Zhang Fangcao's voice successfully drew everyone's attention.
The eldest son of the Zhang family raised his voice, "With your mother and me here, is it your place to say no? We're doing this for your own good. If your aunt hadn't been thinking of you, do you think you would have encountered such an opportunity? We raised you, and now it's time for you to repay us. Your brother needs to study, and studying costs money, as you well know."
As Qi Zhenzhen had predicted, Zhang Fangcao disagreed with the plans of Madam Zhang and the others, and directly refused.
"Big Brother, speak nicely," Madam Zhang said, cradling her belly as she approached. "When will you change this bandit-like behavior of yours? Come, Fangcao, listen to your aunt. This is a golden opportunity. You'll eat well, drink well, wear silk and satin, adorn yourself with gold and jade, and have a host of people serving you! Tell me yourself, isn't that good?"
"What you've described is good, but being a concubine is not," Zhang Fangcao said stubbornly. "Father, Mother, others may not know, but don't you know the consequences of being a concubine? If you don't want me as your daughter, I'll shave my head and become a nun. That way, you won't have to push me into a fiery pit yourself and force me to my death."
While they were arguing, Lin Ruixue also conveyed Qi Zhenzhen's and Zhang Fangcao's attitudes to the old madam. The old madam's face instantly turned cold. Although Zhenzhen had calculated this, it was ultimately Madam Zhang's ill intentions that had caused it. This prodigal woman truly didn't appreciate her good life.
"Second son, why are you standing there like a fool? Take your wife back into the house. Don't let her jump around here and embarrass herself," the old madam ordered indignantly.
The old madam's voice was loud, and Madam Zhang heard it clearly. She paused, then defensively retorted with a wronged expression, "Mother, your words are too hurtful. How am I jumping around? Who am I doing this for? Besides, didn't you agree to this?"
"I'll settle accounts with you later!" the old madam said sternly.
Madam Zhang glanced at Madam Zhang and Lin Ruixue, seeing their displeased expressions, she felt a little panicked and obediently followed Lin Ruixia back to the room.
The eldest son of the Zhang family shouted boisterously, "Esteemed elder of the in-laws, what do you mean by this? We haven't finished speaking, and you've sent them back to the room. Don't forget, it was your Lin family who sought us out. If it weren't for my sister, would we have agreed to this?"
"What did our family seek you out for? It was Second Son's wife who said she missed her niece. She is carrying a child of our Lin family, and we are all extremely accommodating to her, which is why we sent the two brothers to pick them up," the old madam said slowly. "Does your sister need to 'seek' us out to see your daughter?"
"Old madam, I'm a simple person. Let's speak plainly. My sister just said she found a good future for my daughter, that she would live a life of luxury and wealth. Was she deceiving me?" the eldest son of the Zhang family asked, his neck stiff.
"Your words make no sense. Don't you know your sister's capabilities? We haven't lived such a life of luxury and wealth ourselves!" the old madam said, as if he were being amusing.
"That's because your family has no daughters," the eldest son of the Zhang family said proudly.
"What are you saying? Whose family has no daughters?" Lin Ruixue retorted, directly confronting the eldest son of the Zhang family. "Look closely at who I am."
The eldest son of the Zhang family looked somewhat sheepish. "I didn't mean it that way. I meant you don't have any daughters of marriageable age who are not yet betrothed."
"So, according to you, if a family has daughters of marriageable age who are not yet betrothed, they can live a life of luxury and wealth? What kind of logic is that? Are you planning to sell your Fangcao for money? What a cruel heart you have." Lin Ruixue looked at Zhang Fangcao with sympathy. "What a good girl she is. How could your parents do such a foolish thing?"
"Are you saying your Lin family intends to renege?" The eldest son of the Zhang family's face turned red with anger. After they arrived at the Qi family and his sister explained everything to them, they had only eaten one meal, and the Lin family was already denying the matter.
"Do we need to renege with you?" the old madam snorted. "Think about it yourself. You won't gain anything by making such a scene."
The Zhang family couple was stunned. When they arrived at the Qi family, the Lin family members had received them, but it was his sister who spoke with them. The Lin family had not explicitly stated anything. Could it be that his sister had tricked them? Impossible, he knew his sister very well. Therefore, it was definitely the Lin family who wanted to go back on their word.
"I don't care. We've come, and you must give us an explanation," the eldest son of the Zhang family resorted to a stubborn tactic. "My sister married into your Lin family, so she is part of the Lin family. Whatever she says, your Lin family must acknowledge."
"Ruixue, go and call your second sister-in-law out. Let's ask your second sister-in-law face to face!" the old madam instructed Lin Ruixue.
"Alright!"
Madam Zhang came out timidly, not daring to look at her elder brother.
"Sister, you've come at the right time. Tell your mother-in-law what you told me and your sister-in-law earlier," the eldest son of the Zhang family said loudly.
"Big Brother, what can I say? I just miss Fangcao and want her to stay with me for a while," Madam Zhang said, winking at her elder brother, hoping he would understand her meaning and stop dwelling on the matter. Her mother-in-law and the others clearly denied it. If they caused trouble, their Zhang family would not benefit.
Unfortunately, the eldest son of the Zhang family did not understand his sister's intentions. Upon hearing her denial, his neck veins bulged with anger, and his face turned red. "What did you say earlier? What did you say? You said our Zhang family's prosperous days had arrived!"
Madam Zhang was in a difficult position. Her sister-in-law had told her earlier that if she spoke carelessly, the Lin family would not tolerate her. Would she be able to return to her maiden home? Would there be a place for her there? Besides, she was reluctant to abandon her children.
"Big Brother, don't get agitated. Your eldest nephew is promising and will surely bring honor to the ancestors. Why worry that the Zhang family won't prosper?" Madam Zhang patiently told her brother. "As for what I said earlier, just treat it as a joke, okay? Furthermore, Fangcao absolutely disagrees with this matter, and it's not good to force her. If you really force her, and she does something, it will implicate our Zhang family."
Zhang Fangcao stared hatefully at Madam Zhang and her own parents. She wasn't stupid; she understood that this matter was planned by her aunt and parents from beginning to end, intending to use her to exchange for the family's prosperity. However, their scheme had failed. Zhang Fangcao looked up at Qi Zhenzhen. Just now, she had given her a pair of pearl earrings, and they had gotten along well. Yet, her parents had schemed against her like this. She felt too ashamed to face her.
"Father, Aunt is right. If you force me, I can't guarantee what I might do," Zhang Fangcao said coldly, glaring at her father.