They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 140 The Wedding Troubles
Before she knew it, it was time for Liang Cuier to get married.

Uncle Liang and Mrs. Zhang debated for three days whether or not to ask Xu Zhichun to come and help on this day.

If she calls out, it's all Xu Zhichun's fault that this marriage was ruined. Seeing her makes her angry and brings bad luck; she's just a nuisance. If she doesn't call out, it feels like she's letting her off easy: it's all Xu Zhichun's fault, so why should she stay out of it? Making her come would only make her feel guilty.

My brother-in-law, a student studying at the county school, will definitely become the center of attention as soon as she arrives, thanks to the gossip in the village. She will surely steal the limelight from my family, and everyone will probably be swarming around her. Just thinking about it makes me even angrier and more unlucky.

However, the two families had just had a falling out recently, and people outside were saying that their family was dishonest, ruthless, and heartless. They wanted to use the wedding as an excuse to invite her over to help out, sit down, and show her what they could do. This would also make it clear to everyone that the relationship between the two families had improved, and it would save them from saying such hurtful things that might affect Mingxiang's chances of finding a wife for his second son.

They kept calling, but they didn't. Uncle Liang and Mrs. Zhang were troubled for three days and three nights. Finally, they decided to just keep calling, even if it meant holding their noses.

It just doesn't feel right if we don't call it that.

"I'm warning you, when that Xu family arrives, don't say anything out of line. No matter how much you hate them, don't show it. So many people are watching."

"I know, I'm not that stupid."

Zhang was absent-minded and looked haggard. Although she loved her youngest son and eldest grandson the most, Liang Cuier was also her own flesh and blood, her own daughter. How could she bear to see her beloved daughter forced to marry a scoundrel, and a penniless widower at that?

“Tell Cui’er that things have already come to this. If she makes a scene and embarrasses the family, I won’t let her off the hook.”

Zhang was on the verge of tears, "I understand!"

When Mao knocked on the door in the evening, asking her to come and help the next day, Xu Zhichun agreed in a nonchalant tone. Since the matter hadn't blown up, she couldn't refuse; she had to maintain appearances.

Mao peeked into the courtyard, but Xu Zhichun stepped aside to block her view: "Is there anything else, eldest sister-in-law?"

All the equipment for making konjac tofu was brought back, and so many strawberries were planted in the backyard. Xu Zhichun couldn't possibly let the people from the main branch of the family come in and look around.

Mao pouted, "Zhichun, you're too petty. As the elder sister-in-law, am I not even allowed to come in and sit down?"

"I have things to do and don't have time to entertain my eldest sister-in-law."

Mao thought to herself, "Even when you have free time, you're never really willing to entertain me." So she gave up on her damned curiosity and asked, "Zhichun, tell me the truth. Don't you get tired of running around to the county town every day? How much money do you actually make in a day?"

"Two ounces."

"What?"

"Two ounces."

"Two...two ounces? Two ounces what?" Mao asked, a little dumbfounded.

Xu Zhichun: "Silver."

Two taels of silver! For a day?

Mao exclaimed in surprise, "Impossible!"

Xu Zhichun: "If you don't believe me even after I've told you, then why did you ask?"

Mao was indignant, though she didn't know why she was angry. Perhaps it was because she both disbelieved it and feared it was true. "I asked you, if you don't want to say it, then fine, why lie to me like this? Two taels? You really dare to say that. I'd never do that even in my wildest dreams. Why don't you just say two hundred taels?"

Xu Zhichun thought to himself, "When I was making braised meat, I could earn more than two liang (100 grams) a day, almost three liang (150 grams). Even when I wasn't making braised meat, I could still earn more than one liang (50 grams). You see, I told you the truth but you don't believe me. So why did you ask?"

Xu Zhichun smiled enigmatically: "Maybe there really will be two hundred taels someday."

Mao rolled her eyes disdainfully: "Keep bragging! Keep bragging, look how high you've gone!" She instantly lost interest in conversation. Why listen to this person's nonsense? She must have nothing better to do.

"Don't forget to come help tomorrow morning."

"Ah."

The next morning, Xu Zhichun got up early as usual and made ice jelly first.

She won't be going to town today, but Zeng Xiaoyan and her husband, along with Aunt Zhu'er, will still go. The village head's family is large, so Sister-in-law Liang can go with her eldest daughter-in-law to help; Zeng Xiaoyan isn't needed. As for Aunt Zhu'er, their family's relationship with Uncle Liang's family is so-so; sending a gift and Uncle Qitian going to visit and say hello is enough, there's no need for everyone to go.

Of course, making money is more important; you can earn several hundred coins a day.

Early in the morning, Liang Cuier changed into a new red dress, tied her hair up, and hugged Zhang Shi, crying uncontrollably under the pretext of not being able to part with her mother. Zhang Shi also cried, and the mother and daughter hugged each other and wept bitterly. The onlookers sighed and felt sad, and they said kind words to comfort and persuade her.

She was rescued from the water and lost her virginity, so she had to get married. There was nothing she could do about it. She could only blame her bad luck.

An elderly person kindly advised, "Don't cry anymore. You shouldn't cry all the time on such a joyous occasion. You're an adult now, so live your life well. Things will definitely get better. You have a long life ahead of you, things will get better."

Liang Cuier choked with despair: "My life is miserable, it won't get better, it's hopeless."

"Oh, good fortune, good fortune! But you can't say that!"

Liang Cuier cried even harder, her resentment rising to her head: "I've already been harmed like this, what else can't I say!"

"Cui'er!" Zhang, who was wiping away tears, exclaimed in surprise, "What nonsense are you talking about! Don't be so willful. We won't abandon you, things will be alright, don't cry."

The crowd exchanged glances, sensing something subtle and curious, but dared not ask further. They could only agree with Zhang and brush the matter aside.

Outside the courtyard, things became lively, with the sound of music and drums filling the air—the wedding procession was arriving.

Xu Zhichun didn't go into Liang Cuier's room to get in the way; he just helped out from outside.

Bakou Village is not close to Liangjia Village; it is much more remote. It takes at least an hour and a half to get there by traversing mountains and winding through valleys.

There were quite a few people from the Lian family, but the groom was much older than Liang Cuier and was also ugly. His wedding attire, which he had gotten from who-knows-where, was obviously faded and worn out, giving off a sense of dejection. It was wrinkled and crumpled on his body, making his already dark face look even darker.

When she grins, her teeth become very noticeable, and the horizontal lines on her forehead are deep and wavy. Her eyes are squinted, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes spread out like fish tails—making her look even uglier than when she's not smiling.

"What a waste of a beautiful flower on cow dung!"

Someone sighed, and many people nodded in agreement: Who says otherwise!

Those in the Lian family who heard this immediately stopped laughing.

"Who? Who the hell is babbling?"

The joyful music stopped, and all was silent.

An awkward atmosphere gradually filled the room.

"Who was babbling just now? You have the guts to keep talking but not the guts to stand up? Which coward was it?!"

Bakou Village is remote, poor, and its people are uncouth. What Liangjia Village doesn't know is that this village is known for its fierce and unruly people, and no one dares to mess with it easily.

-——
Let me clarify something here: Zhichun will definitely go to help him; he's her uncle, after all, outsiders don't know the inside story. If she wants to live in the village, she can't ignore her reputation. Don't say reputation is worthless; in ancient society, it was definitely valued. Even now, how many people can truly remain completely unaffected by gossip?
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(End of this chapter)