Grandma Huang sighed. ’So that’s why Changxing’s mother insisted I say it in front of izi that night,’ she thought. ’It actually worked.’
But she didn’t dare tell Gou Dan’s mother. If she did, she’d probably go and cause trouble for Changxing’s mother.
The two arrived at the Zheng Family ho to find the Zheng matriarch there. She hadn’t gone to the cornfields today. Instead, she and Juhua had picked a large batch of hyacinth beans and squash and were busy washing them—so to be pickled, others to be preserved in sauce.
When Juhua saw the two won arriving together, she exchanged a wry smile with the Zheng matriarch. They had co to call off the engagent.
The Zheng matriarch said to Juhua, "Why don’t you go to the garden and pick so vegetables for dinner? Don’t stand around watching; you’ll make them feel awkward."
Juhua nodded and went outside to tend to her chores.
The Zheng matriarch welcod Gou Dan’s mother and Grandma Huang inside. Gou Dan’s mother made so awkward small talk, unsure how to bring up the real subject.
She had rehearsed what to say at ho, but now that the mont had arrived, she found she couldn’t open her mouth.
’After all, my family is completely in the wrong here,’ she thought. ’And is it really sothing to be proud of, that my daughter has her heart set on soone else?’
Seeing her state, the Zheng matriarch realized Juhua’s guess about izi had been right. Understanding the situation, she simply waited for Gou Dan’s mother to bring up calling off the engagent.
Grandma Huang tried to smooth things over with a few noncommittal remarks. Seeing that Gou Dan’s mother still wasn’t getting to the point, she nudged her with her elbow, signaling for her to speak.
Overco with sha and anxiety, Gou Dan’s mother felt tears welling up. ’When have I ever been so humiliated?’
The Zheng matriarch was taken aback. Gou Dan’s mother was normally so calculating and composed; this was the first ti she’d ever seen her in such a state.
She said quickly, "Gou Dan’s mother, please, just say what’s on your mind. We’re from the sa village, isn’t there anything we can’t talk through? Seeing you cry like this... my heart can’t take it."
Wiping her tears with her sleeve, Gou Dan’s mother said, "Aunt Zheng, I’ve wronged you. It seems my izi isn’t fated to be your daughter-in-law. For whatever reason, that foolish girl has fallen for that boy, Li Changming. She’s my only daughter, so I can’t force her to marry Qingmu. Besides," she added, "I wouldn’t dare have her marry him now. She’s a good girl and hasn’t done anything outrageous, but we can’t let Qingmu be wronged, can we?"
The Zheng matriarch listened and then smiled. "Oh, is that all? I was worried it was sothing terrible. If izi likes Changming, it simply ans she and our Qingmu aren’t fated to be. We can’t force such things. It’s no matter that our families won’t be joined. Nothing was officially decided, so you’re not breaking any promises."
She could answer so readily because her family had already discussed the matter the previous night.
Gou Dan’s mother was stunned. She had braced herself for a cold reception, not such an agreeable response. It was as if the Zheng matriarch wasn’t the least bit angry or regretful.
’What does this an?’
’It ans they either don’t care one bit, or they’re disgusted that izi has feelings for soone else and don’t want her anymore.’
A wave of anger and sha washed over her, and her tears flowed freely. "Aunt Zheng, this is tearing apart," she sobbed. "I’d honestly feel better if you just lost your temper with . Your kindness only makes feel more ashad. But what can I do? I’ve held my head high my entire life, and izi has always been such an obedient child. Who could have imagined this would happen... that I’d be so disgraced in front of you."
The Zheng matriarch had no idea that her ready acceptance would cause Gou Dan’s mother to overthink everything. Seeing that her words, far from offering relief, only made the woman cry harder, she glanced at Grandma Huang and sighed. "I’m truly not angry," she said. "Please, don’t cry anymore. I know you. You treasure izi like the apple of your eye. Am I not a mother who dotes on her children, too? Please, rest assured. I understand a mother’s heart. I won’t hold this against you."
But Gou Dan’s mother couldn’t be consoled. All the frustrations she couldn’t express at ho ca pouring out now that the Zheng matriarch’s words had touched her so deeply. "Isn’t this just fate?" she lanted, crying. "My izi has always been an open book; she’s never had feelings like this for anyone before. You know how often she cos over to play. But then she was bitten by a snake back in the spring, and Li Changming saved her. That’s where all this trouble started. I’d rather die than marry her to Li Laoda’s son—I can’t stomach it! But what can I do? If I were a heartless mother, I’d force her to marry Qingmu. By any asure, your family is far better than the Li Family. But could I really do that to my own daughter?"
Seeing her finally let it all out, the Zheng matriarch and Grandma Huang rushed to console her. They reassured her that Changming was actually a decent young man, and that marrying him wouldn’t necessarily an a bad life for izi. One has to look to the future, they said.
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