Chapter 59 Miss Zhou, don't ruin my livelihood!
"Young lady, I see you're young and don't understand some things, so let me explain them to you properly," Granny Hua said softly. "The Liu family had ancestors who served as officials in the capital. It's just that they fell on hard times in Xian'er's generation. But in the year after next, with Xian'er's talent, literary skills, and looks, he'll easily become the top scholar in the imperial examination. If you agree to this marriage now, you'll be a ready-made wife of the top scholar. Otherwise, once Xian'er passes the exam, it won't be your turn. So many powerful people will be vying for your favor."
"oh."
After he said a lot, Zhou Mujiao only gave him one word?
Granny Hua's face darkened: "Since reasoning with you won't work, fine, I can't interfere with this marriage anymore. However, I can't guarantee what will happen tomorrow after I leave here, or whether it will affect your reputation, Miss Zhou."
"Everyone knows that the people I, Granny Hua, have successfully matched with are all of the highest quality in terms of character and talent. The girls I have abandoned will have their marriage prospects affected in the future."
"Is Aunt Hua threatening me?"
"I'm not threatening you, I'm stating the facts. I've heard everything Young Master Liu has said. You meet different men every day, and even though you have his affections, you still flirt with his classmates. It's very unreliable. There are so many people here, and with so many people talking, if someone lets slip and tells everyone about your affairs, who in the surrounding villages would dare to marry you? I bet even a lame widower wouldn't want you."
"Miss Zhou, listen to my advice! Before your reputation is completely ruined, and while Young Master Liu is still fond of you, you should quickly agree and return to the Liu family as the young mistress, living in a large house and being served by servants! I heard you have a younger brother? The Liu family is wealthy and powerful; they can not only support your brother but also provide for his studies!"
The matchmaker's mouth and the salesperson's mouth are notoriously sharp; they speak at an astonishing speed and with an aggressive demeanor. If one's mind is not firm enough, one might have already been fooled by their few words.
But Zhou Mujiao just smiled and said, "Originally, I was just guessing whether Young Master Liu had a hidden illness. Now, after hearing what you said, Aunt Hua, I am even more certain that Young Master Liu does have a hidden illness. Otherwise, why would he be in such a hurry to get married? Is it because he doesn't have many days left to live? Or is he impotent in some way? You know he is sick, right? Tell me, if I were to spread the word about him, who would be the first person in the Liu family to suspect?"
"You, you—"
"Revealing someone's privacy and making them a laughing stock in the city is so unethical. Do you think anyone will dare to ask you to be their matchmaker in the future? Even if someone does, do you think you'll live to see that day?"
Having been outmaneuvered by Zhou Mujiao, Granny Hua had truly shot herself in the foot this time, and was in excruciating pain.
She dared not underestimate Zhou Mujiao anymore, softened her attitude and said a lot of conciliatory words, meaning that she would advise Young Master Liu to find another girl, and also hoped that Zhou Mujiao would not ruin her livelihood.
Zhou Mujiao smiled slightly: "Of course, of course."
No one knows how Granny Hua talked to Young Master Liu, but in any case, Young Master Liu finally agreed to leave. However, he kept turning back to look at her every step of the way, and anyone who didn't know better would think that Zhou Mujiao was a scumbag woman who abandoned her husband and children!
After Young Master Liu left, Zhou Mujiao smiled and went into the embroidery room to get busy, and the entire Zhao family breathed a sigh of relief.
But this breath only lasted for less than an hour.
On the sixth day of the lunar month, pouting, she walked into the embroidery room and said, "Sister Jiaojiao, someone else wants to marry you. He says it's Young Master Lin from the county school."
"Get rid of them."
“We can’t get rid of them! They’ve already brought the betrothal gifts! They even said that if you don’t agree, they’ll go to your grandmother and say that marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, and that the Zhao family has nothing to do with you and has no right to interfere in your marriage!”
Zhou Mujiao didn't remember any Young Master Lin or Young Master Qin, but they were definitely Young Master Chen's classmates. Not to mention Young Master Chen never expected that he would create so many rivals for himself, Zhou Mujiao herself never expected that so many people would fall in love with her at first sight.
She is pretty, but she's just a country girl. Aren't scholars always singing tales of talented men and beautiful women? Why would they be so obsessed with her?
Zhou Mujiao put down her work: "Xiaoya, you keep an eye on this place, I'm going out for a bit."
Watching Zhou Mujiao turn and walk away, Deng Sanya lowered her voice and said to Tian Erya, "Erya, do you think Liuya is pretty?"
Tian Erya shook her head: "She's too thin, barely any meat on her bones. She can't do any work, and she definitely can't have children. If I were a man, I definitely wouldn't marry her."
"But this is already the second person to propose marriage directly." Deng Sanya couldn't understand. "Do the young masters and scholars in the city just like someone as delicate and frail as her?"
Then the two thought of the sturdy Chen Xiuxiu, and imagined the scene of Chen Xiuxiu easily pushing over the frail scholar. They both fell silent.
They recalled Zhou Mujiao's rosy-white face and slender, white fingers, and how her words and actions always made people feel comfortable. The two looked down at their own clumsy fingers, touched their own faces, and sighed.
They suggested that Chen Xiuxiu give up, since she really couldn't beat Zhou Mujiao!
Young Master Lin brought his matchmaker, his uncle and aunt, and five or six servants. The gifts and supplies filled three oxcarts, making a bigger scene than Young Master Liu's in the morning. As a result, he was noticed by the villagers as soon as he entered the village. Since they had nothing else to do, they all came to watch the excitement.
Hearing that someone was coming to propose to Zhou Mujiao, everyone in the village was incredibly envious. Even if it were just half a cartload of gifts, let alone three oxcarts, it would be enough for their families to manage for a while. Not to mention that such a family would surely have no shortage of jewelry and silver. If their daughters married into that family, their entire maternal family would be elevated!
Young Master Lin was quite handsome, but his gaze towards Zhou Mujiao was one of infatuation. Zhou Mujiao looked closely and realized that this infatuation had nothing to do with her; he was probably attracted by the mystical aura surrounding her.
After all, even wild animals in the mountains wanted to get close to her, let alone men. Coupled with her beauty, it's only natural that men would be captivated by her.
Young Master Lin said politely, "Miss Zhou, the moment I saw you yesterday, I felt that you were my destiny. So I came here with my uncle, aunt and matchmaker. I hope you will accept my offer."
Uncle Lin pointed to the five oxcarts lined up at the entrance, exclaiming with an air of wealth, "Whether you agree or not today, these things are for you! Our Lin family has plenty of money. Once you marry into the family, you can enjoy a life of luxury and won't have to do anything!"
When Zhao Yunjing came out of the woods, he saw a crowd gathered in front of his house from afar. He quickly ran over, and as soon as he arrived, he heard Young Master Lin's confession. His face immediately darkened.
Zhao Yunjing strode over, pulled Zhou Mujiao behind him, and said with a stern face, "Young Master Lin, Ajiao has no interest in you. Take these things back. Although our Zhao family is poor, we will never covet a single penny from you!"
Young Master Lin: "Hey, aren't you someone hired by Miss Zhou? Get out of here, it's none of your business to speak!"
"No way!" Eighteen shouted. "My older brother isn't someone Jiaojiao hired! He is, he is—older brother, you tell me yourself!"
Young Master Lin looked at him with disdain: "Go ahead and talk! Why aren't you talking? Don't you want to? Oh, I see, you're afraid! Because you're just Miss Zhou's—"
At this moment, Zhao Yunjing interrupted coldly:
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