stingy landlady

Chapter 254 Gui Xiang Wants to Go on Another Blind Date (1)

By chance, Zhao met Jiang Xiaoyu. Zhao thought Jiang Xiaoyu was intelligent and perceptive, and moreover, her family had an older brother who was a student in the imperial examinations. Although he was unable to continue taking the exams due to a disability, this very status as a student enhanced Jiang Xiaoyu's social standing.

Jiang Xiaoyu's mother, wanting her son to find a good daughter-in-law, deliberately raised Jiang Xiaoyu's value. For just twenty taels of silver, Jiang Xiaoyu's family wouldn't ask for anything else.

Of course, the Jiang family was dirt poor and couldn't afford to give Jiang Xiaoyu a large dowry. People have pride, and the Jiang family had said that if they were to get married, the bride's family wouldn't have the face to bother Jiang Xiaoyu anymore!

Madam Zhao was very pleased with the marriage. Hearing that Jiang Xiaoyu was good at needlework, Madam Zhao made up her mind that after Da Bao got married, Jiang Xiaoyu could go to the handicraft workshop with Tao Zhi to earn money.

I heard that after Jiang Xiaoyu got married, her mother planned to go and work elsewhere with her brother, thus leaving this place. So, Jiang Xiaoyu would essentially have no family to rely on, and therefore no more burdens!

When the time comes, won't it be that whatever the mother-in-law says go? She'll have this daughter-in-law completely under her thumb!

Zhao didn't try to handle everything herself; she secretly took a look with Da Bao. Da Bao immediately took a liking to Jiang Xiaoyu. In the past, the Jiang family would have asked for a dowry of twenty taels of silver, not including any dowry.

Zhao would never have even considered it. But now the situation is different; Zhao has secretly saved five or six taels of silver just by selling vegetables.

Furthermore, there's the profit sharing from selling bean sprouts. The old man and woman will definitely contribute some money as well. Their eldest grandson's engagement and wedding are bound to be a grand affair, no matter where you look.

Taozhi is also engaged to a retired veteran from Huanghua Village. Since she hadn't heard about Guixiang's engagement, Taozhi informed Dazhu's family beforehand. Li Shi came to the old house to help with the cooking, and Dazhu also came for a drink.

Because Taozhi and the old soldier were about the same age, they quickly set a wedding date.

Da Bao's engagement required a visit to the bride's family. Considering the Jiang family's financial difficulties, Zhao Shi put herself in their shoes. Zhao Shi only went with Er Zhu, Da Bao, and the matchmaker. It was just a simple meal, and Er Zhu and Zhao Shi weren't picky. They agreed to get married next month—even before Tao Zhi.

On the way home, Erzhu and his wife started chatting. Zhao pursed her lips and said:

"The Jiang family is quite sensible; they knew to marry their daughter off to us early on!"

Erzhu sighed:

"Sigh! If she doesn't marry into the family soon, there will be more mouths to feed! I think the Jiang family would love to send their daughter over tomorrow! Humph!"

Zhao also sighed:

"Yes! They don't want to keep their daughter for even a day! Our Taozhi is someone we can't keep even if we want to! Taozhi is good at handicrafts, and she brings a lot of money home every month. When the child gets married, we should give her more money."

So as not to break the child's heart!

Erzhu, on the other hand, showed some magnanimity this time:

"Take what you're entitled to, buy what you're entitled to! Even after you get married, you'll still come home to visit us often!"

Sigh! That's why everyone says she's a money-loser! She just started earning money, and she got married! Now she's making money for someone else! Hahaha!

Zhao said angrily:

"Nonsense! Taozhi earned a lot of money and did a lot of work back home! After she gets married, she can be in charge of her own household and won't have any relatives to rely on! The money she earns is for her own living!"

Dazhu's family only knew that Dabao was engaged, but they didn't know which family it was. Granny Jiang, in order to sell her daughter for a high price, pretended not to know even though she knew about the relationship between Dazhu and Erzhu's families.

Jiang Xiaoyu couldn't go anywhere; all the heavy and tiring chores at home fell on her shoulders! It was as if she had to do all the work after the wedding. Jiang Xiaoyu wanted to escape from her parents' home even more.

Seeing that Taozhi and Dabao, who were younger than Guixiang, were engaged and about to get married, Li finally turned her attention back to her daughters.

She started to get anxious. Gui Xiang and Gui Hong broke off their engagements one after another, which was not only a blow to the girls, but also made Li Shi, as their mother, even more upset.

When she had nothing else to do, she would go out every day to inquire, carefully observing young men. Sometimes she would mentally compare them, deciding which one was more suitable for Guixiang and Guihong.

As she looked around, Li's gaze finally settled on Steward Han. He was a few years older than Guixiang, but the elders always said that age didn't matter, as long as he was caring!

Upon closer observation, Li discovered that Steward Han was indeed meticulous and took great care of Guixiang. Guixiang herself was unaware of this, only thinking that Steward Han was very good at handling people.

Li pulled Guixiang into the room and secretly asked her:

"Gui Xiang! Look how grown up you are! Your second uncle's daughter, Tao Zhi, is already engaged! And now even Da Bao is engaged and getting married next month!"

What are your plans? Tell your mother!

Gui Xiang blushed slightly and whispered:

"Mother! Marrying someone like me would be a disgrace to anyone. Mother! I don't plan to remarry! Aren't I doing just fine as I am?"

Li patted Guixiang's hand and said:

"Guixiang! You are my first daughter, so don't underestimate yourself! Our family is doing well now, so even divorced women and widows can remarry!"

Besides, your conditions are much better than those who remarry while already having a child!

Besides, my eldest daughter is both beautiful and capable!

Gui Xiang's gentle smile:

"Mother! You're just praising your own wares! Your daughter is nowhere near as good as you say!"

Li habitually looked around, and seeing no one, muttered to herself:

"Guixiang! I think Manager Han is quite good! Why don't you go with him..."

Gui Xiang quickly shook her head, stopping Li Shi from continuing:

"Mother! Steward Han is so outstanding, how could he possibly take a fancy to a withered flower like me! Mother! Don't play matchmaker! People will laugh at us if they hear it!"

Li disagreed and earnestly advised Guixiang:

"Guixiang! I can tell that Steward Han treats you differently! I've been through this before, and Steward Han clearly treats you like family!"

"Mother! Steward Han is such a good person! Ever since I met him, he has taken good care of me! As for him, Mother! Let's not talk about him anymore."

"Mother! I have to go now. It's not right for me to come and chat with you while I'm leaving Steward Han to work alone!"

Guixiang left, and Li Shi was unwilling to accept it. She went to Dazhu again to bring up Guixiang and Steward Han's matter! Dazhu was also having a headache over the marriage prospects of his daughters!

Their family's circumstances were neither the best nor the worst in town. This resulted in their daughters being unable to find suitable partners, neither good enough nor bad enough. Guixiang was the first to be affected; her experiences in the past two years had left her with a phobia of marriage.

Da Zhu thought about it again. Manager Han was indeed a good person, with no family burdens. He figured his wife could take charge of the household as soon as she married into the family, and the young couple could discuss and manage their lives together. Besides, they had worked together for so long and understood each other's personalities. It was worth considering!