Chapter 004: The Second Daughter's Forced Marriage

"Qing Niang, Qing Niang..." Yan Huai Min's old face turned red with embarrassment as he hurriedly pulled her, saying: "What are you doing? I never said you mistreated Yu'er; aren't you just concerned for her?"

"My lord," Liu Qingniang cast a faint glance at Li Gui, who was busy sorting medicine for the guests, and casually remarked, "Isn't this what we are discussing? Who said that if it is like jade, one must marry immediately?"

You

"Savings?" Liu Qingniang scoffed coldly, "Alright, let us calculate this carefully! How small is the place of Langli? It costs only five wen to see a doctor, and even then, eight out of ten times they don't charge. The medicinal herbs are also given out sparingly, and there are still a few mouths to feed at home. If it weren't for me keeping track and managing things, this family would have been ruined by you long ago!"

Oh dear..." Liu Qingniang said, pulling out a handkerchief from under her arm, pounding her chest and stamping her feet, crying and lamenting: "I have toiled for half my life, suffered for half my life, and even in old age, I am still despised by the master. Oh dear, I can no longer live...

"My lord," Liu Qingniang wiped her tears and glanced at him sideways, "Then shall I respond to Master Zhang's words?"

"Second Mother, please do not worry about it; I will speak to Uncle Chu myself and do not wish to trouble you." Yan Ruyu's expression was bleak as she casually uttered these words, then left the shop, parted the crowd, and headed directly towards the Chu family next door.

Father, Yu'er is unfilial; you might as well consider that you have never had this daughter. Yu's delicate face turned pale as she said: "I absolutely cannot marry!"

A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, I can only blame that damned thief for ruining Yu'er’s purity and harming her entire life

"Zhang Yuanwai from Pingshan Town is not much younger than I am. If you let Yuer marry him, wouldn't that be like a fresh flower inserted into cow dung?" Yan Huaimin's face turned ashen

"Get up, get up!" Chu hurriedly bent down to help, her voice hoarse, crying as she said, "We are truly sorry for you, please do not take offense! As for the silver, the master had also mentioned that it would be returned. Alas, why is it still not returned?"

"Not satisfied? What else is there!" Liu Qingniang let out a cold laugh, counting on her fingers: "Zhang the butcher from the east end of the town also sent someone to say that his wife passed away two years ago, leaving behind three children, and he is just looking to marry a new wife; furthermore, Wang the lame man from Erdaogou also sent a message..."

"You child..." Chu understood her temperament well and dared not to persuade her any further at this moment, so he could only agree with tears in his eyes

"You, you shut up!" Yan Huaimin, seeing her speak more and more nonsensically, was so enraged that her whole body trembled. She took two steps back and fell into the chair, gasping for breath.

"Has there really been no savings in the family and in the books all these years?" Poor Yan Huai-min, who has spent his life treating the sick and saving lives, has no concept of money at all. Hearing Liu's words now, he is left dumbfounded.

"Who said that Yu'er should get married?" Yan Huaimin was momentarily taken aback and continued to express his anger in a lowered voice

"Nonsense, simply nonsense!" Yan Huaimin's anger pierced through the courtyard, directly reaching the inner hall

Li Gui lowered his eyes, quickly handed the medicine to the guest, and withdrew to the backyard, distancing himself from trouble

"Master, over the past few years, you have sacrificed so many medicines, gained a reputation, and enjoyed some glory, yet all the money is gone. " Liu Qingniang became increasingly assertive, looking at him with a cold smile: "When the Chu family came to cancel the engagement, you were still so concerned about your pride, insisting on returning the betrothal gifts to the Chu family. If you don't marry her off, how will you repay them? Surely you can't sell everything and let us womenfolk starve in the wind, can you?"

However, Yan Huaimin was interrupted by her sharp retorts, his face alternating between shades of green and white, leaving him unable to interject.

With a loud crash, the teacup fell to the ground, shattering into countless pieces, the sound startling to the senses

Liu Shengwen was frivolous and dissipated, with numerous wives and concubines at home. He often frequented the brothels and entertainment districts, relying on his family fortune to indulge in a life of extravagance, spending his days in revelry and nights in the company of courtesans. He was well-known as a dandy in the surrounding hundred miles.

"Aunt Chu," she said, as she entered the door, straightened her body, and knelt down on the ground, knocking her head several times with a loud thud. When she raised her head again, blood was already visible on her forehead, which resembled white jade. With a dazed expression, she said: "You have cared for Yu'er since childhood, but Yu'er is unfortunate and cannot repay her parents. I hope Aunt will show mercy and allow some time for the thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift; even if Yu'er were to be ground to dust, she would still repay it."

If Yu did not look at Liu Qingniang, she stared straight at Yan Huaimin and said resolutely: "If Father forces me, Yu can only choose death"

Qing Niang ... ... Yan Huai Min's face was filled with embarrassment

In an instant, the crowd was in an uproar, and the Yan residence was thrown into chaos

"Do you want someone young? Yes!" Liu Qingniang gently sipped the fragrant chrysanthemum tea and smiled slightly, "Young Master Liu from Liu Shu Village brought a birthday invitation today. Does the master think he is suitable?"

Is the master now suspecting that I am hiding something for myself?" Liu Qingniang glared with her hands on her hips and scolded: "All these years, the master has only focused on studying medicine. From the big matters of the house and shop to the small details like needles and threads, and even the daughters' cosmetics, which of these have I not been managing? Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh; when have you ever seen me treat Yuer poorly? Whenever there are good things to eat or wear, they are all reserved for Yuer. When has there ever been any favoritism towards Lan'er?"

"Father, Father..." Ru Lan screamed as she fled in panic, making a commotion all the way to the Huichuntang: "Sister, Sister is spitting blood..."

"Yuer, why must you suffer like this?" Seeing that it had been a few days without meeting, Chu noticed that her once radiant complexion had diminished by half, her round face had become sharp, and as she was the daughter-in-law he had watched grow up since childhood, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes

Passersby in the past looked on from a distance, whispering to one another

"Father, I will not marry anyone!" Yan Ruyu entered with a pale face, lifting the curtain with determination.

Chu Yunshen had already heard the commotion from the Yan family clearly next door. This time, seeing that Ruyu was coming over, he feared that a face-to-face encounter would lead to awkwardness, so he hurriedly slipped out through the side door, leaving only the Chu family to handle things at home

Hmph, since ancient times, the major affairs of marriage for children have been decided by their parents, and it is not up to you to decide!

No, "As stubborn as jade, I kneel on the ground: Within three years, I will not dare to owe a single tael of silver, and I will return the full amount. I kindly ask for your support, my aunt."

"My lord, do you still not understand?" Liu Qingniang gently brushed her hair at the temples and said coldly, "When the wall falls, everyone pushes; when the drum breaks, thousands hammer. Times have changed; Yu'er is no longer that precious wife of the deputy general! After all, she still calls me 'Second Mother.' How could I harm her? Just look for yourself, isn't Zhang Yuanwai the best choice? Once Yu'er marries him, she will be in charge, adorned in gold and silver, living in luxury, and will have no worries for the rest of her life. After all, she still calls me 'Second Mother.' How could I harm her? Just look for yourself, isn't Zhang Yuanwai the best choice? Once Yu'er marries him, she will be in charge, adorned in gold and silver, living in luxury, and will have no worries for the rest of her life. What's wrong with being a bit older? Someone who knows warmth and cold, who can care for others!"

Liu Qingniang calmly handed over a delicate blue-and-white porcelain teacup, speaking softly and gently: "My lord, if you have any dissatisfaction with me, you can just say it directly. Why must you smash dishes and create a scene for everyone to see, making it a laughingstock? Haven't we, the Yan family, lost enough face recently?"

Thank you, Aunt!" Ruyue then bowed three times, got up, and without looking back, walked straight out of the Chu family. She passed through the Huichuntang and entered the bedroom, collapsing at the edge of the bed, spitting out three mouthfuls of blood, and immediately fainted.

Sigh! Yan Huai-min let out a long sigh, remaining silent.

Yuer ... ... "Yan Huai-min felt a pain as if his heart were being cut, yet he was powerless to do anything: 'You haven't fully recovered yet, why are you out here in the wind?'"

"Oh, why didn't you seek death back then when the incident happened? Now you come here wanting to die?" Liu Qingniang scoffed disdainfully, curling her lips in a cold sneer: "If you truly do not wish to marry, that can be arranged. Just bring out one thousand taels of silver, and without a second word, I will immediately have Wang matchmaker return to Zhang Yuanwai."

Yan Huaimin was drenched in cold sweat, stammering, "Well, it shouldn't be to such an extent of utter poverty..."