The smile on Yu Jinshu's face disappeared instantly. He turned around and glanced at Zhao, who quickly lowered her head guiltily.
Yu Jinshu asked in a deep voice, "The Liu family came to cancel the engagement? Why did they suddenly cancel the engagement..."
Yu Jinshu had met the girl from the Liu family once. She was pretty and charming, with graceful and dignified manners. Since she was young, she had learned poetry, books and etiquette from her father, Mr. Liu. She had the temperament of a lady from a noble family, which was incomparable to the vulgar country girl. Yu Jinshu was very fond of this marriage.
Yu Zhou sighed and was just trying to find some words to appease Yu Jinshu, when Zhao couldn't hold back her anger and said, "It was her mother Liu Zhang who came to cancel the engagement herself. Mr. Liu has taken a fancy to a scholar on the list of this year's Tongsheng exam. I asked someone a few days ago and found out that Miss Liu has already discussed the marriage with that scholar."
"What scholar? I don't agree to cancel the engagement!" Yu Jinshu stood up suddenly, clenched his hands hanging by his side into fists, the veins on the back of his hands were exposed, and his face was ashen.
"Jinshu, calm down first. The Liu family is determined to cancel the engagement and they don't leave any wiggle room for our family. Everyone in the village knows about it. The Liu girl's engagement letter has been taken back and the engagement has been canceled. You should study hard and we will find a good marriage for you in the future." Yu Zhou comforted him.
Yu Jinshu's face was still ugly. He had always been very proud. He felt particularly hurt by such a shameful thing as someone coming to his house to cancel an engagement. He turned around and walked out of the house angrily, saying as he walked, "I want to go to the Liu family and ask which scholar they have taken a fancy to. Mr. Liu claims to be a scholar, how could he do such a thing of going back on his word!"
Zhao hurriedly walked over to Yu Jinshu and grabbed him, "Why are you making such a fuss? Don't you think it's embarrassing enough? If you work hard and can pass the imperial examination, why would the Liu family come to cancel the engagement?"
Yu Jinshu clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "It's just a scholar, it's just a scholar... I will pass sooner or later!"
Zhao was upset, especially when she thought of what Liu Zhang said when she came to cancel the engagement. She couldn't help but say, "You've taken the exam for three years and didn't get a single student. If you could get the top score like that sickly girl from the second house, I, your mother, would be proud of it. How could the Liu family say that your marriage was only possible because of that sickly girl from the second house? Liu Zhang humiliated our third house in front of the whole village. You should save face for me!"
Yu Jinshu's fists creaked, his face gloomy, and he said stubbornly, "What does my marriage with the Liu family have to do with his second branch? No matter how capable Yu Qizhe is, he is still a sickly person who can't even leave the examination room. He might die one day. Why should I compete with him?"
Yu Zhou glanced outside the hall and lowered her voice to scold, "What nonsense are you talking about? A man should have no problem finding a wife. It's just a girl from the Liu family, why are you making a fuss? If this marriage is gone, there are still girls from the Zhang family and girls from the Li family. I plan to discuss it with your grandfather and spend money to send you to the county school. You and Jinyan can both pass the autumn examination this year. If you can pass the imperial examination and come back, the Liu family will regret it!"
Zhao was excited and couldn't help asking, "Mother, are you letting Jinshu go to the county school as well?"
Yu Zhou nodded, "We still have some money saved at home. We will sell some grain after the autumn harvest, and then we will let Jinshu go to the county school and get a place as a student. Then Jinshu will be able to take part in this year's autumn examination."
Zhao pulled Yu Jinshu and said, "Your grandma really loves you. Study hard and stop thinking about the marriage with the Liu family. When you pass the imperial examination, will you worry about not finding a better girl than the Liu family?"
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