Chapter 150 Double Happiness
After finishing their business, Zhang Zhaodi started gossiping about Liu Huazhi.
"Last year, she got engaged to someone from Xujiaba, but on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, no one came to pay their respects. She went there by herself, leaning on her cane, and the villagers said she came back crying."
She's been going there even more frequently lately, working for others from early morning until late at night. Yesterday, she secretly took the family's only old hen, and Peng Chunlan beat and scolded her for half the night.
Zhang Zhaodi couldn't understand Liu Huazhi's thought process and suspected that she didn't have a brain at all: "Even when her own family can't make ends meet, she still tries to please her in-laws by selling the old hen that can be sold for money. Now even three-year-olds in the village laugh at her."
Sheng An hadn't paid much attention to the Liu family's affairs. When she suddenly heard that Liu Huazhi had done something so stupid, her lips twitched, and she suspected that Liu Huazhi had taken her words to heart on New Year's Eve.
Seeing Zhang Zhaodi's disappointed look, Sheng An understood that it was her empathy as a woman that was at play: "She is determined to change her fate by getting married, which is gambling with her own life. It is not surprising that she would do such a thing."
Zhang Zhaodi sighed: "Seeing her going down this dark path like this, I'm a little worried for her."
She had no deep-seated hatred for Liu Huazhi; they had even played in the mud together as children.
As they grew older, they became less close, and An'an became his best friend, which led to them becoming strangers.
"But you're right. She's betting her entire future on this, so she's probably prepared to lose everything. It's not up to outsiders to worry about her. Maybe she'll win the gamble if she's lucky."
Zhang Zhaodi shook her head, then thought of herself: "Women still have to stand up for themselves. Only with the confidence to have a good life can they truly achieve their wishes."
Speaking of this, she was extremely grateful to Sheng An: "My confidence comes from you. If I don't get along with Da Kui in the future, I don't have to worry about being wronged."
Sheng An waved his hand: "You're the one who's good at it. If you were like Liu Huazhi, you'd waste any opportunity that was right in front of you."
As she spoke, she reminded him, "You and Da Kui are getting married soon. Since you've decided to buy a courtyard house, you should discuss it with Da Kui and ask him to keep an eye out for courtyard houses nearby. If you find a suitable one, you should act quickly."
Zhang Zhaodi hurriedly said, "I will discuss it with my uncle and aunt. As long as they have no objections, Da Kui will not have any thoughts either."
Both of them were very busy, and after finishing what they had to say, they went about their own business.
At this moment, Liu Huazhi was in dire straits.
He was badly beaten by Peng Chunlan last night, and he hasn't even had a meal all day today.
Liu Huazhi was so hungry that she was dizzy and lightheaded, and she was also being scolded and blamed by her whole family.
Seeing her half-dead state, Liu Zhuzi felt no sympathy. He felt that verbal abuse alone was not enough, so he limped over and punched her hard in the back.
"You brainless good-for-nothing! They wouldn't even kill that hen to eat during the New Year, but you used it to please your in-laws. Look at you, so worthless, who would respect you!"
Liu Huazhi screamed and curled up, glaring hatefully at Liu Zhuzi: "What do you know? You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. If I don't let Brother Huaining see how good I am, why should Brother Huaining be good to me!"
As soon as Liu Zhuzi stepped out, he punched her again:
"You brainless idiot, have you forgotten how this marriage came about? He didn't come to visit during the New Year, which means he doesn't respect you. But you're so pathetic that you go and let him trample on you like dirt. Would you die if you didn't please a man?"
Liu Huazhi's face turned pale and then red as she was scolded. She couldn't help but look at the other family members, but all she saw were indifferent faces.
Extreme embarrassment and grievance caused her to explode, losing control and shouting at the group:
“You don’t understand, you don’t understand anything! Brother Huaining will be very successful, he will become a great man. As long as we can marry him, we can all live a good life. I’ve always thought of you, so why are you hitting and scolding me!”
No matter how many times she explained, these so-called family members just wouldn't believe her.
In his previous life, after passing the imperial examination, Huai Ning was appreciated by a powerful figure who took him to the capital. In just three years, he became a high-ranking official and changed his social standing, becoming the man all women wanted to marry.
She married too early and died too early, never to be with Huaining.
In this life, she went to great lengths to establish a formal relationship with Huaining. She thought that as long as she pleased Huaining, she could live a good life with him in three years, but her family members kept dragging her down.
What's a chicken? Once she marries Brother Huaining and sits with him in a high position, she'll enjoy endless wealth and luxury.
These short-sighted people, how come they don't understand her feelings?
Seeing her stubborn daughter, Peng Chunlan frowned and sternly instructed her youngest son, Liu Shitou: "You keep a close eye on her and don't let her go to Xujiaba again."
Liu Shitou quickly nodded: "Mother, I'll listen to you!"
This second sister is getting crazier and crazier. If we don't keep a close eye on her, she might sweep all the chicken droppings in the house onto the Xu family's fertile land.
Having a sister who is so devoted to her husband's family is truly the worst luck imaginable.
Why doesn't she learn from Zhang Baobei's older sister? Look how amazing her sister is! Not only does she not bring anything to her in-laws' house, but she also gets them to send her pork every few days.
In the end, it's because my second sister is too useless!
Even if her so-called brother-in-law becomes successful, the first thing he'd probably do with this useless woman is kick her to the curb.
In the end, they won't get a single feather.
The more Liu Shitou thought about it, the more convinced he became, and his gaze toward Liu Huazhi became increasingly hostile.
Liu Zhuzi said to Peng Chunlan, "Mother, we can't count on this wretched girl. We should hurry up and marry her off, lest she end up scraping plaster off our walls one day."
Kong Dazhuang kept agreeing: "That's right, the Xu family isn't a good family, so let's not expect them to give a bride price. Why keep her at home wasting food?"
After being told what her son and husband said, Peng Chunlan wavered a little.
After a moment's thought, that slight wavering turned into firm resolve.
A daughter is like a tree that cannot be kept at home once she grows up. This silly girl is obsessed with marriage; she should be married off to the Xu family as soon as possible.
Sheng Yuan's business is booming as always, with new customers ordering food almost every day.
Guests who come to dine can immediately see the bamboo weaving on display in the hall.
A few days later, the four bamboo weavings were reduced to two.
Some guests who are interested in bamboo weaving are even more eager to meet Zhang Zhaodi, the only direct disciple of this "reclusive" bamboo weaving master.
Indeed, thanks to Zhang Zhaodi's exquisite bamboo weaving skills and the silver tongues of Shuqi and others, the guests were completely convinced of her persona.
It must be said that Sheng'an's brainwashing methods were very effective, making buyers feel that the bamboo weaving they bought for twenty (fifty) taels of silver was well worth the price.
Amidst the daily hustle and bustle, the warm spring month of March arrived, and the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard, which had endured the winter, were revitalized. Two pieces of news also reached Sheng An's ears.
The Xu family of Xujiaba is celebrating two happy events: Xu Huaining has achieved first place in the county examination and is about to marry Liu Huazhi!
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