Chapter 194 – Ms. Hu’s Scheme
Seeing Ms. Jiang’s reluctance, Yan Wenfeng quickly added, “Grandmother, as Shujing said, only the two young masters from the county court and their two maids know about her dishonor. Considering those young masters are guilty of committing such an indecency, they wouldn’t dare to expose it. The maids certainly wouldn’t dare to reveal a word either. As long as our Yan family keeps silent, no one should find out about Shujing’s dishonor. If you’re still worried, Grandfather, we can find a family and marry her off.”
“Old Master, Shujing is our own granddaughter. With the head of our family still in the county court’s prison, if we let Shujing die, he will blame us when he gets out in three months.”
Persuaded by Yan Wenfeng and Ms. Jiang, Old Master Yan finally showed some signs of softening.
He glanced at Yan Shujing, then instructed Ms. Li, “Keep a close watch on Shujing these days. Your mother and I will find a good family and marry her off as soon as possible.”
Ms. Li and Yan Wenfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Shujing felt like she had narrowly escaped death. After hearing Old Master Yan’s words, the tension in her heart eased, and she immediately fainted.
“Shujing!”
Ms. Li embraced her in a panic.
“Mother, sister just fainted from the shock,” said Yan Wenfeng, helping Ms. Li carry Yan Shujing to the bed.
Ms. Hu and her daughter were somewhat disappointed not to see Yan Shujing poisoned or drowned in a pig cage.
As Old Master Yan, Ms. Jiang, and the Hu mother and daughter left, Ms. Li and Yan Wenfeng took care of Yan Shujing by her bedside.
“Big sister, Wenfeng, Shujing has been greatly shocked. Take good care of her. My daughter and I won’t disturb her rest,” Ms. Hu said, feigning concern.
After they left, the room quieted down. Ms. Li, sitting beside the bed, looking at her daughter’s pale, unconscious face, couldn’t help but cry again.
“Feng’er, your sister became like this because of Yan Xiaosi, that bastard. If it weren’t for his schemes leading to your father’s imprisonment in the county court, your sister wouldn’t have thought of seducing General Zhan. If she hadn’t gone to the county court, her purity would not have been taken. Wenfeng, you must seek justice for your sister.”
Yan Wenfeng clenched his fist tightly and responded through gritted teeth, “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t let Yan Xiaosi get away with this.”
Knowing that Old Master Yan and Ms. Jiang were about to discuss how to marry off Yan Shujing, Ms. Hu and her daughter followed the elders to the hall.
As they expected, Old Master Yan, barely seated, began discussing with Ms. Jiang.
“Yingyue, now that Shujing is in this state, what kind of family do you think we should marry her off to?”
Yan Shujing had always been Ms. Jiang’s favorite, and even after such a disgrace, Ms. Jiang couldn’t bear to marry her off just anywhere.
Ms. Jiang sighed softly and replied, “Shujing has been carefully nurtured by our Yan family. She is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her looks are not bad. Even though she has lost her purity, no ordinary farmer’s son is worthy of her. Perhaps we should find a wealthy family to marry her into.”
Old Master Yan was considering Ms. Jiang’s suggestion.
Ms. Hu, hearing this, was dissatisfied.
Yan Shujing had become damaged goods, yet the old lady was thinking of marrying her into a wealthy family. The sons of wealthy families, accustomed to the company of women from a young age, would quickly realize that Shujing was not pure. If Shujing’s true condition was discovered, it would not only tarnish the Yan family’s reputation but also affect her daughter’s prospects of finding a good marriage.
“Mother, I don’t quite agree with your opinion,” Ms. Hu said. “I understand you care for Shujing, but her purity has been destroyed. If we marry her into a wealthy family as you suggest, and the young master of that family discovers that Shujing is not pure, it could cause trouble for our Yan family. This would not only tarnish our family’s reputation but also affect Shuxiu’s prospects for a good marriage.”
Old Master Yan, initially in favor of Ms. Jiang’s suggestion, frowned disapprovingly at her after hearing Ms. Hu’s words.
“A woman’s view… Shujing is already in this state, there’s nothing left to be picky about. Just find any family willing to take her and marry her off,” he said, clearly angered.
Ms. Jiang, pitying Yan Shujing, dared not say anything more.
“Since the master has decided, let’s follow his wishes,” Ms. Jiang conceded.
Ms. Hu was secretly pleased.
“Father, Mother, isn’t there a family available in our village?” she suggested.
Old Master Yan turned his attention to Ms. Hu.
“Second son’s wife, which family are you talking about?”
“Father, I’m talking about the Tian family. Recently, that widow Tian has been looking for a match for her son, Tian Dazhuang. If we marry Shujing to the Tian family, even if Tian Dazhuang discovers after marriage that Shujing is not pure, as a widow and orphan, they wouldn’t dare to trouble our Yan family. The widow, for the sake of her son’s reputation, also wouldn’t dare to publicize the matter. Father, what do you think about the Tian family?”
Old Master Yan stroked his beard, pondering for a moment, then nodded, “Very well, second son’s wife, find a time to ask Ms. Wang if they are willing. If so, settle this matter quickly.”
“Father, I will go right away.”
Ms. Hu was very pleased with the idea of marrying Yan Shujing to the Tian family as a daughter-in-law. Marrying her to such a family meant that Old Master Yan and Ms. Jiang would not likely offer a substantial dowry, saving more for Shuxiu’s future marriage.
Shortly after, Ms. Hu went to Tian Dazhuang’s house.
It was the time for corn harvesting. Tian Dazhuang and his mother, Ms. Wang, had just brought back some corn and were busy in the main hall, sorting the corn cobs. The door was open when Ms. Hu suddenly entered.
Seeing Ms. Hu all dolled up, Ms. Wang felt a mix of envy and jealousy, and snorted, “What wind blew today, to bring the Yan family’s second wife here?”
Normally, Ms. Hu would have lost her temper at Ms. Wang’s sarcastic tone, but she had important matters to discuss and restrained herself. She smiled as she entered the Tian family’s main room.
“Oh, Tian Dazhuang, your family has harvested so much corn this year.”
Ms. Wang was busy with the corn cobs and didn’t have the time or inclination to entertain her, especially not wanting to see this woman flaunting in front of her.
“Second Mrs. Yan, if you have something to say, say it quickly. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Ms. Hu smiled and said, “Mrs. Tian, stop working on your corn cobs for a moment and take a break. I have good news to discuss with you.”
