Upon hearing this, Madam Li's expression darkened.
The old madam was still rambling on, "My eldest son's position didn't come easy, and he still hasn't secured his footing in the county government. Even if our families are joined by marriage, you can't just casually ask him for favors. If you jeopardize my eldest's job, this old woman will not stand for it."
Madam Li's face was as black as thunderclouds.
She had agreed to her son proposing to the Chen family for three reasons. First, naturally, she couldn't resist her son's pleading. Second, she'd heard the Chen family would give Chen Wanqing two mu of fertile land as a dowry. Third, Chen Wanqing had a father who worked in a government office.
The price of fertile land wasn't low. One mu of prime paddy field cost eight taels of silver, while dry land cost six taels.
Land on the outskirts of the county seat was even more expensive, generally one tael more than land in the villages.
Two mu of land was worth ten or twenty taels of silver, enough to support her family for a whole year.
The promised dowry of fertile land was gone. The girl would have to keep working at the shop. And to top it off, the old madam was passing on the message that they were forbidden from asking Chen Song, the one working in the government office, for any favors...
'So what was the point of this marriage anymore?'
'The only thing left was Chen Wanqing's bewitching, beautiful face.'
'But what good was it for a girl to be so stunningly beautiful?'
'Her son was going to become a Scholar, a Champion Scholar! If the girl were to ruin her son's health, it would be no different from marrying a jinx.'
Madam Li could no longer keep the smile on her face. She didn't mention the dowry land or Chen Song's job, instead focusing on the issue of the girl working in the shop.
"Old Madam, you're putting us in a difficult position. You know as well as I do that your granddaughter is exceptionally beautiful. If she stayed home to be a wife and mother, we would be at ease. But you have her helping in the shop and going to the countryside to collect herbs and flowers. This is simply unacceptable."
Madam Li was on the verge of blurting out the words, "This marriage is off."
However, Cun's room was just on the other side of the drawing room wall. He might be pressing his ear against it, listening in. The words to call off the engagement absolutely could not come from her, his mother. Otherwise, they would become enemies, and the rift between them would be difficult to mend.
Sure enough, just as the thought crossed her mind, Madam Li heard the sound of a chair scraping against the floor in the next room.
It sounded as if someone, in their haste, had staggered back a step and sent a chair flying. The sound was jarring, filling the room with a sense of disarray.
The room fell silent for a moment. The old madam, acting as if she hadn't heard the commotion next door, simply sighed slowly. "As I said, I've come as an unwelcome guest... We have truly wronged you in this matter. But my eldest son's wife manages everything, both inside and outside the home. Once she's made up her mind, no one can change it. And Wanqing is a filial daughter; she would never go against her mother's wishes."
Her voice dropped lower. "I'm a mother myself, so I understand your concerns. I know you're looking for a daughter-in-law who is honest, proper, capable, and reliable. Wanqing might not be quite suitable, but our family has another girl, our second daughter, named Wanyue."
Madam Li's eyes instantly sharpened.
After the sharpness, her gaze became clear, as if she had finally seen through to the old madam's true intentions.
'So that's how it is.'
'So this is why she really came.'
'It made sense now. She was a step-grandmother, after all. How could she truly put effort into her step-granddaughter's marriage?'
'As it turned out, the old madam wasn't here to facilitate the match at all. She was here to deliberately ruin the engagement between my son and that Chen Wanqing, and while she was at it, poach the opportunity for her own biological granddaughter!'
'But there are plenty of outstanding girls in all of Qingshui County. Without that Chen Wanqing, there's still Li Wanqing and Wang Wanqing. If we don't limit the search to looks and instead focus on character, ability, and family background, there are at least eight or ten girls who would be a good match for my son.'
'Who the hell is Chen Wanyue?'
'She'd never even heard of this person.'
'To betroth her precious Qilin egg, her darling treasure, to this nobody of a girl? She would be the first to forbid it.'
But before Madam Li could speak, the old madam raised a hand to stop her.
"You may look down on Wanyue, but she has a sweet and gentle temperament. She's hardworking, diligent, and can manage a household. The most crucial point is... she bears some resemblance to Wanqing, and she's Wanqing's own cousin. You can certainly call off the engagement with the Chen family, but how will you explain it to your son? If this affair sours the relationship between you and your son, and then delays his imperial exams next year, that would be a great misfortune."
The old madam lowered her voice even further. "In my opinion, it would be better to use a little deception. Agree to this marriage on the surface, but in reality, have Wanyue marry into your family... Besides, your son just said he wants to marry a 'Miss Chen.' When the time comes, even if you switch the betrothal cards, you can keep him in the dark. Once they're in the bridal chamber and the deed is done, no matter how unwilling your son is, what kind of fuss can he make?"
...
After seeing the old madam out, Madam Li sat silently in the room.
The sun sank in the west, leaving only the last sliver of light in the room. As that ray of light fell on Madam Li's stern, rigid face, the parts hidden in shadow seemed to grow even more inscrutable.
Madam Li's daughter, Qiaoxin, came in, intending to call her mother to cook dinner. It was already getting late; if they didn't start now, it would be dark soon. Then they would have to light the lamps and burn oil, and her mother would start nagging again.
Ever since their father passed away, the family's situation was not what it used to be. These days, aside from spending on her older brother's studies, they saved money whenever they could.
However, before the words left her mouth, Qiaoxin saw her mother's dark and gloomy expression. She looked like a ferocious beast trapped in a cage, mindlessly ramming against the bars, desperate to break out and devour someone to vent its rage.
Qiaoxin turned and quickly walked out. 'Forget it,' she thought. 'It's just dinner. I'll cook it myself.'
As she left the room, she bumped right into her older brother, who was rushing over from outside. The siblings cried out in surprise.
"Brother, what's the rush?"
"It's nothing, I'm looking for Mother. Qiaoxin, you go on. Your brother needs to discuss something important with her."
Qiaoxin nodded, went down the steps, and headed to the kitchen.
'What could be so important? It has to be about his marriage to the Miss Chen.'
'She was in favor of it. After all, her future sister-in-law was as beautiful as a flower, a feast for the eyes.'
'But just now, she had been hiding in her room and overheard most of the conversation between her mother and the old madam. Although they had lowered their voices toward the end and she couldn't make out exactly what was said, it was clear to her that her brother's marriage was now hanging by a thread.'
In the main room, Li Cun entered and fell to his knees with a THUD.
"Mother, when I take a wife, I only care about her charac... ter. I don't care about her dowry. And I don't want to live by relying on my in-laws... The Chen family's situation has nothing to do with us. I have my own ambition. If there's something I want, I'll earn it myself. Mother, I just want to marry a girl from the Chen family. Please, agree to this marriage."
Madam Li's heart felt as if it were being roasted over a fire and fried in oil.
'What mother doesn't want her son to marry the one he loves and live a happy, fulfilling life?'
'But what if the girl he loves isn't a good person, but is just using her looks to bewitch him? How is that any different from a fox spirit?'
'My son is trapped in a spider's web, unable to escape this trial of love. It's all right, I'll help him.'
Madam Li, who had previously been considering the old madam's words without much conviction, now stared at the son kneeling before her. Her gaze was heavy, her emotions unreadable. "Do you truly wish to marry a girl from the Chen family?"
"I do."
"Regardless of what this girl from the Chen family looks like, or what her status is, you will live with her and be devoted to her after she is married into our home?"
"Since she will be the one I marry, I will naturally be devoted to her. And I will be filial to you, Mother, together with her."
"Good. A gentleman's word is his bond. Remember what you've said. You are not allowed to go back on it in the future."
Li Cun was so moved that his eyes reddened. "I won't go back on my word. I swear..."