Zhao Qingyan stuck out her tongue. She had acted impulsively today. If she had known that kid was so easy to deal with, she would have done it already. Sigh, she miscalculated.
Zhao Qingyan thought to herself, but dared not show it, for fear that her second aunt would pull her ear.
When Huang returned from town and heard about Zhao Qingyan's heroic deeds, she pointed at Zhao Qingyan but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
Finally, she plopped down in a chair, tears streaming down her face, which terrified all the women present.
They quickly tried to comfort and coax her, and after crying for a while, Huang finally stopped crying.
"You silly girl, you're usually so clever, but there's nothing you can't handle, yet you insist on ruining your reputation."
That's bad enough, but you actually dragged that kid Xu into it. That kid has had it bad enough already.
Besides, he's only a student in the imperial examinations; are you trying to ruin his future?
Zhao Qingyan was stunned, her mind a little foggy.
"Grandma, are you worried about me or that kid? How did I ruin his future?"
Huang slammed his hand on the table.
"Of course I'm worried about you. I was thinking that in the future, when your father and the others pass the imperial examinations and our family's reputation is elevated, you can find a good family and live a life where you can be waited on hand and foot."
But if you don't marry that young man Xu after what you did today, who else would dare to marry you?
At least the people in our village won't dare to act as matchmakers for you anymore.
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. So many eyes saw it all today.
Your reputation now, sigh...
Furthermore, people will spread rumors that you are promiscuous, that you kissed that young man Xu, but then went on to find someone else.
That's not all. There's a real possibility that rumors will spread that you and that young Xu have been having an affair for a long time, but you've never made it public.
If Xu boy's life ends here and he doesn't leave Zhao Family Village, that's fine. But once he passes the imperial examination and goes out into the world, people will still spread rumors that he started a relationship with someone and then abandoned them.
Just think, it's making me, an old woman, so upset. How could you be so thoughtless? What kind of mess is this?
Zhao Qingyan was a little confused by Huang's assumption, thinking, "Is it really that serious?" Upon further reflection, she realized it was indeed, and said awkwardly,
"So, Grandma, what do you suggest we do? Things have come to this point; is there any way to salvage the situation?"
Mrs. Huang gave her most beloved granddaughter a look of disappointment and frustration, and then calmly began to ponder the matter.
Fifteen minutes later, Madam Huang looked up at Zhao Qingyan.
"The best solution now is for you to get engaged to that young Xu."
That way, neither of you will be bothered by rumors. Besides, that young man Xu comes from a respectable family and is all alone. After you marry into the family, you won't have in-laws to take care of, and no one will set rules for you.
Otherwise, with your temper, if you were to marry into a family with a bunch of distant relatives, it would probably be either constant chaos or you'd break everyone's bones.
If that's the case, you might be divorced by your husband's family and they might say you're unfilial and unvirtuous. Your grandmother doesn't want you to be tainted by such a stigma.
If you have no objections, deciding on that young man, Xu, is actually a good option.
That young man was already a student of the Imperial Academy at a young age. If his parents hadn't passed away, he would probably be a scholar by now.
So, marrying him isn't a bad deal for you; you're actually getting a good deal.
Zhao Qingyan pointed to her nose, "Grandma, am I that bad?"
Huang rolled her eyes at her.
"You are not bad at all. In Grandma's eyes, you are perfect in every way."
可是在外人眼里，不说别的，就你那一身的大力气，一般人还不敢娶呢。生怕被你揍死。呵呵……”
As she spoke, Huang laughed.
"Oh my, I've been thinking about what kind of family you'll marry into. I've only been thinking about the future. But what a coincidence, there's a young man like this in the village."
Grandma remembers this boy; he was fair-skinned and clean-cut, and looked like a scholar.
I wonder what it's like now; I haven't seen it in so long.
Zhao Qingyan wanted to die, but also wanted to be saved. "Grandma, I'm still young, there's no rush."
Huang glanced at Zhao Qingyan.
"We didn't make you get married right away, we just got engaged first."
Don't tell Grandma that the boy isn't good-looking enough for you.
"Given your obsession with pretty girls, if someone you met today was old and ugly, would you have the heart to kiss them?"
Zhao Qingyan fiddled with her fingers, "But I don't really know them, they're just from the same village..."
"We're not asking you to get married right away, it's just an engagement. What are you worried about? Why don't you find out more about it first?"
You're only 13. If you still don't like the guy after getting to know him for two years, then you should consider breaking off the engagement.
"At worst, we can just give them a bigger apology."
And so, in this way, Zhao Qingyan's other half was tentatively decided, across lifetimes.
As for whether the other party agrees, that depends on the outcome of the matchmaker's mediation.
Tu Haoyu ran towards the town while crying. After running for a quarter of an hour, he was too exhausted to continue and slowly walked towards Wufang Town.
Fortunately, a passing oxcart came along. The old man driving the cart saw Tu Haoyu, a refined young man, walking and crying, and was very worried that something might happen to him.
"Young man, need a ride? If you're going to town, this old man will give you a ride."
Tu Haoyu wiped the tears from his face, raised his blurry eyes, looked at the old man, thanked him, and then, with legs that felt like lead, climbed onto the old man's vehicle.
At this moment, he no longer cared what had been on the oxcart before, and sat down on it, feeling much more relaxed.
"Young man, what big thing has happened? If you don't mind, you can tell this old man about it."
"I've seen more of life than you, so I know a thing or two."
Tu Haoyu sniffled and said in a muffled voice, "I've fallen for a girl..."
This kid really isn't afraid of being laughed at; he recounted everything from his first encounter at Baima Temple to today.
The only thing he didn't do was conceal the fact that he was the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue, which wasn't too stupid.
After hearing his words, the old man was speechless.
"Young man, you are truly a devoted lover, but marriage is not something that can be forced."
Just because you like someone doesn't mean they'll follow you. Try to be more open-minded.
But did that girl really just randomly pick a guy and kiss him? She's so bold!
Tu Haoyu felt that the old man was focusing on the wrong thing; shouldn't he be concerned about his own feelings of loyalty going to waste?
He pouted and remained silent. Seeing that Tu Haoyu was quiet, the old man's gossipy nature was piqued. He would be upset if he couldn't get an answer for him.
"Young man, which village is your sweetheart from?"
There's nothing Old Man Wang can't find out about in these surrounding villages. Tell me, and I'll see if I can find out anything about her family.
Even doctors emphasize treating the root cause of illness; for you to express your loyalty without knowing anything seems a bit inappropriate.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com