"The eldest is right, I was just so flustered. If the Qin Family ran into so trouble on the way, delays are possible."
Mr. Mu comforted himself.
"Dad, I think big brother is right too. Don’t worry about it. Today’s Xiangxiang’s big engagent day, we should be happy." Mu Dashan took the initiative to reassure Mr. Mu.
Mr. Mu’s mood gradually improved.
"Second, Fifth, you two are quick on your feet, go to the village entrance and see if the Qin Family has arrived, and also check if Nanny Li has co to the feast."
Nanny Li was the matchmaker who originally arranged the connection, and normally she would be present at such events.
But a few days ago, Nanny Li sent soone to tell us she had sothing at ho and would be late.
The Old Mu Family had no idea when she’d actually show, they just waited foolishly, and in the end, she never appeared.
This led to one rescheduling after another of the originally planned event.
Many tasks that needed a matchmaker had to be handled by the Mu Family themselves.
Nanny Li was indeed not as reliable as Matchmaker Sun, but since Old Mrs. Mu chose her personally, the Old Mu Family had no choice but to deal with the consequences.
Another half hour passed, and there was still no news at the village entrance.
The al ti had arrived, and the villagers outside were already calling to start the al.
Mr. Mu was extrely troubled, unable to make a decision for a while.
He had to seek help from Mu Dade again.
"Eldest, the villagers want to eat, but the Qin Family hasn’t arrived. Our Old Mu Family might beco the laughingstock this ti."
Mr. Mu cared about the family’s reputation, and so did Mu Dade.
Now that he was about to go to the capital for exams, if there were any scandals involving his sister at this ti, even if he passed, he could be shunned.
Worst case, people might use it as a joke, spreading it everywhere.
"Dad, let’s carry on with the engagent as planned. For now, let’s start the al; the villagers can’t wait any longer," said Mu Dade.
With Mu Dade’s approval, Mr. Mu had no choice but to comply.
"Third, go to the front yard and announce that the al should begin. Everyone should help serve the food and we can deal with this later."
The Old Mu Family had many mbers, and those serving food were all family mbers.
But those from the first house were not keen on doing such work; just Mu Dade’s scholar status exempted him from many duties.
The work that others had to do, Mu Dade avoided, so the entire first house didn’t have to do any work either.
Mu Shuangshuang watched the Old Mu Family’s farce, impatiently waiting for the Qin Family to see if they would marry Mu Xiangxiang, or let her beco a laughingstock of Er Gui Village.
But there was one sure thing.
After this engagent feast, if the Qin Family didn’t want Mu Xiangxiang,
not even Mu Dade’s status would help, even if he beca an official, Mu Xiangxiang’s future marriage prospects would be ruined.
Other than soone who’s been married once already, no one would propose to Mu Xiangxiang again.
Because Mu Xiangxiang’s reputation was ruined.
To be abandoned on the engagent day, it’s unlikely anyone would dare to take on that responsibility.
Mu Xiangxiang’s room, Old Mrs. Mu finally noticed sothing was wrong and ca out.
She asked and found out neither the Qin Family nor Nanny Li had arrived, got furious, and went straight to the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife, heading towards the village entrance.
Mr. Mu was scared out of his wits, and the first house’s people were sent to stop Old Mrs. Mu.
Mrs. Jin originally didn’t want to go, but Mr. Mu insisted, and as fate would have it, Mrs. Jin caught up with Old Mrs. Mu.
She had to muster her courage to persuade Old Mrs. Mu, "Mother, let’s go back. There’s still a banquet at ho, and everyone is waiting for you to make an appearance."
Old Mrs. Mu shoved Mrs. Jin’s hand away.
"Get out of my way. It’s not your daughter getting married, so naturally, you’re not worried. Our Xiangxiang is still young, if they say the groom didn’t show up on the engagent day, how will she live after that?"
Old Mrs. Mu was not confused about this matter.
Even if they are late, the Qin Family must show up.
"Mother, rushing out doesn’t change anything. If the Qin Family has reached the village entrance, they would have co. But they’re not here, what good is a kitchen knife?" Mrs. Jin asked.
"Well, well, eldest daughter-in-law, Jinyin’er, you finally said what’s in your heart, didn’t you? You just can’t stand seeing Xiangxiang doing well, you want her to suffer.
Why is your heart so ruthless? Are you still Xiangxiang’s sister-in-law? Are you still one of us in the Old Mu Family?"
Mrs. Jin was full of grievances, the old lady put all the bla on her, wasn’t this being a bully?
Yet Mrs. Jin had to put on a gracious act, with a smile on her face, explaining to Old Mrs. Mu.
But the more she explained, the less kindly Old Mrs. Mu treated her.
Mrs. Jin had no choice but to let Old Mrs. Mu go to the village entrance, with a kitchen knife, waiting for the Qin Family to arrive.
But the Qin Family seed to be intentionally antagonistic towards the Old Mu Family and just didn’t show up.
In the Old Mu Family’s yard, the sun shone on the villagers, making them feel warm.
The dishes from the Old Mu Family were served one by one, and while eating, everyone started gossiping.
They were talking about nothing other than the affairs of the Old Mu Family.
Since ancient tis, inequality between n and won has existed. At this ti, instead of blaming the Qin Family, everyone was criticizing Mu Xiangxiang, saying she had issues, causing the Qin Family not to co.
When it involves won, it concerns reputation, and so even carelessly speculated that Mu Xiangxiang had tarnished her reputation while living in the county.
After the al, Mu Xiangxiang’s reputation was already ruined.
Seeing that everyone was about to leave, Mr. Mu reluctantly stood at the center of the banquet, addressing the villagers: "Everyone, today is my daughter Xiangxiang’s engagent day. Although it’s not the wedding yet, we thank you for taking the ti to join us for the feast.
It’s just that my son-in-law had so issues and is still on the way; please do us a favor and don’t talk about today’s event in front of people from other villages.
Moreover, when my son-in-law arrives, we’ll give everyone so sweets as a thank you!"
Mr. Mu’s speech was essentially about preserving face within the village and not wanting to lose face with people from other villages.
He hoped the villagers would cooperate and prevent the event from spreading to the nearby villages.
However, since this happened, there was no way it could be kept a secret.
On the surface, everyone agreed, but once out of the Old Mu’s courtyard, they spread the story, treating it as a joke, and soon, Mu Xiangxiang beca infamous in the surrounding villages.
Even three-year-olds were aware of Mu Xiangxiang’s scandal.
After lunch, the villagers left together, leaving the Old Mu Family to clean up.
Chef Granny Chen, who had taken two pounds of at from the Old Mu Family and was just about to leave, got caught by Old Mrs. Mu who had returned from the village entrance.
Old Mrs. Mu, just eager to vent her anger, went off like a shot and pointed at Granny Chen, shouting: "You old hag, stealing from my Old Mu Family, I’m going to kill you!"
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