Chapter 71: Zheng's Marriage

  "What a coincidence, my brother," said Tang Shungui.

  During this time, Ye Zhuo had also observed Tang Shun Gui and found that he was a relatively honest person and his mouth was very strict. Although he also chatted with guests, he never gossiped or spoke ill of others' families. It seemed that his brother should be the same kind of person too?

  But thinking of Ye Yuqi and Ye Yuzhang, two brothers with vastly different personalities, Ye Zhuo became uncertain again and asked: "What about your brother? What's his personality like? Does he like to talk?"

  "Hey, that brother of mine is even more stupid than me, three punches can't get one out... cough cough..." Tang Shun suddenly remembered that Ye Zhuo was a girl and quickly swallowed back the indecent words.

  Ye Chou didn't have time to bother with this, she took out a small piece of silver from her bosom, worth about three cents, and signaled to Qiu Yue to hand it over.

  "Miss Ye, what are you doing?" Tang Shungui was startled by this silver.

  "Tang uncle, I want to ask your younger brother to help me keep an eye on things at Gong Shuban's house," said Ye Zhuo.

  "As soon as he heard that Ye Zhuo wanted to inquire about other people's private affairs, and it was still someone from the government office, Tang ShunGui hesitated and didn't dare take the money from Qiu Yue's hand."

  "Don't worry, I won't harm anyone, I'm just defending myself against others who might harm me. You may not know that the daughter of Gong Shuban is actually my stepmother, and the daily maid is her personal servant. I've always suspected she's plotting something sinister. Although I was adopted into the main house, the second house still has my biological grandparents and aunt, I have to take care of them." Ye Zhuo said, "Besides, it's just asking your brother to keep an eye out for me, he doesn't need to follow anyone, there won't be any danger, don't worry."

  Yesterday, Ye Zhuo and Ye Yuqi went to the government office and came back. They were riding in Tang Shungui's carriage. Ye Zhuo took out money to help with Zheng family's matter, and Tang Shungui was also aware of it. Moreover, after being together for so long, he knew that Ye Zhuo was a kind and filial girl. And these three silver coins, almost equivalent to his income from running errands for half a month. After hesitating for a moment, he accepted the money and said to Ye Zhuo: "Miss Ye, rest assured, I'll let my brother help you keep an eye on that Gong Shuban; even if it's someone from your family's second house, if I run into them, I'll also keep an eye out. If there's any news, I'll come tell you."

  "Thank you, Uncle Tang. A useful piece of information. I'll pay you another sum of silver, and won't let your efforts go unrewarded." Ye Zhuo knew that to get the Tang brothers to put their hearts into it, they had to be heavily rewarded.

  Tang Shungui was able to help others and make money, so after hesitating for a while, he agreed.

  As they spoke, they arrived at the Zheng's house, with Ye Zhuo leading Qiu Yue. Just as they were about to knock on the door, they found that the courtyard gate was wide open, and it seemed like there were people talking inside the main hall, and their voices were very loud. Listening carefully, it sounded like it was Madame Zheng.

  Was it Liu's fault that his mother was so angry that she couldn't take it anymore? Ye Zhuo was shocked and rushed in directly.

  A woman's voice said, "Zheng family's aunt, it's not me saying this. A woman in her thirties, even if she looks good, time is not forgiving, and soon she'll be old and faded. It's rare that Old Man Niu doesn't mind your age, having given birth to a child and being driven out of your husband's family. You should be grateful, but instead you're thinking of what? Being a concubine is not bad! Do you know how much wealth Old Man Niu has? The shops, land, workshops, and houses everywhere add up to tens of thousands of taels of silver! Yesterday, it was your Zheng Fangjing who broke that bangle, or rather, the one who broke it. It's something people buy to coax their concubines. A few hundred taels of silver is something they give out casually, what a generous gesture! Your original husband's family had only a few thousand taels of silver in assets. If you marry well, let the Ye family see that leaving him, you can't marry someone better. This Old Man Niu is not old, and his first wife is also a very good person, sisters-in-law getting along extremely harmoniously. Marrying into their family would be like falling into a lucky situation! Such good fortune, people beg for it but can't get it, yet you're pushing it away?"

  "Don't even mention it, such good fortune, whoever wants to enjoy it can go ahead and do so, I won't be enjoying this kind of blessing. Alright, you're busy too, I won't keep you any longer, hurry up and leave." This was Zheng's voice.

  That woman, however, would not give up and said: "I'm telling you, this person, why don't you understand? With Old Man Niu's good conditions, you won't marry him. Who do you want to marry then? Those with money and a young age, when they want to take a wife, who wouldn't want a young maiden? They'd still have to marry a young maiden to carry on the family line. And those poor people, they also need to marry a young maiden to inherit the incense legacy. As for that old man, you're not willing to marry him either? My words may be unpleasant to hear, but they're not unreasonable. I'm saying this for your own good! Zheng's aunt, you should listen to advice too!"

  "Am I going to get married or not?" Zheng raised her voice, seemingly impatient. "I don't want to get married for the rest of my life, is that okay?"

  “Not getting married?” The woman's voice became even sharper, "Don't you think about yourself, but also consider your brother and his family? This Zheng family has such a small place, three sons all need to get married. You live here, where will they live? Not to mention, they still have to support you for food and clothing, you'll be a burden on others for the rest of your life, do you know that? The time you've lived here is short, your brother's wife and nephew are kind-hearted, there's no conflict between them yet. But if you live here for a long time, they will inevitably have conflicts with each other, aren't you afraid of being disliked by others?"

  At this time, Mrs. Liu's voice rang out: "Hong Meipo, you can't say that, otherwise when my husband comes back, he will be furious." The tone was more like a spoiled child, not at all like scolding someone.

  "Hey, look, with such good brothers and sisters-in-law, you should think of them even more. If family members don't consider each other, even the best relationships can go bad. Now your brother and sister-in-law owe a lot of debt, but this Cow family, although they are taking a concubine, has given enough betrothal gifts, worth 200 taels of silver. Old Master Cow said that since you're living with your brother and sister-in-law, it's not easy, so the dowry is not needed, these betrothal gifts can be considered as a thank-you gift to your brother and sister-in-law. When you arrive at the Cow family, they will definitely treat you well, clothes and jewelry, in the future will never be lacking. Look, what good people! By accepting this marriage, you can get a good home, and also help your brother and sister-in-law share their worries, killing two birds with one stone, a great joy for everyone, but you still want to push it away?"

  "Oh? Worth two hundred taels of silver?" Zheng's voice didn't reveal any emotions, "Sister-in-law, do you also want me to agree to this marriage?"

  "Sister, you're still so young, you can't be lonely for the rest of your life. In my opinion, this Old Master Niu has pretty good conditions all around. Although being a concubine is a bit humiliating, once a woman gets married, she's no longer valuable. It's not easy to find someone as good as Old Master Niu either. The most precious thing is that he fell in love with you at first sight, this is something that can't be compared to anything else." Liu said somewhat fawningly.

  "Besides, marrying him can earn two hundred taels of silver and also help alleviate the Zheng family's urgent situation, isn't that so?" Madam Zheng chimed in.

  Liu smiled awkwardly twice, but didn't say a word. However, after a moment of silence in the room, she finally spoke up: "If you can help Brother and Sister-in-law get through this difficult time, they will be truly grateful to you from the bottom of their hearts. In the future, we will definitely take good care of Zhuo'er and won't let her suffer any injustice."

  "Do you have the ability to make me feel wronged?" Zheng's voice rose, "Do you know that those one hundred and fifty taels of silver were borrowed from the Ye family for you?"

  "This, of course, you already know, your brother told me. But if we borrow, we must return it, right? That Old Man Ye, although he is Zhu'er's nominal grandfather, has nothing to do with our Zheng family. Your brother said that this silver must be returned as soon as possible, otherwise the Ye family's workshop will not be able to operate."

  "If there's a relationship, then don't need to repay it? Now wanting to repay, just plan to sell me out for 200 taels, right? The remaining, can still be stored up for Fang Jing and Fang Hui to marry wives, right?" Zheng Shi's tone was full of mockery.

  Liu fell silent for a moment, her tone turning cold: "Sister, don't make it sound so unpleasant. I advise you to agree to this marriage, not just for the sake of our family's debt, but also for your own good."

  "What if I say I don't want to get married?"

  Liu seemed to be annoyed as well, raising her voice: "Whether or not you get married is up to you. However, in the future when Fang Jing and Fang Hui get married, our house will probably be too small to accommodate everyone. At that time, your sister can only live in the storage room. Moreover, it's natural for Fang Jing and Fang Hui to support their parents, but they don't have the obligation to support a married-out aunt like you. If you want them to help take care of you when you're old, shouldn't you also bear some of the expenses of their weddings? It doesn't need to be much, just a few dozen taels of silver per person should be enough. Our family's burden is already heavy, and we still owe a large sum of money. Your brother works hard every day, enduring wind and rain, heat and cold, without rest. Adding another mouth to feed will surely crush him. In the future, your sister will also need to pay several taels of silver as living expenses every month."

  Zheng heard this and laughed angrily: "Liu Yue'e, you say these words, really without conscience. The house is too small to live in, so I should live in the thatched cottage? You can actually say such a thing. Don't forget, the house you're living in now was bought with my dowry money. Without me, your whole family wouldn't know where to live right now. Not only would you have no place to live, but Fang Jing and Fang Hui might even be sold to another family as servants. And would they still have money to learn jade carving? You dare say that everything your family has eaten, worn, and used over the years wasn't bought with my money? Moreover, since I came back to live here for a few months, how many things have you taken from me? The silver I brought back, the hairpins on Fang Zi and Fang Ping's heads, the clothes you took away the other day worth three or four taels of silver... every day I do embroidery work and sell it, giving all the money to you. Now you're calculating living expenses with me? How is it that now I'm not at Ye's house, there's no money to support you; and my daughter has been adopted into a poor household, so you can't take advantage of her anymore. You're really trying to get rid of me, sell me off, pay off the debt, and still have some money left over for your son to marry a wife, right? You truly are ungrateful and ruthless!"