Old Man Chen earnestly persuaded him, "Zhancai, don't worry. When your third brother passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, bringing glory to our family, we will be a prestigious clan. Although Butcher Li is cruel, he's not stupid. He knows how to curry favor with the powerful. He'll be too busy trying to curry favor with us to make things difficult for Qing'er!"
Chen Zhanshan frowned and said with a bitter face, "Father, this year is a bad year. Why don't we let my third brother take a year off before taking the exam again? That way, we won't have to marry Qing'er off to Butcher Li, and our family's life will be better."
Old Chen lowered his head and pondered. His eldest son's words made sense. In this day and age, it was already difficult to fill one's stomach. If his third son failed the exam, he was afraid that the remaining dowry money would not even be enough to get through the winter. He felt a little wavering.
Seeing that Old Man Chen remained silent, Chen Zhancai became so anxious that a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. If he couldn't participate in the academy examination, how could he face his classmates and hold his head high? No, he absolutely couldn't let that happen.
His face was flushed, and he looked flustered. "What nonsense are you talking about? How can you not participate in scientific expeditions when the harvest is bad?"
"Father, I've made thorough preparations this year. Even the abbot of Jin Guang Temple divined my future, saying I'm certain I'll pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. I'm confident I'll succeed on my first try."
Old Chen's wavering resolve gave in. "Alright, alright, my good son, I believe in you."
Chen Zhanliang glanced at the smug Chen Zhancai with dissatisfaction, feeling resentful that his parents only cared about their precious third child.
His son is already fifteen years old and of marriageable age, but because the whole family is supporting his father's education, they are dirt poor and don't even have the money to hire a matchmaker.
Although he had mentioned it to his parents several times, they ignored him, and he felt increasingly dissatisfied with their favoritism.
“Dad, my eldest brother is right. Anyway, my third brother has failed the exam for more than ten years. It won’t make a difference if he fails this time. Even if we have to chop wood and do hard labor, we can get through the hard times. There’s no need to send Qing’er to her death.”
Chen Qingqing was quite surprised by Chen Zhanliang's words. This second uncle was kind-hearted and reasonable. She gave him a grateful look.
Old Man Chen's expression changed, and he glared at Chen Zhanliang angrily, "You'd better get back to work properly, it's none of your business to interfere in family matters."
Chen Zhanshan said firmly, "Father, since you don't agree to my third brother taking a year off to retake the exam, then find another way to get money so he can continue his studies. Anyway, I don't agree to sell Qing'er."
Just as she had calmed down, Old Mrs. Chen slapped her thigh in anger and started yelling again, spitting out words.
"You unfilial brat, I've raised you for nothing..."
"Mother, please, I beg you, let's get rid of Zhancai's tuition fees. I'll think of another way to cancel Qing'er's marriage!"
Old Mrs. Chen stopped wailing. She had long heard that the government was buying servants to serve the emperor in the palace. As long as they were castrated into eunuchs, they could be paid more than a hundred taels of silver every year. It was much more profitable than selling her granddaughter.
If she's successful and knows how to please her master, she'll be showered with countless gold and silver jewelry as rewards. With that money, she could wear gold and silver all the time, so why not...?
She blinked twice. "Zhanshan, it's fine if you don't marry Qingya. Just send Chen Han to the palace to become a eunuch. That can solve the family's current predicament."
Chen Qingqing was utterly speechless. Was he trying to sell his granddaughter or harm his grandson? Was he even human? Just as she was about to speak, Chen Zhanshan said…
"Mother, Xiaohan is only eight years old. Sending him to the palace would be a death sentence for him."
Lin shouted, "No, I don't agree!"
Old Mrs. Chen glared at him, "This won't do, that won't do, what am I supposed to do? You unfilial son, you good-for-nothing! Since you can't bear to see your daughter and son suffer, why don't you go?"
Driven by his paternal instincts and filial piety, Chen Zhanshan's eyes turned bloodshot as he kowtowed loudly to the ground, saying, "Fine, I'll go, I'll go to the palace."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen stopped wailing, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Chen Qingqing was stunned. She knew that men who entered the palace had to be castrated, and no one would be willing to serve in the palace unless they were forced to and could not make a living.
At that moment, she was moved to tears when she saw her father considering taking this path to protect her and her younger brother.
When he looked up and saw the fleeting joy in Old Mrs. Chen's eyes, his heart tightened.
She felt that bringing up the separation of the family at this point was not enough. If her parents didn't see the ugly faces of these people, they would still soften their hearts even if they separated and lived separately. To truly break their hearts, she had to make them see their true colors.
Lin's mind went blank for a moment, she stumbled and almost fell, her face filled with panic.
"Honey, don't scare me like that! If you abandon us, mother and children, how are we supposed to live?"
Old Chen looked up at his eldest son, shook his head and sighed, "Zhanshan, if we weren't so poor that we couldn't make ends meet, who would want to become a eunuch in the palace? That lowly profession would be ridiculed by the whole village. Our family can't let people talk behind our backs. I can't bear the shame!"
"Father, I'd rather lose face than watch my daughter go to her death!"
"Don't just listen to rumors. Our Qing'er is a lucky girl. Maybe after she marries into the family, Butcher Li will change his ways and treat her well."
"As the saying goes, it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. If Qingya is really beaten to death, it will be too late for me to regret it."
After hearing Chen Zhanshan's words, Old Man Chen said nothing more. If this matter was to be resolved, his eldest granddaughter had to marry willingly.
He glanced at Chen Qingqing, and said with forced patience,
"Qing'er, look what you've done to your father. If you have any filial piety left, stop causing trouble and obediently marry Butcher Li. That way, your parents will have an easier time, okay?"
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
