Chapter 86 – Ms. Wang Proposes a Marriage
Ms. Wang stood next to Ms. Zhong, her eyes fixed on the pot.
Yan Xiaosi, Tian Dazhuang, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun, the younger generation, swallowed their saliva as they stared at the pot as well.
“Qin’er’s mother, is the Dragon and Phoenix Soup ready?” Ms. Wang asked, her eyes almost falling into the pot.
She had lived half her life, and this was the first time she smelled such a delicious meat soup. She couldn’t wait to have a couple of bowls.
Ms. Zhong stirred the soup with a spatula and saw that the chicken and snake meat were almost cooked to the point of falling off the bones. She turned her head and replied to Ms. Wang, “It should be ready to eat. I’ll add the ginger and green onions, then stir-fry two vegetable dishes, and we can start eating.”
“Great, great,” Ms. Wang nodded repeatedly at the mention of two more vegetable dishes.
The more dishes, the better since she didn’t have to contribute anything.
Ms. Zhong poured the chopped ginger and green onions from the cutting board into the large iron pot, stirred them with the spatula, and then removed the snake soup from the heat. She stir-fried two vegetable dishes.
A moment later, the steaming hot dishes were served: snake soup, stir-fried cabbage, and stir-fried shredded potatoes. All three dishes were served in wooden bowls, with generous portions.
Ms. Wang looked at the dishes in the bowls, then at the large bowl of rice in front of her, feeling delighted.
Unexpectedly, Ms. Zhong was so generous.
After the meal, not a single bit of the snake soup, cabbage, or shredded potatoes was left. Ms. Wang ate happily and felt full to the point of belching. Looking at the people in the Yan family’s third household, she found them all pleasing to the eye. Ms. Zhong was honest and kind, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun were smart, lively, and beautiful. Even Yan Xiaosi seemed more like a clever elf than a cunning trickster.
“Dazhuang’s mom, Dazhuang, please sit for a while. I’ll have Qin’er make some tea for you to drink before you leave,” Ms. Zhong called Yan Shuqin to her side and instructed her to make tea.
The tea leaves were wild tea they had picked when they went up to Four Sisters Mountain to chop firewood. The taste was quite good.
Ms. Wang sat there with a smile, watching Ms. Zhong clean up the kitchen while Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuyun helped her busily. She couldn’t help but purse her lips in satisfaction, then glanced at her son.
Her son was grown up, and it was time for him to get married.
“Qin’er’s mother, Qin’er, Xue’er, and Yun’er are all grown up now. Has there been any marriage proposals?” she asked.
At her words, Ms. Zhong’s face changed as she busied herself.
Yan Xiaosi returned from the outhouse and walked into the kitchen just in time to hear Ms. Wang’s words. Seeing Ms. Wang’s gaze on his sisters, he couldn’t help but think deeply.
Could it be that Ms. Wang had her eye on one of his sisters, intending to propose a marriage for Tian Dazhuang?
He shifted his gaze to Tian Dazhuang, resting his chin on his hand, and carefully examined him.
Tian Dazhuang’s character was good, but sometimes he was too honest and a bit of a mama’s boy. If Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, or Yan Shuyun were to marry into the Tian family, he didn’t have high hopes for their happiness at the moment.
None of his sisters, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, or Yan Shuyun, could suppress the fierce Ms. Wang. Marrying into the Tian family would put them at a disadvantage, so she didn’t have high hopes.
Ms. Zhong also understood the intention behind Ms. Wang’s words, but she didn’t know how to respond and felt quite embarrassed. “Auntie Tian, there’s no need to worry about my sisters’ marriages. You should focus on Dazhuang’s marriage. After the new year, Dazhuang will be nineteen, and it’s time for him to get married. Auntie Tian, you should find a beautiful wife for Dazhuang soon, so we can attend the wedding.”
Yan Xiaosi’s words were graceful but tactfully rejected Ms. Wang’s proposal.
“Mom, why do you suddenly bring up this matter? It’s making Qin’er, Xue’er, and Yun’er feel embarrassed,” Tian Dazhuang interrupted Ms. Wang, who still wanted to say something to Ms. Zhong.
Ms. Wang glared at Tian Dazhuang, signaling him to be quiet.
Other families worried that the Yan family’s third household wouldn’t be able to provide a dowry, so they didn’t dare to propose a marriage. Ms. Wang, however, wasn’t concerned.
The Yan family’s third household was poor, and Ms. Zhong was a widow. They certainly wouldn’t dare to ask for a large betrothal gift. With a small betrothal gift, they could marry a beautiful daughter-in-law, making it a good deal.
“Qin’er’s mother, Qin’er and Xue’er are not young anymore. You should start planning for the two girls’ marriages,” Ms. Wang insisted.
“Mother, I have something to do. I’ll leave first. If you want to talk, you can stay here,” Tian Dazhuang said, his face red with embarrassment. He left Ms. Wang behind and strode away from the dilapidated temple.
Seeing that her son was genuinely angry, Ms. Wang didn’t dare to say anything more to Ms. Zhong and hurriedly got up to chase after him.
“You rascal, wait for your mother!” Ms. Wang yelled.
Watching Ms. Wang chase after Tian Dazhuang in a hurry, Ms. Zhong finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.
If Ms. Wang hadn’t left, she really wouldn’t have known how to respond.
However, a moment later, her brow furrowed again. Her gaze swept over her eldest and second daughters, and her expression became troubled.
Ms. Wang probably had her sights set on Qin’er and Xue’er. With Ms. Wang’s personality, she wouldn’t give up easily. If she didn’t get an answer today, she would definitely come back to probe further.
“Mom, don’t worry. Actually, Dazhuang’s character is quite good. You can just ask Big Sister and Second Sister for their opinions. If either of them is willing, this marriage proposal might not be impossible to accept.”
Yan Xiaosi looked at Ms. Zhong’s furrowed brow and suddenly spoke up. Although she didn’t quite agree with Yan Shuqin or Yan Shuxue marrying into the Tian family, if either of them liked Tian Dazhuang, she wouldn’t object. Ms. Wang might be fierce, but she had her own ways of dealing with her. She would never let Ms. Wang bully her sisters. Ms. Zhong thought Yan Xiaosi had a point and sighed. She looked at Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue and asked, “Qin’er, Xue’er, I’ve watched Dazhuang grow up. He has an honest and kind character, which is indeed a good quality. What do you two think? If either of you is willing…”
“Mom, I’m not willing.”
Before Ms. Zhong could finish speaking, Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue replied in unison, as if they had discussed it beforehand.
Yan Shuqin looked seriously at Ms. Zhong, “Mom, I’m still young. I want to stay with you for a few more years.”
After saying this, Yan Shuqin lowered her head with a thoughtful expression.
Their household was already short on labor, and if she were to get married, who would help her mother with chores in the future?
Yan Shuxue spoke up immediately after, “Mom, I won’t marry either. I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life.”
“Mom, since both Big Sister and Second Sister don’t want to marry, if Auntie Tian tries to probe you again, just refuse her directly.”
Yan Xiaosi wasn’t afraid of offending Ms. Wang. Compared to Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue’s lifelong happiness, offending Ms. Wang was a trivial matter.
“If Auntie Tian wants to be angry, let her be. We can’t just marry off my sisters carelessly to accommodate her feelings.”
Ms. Zhong felt that Yan Xiaosi made a lot of sense, and her heart became relieved. She was no longer troubled by Ms. Wang.
……
At this moment, in Daxing Town, at the Deyun Inn, “Sub… subordinate, greets the master.”
