When Shen Banxia and her husband returned with the wolf cub, they found the family gathered in the main room, a rare sight. The atmosphere was, well, quite quiet.
Zhou Mingjiao looked at Shen Banxia and his wife as if they were her saviors, with a sweet smile on her face, "Big brother and sister-in-law, you're back! Are those puppies you're holding? They look so cute."
Goosebumps rose all over my skin, and the thought flashed through my mind: "He's sick; there's no such thing as an unsolicited favor."
"Eldest son, eldest son's wife, you've come back just in time. This is Matchmaker Wang," Zhou's mother introduced.
A look of amazement flashed in Wang the matchmaker's eyes. The couple were both good-looking, especially the woman, who was as delicate as a flower, with skin as white as snow and pink lips. She looked like a painting.
"Oh my, young lady, your husband and I are really good-looking, even better-looking than people in the city," she said, but a hint of regret flashed in her eyes.
Shen Banxia, who was paying attention to the stranger, was puzzled. What was there to regret? What was there to regret?
Zhou Mingjiao was even angrier when she saw that her elder brother and sister-in-law's return couldn't dispel her mother's thoughts, but she couldn't express her feelings.
After all, nothing is certain yet, and whether the other party even recognizes you is another matter entirely.
"Mom, I'm still young, there's no rush."
"My dear girl, I'm not forcing you to do anything, I just want you to meet him and get to know him," Zhou's mother said. She hadn't expected that asking Matchmaker Wang to find a suitable partner for her daughter would actually lead to a real match.
They were from the provincial capital and received government-subsidized grain rations. Most importantly, they had four pockets (meaning they were wealthy and influential). They were just a little older than her daughter, but in Zhou's mother's eyes, as long as they weren't married and had children, it didn't matter.
As for the engagement not going through, isn't that someone else's fault?
Sigh, even Zhou's mother, who is this age, doesn't understand. Is the person she found really that good?
"Mom, I told you I'm not in a hurry, I'm still young," Zhou Mingjiao really didn't want to meet strangers.
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Zhou's mother's face, and she smiled apologetically at Wang the matchmaker.
Matchmaker Wang expressed her understanding, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Young people all have their own ideas. I was young once too, so I understand. Look, young lady, you should think it over again. Give me a definite answer about the two men's skills so I can give them an explanation. After all, we're all acquaintances."
Zhou's mother looked embarrassed and said, "Sister Wang, this is really too much trouble for you."
Matchmaker Wang waved her hand, "Then I'll go back first. You can discuss it some more and get back to me in a couple of days."
Zhou Mingjiao wanted to say no, but her mother glared at her fiercely.
She didn't dare to act cute anymore.
Recently, because of my aunt's situation in the provincial capital, my mother has been quite unfriendly to me.
Zhou Mingjiao was a smart woman. She knew that her mother was in charge of the family. If her mother didn't like her anymore, wouldn't she have to work in the fields? She wouldn't do that.
She still felt wronged. All she wanted was to avoid finding a partner in the provincial capital. She had no idea her aunt would say such things, and it wasn't her fault.
"Sister Wang, look at you, you've come all this way, how can you not eat or drink? That won't do," Zhou's mother said, trying to persuade her guest to stay.
"Young lady, I really have other things to do. Next time, next time," Wang the matchmaker knew all too well the principle of playing the long game.
After seeing off Matchmaker Wang, Zhou's mother's face immediately turned cold.
"Zhou Mingjiao, tell me, what exactly do you want to do? Tell me what you mean by 'Don't stay in my house, I don't care about the people you introduce, I already have someone I like.' Even if you don't want to meet people, can you please calm down?" Zhou's mother was furious.
Shen Banxia's gossipy nature awakened instantly; Zhou Mingjiao was truly courageous.
With a matchmaker's mouth, she can make black seem white.
Zhou Mingjiao looked unconvinced; she hadn't said anything wrong.
Zhou's mother continued to berate her, "You still think you're not wrong, huh? I think your father is right, I've really spoiled you. When did you become like this?"
Zhou Mingjiao finally couldn't hold back her tears. "Mom, you say I've changed, but it's clearly you who's changed. Before, no matter what I said or did, you would always say 'okay,' and you never thought I was wrong."
Zhou's mother paused for a moment.
Zhou Mingjiao continued crying, "You didn't see it. That matchmaker Wang looked at me like I was some kind of item in a supply and marketing cooperative, assessing my worth. And you told me to bear with it, but I just couldn't bear it anymore!"
Zhou's mother began to reflect: Had she really done something wrong?
But she quickly realized what was going on. "Zhou Mingjiao, don't talk nonsense to me like that. Do you know what people will say when you say such things in front of the guests? Do you even care about your reputation? Do you know what the villagers are saying about you because you got involved with that Zhao Zhiqing?"
Zhou Mingjiao was dissatisfied, "I never intended to marry anyone from the village. Let them say what they want. Besides, my father is the village head. Would they dare to say anything to my face?"
Shen Banxia couldn't help but applaud in her heart. As expected of the female lead in a beloved novel, she speaks and acts according to her own will.
"Shut up!" Zhou's mother snapped, realizing she had truly made a mistake.
I've heard stories before of wealthy families spoiling their children and the children becoming good for nothing, so why are they so protective of their little girl after she was born?
Zhou Mingjiao stomped her foot, "Mother, are you still my mother? All you do is criticize me. Didn't I tell you? I already have someone I like, and I don't want to get married right now. Do you want me to hate you for the rest of my life?"
Unable to bear the blow, Zhou's mother took three steps back. Was this the daughter she loved so dearly?
Knowing she had made mistakes in the past, she said sternly, "Zhou Mingjiao, I don't care who you like or dislike, if you don't go to see them this time, then don't call me 'mother' anymore."
"Ahhhhh!" Zhou Mingjiao screamed like a madwoman, "I'm not going, I'm not going, go ahead and kill me if you dare!"
Zhou's mother choked up, a wave of regret washing over her.
If I had known it would turn out this way, I would never have spoiled my daughter like this.
"I really can't control you anymore, but let me tell you, I don't care who you like, but I won't approve of your relationship unless I'm dead."
Zhou Mingjiao was dumbfounded, and her crying grew even louder.
But Zhou's mother had already realized that loving someone regardless of right or wrong would harm her.
In her opinion, her daughter's judgment was completely unreliable.
That Zhao Zhigao was clearly a scoundrel, yet he was so eager to get close to him back then.
Zhou Mingjiao was unaware of what her mother was thinking; she only felt that her mother truly no longer loved her.
A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, but it quickly turned into determination.
Shen Banxia, who was watching the play, seemed to be deep in thought.
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