Ms. Chen was completely bewildered by what she said. What do you mean, "thirty-something"?
"What did you say?"
She stared straight at Ruozheng, as if she had heard some incredible news.
Ruozheng blinked innocently: "What's wrong? Didn't Madam just say she didn't care about my age? I'll be thirty-three in April. Time flies!"
"What!"
Chen took a few steps back in shock, staring at Ruozheng's face in disbelief. He didn't look like someone in his thirties at all!
She's only forty this year, while Ruozheng is thirty-three. She's someone who can be her sister!
How did she manage to look like this at thirty-three?!
After a long pause, she forced a smile: "You're quite the joker, young lady."
“I have no reason to lie to you about something like this, after all, who wouldn’t want to look a few years younger? I’m just telling you frankly that I have no intention of getting married and that you don’t need to come here anymore. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that I won’t do anything outrageous to your household.”
Throughout the conversation, Ruozheng remained calm, unlike Chen, whose mood fluctuated wildly.
After saying that, she went inside with Jiang Jiuniang and closed the door. They decided to settle the fight right there at the door, as they didn't want anyone like that to bring bad luck into the house during the New Year.
Jiang Jiuniang was somewhat helpless. After entering the room, she asked Ruozheng, "Why did you use such a self-deprecating way to reject her? There are plenty of ways to deal with her!"
Ruozheng didn't care about this and said, "What do you mean by belittling? This is the truth, and it's the fastest way to get results."
Jiang Jiuniang shook her head: "You probably don't understand this kind of shamelessness. It's not that simple."
The Cheng family was interested in Ruozheng's medical skills and her connection with the Lu family. Age was not an issue, since the second young master of the Cheng family had so many concubines and young girls were plentiful, but there was only one Ruozheng.
They were convinced that Ruozheng came from a low-class family, was not respectable, and was easy to manipulate. Moreover, he had a good relationship with the Lu family behind the scenes, so arranging a marriage would kill two birds with one stone.
With such great benefits at hand, how could we possibly give up just because Ruozheng said he was too old?
When she first came into this world, she always felt that people in this era didn't have so many tricks up their sleeves, but little did she know that greedy people, no matter the era, would stop at nothing.
Ruo Zheng remained calm and composed, not thinking it was a big problem. If the Cheng family dared to show their true colors in front of her, she would teach them a lesson they would never forget.
Seeing her like this, Jiang Jiuniang didn't say anything more; she knew what was going on in her heart.
After returning home, Jiang Jiuniang thought for a moment and said, "From now on, when you go out and see people from the Chengen Marquis's residence, don't pay any attention to them. If they come to visit again, you don't need to announce your arrival. Just refuse them directly."
No one knew what was going on. Madam Sun felt it was a difficult matter to discuss, since the whole family, men and women, were together, and it wouldn't be good for Ruozheng if she said it. But Ruozheng didn't care about that and simply told them about how the Marquis of Chengen's family wanted to come and propose to her.
The Yu family and others were shocked, feeling that the Marquis of Chengen's family was shameless and capable of anything.
Ruozheng is an orphan girl, and they dare to scheme against her so blatantly. It's like they're throwing abacus beads in their faces.
"Don't worry, from now on we will never give the people from the Marquis of Chengen's mansion a pleasant look! And that second young master of the Cheng family, he often brings girls to my restaurant to eat, and he still has the nerve to ask for Miss Ruozheng's hand in marriage. Does he really think our Lu family is easy to bully! I will set a rule at the beginning of the new year that the restaurant will never serve the Cheng family!"
Yu was in a fit of anger, and he spoke with great ambition and grand pronouncements.
Jiang Jiuniang hurriedly advised, "Sister-in-law, we can't turn down money! We not only want to earn, but we want to earn a lot, understand?"
Ms. Yu was puzzled: "Isn't it said that we shouldn't steam buns to save face?"
"Alas, the Marquis of Chengen's mansion has fallen into ruin, and they won't have many more days of carefree living. Every meal they eat is one less meal they'll have, and every time you earn money, it's one less time you'll have. You must cherish it!"
Madam Yu was delighted, thinking that what Jiang Jiuniang said made a lot of sense. The Marquis's mansion has only been around for so many years, so it doesn't matter where the money is spent. Why can't that money go into her pocket?
Madam Qin immediately asked, "Third sister-in-law, do you think my gambling den should also make a small profit?"
Gambling dens are great places to lure people into gambling.
"Of course!"
Jiang Jiuniang grinned from ear to ear: "Second sister-in-law should be made to lose everything, down to his underwear! He's already good-for-nothing, and with his gambling addiction, I don't believe he can't bring down that already crumbling Marquis's mansion!"
The others found it amusing. Mingze said, "Isn't it simple to deal with a down-on-his-luck person? Why go to such lengths?"
Jiang Jiuniang explained, "It's different. The method you mentioned can only cause physical pain. What I want is mental pain, to make them completely lose what little wealth and glory they have left."
Mingze fell silent, looked at his wife, and thought that his wife was more gentle and lovely.
At this time, the Chengen Marquis's residence was in an uproar. Madam Chen went back and truthfully reported what had happened, and everyone in the family fell silent.
Finally, Madam Zhao, the first wife, said with an awkward smile, "If all of this is true, then how exactly does Miss Ruozheng maintain her youthful appearance? She doesn't look like someone in her thirties at all."
This topic piqued everyone's interest, and the aunts and daughters-in-law in the family excitedly whispered among themselves.
What woman doesn't love beauty?
"Alright, is this the time to discuss this?"
The old lady glanced at the people below with displeasure, her expression full of contempt. At a time like this, they still cared about this; they were truly hopeless.
Everyone immediately fell silent, looking at the old lady with some unease.
The old lady's expression softened, and she said, "The age issue is probably just a random excuse she made up to refuse. Even if it's true, as long as she can bring benefits to our Marquis's mansion, it doesn't matter if she's a little older."
Everyone was stunned by these words.
Chen, in particular, couldn't help but say, "Mother, that woman is only seven years younger than me! How can this be allowed!"
Isn't that just finding a mother for her son?
This is outrageous!
"That woman is old and will surely have difficulty conceiving in the future. How will she then be able to produce offspring for our second branch of the family?"
Mrs. Chen was very anxious. "A daughter three years older than her husband is like a golden brick," she said, "but she can't be that much older!"
The old lady glared at her and scolded, "You shallow-minded thing! With so many women in the backyard, are you afraid that no one will have children?"
"The mistress has no children of her own, so she can just adopt one from the concubine. They're all of the same blood, so what's the difference?"
After the old lady said that, Madam Chen immediately understood. That's right, the key is to marry Ruozheng. Why bother with so much else?
"Mother is wise! But the Lu family has already made their decision, so what can we do to bring her into our family?"
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