The sound of Granny Wang shouting and yelling outside reached her ears again. Liu Ruyi took a deep breath, suddenly got up, and pushed open the door.
Granny Wang was still blocked outside the courtyard, but when Liu Ruyi pushed open the door and came out, everyone subconsciously fell silent.
Aunt Qin noticed that at this moment, the young woman named Liu who was staying at her house seemed to have changed.
Liu Ruyi clasped her hands naturally in front of her, displaying an air of elegance and poise unlike anything seen before from a noblewoman. She moved gracefully with light, lotus-like steps.
This... is clearly someone they can't possibly be close to!
Aunt Qin glanced at Granny Wang and saw that the old woman was completely stunned, not knowing where to put her hands, and unconsciously taking a few small steps back.
"Greetings, Aunt Wang." Liu Ruyi bowed respectfully to Granny Wang.
As she moved slightly, the exquisite jewelry she wore also moved, its tinkling sounds extremely pleasant.
Those watching were a bit confused by what they saw, not understanding what Liu Ruyi meant.
Soon after, Liu Ruyi spoke up.
“I heard what Auntie said just now. You’re right. Brother Wang saved my life, and it’s not easy to repay such a life-saving grace.”
Liu Ruyi smiled faintly, appearing gentle and humble. "But if it comes to the point of offering oneself in marriage, then this matter is beyond Ruyi's control. If you wish to propose, Aunt, please go to the Duke of Yun's mansion in the capital to present your visiting card and discuss it with my stepmother. After that, my father's approval is required, and then Aunt Wang will prepare the formal gifts and formal marriage proposal..."
These words make Granny Wang seem extremely rude, and listen to what Liu Ruyi is saying—she's a young lady from the Duke's mansion!
Look at their demeanor and style; how could they, from the countryside, possibly compare?
Who gave Granny Wang the courage to actually want to become in-laws with the Duke?
“Aunt Wang is like this now…” Liu Ruyi looked at the pile of shabby-looking things she was carrying, and her eyes suddenly reddened. “Is Aunt Wang taking advantage of the fact that Ruyi doesn’t have any elders around? Otherwise, why would she humiliate Ruyi like this?”
After saying this, Liu Ruyi took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, and said to Aunt Qin with a choked voice, "Aunt, you know, I've been staying with you these past few days, and I hardly ever go out. Aunt Wang's sudden marriage proposal, anyone who didn't know better would think I'm shameless..."
"Dear aunties and grandmas, I will never forget Brother Wang's life-saving grace. On the way back from the border town, Brother Wang was short of money, and Ruyi also helped him with everything she had, so now I don't even have enough money to return to the capital..."
Liu Ruyi gave a bitter smile as she said this, "If I had known earlier that Brother Wang had feelings for me, I would have sent a letter home a few days earlier to ask my father and stepmother to make the decision."
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized what was going on.
So the reason Wang Bo looked so dignified and imposing when he returned to the village was because Miss Liu gave him money?
"Oh dear, Mr. Wang, look at the mess you've made! Your Wang Bo did save Miss Liu, but she also gave him money. Now she can't even go home, and you still come here to interfere and propose marriage. Isn't that disrespectful?"
"That's right. Even if your family wants the girl to offer herself to you, you still have to talk to her parents. How can you just propose to the girl's family directly?"
"Old Wang, what you've done is really unethical..."
The onlookers pointed and whispered about Granny Wang, and someone even leaned over to Aunt Qin and asked, "Sister-in-law, what does 'stepmother' mean? In the capital, is a mother called 'stepmother'?"
This is the result of the village being remote and isolated. Although the villagers know that a man has three wives and four concubines and other children, they only understand that those children are all the man's children and do not understand the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children.
Aunt Qin knew a little, but not much, so she explained in a low voice: "It means that Miss Liu's biological mother is just a concubine of that Duke, so she has to call the Duchess 'Mother'."
She had a great-aunt who worked for a wealthy family in the prefectural city, and she had overheard a few stories about her when she was a child.
"Oh? Then Miss Liu's life must not be very easy either, right?"
"Are you stupid? Even if they're having a hard time, they're still much better off than us. At least they don't have to toil in the soil for food."
"Exactly, look at what she's wearing and what she's carrying, is there anything we can afford?"
All eyes fell on Liu Ruyi, and they noticed that she was dressed unusually well today, making them instantly realize the difference between themselves and Liu Ruyi.
These comments reached the ears of Granny Wang and Liu Ruyi. The former's old face turned bright red with embarrassment, while the latter's eyes flashed with annoyance.
Liu Ruyi had always been extra careful about her every move in Dingshui Village, and usually wore clothes made of ordinary fabric that she bought on the road, trying her best not to stand out.
But now that Granny Wang is trying to take advantage of her, she has to make these people see the truth and give up their inappropriate thoughts.
"Mother! What are you doing?" Wang Bo's voice suddenly came from behind the crowd, and he was in the next instant beside Granny Wang.
Startled, Granny Wang quickly hid what she was holding behind her back and said sheepishly, "I didn't do anything, I just came to see Miss Liu."
“Brother Wang…” As soon as Liu Ruyi saw Wang Bo arrive, she immediately stepped forward, came out of the courtyard, and stood in front of Wang Bo. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Auntie…she…”
As she spoke, she began to cry.
Wang Bo quickly tried to comfort her, saying, "Miss Liu, don't cry. Whatever my mother did, she didn't mean to offend you..."
"You should take your mother back right away. She actually came to propose marriage to Miss Liu. Is that even right?" Aunt Qin said.
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