叭哒漫画

“Do these two things conflict with each other? The Xiu Family is a prestigious and influential family. If you marry into their family, you will become the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiu Family. What a status you will have in the future! Isn’t this a good thing for you? Is it wrong for me, as your mother, to hope you marry into a good family?”

Madam Yun was feeling somewhat drained, “I’m thinking for your sake, wanting you to live well. Why do you keep thinking that I’m trying to harm you? You are a piece of flesh from my body. Even if we didn’ t live together for the first thirteen years, I couldn’t bear to harm you!”

“Mother, it is not my wish to marry into a wealthy and influential family. If you truly have my interests at heart, please help me refuse this marriage arrangement. I just want to live a normal life, marry a farmer, and lead a peaceful life.” Wei Ruo responded.

“What nonsense!” Madame Yun rebuked angrily, “If you have no choice, it would be a different matter. But now you have such a great opportunity in front of you, and you still cling to these unambitious ideas?”

Wei Ruo remained silent. She disagreed with Madam Yun’s view, but it was also hard for her to convince Madam Yun to accept her perspective.

Despite living in this world for over a decade, the modern feminist thinking deep in her heart hadn’t changed.

Wei Ruo still believed that her value should not be defined by her marriage or tied to any particular person.

She was herself and needed to rely on herself to survive.

But to Madam Yun, who lived in this no-nonsense world, it was hard to understand these thoughts. In her eyes, the ultimate destiny of a woman was to marry, to support her husband, and to nurture their children.

Seeing that Wei Ruo remained silent, Madam Yun resumed her earnest persuasion, “Ruoruo, you’ve lived in the countryside for over a decade, lacking proper guidance and education. Originally, I was worried about your prospects for marriage and consulted your father. If you cannot marry into a prestigious family, your father and I would present you with a larger dowry to ensure a comfortable life, even if you were to marry a poor scholar.”

“But now that there’s abetter choice, naturally, as a mother, I have to plan for you. No matter how you look at it, the Xiu Family is an excellent match! You’re young and may not understand many things yet, but trust me, for a woman, your husband will be your whole support and reliance.”

Wei Ruo remained silent because she couldn’t possibly disclose her plans to Madam Yun. Even her maid Cuiping and her close confidante Xiumei found her plans hard to accept.

Seeing that Wei Ruo was no longer stubbornly arguing with her, Madam Yun stated, “I don’t need an immediate answer from you. Think about it.”

Then, with a weary look on her face, Madam Yun waved her hand, indicating to Cuiping to take Wei Ruo back.

###

Although the signs of Wei Ruo’s engagement to the Xiu Family had been there for a while, the official visit by Madam Xiu today had everyone in the Wangmei Garden grinding their teeth in fury.

Livid, Madam Li exclaimed, “What on earth is Madam Xiu thinking? What good is there in Wei Ruo? Is she blinded, to consider Wei Ruo as an uncut jewel?”

Cuihe hurriedly tried to soothe her parents, “Mother, stop talking, or we’ll be punished and sent to the farm.”

Mentioning the punishment of being sent to the farm, Madam Li’s voice lowered a bit, but she was still indignant, “Wei Ruo is just good at disguising herself. She runs around in the fields every day. Who knows how many coarse men she’s been in contact with? How can she be suitable to be the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law of a distinguished family like the Xiu Family? If the Xiu Family knew, they wouldn’t want her.”

Cuihe added, “We have no other choice. Everyone in the Wei family is trying to cover it up. It’s about the reputation of our family. If Wei Ruo’s reputation is damaged, it won’t do any good for the Second Miss. It will only be harder for the Second Miss to marry well.”

After the mother and daughter finished their whispers, Wei Qingwan returned from Cangyun Garden.

Madam Li rushed over and asked, “Second Miss, is Madam Xiu really planning to join our Wei Residence as an in-law?”

“I just heard of it from my mother. It’s true.” Wei Qingwan replied flatly, with no hint of discontent or worry on her face.

“Second Miss, aren’t you angry? How could Wei Ruo with her conduct be a match for the eldest son of the Xiu Family?” Madam Li asked.

“Whether she is a good match or not is for the Xiu Family to decide. As her sister, I should bless her.” Wei Qingwan replied.

Wei Qingwan’s response left Madam Li thoroughly confused. She’d been feeling uneasy about their daughter’s behavior recently, and Wei Qingwan’s attitude today confirmed it. Wei Qingwan was keeping something from them.

“Miss, is there something you’re hiding from us?” Madam Li asked cautiously.

“No.” Wei Qingwan turned her head away, avoiding Madam Li’s probing gaze.

Without giving Madam Li a chance to ask further, Wei Qingwan said, “If there’s nothing else, you may go. I need to rest.”

Madam Li and Cuihe had to retreat, leaving the room full of doubt.

###

Early the following morning, instead of heading to Tianqin Garden as usual, Wei Ruo went straight to the Four Treasure House.

Wei Ruo passed through the shop of the Four Treasure House and found her nursemaid in the back courtyard, who was in the middle of doing the accounts. Seeing Wei Ruo, the nursemaid immediately stopped what she was doing. “Miss, why are you here?” Although surprised, the nursemaid was filled with delight.

“Every time I come, you ask the same question. Do you not welcome me?” Wei Ruo teased.

“Never!” The nursemaid quickly reassured.

Xiumei laughed, “Nursemaid would never not welcome you, Miss. She’s just worried that you’ll be tired from the journey.”

“Only Xiumei understands me.” Wei Ruo said, laughing.

“Nursemaid, I came to you today because I have something to ask.”

“Miss, ask away.”

“How is the progress with the person I mentioned in my letter to you?”

Hearing this, the nursemaid averted her eyes and then turned away, not daring to look directly at Wei Ruo.

Wei Ruo’s face darkened subtly, “Nursemaid, have you not been taking that matter seriously?”

“No… I…”

“Nursemaid, you’ve never lied to me.” Wei Ruo stared into her nursemaid’s eyes.

In the past, the nursemaid had always handled everything Wei Ruo entrusted to her with diligence. She would never procrastinate or be perfunctory.

Only this time, a long time has passed, and there’s been no news.

Seeing that there was no way to dodge the issue, the nursemaid finally admitted, “I’m sorry, Miss, I indeed did not put much effort into it. I really don’t want you to casually marry someone, especially someone who’s dying. How could I do something like this!”

Wei Ruo sighed, “Forget it, I’ll handle this matter myself.”

Wei Ruo decided not to put her nursemaid in a difficult position. Even if the nursemaid did find someone for her, when she became a widow, the nursemaid might feel that it was her fault and feel guilty about it.

At this, the nursemaid asked with regret, “Miss, are you really sure?”

Wei Ruo answered firmly, “Nursemaid, I am sure, I know my thoughts are shocking to many people. However, I want to live the life I desire, and this is a feasible way.”