stingy landlady

Chapter 272 Gui Xiang's Wedding (8)

The old lady casually added some more water to Wang Yiyun's bowl, saying:

"You're going to study far away this time, and it's inconvenient for you to come and go. It's not surprising that I don't know how often you come home."

That Jiang girl is Da Bao's wife! They just got engaged, and the Jiang family sent her to live with us. The Jiang family moved out soon after!

I don't know where they moved to. They demanded a hefty dowry, but gave nothing. I don't even know if she's their biological daughter; I suspect she was bought and then resold to your second aunt!

Wang Yiyun found it somewhat unbelievable:

"Mother! I don't think so! From what you've said, the Jiang family isn't exactly wealthy. How could they buy a maid, spend money to restore her to a respectable status, and even help her find a husband?"

"Mother is probably just overthinking things!"

The old man then slowly said:

"Sigh! Regardless of whether they are biological children or not, the Jiang family is dishonest! When the engagement was made, your second sister-in-law took twenty taels of betrothal gifts, but I heard that the Jiang family didn't even make a decent set of clothes for the child."

The mother and daughter took the money and ran away. They didn't even bother with arranging a wedding for the children, saying that the bride's family wouldn't come even if there was a banquet. It felt like they'd just sold a girl to our family.

Lin Xiaoyun took it to heart and interjected:

"Grandpa Wang, Grandma Wang! It would be best to have someone check if this girl is of good birth. If she is of low birth, you don't know, but if she has another child, it will follow the mother's traits..."

The old man and woman suddenly realized what was happening. The old man said:

"It's all thanks to Xiaoyun's extensive knowledge! Luckily, they haven't officially married yet. We'll go check on her tomorrow. If she's of lowly status, I absolutely cannot let her be Da Bao's legal wife!"

At this moment, Zhao was also feeling a bit down and anxiously asked Guizhi:

"Guizhi! Why can't you let Jiang Xiaoyu work for you? She's not an outsider, she's your brother Dabao's wife!"

Why is she permanently banned from working here? Why can't she go at any time? If you say we're not short-staffed now, I'm thinking of letting her fill in when we are.

But you said you'd never use her, and that's what Auntie just doesn't understand!

Guizhi said to Zhao Shi in a lukewarm tone:

"Second Aunt! If you don't understand, why don't you go back and ask Jiang Xiaoyu! I have my reasons for not using her! I reckon she knows the reason herself!"

Lin Xiaoyun had somehow appeared behind Guizhi.

“Aunt Wang! Guizhi always keeps her word. Since she says the Jiang family is no good, then it's no good! There's no point in you bothering Guizhi.”

Go home and observe her carefully; there must be something wrong with her.

I'll talk to Guizhi for a bit, you go do what you need to do!

After hearing Lin Xiaoyun's words, Zhao understood. She couldn't afford to offend Guizhi, so she decided to put it aside for now and interrogate Jiang Xiaoyu properly when she got home.

Zhao looked at Lin Xiaoyun and asked:

"Xiaoyun! You wouldn't have fallen for our Guizhi, would you? You've been waiting for Guizhi to grow up before getting married? Oh dear! You're quite a bit older than Guizhi!"

Wouldn't that be like an old cow eating young grass?

Looking at Lin Xiaoyun and Guizhi, Zhao felt increasingly certain that she had guessed the truth. Lin Xiaoyun's face flushed slightly, and he said sternly:

"Aunt Wang! You're so old, yet you still have no restraint when it comes to your words! Guizhi is still a young girl! How can you speak ill of a young girl like that in front of Guizhi!"

Leave quickly!

Zhao, who was somewhat fiery, continued talking to herself with a smile:

"Guizhi is my own niece, we've watched her grow up since she was little! Xiaoyun! Our Guizhi is one of the best girls in the surrounding villages, if you really want her, you'd better get engaged as soon as possible!"

If you come back too late, and you only come back once every few years! Tsk tsk! The food will probably be too cold by then!

Lin Xiaoyun felt that Zhao's words were too direct, leaving him unsure how to respond. He glanced at Guizhi, who seemed unperturbed, as if it were none of her business.

Out of respect for Zhao Shi being Guizhi's second aunt, Lin Xiaoyun suppressed his anger and said impatiently:

"Aunt Wang! How we do things is none of your business! Go back and deal with your own affairs!"

Zhao could hear Lin Xiaoyun's annoyance and knew she was being disliked, so she could only say sullenly:

"Alright! You two keep chatting! It's been years since you last met, you must have a lot to talk about. I'm off!"

Zhao left reluctantly, vaguely hearing Lin Xiaoyun say to Guizhi:

"Guizhi! Your second aunt hasn't improved at all over the years; she still talks in such an annoying way!"

Zhao's face darkened upon hearing this. She saw Jiang Xiaoyu washing vegetables alone, head down. She walked straight over, pinched her hard, and whispered a warning:

"Don't make a sound! Look what you've done! I'll settle the score with you when we get home!"

Jiang Xiaoyu shuddered in pain, about to cry out, but upon hearing Zhao's words, her heart skipped a beat, and her face turned pale. She whispered:

"mother!"

Zhao said angrily in a low voice:

"Hmph! I swallowed my pride and begged Guizhi to let you work in the handicraft workshop to earn money for you. But Guizhi said she would never hire you again!"

It means you can never work for her! When you get home, explain to me why she doesn't want you!

No wonder Gui Xiang ignored you! So you all knew each other all along, keeping it a secret from our family! You've offended my elder brother's nieces, how can we expect to have a good life now?

"If I'd known, humph! If I'd known you were a jinx! I wouldn't have given your mother so much betrothal gifts! It's like hunting geese all day, only to have your eyes pecked out by the geese themselves!"

As Zhao spoke, her anger flared even more, and she reached out and pinched Jiang Xiaoyu again. Jiang Xiaoyu, with tears in her eyes, dared not utter a sound and continued washing vegetables with her head down.

Only after someone came to collect the washed vegetables did Zhao temporarily let Jiang Xiaoyu go. She turned to talk to someone else, leaving Jiang Xiaoyu alone, filled with worry. She didn't know how to explain things to Zhao when she got home.

Lin Xiaoyun smiled at Guizhi and said:

"Guizhi! Don't listen to your second aunt's nonsense! I want to establish my career before starting a family!"

Guizhi nodded.

"Good! Establishing a career before starting a family shows you have a sense of responsibility! You know what you want! You've really grown up, Lin Xiaoyun!"

Don't put too much pressure on yourself; things are already pretty good! If you find a good girl of equal social standing, get married sooner rather than later to avoid the prince and his ilk having designs on you.

"You talk like you're so much older than me! Guizhi! I'm older than you, okay? You have to call me brother!"

"Hehe! Lin Xiaoyun! It's just the two of us now, don't you know me? When have I ever called you brother? Even if I don't call you brother, you still have a share in this family."

You must always stand up for us!

Lin Xiaoyun lowered his voice and said:

"Wang Guizhi! Are you even a girl? All you ever talk about is my marriage! Aren't you ashamed? I can decide my own marriage!"

Guizhi didn't argue with him.

"Alright! I'm not your parent! I don't need to worry about that! How's your life going in the army? Don't just work hard for three days and rest for two!"