Mrs. Jiang was the only woman in Dafu Village who could make the original hostess listen to her!
The original hostess had always treated Mrs. Jiang like her best sister, believing whatever Mrs. Jiang said.
To outsiders, Mrs. Jiang seemed gracious and uncalculating, which is why she associated with the original hostess.
But Zhang Xiaoying discovered from the original hostess's memories that the original hostess had always been manipulated by Mrs. Jiang without realizing it, even helping Mrs. Jiang count money, thinking that Mrs. Jiang was a good person.
Mrs. Jiang said that the Lin Family from the neighboring village was very well-off and that the youngest son, the fourth boy, was really steady. He never messed around in town; even when walking, he didn't rush about like other people would and possessed a manly presence. She convinced the original hostess to marry off Xu Changsheng's twin sister, Xu Qiaoqiao, to him.
As it turned out, the Lin Family's wealth came from exploiting their three daughters, either marrying them off to old men as secondary wives or making them concubines in exchange for a hefty bride price, all to support their only son, the fourth boy of the Lin Family. And this fourth Lin boy, he had a lame leg, lived off the blood of his sisters, got fat, and even beat women. After Qiaoqiao married into their family, she was often a victim of domestic violence!
If it weren't for Mrs. Jiang's arrival, Zhang Xiaoying wouldn't have remembered how miserably her only daughter was married off!
Even the fact that her oldest daughter almost got sold to Zhao Genzi as a child bride was an idea given by Mrs. Jiang, and Zhao Genzi was an idiot...
"Xu Family's sister-in-law, about that matter last time, there's been progress!" Mrs. Jiang entered directly, interrupting Zhang Xiaoying's thoughts.
Zhang Xiaoying looked up and saw Mrs. Jiang's face full of smiles, enthusiastic and amiable, but Zhang Xiaoying felt this person was truly hypocritical.
"The Zhao Family has agreed to your terms, willing to put forth so much, to take your eldest daughter as a bride," Mrs. Jiang said as she sat down by the bed, stretching out her fingers to indicate an amount.
"I know you must be reluctant about your eldest daughter too, but you know about Genzi's condition. After she marries into their family, as long as she takes good care of Genzi, she doesn't need to do anything else. If she can bear a son or daughter in the future, wouldn't that be just waiting for blessings?"
Zhang Xiaoying just stared quietly at Mrs. Jiang without speaking.
Her gaze made Mrs. Jiang somewhat uncomfortable.
"Ah, look at me, only busy talking to you, I almost forgot to take it out." Mrs. Jiang hurriedly took out the well-wrapped silver from her bosom, unwrapped it for her to see, "This is the Zhao family's sincerity, Xu Family's sister-in-law. When do you think is a good day to send over your eldest daughter?"
Zhang Xiaoying gave a wry smile, "How much benefit did the Zhao Family give you?"
Mrs. Jiang was taken aback and felt a bit awkward. She forced a laugh and said, "What benefits could there be? Isn't it also merit to help arrange a marriage? Besides, sister-in-law, didn't you also want to find a good family for your eldest daughter before?
"Genzi doesn't understand anything. When the time comes, won't your eldest daughter be the one calling the shots? Moreover, the Zhao Family is generous too; such a good marriage proposal is hard to find even with a lantern..."
"If it's such a great marriage proposal, why don't you marry your granddaughter into their family?" Zhang Xiaoying said sarcastically, "I just asked for your help to keep an eye out for suitable matches. I never asked you to sell off my granddaughter!"
The original hostess didn't like being talked about behind her back for selling off her granddaughter, so she had been very vague when speaking with Mrs. Jiang. Now that Zhang Xiaoying was turning her back, Mrs. Jiang couldn't do anything about it!
Heh, no matter what, the original hostess had only casually mentioned it, and there was no actual agreement made with the Zhao Family. Yet now, the matter was being spread in the village as if it were true.
As for the rumor not being started by Mrs. Jiang, Zhang Xiaoying would never believe that if you killed her.
Mrs. Jiang's smile was shrewd and calculating through and through!
"Now the whole village is saying I'm selling off my eldest daughter. You come to my door to tell me these things; are you trying to break my back in front of the villagers? Later on, when Wencong achieves something, will people point their fingers and whisper that he got his schooling from his sister selling herself?" Zhang Xiaoying's expression was indifferent, "I really have no idea how this rumor got out?"
Mrs. Jiang didn't expect Zhang Xiaoying to suddenly turn against her.
But when she put forth the idea back then, Zhang Xiaoying did not object, did she?
A morsel already in the mouth—how could Jiang willingly spit it out?
Jiang earnestly persuaded Zhang Xiaoying with every argument she could muster, "They speak out of jealousy. Just think, once Wencong makes something of himself, won't they simply envy you? Besides, isn't it a girl's duty to help her parents at home and then support her husband's family after marriage?
"Wencong's academic excellence is also his advantage. Sister-in-law, you must think this through carefully. Don't let others sway you and ruin Wencong's future. The scholarship grant is vital!"
Zhang Xiaoying remained silent.
Jiang thought that Zhang Xiaoying just wanted to save face and was saying all this on purpose, so she smiled and said, "As long as Daniu is willing herself, who dares to object? Leave this to me. Daniu is a good girl; she definitely doesn't want to make things difficult for you."
Zhang Xiaoying almost laughed out of anger. Jiang didn't feel the slightest pain in bargaining off someone else's granddaughter!
Zhang Xiaoying looked at Jiang and said with a smile, "Such a brilliant match is beyond the Xu Family's reach. You should save it for your own granddaughter. In the past, you often said Lanlan was lazy and gluttonous, and that she couldn't find a good husband's family—this Zhao Family would be just right. You really shouldn't neglect your own granddaughter's lifelong happiness just to help our Xu Family."
At those words, Jiang was at a loss for a response.
Had Zhang Xiaoying really been possessed? Did she not listen to what she was saying?
Her Lanlan was the prettiest girl in Dafu Village, even a scholar would marry her—how could she take a fool?
"Hehe, Lanlan is still young!"
"My Daniu is only six years old—she's grown up already?"
"..."
"Li Family's sister-in-law, a girl like Lanlan will not find a good match easily in the future. It's better to settle on it now while the Zhao Family is eager to welcome her and enjoy their fortune. Otherwise, if she remains unmarried at home, it will be like an unsellable good in your hands!"
Zhang Xiaoying clutched Jiang's hand, her words heavy with sincerity, utterly serious.
"If you're embarrassed about it, I can talk to the Zhao Family myself. It just so happens that I caught a wild boar today. If your two families make it a good match, I can also sell the boar meat to you at a bargain, so you can entertain your guests with dignity."
Jiang nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in anger, her face flushed with rage, "I was really trying to help you, don't muddle right and wrong and turn me into a laughing stock in the village. Would I have lowered myself to find this marriage for you if you hadn't mentioned that you couldn't scrape together Wencong's scholarship grant and that Daniu was eating her head off at home?
"Now you speak like this, making it seem as if I was eagerly pushing to marry off your family's Daniu!"
Zhang Xiaoying's face darkened, and she spoke bluntly, "Marry off? That's not it at all. You're eager to sell my granddaughter! You know so much—I had no clue! When did I ever say I wanted to find a match for Daniu?
"My Xu Family is poor, but not so destitute that we must sell our own granddaughter. You're well aware of what sort of person that Genzi is. At thirteen years old, he still needs someone to clean up his shit and urine. Why don't you leave such fortune to your Li Family?
"I don't care how much silver you've taken from the Zhao Family, but if you set your sights on a girl from my Xu Family, I will never let you off. Get out, and don't let me see you again!"
"You, you... really ungrateful, acting like a dog catching mice, meddling in too many affairs. Don't come to me with your troubles in the future!"
Jiang's face turned an iron shade of blue as she got up and stormed out in a fury.
Zhang Xiaoying remained unmoved.
"Come in!" As Jiang stepped out of the Xu Family home, Zhang Xiaoying shouted towards the door.