Fang Qing chuckled after hearing his words.
"This matchmaker is truly despicable. The whole village knows about our family's separation from my grandmother, and this matchmaker even sent the betrothal money to my grandmother's side. Isn't she deliberately trying to swindle my uncle out of his money?"
Zhang Daikui's expression was truly unpleasant.
"Has your family really split up?"
"Yes, if Grandpa Zhang doesn't believe me, just ask anyone in our village."
Zhang Daikui was a well-known figure in the surrounding area, and he was so fooled that he immediately became furious and called out to the people he had brought with him.
"Go and find me a matchmaker."
Someone obeyed his orders and ran out.
"Brother Zhang, come inside and have some water."
Zhang Daikui waved his hand.
"No, it's already a disturbance to come here without understanding the situation. We'll wait outside."
With that, Zhang Daikui led his men and two large boxes out the door.
Zhang was still worried and wanted to call Fang Daniu back, but Fang Qing patted her hand reassuringly.
"It's alright, Mother. I don't think Zhang Da Kui is an unreasonable person. Let's eat first."
Zhao had no choice but to listen to Fang Qing.
They hadn't even finished their breakfast when it started getting lively outside again.
Yesterday, the matchmaker was Fang Dafeng's wife from Fangjia Village. The Zhang family has brought her over, along with an old woman, and many villagers have also come to watch the spectacle.
As soon as Zhang Daikui asked a question, Da Fen's wife started crying out that she was innocent.
“Brother Zhang, I’m truly innocent. I did give the betrothal money to their family. Grandma Douya has repeatedly assured me that the money has been delivered to Douya, and this marriage will definitely go through.”
"Their bean sprouts are very eloquent and persuasive. You can't just believe her side of the story. They accepted the gift money but are pretending not to, trying to extort money from you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman also stepped forward.
"Yes, I clearly gave them the money last night, and they accepted it and even agreed to the marriage. Now they're going back on their word and trying to extort money from me."
Seeing that even the old woman had stood up to criticize Douya, Zhang Daikui couldn't help but cast suspicious glances at Fang Qing and Zhao Shi.
"Sister-in-law, one must be honest. Once you've taken the money, you can't go back on your word. I, Zhang Da Kui, am not someone to be trifled with."
Zhang Daikui was already a big, burly man, and now, with his eyes glaring, he looked even more ferocious, enough to frighten anyone who saw him.
“Uncle Zhang, although our family is small and weak, we are honest and law-abiding people. I swear I did not accept any money from your family. If I dare to deceive you, may I die a horrible death.”
Zhang Daikui had met so many people, but this was the first time he had ever seen such spirit in a young girl.
“You’re just a kid, making vows like that, and then you say children say things without thinking. We don’t believe you,” Da Fen’s wife said.
"That's right, I think you've gone crazy with poverty after the family split up, and you even dare to extort money."
The old woman looked at Fang Qing with schadenfreude.
Many people's gazes toward Fang Qing were quite intriguing.
Fang Sanhua, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't hold back any longer and stood up.
“Douya is a good kid, but you, Auntie, you’re getting on in years, how come you know how to do this kind of thing? You tried to sell Fang Qing twice but failed, and you still have this idea. Aren’t you afraid that your uncle will settle accounts with you in the afterlife?”
“This is our family matter, what does it have to do with you? You've been misled by them and you can't even tell right from wrong.”
Fang Sanhua was so angry that she laughed when she heard those words.
“Auntie, you can still distinguish right from wrong? So, I’m not wronging you about selling Douya and her mother. Let everyone tell me, do they believe you or Douya?”
The old woman's face was extremely ugly.
Da Fen's wife looked at the old woman and then at Zhang Da Kui, and realized that things couldn't go on like this, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Alright, it's just a few hundred coins as a gift. Since Douya and her mother don't want to return it, I'll give it to them. What we care about isn't the money, but the lives of the two families' children."
Her words confused the onlookers.
Da Fen's wife's eyes instantly lit up with a smile, and she repeated what she had said about the master to Fang Qing yesterday to everyone.
Everyone seemed to believe this claim.
"Both children have suffered. Since the master said that as long as they get married, the children of both families will be well, then we must make this marriage happen, right?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and even Fang Sanhua, who had just spoken up for Fang Qing, was swayed by her words.
"Is this true?" he asked.
“Oh, Brother Sanhua, how could I dare to lie about such a thing? If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Zhang. He’s the one who found that master. He’s told fortunes for all the important people in the capital, and he’s very accurate.”
Zhang Daikui nodded at this point.
Okay, now everyone's leaning towards that side.
These people believe in fate, but Fang Qing doesn't.
"That's really unfortunate. Last night I had a dream in which a kind-looking old man told me that I'm in bad luck this year, especially today. He said that a swindler and a few thieving women would try to harm me, and that I should be extra careful."
Da Fen's wife and the old woman both laughed.
"You're just talking nonsense. We won't believe your lies now."
“It’s just a bean sprout. Your aunt isn’t trying to harm you. Your fate is tied to that of the youngest son of the Zhang family. It was calculated by a master. After you marry him, the youngest son of the Zhang family will be well, and you will also enjoy good fortune.”
"I didn't make up a story. That's exactly what the grandpa told me last night. I asked him who he was, and he said he was the Mountain God Grandpa, who took pity on me and helped me. He even told me all the details about that fraudulent master." Fang Qing said innocently.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
