A fierce wife enters the house: She helps up a house full of spineless people.

Wang Jinzhu couldn't exactly lash out, so she threw the stone in her hand towards the crowd, not intending to hit anyone: "Is there nothing to do at home anymore? Let's go, let's go! Let's go!"

I still need to hurry up and make money to build a courtyard.

Seeing that there wasn't much excitement to be had, the aunties muttered a couple of times and left. They were all perceptive enough to know that Wang Jinzhu was about to become rich. Even such precious young masters were coming to her to do business. If they couldn't handle the business in the future, they would have to ask for help! They didn't dare to watch her make a fool of herself.

Chen Xiufen shouted a few more times, but seeing that no one paid any attention, she left dejectedly.

In the courtyard, Wang Xiaobao and Chen Tianwei stood at opposite ends of the pond, one at the east end and the other at the west end, three steps apart, heads bowed, neither daring to raise their heads first.

Wang Jinzhu moved a stool, sat down, crossed her legs, and slowly wiped her hands.

"Tianwei, go back to your room first."

Chen Tianwei felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He picked up the basin and left, his steps so fast that he almost tripped over the threshold.

"Third Brother."

Wang Xiaobao stiffened, turned around, lowered his head, and pursed his lips into a thin line.

"look up."

Wang Xiaobao raised his head, the redness on his face still lingering, his eyes darting around.

"I'm asking you, what do you mean by Tianwei?"

Wang Xiaobao opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"say."

"Little sister, I..." Wang Xiaobao's Adam's apple bobbed twice, his voice extremely low, "I didn't do anything wrong."

"That's not what I'm asking." Wang Jinzhu stared into his eyes. "I'm asking you, what do you mean by Tianwei? Think it through before you speak, or I can tell you're lying."

Wang Xiaobao stood there, his fingers gripping the hem of his clothes, and remained silent for a long time.

He spent a long time mentally preparing himself before finally speaking, "I'm truly in love with her, and I want to marry her."

Once he said it, he relaxed, straightened his back, and looked directly at Wang Jinzhu without flinching.

Wang Xiaobao is eighteen years old this year. He is tall and strong, and also honest and kind. Chen Tianwei, on the other hand, is fourteen years old, not yet fifteen. He has a good appearance, a gentle nature, and is quick-witted.

The two were a good match, but their family relationship made her a little awkward.

"You go back first," Wang Jinzhu said, standing up. "This isn't something you can decide alone."

"Little sister, I'll be waiting for your good news!"

"Go back and wait." Wang Jinzhu's tone left no room for negotiation. "I will discuss it with them. What you need to do now is keep your mouth shut and don't let me see you be disrespectful in front of Tianwei."

Wang Jinzhu sat back down on the stool, rested her chin on her hand, and thought for a while.

This matter can't be delayed. Chen Xiufen has already started making a fuss today, and she'll start again tomorrow. If it's not resolved soon, Chen Tianwei's reputation will be ruined by her sooner or later.

Wang Jinzhu didn't mention this at dinner.

The family ate their meal as usual, and Chen Tianrun taught characters as usual. Today they learned six characters: "mountain, stone, field, fire, wood, and metal".

As Old Chen wrote the character "金" (gold), he muttered, "This one is difficult to write; it has many strokes."

Chen Tianrun smiled and said, "Sir, the 'gold' in 'gold' is the 'gold' in 'golden.' You'll get used to it after writing it a couple more times."

"Gold?" Old Chen raised his eyelids, dipped his brush in charcoal ash, and wrote it three times. The last time, it actually looked somewhat decent.

After Chen Tianrun and Chen Tianwei returned to the house, and as Old Man Chen was about to get up, Wang Jinzhu spoke up.

"Sir, please have a seat."

Old Chen glanced at her, then sat back down.

Chen Tianfang and his wife Chen Shi were also there. The faces of the group were dimly lit under the lamplight.

"You heard what Chen Xiufen was shouting at the alley entrance today, didn't you, sir?"

Old Chen snorted, "That woman's voice can be heard three alleys away."

"She was referring to Xiaobao and Tianwei," Wang Jinzhu said bluntly. "I asked Xiaobao today, and he said he wants to marry Tianwei."

The main room fell silent.

"Does Tianwei know?" Chen Yuxiang spoke first.

"I haven't asked her yet," Wang Jinzhu said. "I need to talk to my family first. This is a serious matter; we can't leave it unresolved."

Chen Shi rubbed his hands together: "Xiao Bao is a good kid, hardworking, reliable, and honest."

Chen Yuxiang nodded: "The old man is right. Besides, Xiao Bao has been working here these past few days; he has a good temper, is hardworking, and is honest with Tianwei."

Wang Jinzhu didn't interrupt, waiting until the family finished speaking before asking, "So, does everyone think this marriage can go through?"

The group looked at each other, Chen Shi nodded first, Chen Yuxiang followed suit, and Old Man Chen grunted in agreement.

Chen Tianfang remained silent.

Wang Jinzhu glanced at him: "And you?"

"You know better than I how Xiaobao's two sisters-in-law are doing after marrying into the Wang family. Tianwei won't be mistreated if she marries into the family."

He paused, then added, "I have no objection."

"Okay." Wang Jinzhu stood up. "Then I'll go ask Tianwei."

When Wang Jinzhu pushed the door open, she was sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze, holding a piece of thread in her hand, wrapping it around a few times and then unwrapping it, then wrapping it around again.

Hearing footsteps, she jumped up, her face showing a mixture of panic and tension.

"Sister-in-law..."

"Sit down and talk."

The two sat facing each other. An oil lamp sat on the windowsill, the light was not enough, but Wang Jinzhu could see her eyes clearly—evasive, uneasy, and a little bit of undisguised expectation.

"You know I asked Xiaobao about today's events. He said he wants to marry you." Wang Jinzhu went straight to the point without any preamble. "And you? What are your thoughts?"

Chen Tian lowered his head and twisted the end of the thread into a ball with his fingers.

After a long pause, she spoke, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum: "Sister-in-law, I am not good enough for him."

Wang Jinzhu's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Xiao Bao has only been dating girls from town," Chen Tianwei said, her voice trailing off. "I have nothing, I'm just a village girl, a burden to him."

Wang Jinzhu sighed, not with impatience, but with a sigh of "as expected".

"You say you're not good enough for him? What makes you not good enough? You're hardworking, good-tempered, and reliable. These past few days you've helped with the bookkeeping, moving ice, cooking, and everything else in the yard—you haven't missed a single chore."

Chen Tianwei didn't reply; tears were already falling, landing on the back of her hand.

Suddenly, Old Chen's voice came from outside the door, strong enough for someone of his age: "Tianwei! Your grandpa wants to talk to you!"

Wang Jinzhu got up to open the door. Old Man Chen was standing at the door, followed by Chen Tianfang and Chen Yuxiang—clearly, they hadn't left and had been listening outside.

Old Man Chen stepped in, stood in front of Chen Tianwei, and frowned as he looked at her for a long time.

"Girl, your grandpa used to be confused, making you suffer and be wronged. But this time, your grandpa's making it clear—that Wang family boy is good enough for me. If you're willing, I'll approve the marriage. Anyone who dares to say a word against it, I'll beat them with my cane."

Chen Yuxiang joked, "Tianwei, you think Xiaobao is too good for you. But think about it, Xiaobao is already eighteen this year. Girls in town get engaged at fifteen or sixteen, and he's still single. People even think he's an old bachelor."

"If you marry Xiaobao and he treats you badly, come back and tell me, and I'll take care of him for you."

Chen Tianwei clutched her sleeve, sniffed, and said in a slightly hoarse but clearer voice, "Sister-in-law, I...I'm willing."

"Alright." Wang Jinzhu stood up, clapped her hands, and said, "You've cried enough. Tomorrow I'll go back to my parents' house and have my father and uncle come to propose marriage as soon as possible, so my second aunt won't gossip about me again."