The Zhang Clan was at her wits’ end, as it seed the family was nearing financial ruin. Yet neither the eldest daughter nor the youngest son had ever experienced hardship, and forcing them to eat porridge made of gruel might just tear the house apart.
After much consideration, the Zhang Clan contemplated selling their current house.
Tao Qin vehently opposed the idea as soon as she heard about it.
Selling the house in the county town could provide them with so money, but where would they live afterward? The only option would be to return to Tao Family Village in the countryside.
That place was rundown and impoverished, with roads covered in chicken and duck droppings, without a decent spot to step on. The village girls were filthy and rustic. Tao Qin was strongly against the idea of living there in the future. She had moved to the county town after only a few years of birth, and whenever she returned ho for the holidays, even those brief monts felt like torture.
The prospect of living there long-term was sothing Tao Qin simply couldn’t accept.
Of course, Tao Qin couldn’t reveal this reason to the Zhang Clan, so she persuaded the Zhang Clan to keep the house for her younger brother’s future marriage.
Otherwise, if the family didn’t own a house in the county town, which girl would be willing to marry him? For the sake of her younger brother, they had to hold onto the house.
The Zhang Clan thought it made sense too; selling the house now would an she wouldn’t have the ans to buy it back later.
But what to do if they didn’t sell the house? Would the family just starve while clinging to it?
So Tao Qin ca up with an idea—they could marry off a daughter.
Not her, but the second daughter, Tao Ling.
Tao Ling would turn fifteen after the new year, which was a suitable age for marriage. Tao Qin suggested they find a wealthy family for Tao Ling to marry into. Since they couldn’t rely on their aunt’s support, they could find a rich son-in-law.
The Zhang Clan hesitated; though the idea sounded fine, Tao Ling was thin and frail. How could a well-off family be interested in her? Unless...
Yes, unless sothing was wrong with the family.
Perhaps they were abusive, gravely ill, or elderly—sothing must be wrong; otherwise, why would they want to marry a girl with no family background and poor appearances?
The Zhang Clan wanted to think it over; if anyone should marry first, it should be the elder sister.
Tao Qin was afraid they might target her instead and pleaded her case—she was prettier than her sister Tao Ling and should carefully choose a spouse. Ideally, her future husband would be wealthy and obedient, capable of supporting the family afterward. But Tao Ling was different; her temperant was poor, and her looks were average—if she married a husband her age, he’d likely be poor and unambitious.
If that were the case, she might still need help from the family in the future.
Should both daughters find wealthy spouses, or should they pin all hopes on one? The Zhang Clan quickly made her choice.
Besides, she knew Tao Qin well; the daughter was not very obedient and might not prioritize the family after marriage. But Tao Ling was different; she was like a puppeteer; if asked for money, she’d surely comply.
After Zhang Clan and Tao Qin discussed it thoroughly, they finalized the plan.
The Zhang Clan started inquiring about eligible families, and soon heard news—there was a businessman in a neighboring county looking for a young, obedient, and compliant wife to bear offspring.
Young, obedient, and compliant—that was Tao Ling, wasn’t it?
The mother and daughter agreed; Landlord Jin was the one.
As an excuse that the new year was approaching, they took Tao Ling shopping for new clothes at the shop. Naturally, to avoid being too obvious, all three of them got so.
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