The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 16 - Let’s Call Off This Wedding
16: Chapter 16 Let’s Call Off This Wedding
16 -16 Let’s Call Off This Wedding
Ming Zhu’s eyes lit up; this was indeed a great item.
It was a magical treasure for increasing yield and improving quality!
She had to carefully put it away.
Only then did she look at the newly unlocked Level One Food Market.
The market was indeed a feast for the eyes, the interface resembled that of a certain treasure, and each item came with a detailed description and instructions for use.
Probably because Level One Food was too low-end, there were barely a dozen products on offer.
There were Primary Level home-cooking recipe books, Grade D eggs, and some ordinary Grade D vegetable seeds.
It truly served every aspect of food.
The prices of these goods were all in points, varying greatly, some as many as four or five points while others only cost one point.
After some contemplation, Ming Zhu felt they were not worth it.
She currently had only five remaining points, and the prospect of ascending to Level 2 seemed distant; purchasing these recipe books and seeds did not seem economical.
It would be better to add the points to other projects, and there would be rewards when the time came to upgrade.
As for how to add them, she was still cautious, planning to observe for some time and consider it after getting used to her current life.
Thinking this, Ming Zhu fell into a deep sleep and, for once, felt some peace of mind, which she hadn’t felt secure in a long time.
Waking up early, still a bit confused, Ming Zhu heard a sharp scream from outside; it was Old Granny Zhang’s voice.
“What?
Call off the engagement?
Wishful thinking—Was it not explicitly agreed when the Song Family accepted the marriage proposal?
Your sickly mother had sworn she would accept none but our Zhuzhu as a daughter-in-law!
She came over with just two cabbages when seeking the match.
If it wasn’t for our Zhuzhu’s agreement, who would care for your rotten cabbages?”
Then came the low, explanatory male voice from the other side of the door, which Ming Zhu couldn’t make out clearly.
She suddenly realized what important thing she had forgotten to mention to Old Granny Zhang the day before; it was this!
Just yesterday, she’d readily agreed to let Song Chongjin call off the engagement, not expecting Song Chongjin to be so eager, fearing that Ming Zhu might change her mind and cling to him, causing him to come over to break off the engagement first thing in the morning.
Oh no!
She hadn’t given Old Granny Zhang a heads up, and now she had wound up Old Granny Zhang!
If it weren’t for the fact that her own dear daughter was so enamored with that Song Family boy, Old Granny Zhang might have already started cursing.
Ming Zhu knew things were going south and immediately grabbed her clothes to put them on.
Meanwhile, she could hear Old Granny Zhang’s barely suppressed cursing, “Song Family boy, this marriage was fixed by your mother and our Wang Family.
As the saying goes, parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words are to be obeyed.
If you want to break off the engagement, let your sickly mother bring the matchmaker, and have a proper talk with our family!
What’s more, what part of our Zhuzhu is not good enough?
Based on family background, appearance, and stature, which part doesn’t match you?
Our Zhuzhu’s robust figure is not a matter of my conscience, but the whole eight villages around can’t produce another girl with such a healthy and fertile look!
What kind of family are we from the Wang Family?
And what kind of family is the Song Family?
That our Zhuzhu is willing to join your Song Family is the blessing you’ve cultivated over eight lifetimes!
Without the blessing of your ancestors, does your family even dream of marrying a daughter-in-law?
Can’t you see where the Song Family stands, that you dare to disdain our Zhuzhu?!
I must ask your mother the logic behind this—when the marriage contract was set by your own mother, and the betrothal gifts have been accepted, you think you can just casually call off the marriage?
Without giving our Wang Family, without giving our Zhuzhu an explanation, I, the old woman, will never let it rest with your Song Family!”
Ming Zhu thought to herself that this was bad, and in her haste, she dashed out without even putting on her shoes properly.
In the courtyard, Song Chongjin and Old Granny Zhang stood facing each other, with two large backpack baskets placed between them, both filled with goods—food, fabric, and even eggs…
From Old Granny Zhang’s words, the Song Family had come to propose marriage with only two cabbages, while the dowry returned by the Wang Family was certainly not cheap.
Upon seeing Ming Zhu come out, Song Chongjin’s already darkened face grew even more gloomy, and he began to regret his decision.
When he heard Wang Yongzhu agree to call off the engagement yesterday, although he did not quite believe her, he still wanted to give it a try.
If the marriage could be called off, it would be for the best.
Even if it couldn’t, he wanted to use this opportunity to declare his resolve.
He had indeed wavered a little; Wang Yongzhu did truly want to break off the engagement with him, and she had indeed changed.
But seeing that she had only just woken up and rushed out of the room in a state of disarray, without even proper shoes, as the sun was already a tree’s height above the horizon, clearly showed her lack of repentance.
Could it be that yesterday’s agreement to break off the engagement was just another new trick played by Wang Yongzhu to gain his attention?
Therefore, the look he gave Ming Zhu became tinged with even more disgust.
Ming Zhu didn’t even glance at Song Chongjin; so what if he was handsome?
Not even the handsomest man’s look of disgust, as if she were a fly, could be forgiven!
Old Granny Zhang was right about one thing: although Wang Yongzhu’s appearance wasn’t conventionally attractive, in the mountains where they lived, being able to raise a daughter so plump indicated a family’s wealth.
Marrying a daughter of such a family was certain to bring a hefty dowry.
As for Song Chongjin’s family, his mother was always sick, needing medicine year-round, and he, originally a daughter of the Song Family, was born without being married off, already lower in status than others in the village.
Song Chongjin was very good-looking, almost the handsomest man in the surrounding ten villages, causing all the young girls and married women nearby to harbor a crush on him.
But the clear-headed parents wouldn’t agree to marry their daughters into the Song Family.
With no land of their own and a mother who was a bottomless pit of medical needs, the past years had been lived off the support of the Song Family.
With less aid from them these past two years, life had become even harder.
Even though Song Chongjin was an excellent hunter, hardworking and capable, life was still difficult for him.
Parents who loved their daughters didn’t want them to marry into hardship, and those who wanted to sell their daughters for a good price, the Song Family couldn’t offer enough silver coins.
Song Chongjin’s marital affairs had thus become a serious issue.
Now that she, Ming Zhu, had taken over, regardless of the reason, she was unwilling to have too much to do with the Song Family.
To break it off quickly and cleanly would be for the best.
Old Granny Zhang, upon seeing Ming Zhu come out, swallowed the harsh words she was about to utter, fearing that saying too much would lead to the old girl throwing a tantrum, creating a scene and threatening self-harm again.
Unexpectedly, Ming Zhu went straight to the large backpack baskets brought by Song Chongjin and casually rummaged through them.
There were a few men’s clothes inside the baskets, made of blue cloth—not the best quality, but already quite rare in the mountains.
There were also several sturdily made cloth shoes, which obviously weren’t Wang Yongzhu’s handiwork.
She remembered these were hurriedly made by Third Sister-in-law Lady Jiang when she had spare time, and gifted to Song Chongjin.
It seems that Song Chongjin really was quite principled, not having worn them.
If that’s the case, so be it!
Ming Zhu clapped her hands, “Mom, let’s call off this marriage!”
Both Old Granny Zhang and Song Chongjin were stunned.
“Zhuzhu, are you serious?
You want to call off the engagement?”
“Yes, Mom, didn’t I tell you?
I don’t like people like Song Chongjin anymore, so let’s call it off!
Don’t worry, Mom, I will find you a son-in-law that you’ll be satisfied with!” Ming Zhu answered very decisively.
