Summer, as soon as the sun showed its face, the ground was steaming hot.
Song Jiyun hurried to Madam Qian's yard, where Madam Qian was under the eaves of the hall room, combing her younger sister Song Jixue's hair.
Upon hearing the noise, Song Jixue turned her head and immediately called out, "Big Sister."
Song Jiyun smiled and embraced her, then ordered a maid to move a bamboo chair and sat down next to her mother under the eaves.
After finishing combing her younger daughter's hair, Madam Qian sent her with the maid to have breakfast and then asked in a low voice, "Did something happen?"
It seemed that her mother was still unaware of everything.
Song Jiyun delicately recounted the whole incident to Madam Qian.
Madam Qian trembled with fury, "How could she do this? The master is still lying in the mourning hall, isn't he? What kind of mother does this? Who treats people so horribly? Is it because her youngest son is her own flesh and blood, and the master is someone she picked up from the ground?"
While speaking, she gripped her daughter's hand, agitatedly saying, "Don't be afraid! If she dares to force you into marriage, I'll hang myself at the front door. I'd like to see how she ends this."
Behind the door, the small head of Song Jixue shyly peeked out and then retracted.
Song Jiyun was startled, quickly comforting her mother, "Mother, it won't come to that. If we don't agree, at most they can only resort to petty schemes."
Madam Qian's eyes reddened, "Silly child, you don't understand the severity of the situation. If she insists that this marriage was arranged by your father before his death, even if we really take this to the Yamen, if you refuse to marry now, you will still have to get married after the mourning period.
"Think about it, who would still be willing to get entangled with them at this time, willing to marry a daughter in mourning? What kind of good family would that be?
"If she succeeds with her plan, wouldn't it ruin your whole life?"
Song Jiyun hurriedly said, "It won't happen, I won't let them do as they please."
Her words did not alleviate Madam Qian's worries, but fortunately, Nanny Zheng, who had been sent to gather information, quickly returned.
She had barely steadied herself when she urgently said, "Madam, Miss, I've found out. The old lady has arranged for the Young Miss to marry Zeng Wenxing from the Zeng Family."
Madam Qian's face paled instantly, she said sharply, "I knew it, only her natal family's hoodlums would be so shameless."
Song Jiyun also frowned.
The Zeng Family had always been envious of her family's porcelain business.
When her father was alive, they had approached him several times, wanting his assistance.
But the Zeng Family was unreliable, and they even blamed her father for not helping wholeheartedly.
Her father no longer wished to have dealings with the Zeng Family after that.
Yet, the Zeng Family felt her father put profit above family ties, and they complained to Madam Zeng.
Madam Zeng had tried to speak well of the Zeng Family in front of her father several times, but her father had tactfully refused each time.
Madam Zeng had even thrown several fits over this.
Now with the Zeng Family involved, the situation was likely no small matter.
Filled with concern, Madam Qian pondered, "Perhaps we should seek help from the Grand Steward of Prince Huai's Mansion. Your father had a good relationship with him. If we give him some silver, he should be willing to help."
Song Jiyun shook her head, "This is, after all, a family matter, and he may not want to intervene."
Madam Qian's brow furrowed, "Had I known it would come to this, I should have arranged a marriage for Yun Duo. Anyone would be better than that libertine Zeng Wenxing!"
Zeng Wenxing is the youngest son of Madam Zeng's brother.
Song Jiyun had seen Zeng Wenxing when she was little, remembering him as a very lively and active young boy with rosy lips and white teeth, who was quite adorable and would follow everyone around with his little Pekingese dog.
But after he grew up, he became a completely different person.
By the age of fourteen or fifteen, he was already a frequent visitor of brothels. Before even getting married, he had taken a concubine and nearly fathered an illegitimate eldest son, which ruined his reputation so much that at the age of twenty, he had still not been betrothed.
Relatives were all aware of it.
Madam Zeng really put her heart into her daughter's marriage matters!
Nanny Zheng offered Madam Qian a suggestion, "Why don't we secure the eldest daughter's marriage before the old lady does?"
Everyone knew it was a good idea.
But Song Youliang passed away without finding a son-in-law that met his standards, so where could they find a suitable candidate in such short notice?
Madam Qian was absolutely unwilling to let her eldest daughter be mistreated.
She couldn't help but sigh, "If only her sisters had a cousin or two, we wouldn't have to deal with Zeng Wenxing making us sick!"
Madam Qian's family was originally from Jinhua. Her father was implicated in a civil examination fraud case and was barred from taking the exams ever again. At a friend's invitation, she brought her fatherless daughter to settle in Liang County. Later on, she met Song Youliang, who came looking for paintings, and by a twist of fate, married her daughter into the Song Family.
After Song Jiyun's maternal grandfather passed away, Madam Qian had no relatives left here.
This was one of the reasons why many looked at the Song Family as an easy target.
Song Jiyun chuckled.
Having cousins might not necessarily be a help; they could also be a hindrance.
But finding a betrothed...
A figure suddenly flashed through Song Jiyun's mind.
Perhaps it really was a good idea!
She smiled slightly and took Madam Qian's hand, saying, "Mother, you promised to trust me. Let me handle this matter. I will sort it out."
Seeing her daughter's confident demeanor, Madam Qian, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, reluctantly agreed to let Song Jiyun handle it, thinking to herself that if worst comes to worst, they could fight it out with those people!
*
Song Jiyun hurried back to her own courtyard.
The pomegranate tree beside the staircase was drooping under the summer sun, while cicadas on the nearby locust tree chirped away cheerfully.
She entered her room and drank two bowls of chilled plum juice before feeling somewhat refreshed.
Song Jiyun first went to the living room and spent some time writing at her desk before taking a piece of paper to the gauze cupboard.
The man was sprawling on a small couch, wearing a pair of moon-white Songjiang River triple-woven socks, with a teapot and some Big Square Cakes on the embroidered stool beside him. He had already read through three-quarters of his travel book and seemed close to finishing it.
She said, "I have some collections of strange tales, anecdotes, and miscellanies in my study. I wonder what kind of book interests the young master the most?"
The man didn't lift his head and flipped a page slowly, saying, "Just say what you have to say, no need to beat around the bush."
Song Jiyun leaned against the chest, handing the paper to the man, "You can take a look first."
The man glanced up.
In the dense green of the gauze cupboard, his large, apricot-shaped eyes seemed to sparkle with a layer of stardust, dazzling and bright.
Song Jiyun was momentarily stunned.
The man had already taken the paper.
The room fell silent, making the cicadas' song outside seem even louder and clearer.
The man looked up slowly, his voice filled with curiosity, "A marriage contract. You want me to pretend to be your fiancé?"
Interesting!