Ji Xinhe frowned, feeling quite unhappy with Lady Ding’s meaningful glance, so her voice unconsciously cooled: "You don’t need to worry about it."
Only then did Ji Dong speak up: "Mu Houchu and Xinhe’s marriage is about to be settled. He is not an outsider."
Despite knowing that Lady Ding always made unkind remarks, Ji Dong still didn’t want her to tarnish his sister’s reputation.
Lady Ding sneered and said sharply: "The marriage is about to be settled? Have the elders agreed? Our Ji family doesn’t even know about this. Where did you get the courage to settle this so-called marriage? It’s becoming more and more absurd!"
Mu Houchu’s eyes darkened even more as he glanced at Lady Ding and rarely spoke: "Absurd?"
Although Mu Houchu had been in Yangluo Bay for some time, he had never paid much attention to Lady Ding. His love for this village was solely due to Ji Xinhe. He cared for those whom Ji Xinhe cared about, and those she despised, he ignored. As a result, Lady Ding had never had contact with Mu Houchu and didn’t know how powerful this man was.
That was why she dared to be so bold just now, speaking in front of him, saying that his marriage with Ji Xinhe was absurd. But as soon as Mu Houchu’s cold eyes swept her, Lady Ding was frightened, her whole body trembling and her face turning pale. In the past, Lady Ding was fearless in the village but had never thought that she would be so intimidated by a man’s chilling gaze.
Ji Xinhe raised an eyebrow: "When you drove us out of the house back then, you didn’t think of yourself as an elder. How come your memory’s suddenly gotten better now?"
At this moment, Lady Ding was too scared to speak properly, stammering: "You, you, don’t use that to pressure me. I, I, I won’t fall for your tricks!"
After saying that, she carefully glanced at Mu Houchu and then quickly elbowed Ji Dashan: "You speak! Are you mute?"
Ji Dashan hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Those two strange women looked at her as if she were merchandise to be appraised.
And listening to Lady Ding’s harsh voice.
The atmosphere in the room was filled with weirdness and suffocation.
Ji Xinhe’s patience was nearly exhausted. She looked straight at Ji Dashan: "What do you want to say, Dad? Since you’re already here, just say it quickly. Our family is also busy and has no time to waste."
Jin Shi frowned, thinking to herself that this girl was really quite arrogant. But she was not afraid – once she married into their family, Jin Shi would use her means to make her behave, even if it meant using force.
It was only then that Ji Dashan reluctantly said: "It’s like this... I just remembered a few days ago that when you were young, you were engaged to the Ding family. The marriage contract was set, and it’s with your cousin Ding Hui, whom you know."
Ji Xinhe sneered: "Ding Hui? The one who, along with my brother, went to work in the mine and almost crippled my brother, almost ending up in jail?"
Although it was all part of her plot back then, it was an undeniable fact that Ding Hui had intended to kill Ji Dong. If Ji Dong had died in the mine, they would have received the 20 taels of silver for his life.
How could Ji Dashan bear to marry his daughter to such a man who had almost killed his own son?
Ji Dashan’s face turned red immediately. The incident had only happened two months ago, and he remembered it clearly. He actually felt this marriage was not very good, but when he hesitated a little, Lady Ding pinched him hard.
Ji Dashan had always been afraid of her, so he could only grit his teeth and say: "He must have made a mistake unintentionally at that time. Besides, didn’t he pay for it? But the engagement was set early on, and even the official seal was on it. Our family can’t really break off the engagement. Now the Ding family has come to discuss the marriage."
Mu Houchu’s face turned a shade grayer. Standing beside him, Ji Xinhe could feel the oppressive aura that suddenly erupted from his body and couldn’t help but shrink her neck.
Jin Shi tried her best to put on the air of a future mother-in-law, straightened her back, and said coldly: "Since the engagement has already been made, you should behave like a girl who hasn’t been married. As for your current misconduct, I will let it go for now. Just marry into our family as soon as possible. After all, you are the wife of the Ding family. It doesn’t look good for you always appearing outside."
Ji Xinhe raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery on the corner of her lips: "Since appearing outside doesn’t look good, should I also stop my business and hand it over to the Ding family to manage?"
Jin Shi’s eyes couldn’t help but brighten, but she still tried to maintain her composure: "As a wife, you should submit to your husband. Naturally, your husband should manage the business affairs. A woman’s place is at home, taking care of her husband and teaching the children."
"What about my new house that I’m about to build? And the money I’ve earned these days..."
Before Ji Xinhe could finish speaking, Peng Shi couldn’t suppress her greed and hurriedly said: "Once the new house is built, it will be the perfect wedding room for you two. When I came to the village just now, I saw that the house you’re building is quite big. Our family members could live together in it, making it more united. As for the money, it’s originally yours. But after marrying into the Ding family, it will naturally belong to the Ding family!"
Ji Dong’s face gradually turned pale. In just a few words, Ji Xinhe had drawn out their true intentions. They were not here for a marriage, but to seize wealth!
Ji Xinhe pretended to be innocent and blinked, a little confused: "What about my parents, brother, and younger brother?"
Jin Shi’s face darkened and she put on a mother-in-law’s air to scold: "As a married woman, why are you still thinking about your maternal family all the time?"
Ji Dong’s forehead veins throbbed, and he couldn’t stand how they were trying to throw Xinhe into a pit of fire!
Although he also hoped his sister could get married soon, he wouldn’t just accept any offer!
"Dad, I will take care of Xinhe’s marriage, so you don’t need to worry. I can’t agree to this marriage." Ji Dong said very determinedly.
"Ha!" Peng Shi sneered: "Do you think you can agree or disagree at will? This engagement was set when you were young, and it has the official seal. It’s set in stone. If the marriage is broken off, you could be sued in the government!"
"Exactly! Ji Xinhe, do you think you still have any say in picking and choosing? We even have the marriage contract here. Since you are going to get married, just behave yourself. Don’t mix with a wild man all the time. People who don’t know any better might think our Ji family’s daughters are so shameless!" Ji Xiulan said sarcastically.
Mu Houchu’s cold gaze swept over her. His hand suddenly flicked from within his sleeve, and a strong wind blew open the window, letting the snow outside howl into the room. A withered flower pot on the windowsill flew in and smashed directly towards Ji Xiulan.
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