Chapter 9: Seeking a Marriage Proposal

Since handing over the Yao family’s bracelet, Jinniang Xu had been gloomy and restless, her furrowed brows never smoothing out. As she walked, she muttered to herself, “I thought the Tong family would at least acknowledge you as their granddaughter, but I never expected them to be so heartless. Such a promising marriage, ruined just like that.”

“Mother, try to look on the bright side. I refuse to believe the Yao family had no idea about the Tong family’s change of heart. The Tong family must have reached some agreement with the Yaos to brazenly demand our belongings. Such a family isn’t worth marrying into,” Chu Xue Tong comforted her.

“You’re right,” Jinniang sighed deeply. “The Tong family’s actions are ruthless, and the Yao family isn’t any better. We just separated from them, and they’re already eager to replace people. The head of the family misjudged the situation. You, in your future… sigh...”

Chu Xue Tong knew it wouldn’t be easy to change her mother’s mindset, shaped by years in this society. So she took Jinniang to walk around the village fields, discussing which plot to buy, hoping to divert her attention.

Farmers have the deepest affection for the land, and indeed, when talking about purchasing fields, Jinniang’s mood brightened.

They spent most of the afternoon inspecting the fields and returned home at dusk.

At the doorstep, Chunyan Lin was already waiting.

Jinniang was startled upon seeing her and hurried over, feeling a twinge of guilt. “Why didn’t you come inside to wait? Standing here out front—what’s the meaning of that?”

Chu Xue Tong guessed that Chunyan had come because of her.

Sure enough, although nothing was openly said about the event at the Tong household at noon, the village women had already been gossiping wildly in private, spreading rumors that the Tong family had snatched Chu Xue Tong’s engagement and given it to another granddaughter—shameless beyond words.

Chunyan had rushed to the old house as soon as she heard the news, just in time to meet Jinniang and Chu Xue returning from the fields.

Though she held Jinniang’s hand, her gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward Chu Xue, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.

Seeing this, Chu Xue laughed freely, “Auntie, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Chunyan hesitated for a moment, then gathered her thoughts and spoke slowly, “Don’t be upset about the Yao family. Auntie will help you look around. There are plenty of good families, not just the Yaos.”

Her words were heartfelt and truly considerate. Auntie Luo was indeed a kind woman.

However, Chu Xue had far too many pressing matters to deal with now, and no energy to entertain talk of marriage.

After offering a few more words of comfort, Chunyan left quickly, as she had to return to the Luo household to cook. Chu Xue took the excuse of washing wild vegetables and slipped away, avoiding their equally worried gazes.

That day on the mountain, besides gathering wild greens, Chu Xue also collected various toxic plants, intending to plant them around the house.

The old Luo residence was inhabited only by her and Jinniang, making it an easy target for ill-intentioned people. To protect themselves, she had to be cautious.

But not wanting to harm innocents, she carefully chose plants with milder poisons.

Poisonous plants are often difficult to transplant, but fortunately, Chu Xue’s wood-element ability allowed her to revive these withering toxic herbs.

The old house was called that not only because of its age but also because its walls were dilapidated and drafty. Though Jinniang and Chunyan spoke inside, their voices carried outside.

Holding a small trowel, Chu Xue transplanted the poisonous plants while listening to their conversation.

No mother can avoid worrying about her daughter’s marriage. The two inside had just finished discussing Chu Xue’s engagement and then moved on to talk about Luo Hui’an’s marriage.

From Chunyan’s words, Luo Hui’an’s health required lifelong medication, fluctuating between good and bad. Now that he was older, she hoped to arrange a marriage to bring some good fortune and improve his condition.

She had her eye on a girl in the Tong family named Tong Shuangling.

Chu Xue found the name vaguely familiar.

Jinniang inside gasped softly, “Isn’t she the granddaughter from Second Uncle’s family?”

Second Uncle was the elder brother of Old Tong, so Jinniang and Tong Shuangling were distantly related, though Jinniang didn’t even know what she looked like.

Listening to this, Chu Xue couldn’t help but smirk darkly, wondering if Luo Hui’an’s frail body could even survive the wedding night.

She scolded herself for prying into others’ private affairs and forced herself to stop thinking further.

Once women find a topic to talk about, they can go on all day. But Chunyan had to leave soon to prepare meals, so the visit was brief.

Had she stayed longer, it would have been awkward anyway; the house had nothing to offer but some wild greens dug up that morning.

Chu Xue’s cooking skills were mediocre, but even if she were skilled, there was nothing to cook with. Apart from plain water, that small serving of boiled greens was all they had eaten.

This situation couldn’t continue. Chu Xue discussed with Jinniang about promptly buying land from the village head the next day.

Lying in bed, thinking about their future life after acquiring the land, Chu Xue was so excited she couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning as she pondered what crops would yield the most silver.

She was not the only one restless that night. Luo Hui’an, too, lay wide awake.

Just fifteen minutes earlier, Chunyan had told him she was arranging a marriage for him, saying she had chosen Tong Shuangling.

Luo Hui’an had no impression of her, but his mother had praised her highly. He knew his own health was poor and had caused his mother much worry over the years.

He had never considered marriage before. Hearing this all of a sudden was difficult to accept.

He thought, with his condition, he would only be a burden to any woman. He didn’t want to waste a young girl’s youth. He planned to stay by his parents’ side, caring for them in their old age, and raising his younger siblings—that was his way of contributing to the family.

But from his mother’s tone, the marriage was already sixty percent decided. She told him it depended on whether he liked the girl. If he refused, Chunyan would look elsewhere.

In the pitch-dark room, Luo Hui’an lay staring wide-eyed.

Tong Shuangling—she shared the same surname as him.

The next day.

Jinniang Xu was the first to wake. After the emotional turmoil of the previous day, she had slept deeply. Upon waking, she habitually felt beneath the straw mattress for her pouch—and suddenly her eyes widened.

She shook Chu Xue awake. “Chu Xue, did you take the pouch from under the grass mat?”

Still drowsy, eyes half-closed, Chu Xue croaked, “No, I didn’t even know where you put it.”

Jinniang was now thoroughly panicked, ignoring her messy hair, she scrambled out of bed and slowly removed the straw covering.

After emptying all the straw, she found nothing.

Chu Xue, now more awake, noticed her mother’s unusual behavior. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

On the empty bed lay only a blue pouch. Jinniang emptied its contents onto the floor. Amid the clinking sound, only a few small copper coins fell out.

She couldn’t help but sob quietly, “The money’s been stolen! All the silver is gone!”