knew he had caused trouble, so he didn't dare to say anything more. Zheng Shu wanted to say something, but he forcefully stopped her.
"Boss..."
Xie Boyu said, "My son is here."
Xie San Niang pushed his hand away and looked at Hua Nan Zhi.
Hua Nanzhi knelt down in front, and Xie Sanniang said, "Everything that needed to be arranged last time has been arranged, so I'm relieved. From now on, the family..."
"mother!"
Xie Boyu cried and said, "You're still healthy, please don't think too much. Mother, even if you don't think about us, you should think about Jingyuan."
“Jingyuan is not married yet, and you… will have to wait until Jingyuan’s child is born.”
Xie Jingyuan also said, "Mother, I can't bear to part with you."
He was Xie San Niang's most beloved son, the youngest son in the Xie family, and the one she doted on the most. At this moment, she was also the one who felt the most heartache and reluctance to part with him.
Xie Jingyuan held her hand, tears streaming down his face.
"That's right... Jingyuan is not married yet."
Xie Sanniang forced herself to speak to Hua Nanzhi, "Didn't you say a few days ago that there was a daughter of a wealthy family in the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau who was gentle, kind, and intelligent?"
Hua Nanzhi nodded: "Yes, Mother, it's a girl from the Jiang family. She's quiet by nature, filial, and gentle and considerate."
"You...you must see your third uncle get married with your own eyes. The new bride needs your approval and judgment."
Hua Nanzhi wiped away her tears, her heart aching.
When she first entered the family, she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law because Xie San Niang was too domineering and wanted to control everyone in the household.
But later, her feelings for Xie Boyu gradually faded, and Xie San Niang never blamed her.
Xie San Niang always said that if people can't get along, it's not just one person's problem. If she's unwilling to stay in the inner quarters, she can be given a portion of the Xie family business.
In her youth, she felt it was improper for a woman to show her face in public, so she refused.
Years later, Hua Nanzhi finally understood her mother-in-law's intentions.
Hua Nanzhi was truly heartbroken, and she held Xie Sanniang's hand, weeping incessantly.
Xie San Niang was somewhat moved by her words, but her mind was elsewhere.
If she were to die at this time, her Jingyuan would have to observe mourning, which would truly waste Jingyuan's prime years.
Perhaps it was this strong will that sustained her, and she managed to sit up halfway.
"If you've heard that the Jiang family girl is good, then go ahead and propose marriage. Given the special circumstances, ask the Jiang family if they'd be willing to set the wedding date within a month."
"If she's willing, I'll secretly add another dowry for that girl."
Everyone knew that the dowry would be substantial.
Hua Nanzhi felt a lump in her throat, then nodded: "I'll send someone to the Jiang family to inquire."
The Jiang family was quite surprised when they received the news.
Zhou He was flattered that the Xie family would send an official matchmaker to their door.
However, upon hearing that the wedding needed to be completed within a month, she felt somewhat reluctant.
This hasty decision made the woman feel somewhat embarrassed...
"May I ask why the Xie family is in such a hurry?"
Zhou He didn't give a definitive answer, only replying to the matchmaker that she needed to consider it for a few days. She then met with Shen Yuanzhu outside to inquire about the situation.
Shen Yuanzhu lowered her voice: "Two days ago, my second uncle did some unclean things, which angered the old lady. The doctor said... it's not good."
These three words, "not good," immediately gave Zhou He a clue.
If the marriage proposal is not agreed to now, and the formalities of marriage are not followed, it is likely that the two will not be able to get married until Xie Jingyuan has finished his mourning period.
Three years...too many variables.
Zhou He pursed her lips and said calmly, "In that case, we must agree to this marriage no matter what."
"You think highly of Xie Jingyuan?"
Shen Yuanzhu was puzzled, but saw Zhou He shake her head, somewhat disheartened: "As Jiang Zao's grandparents got older, they became increasingly close to their son."
"My care for her over the past ten years cannot compare to the joy of having my own flesh and blood around her."
"So I want to arrange Jiang Zao's marriage while the two elders are not completely confused and still have a little bit of guilt towards me."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded, feeling a pang of sadness but unable to offer any words of comfort.
"It's over. You don't need to be sad for me. Most women in the world have gone through this."
"No matter how much effort you put into your in-laws, it's still not as good as that good-for-nothing son who can't be helped."
Zhou He finished the wine in her cup and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
"That's settled then. Marrying into the Xie family will ensure that Jiang Zao no longer has to live a life of poverty."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded, completely agreeing.
Zhou He returned home. Although the Jiang family held official positions, her husband's family was not a family of scholars for generations.
Previously, supporting his son's education and examination had already depleted the family's savings. Now, with the meager salary from the textile and dyeing bureau, supporting the family was even more difficult.
When Lord Jiang was away on assignment and had not yet returned, Zhou He had used money from her family to support her husband's family, but now...
She walked past the two people's courtyard with disgust and pushed open the door to Jiang Zao's room.
After explaining the situation to Jiang Zao, Zhou He said, "Although it was rushed, this marriage is the best that your mother could choose for you."
Jiang Zao clutched the hem of her clothes, looking somewhat uneasy.
Zhou He asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like Xie Jingyuan?"
Jiang Zao shook her head, and after a moment she muttered in a low voice, "Mother, I just think the marriage is too hasty and makes us a laughing stock."
"For a young woman, the traditional betrothal and marriage ceremony takes one or two years, and she's getting married this month..."
She pursed her lips, her eyes timid: "I'm afraid of being laughed at by that family. Besides, she comes from an official family, while I can only marry into a merchant family..."
Jiang Zao tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes slightly, feeling somewhat unwilling.
The Jiang family also has a concubine's daughter. But in reality, what difference does a family of their status make between legitimate and illegitimate children?
It's just a title; that woman lives a much better life than her.
That concubine and her daughter both came from impoverished backgrounds and were not as gentle as the girls from Suzhou. The way that mother and daughter acted...
Zhou He shook her head, unwilling to think about it anymore: "Life is what you live. Don't be fooled by the fact that she married an official. He's your father's colleague, and his family isn't much better off than ours."
"Little Zao'er, when you reach my age, you'll realize that your father's official rank, which is as insignificant as a sesame seed, is nothing in Suzhou Prefecture."
"Only by marrying into the Xie family can you live a life of luxury. Even if she looks down on you now and laughs at you for marrying a merchant, she will only feel sad and jealous when she sees you wearing gold and silver in the future."
Seeing that Jiang Zao was still somewhat reluctant, Zhou He sighed: "If you are not willing, your mother will help you find someone else. Your mother will refuse that matchmaker tomorrow."
Looking at her own damp, washed-out ruqun and smock, Jiang Zao twisted her fingers, utterly unable to make up her mind...
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