CH 146

Ms. Liang walked over unhurriedly and said slowly, “My daughter and Zhong Cheng were already discussing their marriage in the first month of the year, and Zhong Cheng had already said that they were going to get married. If I hadn’t wanted to delay until the end of the year, they would already have been married. Zhong Cheng went to my house two days ago to discuss the dowry, and I asked to delay for a few days. After all, we haven’t inquired about their family yet! We can’t let my daughter be wronged after she gets married. It’s a good thing we came, otherwise we wouldn’t know that he was marrying another woman.”

Ms. Liang got into the carriage, aided by Ze Wu. She looked back and said, “Ze Wu, let’s go to Zhong Cheng’s house. I can’t be bothered to argue with them, let’s just cancel the marriage. It’s not like my daughter is worried about not being able to get married.”

All the women on the street took the opportunity to look in the carriage when she lifted the curtain, and saw a boy and a girl sitting inside, both dressed nicely.

Ze Wu swung his whip and said, “Young master, young lady, please stay seated!”

The carriage went along the main street to the west of the village, passing through the entire Xiahe Village on the way. It is extremely rare to see such a luxurious carriage in the village, and they were inevitably watched the entire way.

Zhong Cheng had rushed over by the time the carriage had travelled halfway. He stopped it in the street, begging for Ms. Liang’s forgiveness and saying that he only wanted to marry Mo Ling. All the onlookers on the street heard it.

Yue E’s mother also rushed over angrily. She wasn’t someone you wanted to provoke, and pointed at Zhong Cheng and scolded, “Zhong Cheng, it was your family who came to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage. Who would’ve thought you still have a marriage you haven’t refused, and now people will say that my Yue E is going to be a concubine! Your family must give me an explanation for this matter, or else my daughter’s reputation will be ruined!”

Behind them, Lu Junming rushed over with an old couple. They were very plainly dressed, and their faces were full of anxiety and helplessness.

Yue E’s mother immediately faced the old couple and yelled at them, repeating what she had just said.

Lu Junming and Ze Wu pretended to run into each other coincidentally, and Lu Junming asked, “Ze Wu, why are you here?”

Ze Wu pointed back at the carriage, “I’m accompanying madam, her son and her second daughter to inquire about the eldest girl’s in-laws. Why are you here, Mr. Lu?”

“I’m here to talk to Brother Cheng about goods transportation.”

Ms. Liang got out of the carriage first, followed by Mo Feng and Mo Yan. Lu Junming’s eyes kept flicking towards Mo Yan. She was dressed formally today, which was a look that Lu Junming had never seen on her before.

All three members of the Mo family stood in stark contrast to the old couple of the Zhong family. Everyone could tell that the Zhong family was reaching above their social status.

Ms. Liang raised her chin slightly and said, “Are these Zhong Cheng’s parents?”

The old couple nodded timidly, and Zhong Cheng came over to greet her, “Auntie, these are my parents.”

Ms. Liang nodded slightly, “Cheng’er, if you hadn’t begged me repeatedly, if I didn’t think you were honest, and if it wasn’t for what happened to my family, I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage. Who would’ve thought your parents would look down on my daughter. Since that’s the case, let’s cancel this marriage!”

Zhong Cheng rubbed his hands anxiously, “Auntie, don’t! I really like Mo Ling and really want to marry her. It’s my parents who believed in those rumours.”

Lu Junming stepped forward and asked, “What rumours?”

Zhong Cheng said embarrassedly, “It’s the incident where Mo Ling was kidnapped.”

“Didn’t you see that incident with your own eyes? She was kidnapped, but she was fine because we arrived in time! How can you believe the rumours that others spread!”

Zhong Cheng faltered again, “There’s more, there’s more”, and he looked at Ms. Liang, who replied, “You mean my divorce? I don’t feel ashamed, why are you too embarrassed to say it? My ex-husband had a mistress and a bastard son which I didn’t want to enter my family. I feel sorry for the child, as he would be looked down upon by others, so I proposed a divorce.”

Mo Yan came over and pulled Ms. Liang’s sleeve, “Mother, why are you spreading our family matters?”

Ms. Liang patted her hand lovingly and said, “Yan’er, I disagreed with my ex-husband taking a concubine, and won’t condone your future husband taking one either. Now, they are thinking about taking a concubine before your sister’s marriage. I think it’s over!”

Mo Yan nodded, “Okay, I didn’t like my sister marrying so far away originally anyways. If Brother Cheng wasn’t a good person, we wouldn’t have agreed to his proposal.”

When Yue E’s mother heard the word “concubine” again, she rushed over angrily and pointed at the Zhong family, “When you came to my house, you didn’t say that Zhong Cheng had a marriage proposal already! Your family isn’t good enough for my Yue E to be the main wife, not to mention a concubine!”

Zhong Cheng’s parents had no power to fight back. After saying that, the woman walked away as she said, “From now on, our two families will have nothing to do with each other. If you dare mention marriage again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Looking at the back of the leaving woman, Zhong Cheng’s parents sighed and wondered, “Now this happened, what should we do?”

Lu Junming hurriedly came over to try and smooth things over, “Since your in-law’s family has come to visit, shouldn’t you invite them to your home?”

Zhong Cheng came over to greet Ms. Liang again, “Auntie, you’ve come a long way, please go to my home for some water!”

Ms. Liang turned her face away, “Our family’s marriage has been cancelled, why should I go over? Ze Wu, go and see if there is a tea shop, I’m tired and want to rest.”

Zhong Cheng hurriedly went over to pull at the reins of the horse, “Auntie, there are no teahouses in this village, my house is nearby, go and sit down!”

Lu Junming came over to persuade Ms. Liang as well, “Madam, go! Just sit down. As for the marriage, you can discuss it with Zhong Cheng’s parents thoroughly.”

They had no choice but to also say, “Yes! Have a sip of tea and rest for a while.”

Mo Yan went to help Ms. Liang go over there. Seeing that they agreed to go, Zhong Cheng said to his parents, “Father and mother, you go ahead, to make tea first.”

Zhong Cheng’s parents weren’t diplomatic or good at speaking, so they just nodded slightly and went back first.

Mo Yan smiled and asked Zhong Cheng, “Brother Cheng, are my ducks okay?”

Zhong Cheng smiled and said, “Of course! They’re in the river in front of my house. I’ll take you to see them later.”

The Zhong family, like the Mo family, was in the southwest corner of their village. There is a pond near Mo family’s house, and there is a river in front of the Zhong family’s yard, which could be seen from here.

The Zhong family’s courtyard was very large, but its walls were all made of clay. Because they had a carriage at home, the gate was wide enough for a carriage to enter and exit smoothly, but it was just made of thin bamboo slices.

Zhong Cheng led them into the courtyard, and his parents came out of the house to welcome them, having already changed their clothes.

His mother greeted with a smile, “Please, come in!”

Post-translation notes: Well, they definitely did a 180 after seeing the Mo family, that’s for sure. How negatively will this impact Ms. Liang and Mo Ling’s trust in Zhong Cheng? Only time will tell. As always, thank you for reading!