With this as a comparison, all my dissatisfaction disappeared.
I'm not afraid of people having ulterior motives, as long as they don't have bad intentions. On the contrary, some people who seem kind and honest, you really don't know what they're thinking until they encounter trouble.
Just like Uncle Huang, if it weren't for this incident, she really wouldn't know who he was.
"What is he really trying to do?" Huang Xiaosan asked, completely bewildered. "Is this guy crazy?!"
The apprenticeship ceremony hasn't even taken place yet, and they're already putting the person in their own home?
What were they thinking? That's incredibly reckless.
“This matter is over, there’s no need to talk about it anymore,” Jiang Nuan said, feeling a little tired. “Your grandfather wanted to select a few people for me to teach, and after thinking about it, I decided to send you three brothers.”
Jiang Nuan knew that Old Man Huang was trying to give her a chance to boost her reputation, but she didn't need it.
On the contrary, the three sons will have to take over the family sooner or later, so it's good for them to go out and get some experience now.
"Teach what?" Huang Xiaosan was completely bewildered. "Learn to read?"
“There’s no need,” Jiang Nuan shook her head. “For farmers, filling their stomachs is the most important thing. Reading and learning to read and write should come later. I plan to have each of you three brothers teach one thing. Your eldest brother will teach arithmetic, your second brother will teach composting, and you will teach planting fruit trees.”
“Planting fruit trees?” Huang Xiaosan looked bewildered. “Mom, I don’t know how. And what is compost? I’ve never heard of it.”
"After the manure ferments, it will form a fertilizer that strengthens the soil. This process is called composting. As for how to plant fruit trees, I will teach you later."
I've never heard of any fertilizer that can strengthen the soil!
"Okay," Huang Xiaosan exclaimed, "Mother knows so much. No wonder some people say that a scholar can know everything without leaving home. Unfortunately, I'm not there yet."
These days, I've learned two or three hundred characters, and apart from being able to write my own name, I feel like nothing has changed from before.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan retorted irritably, "You just haven't read enough books. If you read more books, you'll know more."
“Mom,” Huang Xiaosan said, quickly changing the subject, “It’s already noon, why haven’t Grandma and the others arrived yet?”
"That's really strange," Jiang Nuan murmured. "Could something have happened?"
Something has indeed happened to Lao Jiang's family.
The daughter sent her grandson to pick her up. Grandma Jiang didn't show it on her face, but she was very happy inside.
However, I do mind the unpleasantness from last time.
However, Jiang Xu understood that his mother was not being sincere. After much persuasion (actually, it was just a little persuasion), the old lady reluctantly agreed.
After entrusting their home to their neighbors, the family of five set off for Huangjiakou. Just as they stepped out of the door, a girl in blue stopped them in their tracks.
"It's you," Grandma Jiang looked at the newcomer with suspicion, "What are you doing in Huangjiakou?"
"Old lady," the girl knelt down with a thud, "please have mercy and save me!"
"Mother," Jiang Xu asked, puzzled, "who is this girl?"
“She’s the one the matchmaker arranged last time,” Grandma Jiang said in a low voice. “Let’s see what she’s up to.”
After saying that, Grandma Jiang turned her head and said, "Young lady, we don't seem to know each other very well."
"How can we not know each other?" the girl asked anxiously. "I've inquired; you're the family that arranged the marriage last time."
"Inquired?" Old Mrs. Jiang asked scrutinizingly. "Where did you get this information from? A matchmaker?"
Only a fool would publicize a marriage proposal before the engagement is finalized.
Grandma Jiang was certain that no one except her family knew about this.
Upon hearing this, the girl lowered her head in shame, "I didn't mean to."
Her parents were going to sell her to someone as a concubine. She got the news from her aunt and had no choice but to come and try.
Since this family is so satisfied with themselves, there must be some hope at all.
She was truly fed up with this life of working herself to the bone for her family and then being sold off.
"Whether it was intentional or not is irrelevant. Where did you get this information from? A matchmaker?"
Grandma Jiang's first reaction was that the matchmaker had leaked the information. People who make a living by talking can't be expected to keep their mouths shut.
"I'm sorry," the girl explained, blushing, "my aunt couldn't bear to see me being sold, so she told me all this."
“No,” Old Lady Jiang said speechlessly, “If your parents want to sell you, you should go to your elders or the clan leader. What can we do to help?”
“It’s no use,” she said through tears. “My parents are determined to sell me for money, and no one can persuade them otherwise.”
She thought that her parents would never be so heartless, considering how hard she had worked for the family.
Now I realize that I've been dreaming all along.
She's not even as good as a maid; at least the maid lives a clear and sensible life, unlike herself, who doesn't even have a thought in her mind.
“I say, young lady,” Huang Lao Er bluntly stated, “we’re not related to you at all, so how can we help you? Buy you?”
This girl seems quite clever, so why is she so slow-witted?
Upon hearing this, the girl bit her lip and remained silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Xu tentatively asked, "You wouldn't be thinking of having our family marry you, would you?"
If she doesn't want to be a concubine, then she has to be the principal wife.
It just so happens that their family had proposed marriage, no wonder this girl was interested.
However, this idea is rather naive.
"Uncle," the girl said eagerly, "I am very capable. I can do housework and farm work. I am also very good at taking care of people. You won't regret marrying me."
“That’s not how it works,” Grandma Jiang shook her head. “Let’s not even talk about whether your parents agree or not. Things aren’t that simple. They’re just trying to take advantage of you right now. If you become our daughter-in-law, we’ll suffer too.”
“No way,” the girl shook her head frantically. “A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; they can’t do that.”
"Do you believe that yourself?" Old Mrs. Jiang sighed. "You should leave. We really can't help you."
This child is so pitiful!
But there was nothing she could do.
Her parents clearly don't treat their daughter like a human being. What can outsiders like them do?
Being born into the right family is a skill; if you're unlucky enough to have such terrible parents, unless you're willing to risk everything yourself, no one can help you.
"Please," the girl pleaded, pounding her knees on the ground, "save me."
The visitor's persistent pestering made Old Lady Jiang very unhappy.
"You're too scheming, girl," she said coldly. "You know you're making things difficult for someone, yet you act so humble, as if you'd have no conscience if you didn't help you."
If you truly don't want to be a concubine, beg your clan leader. He certainly won't watch your parents tarnish the clan's reputation. He's just afraid of falling out with his family. Wanting to be a dutiful daughter and escape at the same time? There's no such thing as a free lunch.
After saying that, Grandma Jiang didn't even glance at the man and directly instructed her grandson, "Xiaoshu, let's go, don't worry about her."
Huang Lao Er was always single-minded. Upon hearing this, he didn't even glance at the man and drove away.
After walking quite a distance, Jiang Chao finally peeked out from behind his father, patted his chest, and said with lingering fear, "Finally, we're gone."
"What are you afraid of?" Jiang Xu laughed at her eagerness to avoid him. "The girl isn't going to eat you."
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