Grandma Jiang's scheme was crystal clear to Jiang Tanyue.
First, she mentioned her mother's beauty, making the village women envious and jealous, so they no longer help with the "compassionate" attitude they used to have.
Then, she falsely accused her mother of wanting to remarry, so men would not dare step into the muddy water.
Next would come the "earnest persuasion." The Jiang sisters have an uncontrollable mother, which would make it difficult for them to get married in the future. As their grandmother, she would be the one to handle their marriage affairs. She thought Zhang Dabao of the Zhang family was a good choice since the family was well-off. Marrying into their family would mean a comfortable life...
As expected－
Everything was unfolding as she anticipated.
Jiang Tanyue's palm was sweaty and slippery.
Her back was already soaked, and her skin stuck to the coarse cloth, making her feel unbearably itchy.
"…Once you marry into that family… and your sister… the Bai family is wealthy, and your father only needs to work a little to earn money for the family. You could become a maid, and live a better life… If you don't want to, you can follow me... it's better than having your mother hoard white rice and flour while you eat wild vegetables…"
Half of the steamed bread of corn was digested during her labor.
She was hungry.
And angry.
Her head was buzzing.
Excessive tension and excitement caused her adrenaline to skyrocket, which led to rapid energy consumption. Jiang Tanyue was struggling to hold on.
Suddenly, Grandma Jiang's smile flickered, and Jiang Tanyue had a bad feeling.
The broken yard was surrounded by fences, with a large gate that seemed like a decoration. Crowds gathered around to watch the commotion.
Some were unable to bear it any longer and tried to stop it, but Grandma Jiang never had to take action. Her daughter-in-law, Qian Zhenzhu, whom she brought along, could stand against the crowd.
Everyone was eager to avoid the Jiang family's issues.
Even the village chief wasn't around, leaving the situation in a deadlock.
Something was wrong.
Today was different from usual.
Grandma Jiang was known for crying, yelling, and scolding. Why would she be so roundabout today?
It was too late.
She was …
"She's stalling for time." The woman's low voice came from behind her. "The scumbag from Zhang family who wants to marry you is probably being summoned. A woman's notoriety is important; if he comes and abducts you, it'd be like turning raw rice into cooked rice… You are thin and nimble, slip through the fence and run towards the mountains immediately…"
To Jiang Tanyue's surprise, this delicate lady was not only smart but also considerate, which was rare.
But it was too late.
The Zhang family had indeed come to abduct her.
Jiang Tanyue's hair was a mess, her sweat-soaked hair sticking to her face. The dry corners of her lips were pressed white, beginning to crack and bleed.
She could even clearly feel the sound of the wound cracking open.
The villagers' pity had its limits.
Indeed, interest was still the greatest motivator.
Zhang Dabao was the only son of the Zhang family, and he could get whatever he wanted. The old couple of the Zhang family were honest and hardworking, with savings greater than most people in Lake West Village. Otherwise, they couldn't have offered fifty taels to Grandma Jiang just to have Zhang Dabao marry Jiang Xiaohua.
That was fifty taels!
In ancient times, when meat buns only cost three pennies, fifty taels could make the villagers green with envy.
However, no family with a shred of humanity would marry their daughter into such a household.
What kind of person Zhang Dabao was, most families knew.
No wife had stayed with him; one had died, one had gone mad, and one had run away. Marrying a daughter into such a family was like throwing her into a pit of fire!!
And now, the man with a vicious look in his eyes and a history of three dead wives stepped into the courtyard and asked Grandma Jiang, "This is Xiaohua, right? She's got a nice face, just a little too skinny to bear sons."
Grandma Jiang grinned through clenched teeth and replied, "She'll fatten up after she's taken care of."
As the two spoke, they did not look at each other. Instead, they both focused on the young girl.