Song Mingyue’s small face scrunched up. Madam Yu poked her forehead. "Alright, alright, I won't fault you. Your eldest aunt asked me to probe Auntie Qi’s intentions. She fancies Zhenzhen and wants her to be her daughter-in-law. I also think Zhenzhen is good, and your cousin is also ambitious. If it can be arranged, it would be a good marriage."
Song Mingyue’s mouth fell open. "Mother, is that true? Eldest aunt really has a good eye. Zhenzhen is indeed good, with a good temperament, good looks, good at managing a household, and can earn money. If she can really be married into the family, Eldest aunt will be able to show off then."
"You child, why are you saying these things? We are all family," Madam Yu chided Song Mingyue. Although she hoped her daughter would be a bit more shrewd, she didn't want her to become someone who was overly calculating.
Song Mingyue shook her head. "Mother, setting aside the fact that we are family, you shouldn't get involved in this matter. Zhenzhen doesn't care for cousin. If you go and ask like that, it might upset Zhenzhen and Auntie Qi. They might think you are using the familiarity between the two families to pressure them."
Madam Yu looked at her daughter in surprise. Her words seemed quite thoughtful.
"How do you know Zhenzhen doesn't like Brother Ze?" Madam Yu asked calmly.
"Just today, Zhenzhen came to find me. She was fuming when she came in. I asked her why, and she said there was a pervert outside. There was no one else outside, only cousin. So, cousin must have done something that made Zhenzhen unhappy. Zhenzhen also said that some people know the person but not their heart." Song Mingyue didn't hide anything from Madam Yu and told her everything that happened that day.
Madam Yu’s brows slowly furrowed. So, there was such a thing. Did Madam Chen know or not?
However, whether she knew or not, she didn't want to help anymore. Her daughter was right; it would be bad to cause a misunderstanding. As for her nephew, Zhenzhen was a steady girl and would not speak nonsense without reason. Her nephew, she feared, had done something that was annoying.
"Alright, Mother will listen to you and won't get involved in this matter," Madam Yu smiled. "Later, when you are home, keep a close eye on your eldest aunt and cousin. If you notice any unusual behavior, tell me early."
Madam Yu feared that her daughter and daughter-in-law would be as foolish as Madam Du and do something irreversible.
Two days later, Madam Chen couldn't hold back and stopped Madam Yu, asking her about Madam Yun's attitude.
Madam Yu smiled, looking helpless. "As soon as I brought it up that day, Madam Yun said Zhenzhen is still young and not considering these matters. Since she said that, how could I shamelessly insist? Our Ze Ge is talented and studious, with a great future. Which family isn't eager to marry their daughter to us?"
Madam Chen was a little disappointed at first, but hearing Madam Yu praise her son left and right, she inexplicably became happy again. She said smugly, "Sister-in-law is right. Not only do many families in the neighboring villages fancy our Ze Ge, but the owner of the grain shop in the county town also fancies our Ze Ge."
Madam Chen chattered on, praising the grain shop owner's daughter profusely.
Madam Yu was a little displeased. So, she had made several backup plans. Did she think her son was some treasure to be sold at a high price?
After perfunctorily saying a few words to Madam Chen, Madam Yu found an excuse to return to her room. Fortunately, she hadn't foolishly gone to find the Qi family mother and daughter to discuss this matter. She felt disgusted just thinking about it.
Madam Chen returned home and told Song Mingze about it. Song Mingze looked listless. He thought it would be a sure thing, but he didn't expect the Qi family to have such an attitude. "Still young" was clearly an excuse.
"The Qi family girl is indeed capable, but the grain shop owner's daughter is not bad either. The grain shop owner has only one daughter, and all the business will be hers in the future. She doesn't require a live-in son-in-law. I heard she is also good-looking and not inferior to the Qi family girl in any way. I say, girls should be more modest. If they are out in the open, who knows what trouble they might cause in the future?" Madam Chen advised.
"Mother, please say less. I need to study," Song Mingze said, somewhat annoyed, using studying as an excuse to dismiss her.
Madam Chen left dejectedly, but she was already planning to quickly finalize the engagement with the grain shop owner's daughter. She heard that there were several houses in the county town that would be part of the dowry. When the other party proposed, they also said they had no requirements for the groom's family's betrothal gifts, only that they fancied Song Mingze's scholarly status.
Meanwhile, the Qi family was unaware of the actions of the Song family's eldest branch. Madam Yun was measuring the siblings, preparing to make a few sets of fine cotton clothes, as the brocade clothes were too eye-catching for everyday wear.
This time, Qi Zhenzhen did not object. It wasn't good to be too out of place with those around her.
"Sister, I saw that the wolf peaches in your room have small yellow flowers," Qi Yi said to Qi Zhenzhen. "Those flowers are too inconspicuous, they don't smell good, and they don't look pleasing to the eye."
"It's not time for them to look pleasing yet!" Qi Zhenzhen shot him a glance. "When they can really grow wolf peaches, you'll know how good they look."
Bright red tomatoes were indeed beautiful as a decoration.
"Auntie, Zhenzhen, Brother Yi," Madam Li Shan arrived, wearing brand new clothes and a smile on her face.
Qi Zhenzhen quickly stepped forward to help Madam Li Shan. "Sister-in-law, it's freezing cold, why are you out? Is Brother Shanzi at ease?"
Madam Li Shan chided her. "Am I that delicate? I haven't been out these days not because of the cold, but because I've been vomiting severely and couldn't get out of bed. Isn't it strange? I was fine before, and I couldn't eat anything. After I got better, there's nothing I don't want to eat, which has worried Brother Shanzi sick."
A month ago, when the kimchi was being loaded onto the cart, Madam Li Shan fainted. Doctor Mo was called, and it was said she was pregnant and too tired.
This scared Li Shan so much that he never dared to let his wife go out with him again. Since they were too busy, he invited his younger brother-in-law to help, so his wife could rest and take care of her pregnancy at home.
"I think Brother Shanzi is doing it willingly, isn't he?" Qi Zhenzhen teased Madam Li Shan. "When Doctor Mo said you were pregnant, he was so happy he jumped up and down."
A blush appeared on Madam Li Shan's face. After giving birth to Huzizi, her stomach had been quiet. Now that she was pregnant again, not only Shanzi but she was also happy.
"Zhenzhen, sister-in-law came today to ask for your advice," Madam Li Shan was not a shy person and got straight to the point. "I don't have any elders at home, and Huzizi is still young and needs care. My mother is willing but unable. There are many things to do at home, and as a married daughter, I can't always rely on my maiden family. I've been thinking about starting a small business, something that can be done all year round. Brother Shanzi and I don't have any special skills, so I can only think of opening a small food stall. But small food stalls are everywhere, and if there's no special feature, it's hard to make it successful."