Chen Zhanliang was so frightened that his legs trembled like cotton, and his eyes were full of resentment as he looked at Old Lady Chen.
I didn't want to speak, but seeing that Butcher Li was really going to demolish the house, I couldn't help but speak up.
"Mother, say something! What time is it? Aren't you going to call off this marriage? Do you really want them to tear down our house before you'll stop?"
Sun nodded vigorously. "I told you we couldn't let Zhancai take the money and leave, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what you've done."
By this time, the area outside the Chen family compound was already crowded with villagers who wanted to go to work in the fields.
I am deeply angry about Old Mrs. Chen's actions of kicking Chen Zhanshan's family out after failing to sell her granddaughter.
Seeing her kneel down and threaten Chen Zhanshan, they all showed expressions of disdain.
Some people couldn't stand it anymore.
"Old Mrs. Chen, you are such a wicked person! You've driven the eldest son's family out of the country, and you still won't let his daughter go. Are you even his real mother?"
"That's right, who would push their own granddaughter into a fire pit? They're inhuman."
“You’re right. I don’t think she’s human. She’s gone mad because of her good-for-nothing third son.”
"Who says otherwise? Forcing the eldest son's daughter to get married, while raising the third son's daughter like a rich young lady, what kind of grandmother is that?"
"Chen Zhancai also has a daughter. Why should he sell someone else's daughter while he's studying? If anyone should be sold, it should be his daughter."
......
Hearing the villagers' chatter, Old Mrs. Chen's face turned pale and then red, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
On second thought, she realized these people were just jealous, jealous of her third son. Once her third son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, she would tear their mouths apart.
Old Chen was trembling uncontrollably. "Old woman, if it really doesn't work out, just return the bride price and get rid of them quickly, otherwise how can we stay in the village?"
Old Mrs. Chen nodded helplessly; one wrong move and the whole game was lost.
Although unwilling, there was no other way but to compromise.
She gritted her teeth, her face contorted with pain, and said, "Sister Zhao, this is all my fault. I agree to return the betrothal gifts."
Matchmaker Zhao snorted coldly, "What kind of business is this? I've been matchmaking for so many years and there's never been a problem. You're just smearing my reputation. Once this gets out, who will dare to ask me to be their matchmaker?"
"Good sister, I'm begging you. If you can settle this matter, I promise to prepare a lavish banquet to express my gratitude before the New Year."
"Sigh~ You're making things difficult for me!" Matchmaker Zhao shook her head and sighed. She didn't want to escalate the situation and was also worried that Butcher Li would lose his temper.
If she were to demolish the Chen family's house or cause someone's death, she would also be embroiled in a scandal.
Weighing the pros and cons, she approached Butcher Li with a smile on her face.
“Nephew, calm down. How about this: since they don’t have a girl to marry you, let them return the fifty taels of silver to you, and we’ll call it even. It’ll save you from this humiliation.”
"What, forget it? I let them play me like a fool, how can I let them get away with this so easily?" Butcher Li's eyes were bloodshot, and the fat on his face trembled. "I'll give you a refund, but let me have some fun first. I'll beat this old swindler to a pulp. I won't be satisfied until I've beaten her to a pulp."
Grandma Chen's legs went weak, and she almost knelt on the ground. She was so frightened that she stammered, "Grandpa, Grandson, no, no, Grandpa Li, please calm down. My old bones can't take a beating!"
Seeing that Old Lady Chen's face had turned pale, Matchmaker Zhao was afraid she would be frightened to death, so she quickly stopped Butcher Li from committing violence. "Nephew, don't do anything rash. We're in the right right now. If you scare this old man to death, not only will you not get your fifty taels of silver back, but you'll also be involved in a lawsuit. Listen to your aunt, let's just return the betrothal gifts and call it a day. I'll introduce you to some pretty girls later."
Butcher Li frowned and pondered carefully. Since the girl was unwilling, he couldn't force her. As for this young girl, he would definitely have some fun with her when he got the chance.
The most important thing now is to get the money back.
"Alright, for your sake, I won't make things difficult for them. Just give me the money." Butcher Li said, stretching out his hand.
"Ah, that's right." Matchmaker Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Old Lady Chen, "I've taken care of things for you. Quickly take out the fifty taels of silver so I can send them away."
"Thank you, Sister Zhao, but, but..." Old Mrs. Chen's forehead was covered in sweat as she glanced at Old Mr. Chen beside her.
Old Chen stamped his foot in frustration, "Why are you looking at me like that? I have no money. You should ask them to give me a few more days and think of what to do."
"Oh dear, you old fool, I must have had the worst luck to marry you. You can't even speak a normal language, and you rely on me for everything."
"Now you want me to say something? You're the one who makes all the decisions in this family. When have you ever asked for my opinion? If I were in charge, I would never do such a messed-up thing."
"......."
Seeing the two start arguing, Matchmaker Zhao sensed something was wrong and quickly raised her hand to stop them, saying, "Stop talking, give me the money, and then you can argue."
Old Mrs. Chen raised her hand and pounded her head, then gritted her teeth and told the truth, "Sister Zhao, to tell you the truth, our family is broke right now. Could you talk to Butcher Li again and ask for a few more days so I can try to scrape together some money?"
"What? No money?" Matchmaker Zhao looked surprised. "That's fifty taels of silver! You could eat fish and meat every day for two years without doing anything, and in just over ten days you're saying you have no money? You've already eaten it all?"
Grandma Chen smiled awkwardly, "Young lady, you don't know, my third son is going to take the imperial examination next year, and he's already passed it all. So, there's no one else in the family with a son."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhao the matchmaker was furious, her eyes blazing. "Ten taels of silver a year is enough for the exam to become a scholar, how could you possibly need fifty taels? Now you say you don't have the money, I think you're just trying to deceive me and get away with not paying the fifty taels. Don't you even know what kind of person Butcher Li is? If he knew you were trying to renege on your debt, he would skin you alive."
Old Mrs. Chen hurriedly explained, "Sister, what are you saying? How could I have such thoughts? To tell you the truth, my youngest son is the one I love the most. I'm afraid he won't have enough to eat or wear while he's away. I'd rather my family go hungry than let them suffer. That's why I gave him all fifty taels of silver. Please say a few good words to Butcher Li and ask him to give me an extension of ten days or half a month. I promise I'll give him all fifty taels of silver then."
"Stop making excuses, you should go talk to him yourself!" Matchmaker Zhao turned her face away and ignored her.
Impatient, Li the butcher and the others spat and yelled menacingly, "What the hell are you bastards talking about? Hurry up and pay me!"
The two bald men also started glaring and bristling.
"Hurry up, or we won't be polite if you keep dawdling!"
"That's right, you think we're easy to talk to? If you dare to waste any more time, we'll let you taste my fists."
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