"Nianhua, are you so happy you’ve gone foolish? Of course, I’m your real aunt."
Xu Qinghu forced a smile, not knowing why, but whenever she looked at the cheerful Xu Nianhua, she couldn’t shake a sense of unease.
The plan was foolproof.
She knew the temperament of the elder brother and his wife; they loved their daughter, no doubt, but now, who in the village didn’t know that a marriage had been arranged with the Yue Family?
Even if the elder brother and his wife wanted to break off the marriage, Nianhua’s reputation would be ruined regardless.
If she continued to persuade them, they would surely agree to marry Xu Nianhua off, not to mention the sizable dowry that came with it.
"Really?" Xu Nianhua’s voice was crisp, but her tone was less than pleasant. She saw a familiar face and said, "Auntie Yao, you have a daughter too, right?"
Auntie Yao Feng was initially confused, but upon hearing Xu Nianhua’s question, she nodded subconsciously and said, "Of course, I do."
Besides Yao Feng, she also had a daughter, Yao Jia.
"Yue Hongliang is thirty-five this year, and he’s had two wives die on him. Although they say it was from illness, I’ve heard it was because they were beaten to death by a drunken Yue Hongliang. If it were you, would you marry your daughter off to him?" Xu Nianhua asked, tilting her head as she looked into Auntie Yao Feng’s eyes with her own clear and bright ones.
At first, Auntie Yao Feng was confused, but when she heard Xu Nianhua’s question, she understood her meaning and shook her head, saying, "I wouldn’t."
Perhaps it was the clear gaze of Xu Nianhua’s eyes, or perhaps because she, too, had a daughter, that Auntie Yao Feng responded with sympathy and pity for Xu Nianhua. She added, "Even if the Yue Family offered a fortune, I would never push my daughter into the fire."
"What about you, Auntie Cai?" Xu Nianhua turned to look at Cai Gen’s mother.
Cai Gen’s mother had a much more explosive temperament. She said through gritted teeth, "If anyone dared push my daughter into the fire, I’d fight them to the death!"
"Auntie, you see, both Auntie Cai and Auntie Yao disagree. Do you think my mother would push me into the fire?" Xu Nianhua spoke calmly, her voice as gentle as people always found her to be, and she was very good at studying.
Her words convinced the wavering villagers, who involuntarily believed in Xu Nianhua.
Not to mention, the way that Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying doted on their daughter made it clear that they would never push her into the fire.
"Auntie, I didn’t get into university this year because of Jiaojiao, but my parents are preparing for me to retake the exams. I’m sure I can pass them next year," Xu Nianhua added.
The onlooking villagers thought to themselves, yes, Xu Nianhua’s grades were good. Getting into university should be no problem for her. The Xu family was about to have a college student; why not let her attend university and secure a good future rather than having her marry now?
The son of the brick factory owner, previously unaware of the details, thought the marriage wasn’t a bad idea. After all, she’d have to marry someone after university, and if she could find such a good match, it would not be strange for the Xu Family to marry off Xu Nianhua.
But if what Xu Nianhua said was true and the man was one to beat his wife, how could the loving parents, Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying, possibly push Xu Nianhua into the fire?
"Nianhua, even after university, you’ll still have to marry. I’m only thinking of your best interests. Not everyone can secure such a desirable match," Xu Qinghu said, though she felt the villagers’ glances were strange. But thinking of the benefits of the marriage going through, she pretended not to notice.