Chapter 64: Chapter 64: A Visit to Propose Marriage

Still, for the sake of the money, these things could be overlooked. After all, it wasn’t her son getting married, so whether the bride was good-looking or not had nothing to do with her.

Besides, the Liang Family had said that the three yuan was just a small part of it. If she could make the match, they would give her another ten yuan as a matchmaker’s fee, plus some pastries.

Tsk tsk, eight yuan right off the bat. The Liang Family must be quite well-off.

So, the woman quickly adjusted her expression and said to Su Qing with a smile, "Oh my, you must be Su Qing! Look at me, what poor eyes I have. Don’t you mind me, girl. Auntie is here today to tell you some wonderful news."

Hearing the woman’s words, Su Qing understood immediately. ’So, she’s a matchmaker,’ she thought. ’It’s just like in the TV dramas. Even the opening spiel is pretty much the same.’

Sure enough, before Su Qing could say a word, the woman chuckled and said, "Oh, I haven’t even introduced myself. My surname is Qian. You can just call me Auntie Qian. Goodness, I’ve come all this way. Let’s go inside and talk in detail."

As she spoke, Auntie Qian tried to enter the courtyard.

Su Qing blocked the gate and said bluntly, "Auntie Qian, I don’t know you well, so I won’t be inviting you in. If you have something to say, just say it here at the gate. I need to hurry to work."

When Auntie Qian heard Su Qing, she felt a bit put out. She was a matchmaker; who didn’t greet her with a smile? After all, all the young men and women depended on her to find them a partner. If you made her happy, she would praise you to the skies, and the marriage would be as good as settled.

But this Su Qing in front of her, why was she so different? Not only did she give her the cold shoulder, but forget about offering a drink of water, she wouldn’t even let her in the gate.

But thinking of that matchmaker’s fee, Auntie Qian decided to endure it.

"Oh, alright then, I’ll just say it here. I’m here today on behalf of the Liang Family from the neighboring Fengshui Village to discuss a marriage proposal with you. Speaking of which, you and the Liang family’s second son are truly a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven. You’re perfect for each other."

Su Qing: ...

’A talented man and beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, my ass.’

The moment Auntie Qian spoke, Su Qing knew who she was talking about. The Liang Family—that had to be Liang Fushan.

’Great. I rejected him loud and clear just two days ago, and now he’s sending someone to my door with a marriage proposal. This Liang Fushan is so persistent. He must be after something. Could it be the five hundred yuan I got from the family separation?’

No matter what his reasons were, Su Qing had no intention of letting him get his wish.

"Auntie Qian," Su Qing said with a faint smile. "I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in this marriage, and I’m even less interested in the Liang family’s second son. Please go back and tell the Liang Family not to bother me. I don’t know them."

"Hey, don’t be like that, Su Qing." Auntie Qian heard this and quickly said, "The Liang Family is a good family! Not only do they have a big house with red bricks and tiled roofs, but they also have plenty of able bodies for labor. They earn a lot of money throughout the year! So many girls want to marry into the Liang Family. It’s your great fortune that their second son has taken a liking to you! Besides, your Aunt Liang is a kind person and treats her daughters-in-law very well. If you marry in, she’ll treat you like her own daughter. And the Liang family’s second son is one of the handsomest men in the surrounding villages. Countless girls want to marry him. Don’t be foolish."

Su Qing smiled faintly. "Since so many girls want to marry him, he won’t miss me, right? So, Auntie Qian, I’m afraid you’ve made a trip for nothing today. I’m not interested in this marriage. Please leave."

With that, Su Qing started to close the gate.

"Hey now, Su Qing, don’t be so quick to refuse! Listen to me." Auntie Qian grew anxious; this was about a ten yuan matchmaker’s fee, after all. "Think it over again! An opportunity like this won’t come again. How about you two just meet first?"

"There’s no need. Please leave," Su Qing said, shutting the gate.

Auntie Qian stared at the closed gate, her face red with anger. Who acts like this? This is just... just...

Auntie Qian took a deep breath outside Su Qing’s gate to calm herself down, then stormed off towards the village exit. ’I have to go tell the Liang Family about this,’ she fumed to herself. ’A girl like that is no good anyway. Not good-looking and with such a bad temper. I have plenty of good girls I can introduce. I’ll find them a pretty, gentle-tempered one instead.’

Next door to Su Qing’s house, Tian Aixiang was pressed against the corner of the wall, listening to the commotion. After Auntie Qian left, Tian Aixiang ran to Old Su and said, "Mother, I heard someone came to propose a match for Su Qing."

"Hmph! Looking like the ugly hag she is, who would want her? They’re just after the money in her hands," Old Su said with a snort.

"Exactly." Tian Aixiang’s eyes darted around as she said, "Mother, who do you think Su Qing will end up agreeing to marry? I bet plenty of people will come proposing to her in the future. If she really gets married, is she just going to take that huge sum of money to her new in-laws? That’s our Old Su Family’s money!"

Old Su shot Tian Aixiang a glare. "However much money it is, it has nothing to do with you! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. I’m not dead yet. It’s not your place to call the shots in this family."

"Mother, that’s not what I meant," Tian Aixiang said, pouting to herself.

"Hmph, I think you have plenty of meanings." Old Su shot Tian Aixiang another fierce glare. After speaking, she glanced next door, still fuming. The thought of the five hundred yuan she had given away made her heart ache. But now, that damned girl was like a completely different person, so fierce. Plus, Su Shengguo had repeatedly warned her not to provoke Su Qing for the time being. So, all she could do was stew in her anger.

’Oh, it was infuriating! To be bullied by her own granddaughter in her old age... just thinking about it made her blood boil.’

Seeing that Old Su was furious, Tian Aixiang didn’t dare say anything more. In truth, she was filled with resentment. Her own daughter was already married off, yet they hadn’t been able to separate from the main family, and she still had to scrape by under Old Su’s thumb. Furthermore, she hadn’t gotten a single cent of her daughter’s betrothal gift. And since her daughter had married that fool, there was no hope of getting any benefits from her in the future.

As it stood, all the benefits in the entire Old Su Family had been snatched up by the eldest son’s family and Su Qing. The eldest had a job, Su Qing got the money, and only her Su Shengli was treated like an unfavored child. Not only did he get nothing, but she also had to serve the old couple.

The more Tian Aixiang thought about it, the angrier she became. She turned and went into the kitchen, furiously stirring the sweet potato and wild vegetable porridge in the pot with a ladle, as if trying to stir up sparks. Even so, it did nothing to quell the resentment in her heart.

Meanwhile, a fuming Auntie Qian made her way back to Fengshui Village and went straight to the Liang Family’s house.

Seeing Auntie Qian return, Liang Fushan’s mother, Chen Danou, asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law Qian, what did the girl say?"