Too high to reach

Chapter 22 Don't Tell Anyone
The family had a lavish dinner that evening, and the men all had drinks on the table.

Moda has a considerable alcohol tolerance, and her cheeks are flushed, smooth and lustrous like jade.

Mo Fan and Mo Bao also drank, laughing and chattering. Mo Rushan, holding his wine glass, thought to himself: All these years, although I've been taking care of my two younger brothers, what about the next generation…?

Clearly, it's Mo Da who's holding the fort. If Mo Bao doesn't go astray, his future is bright. And... he glanced at the women's table; Mo Wen's outstanding appearance and demeanor... well, perhaps Mo Fan will have to rely on them.

When he returned to his room that evening, he told his wife about the marriage arrangements for the two girls.

"Don't tell anyone yet!" he instructed.

Zhuang was filled with mixed emotions; even her daughter hadn't married so well! No matter how capable Wang was, this marriage was all thanks to her husband. She spent half the morning grumbling to her confidante, but in the end, she was happy: it would benefit both her husband and son.

And then... the whole family found out.

The Liu mother and daughter stared at each other for a long time, swallowing hard several times. Mo Yuan finally managed to speak: "She actually got such a marriage?"

"Yes! What right do they have?" Liu was sweating profusely; she couldn't find anyone for her daughter!
"Wang Xiu'e!" she said through gritted teeth, "She's really something! She's really capable!" She then suddenly stood up.

You've made it, but what about my Yuan'er? Is this how my life is going to be? Is my daughter...?

"I'm going to find them!"

Mo Yuan didn't stop her, but instead silently discussed it inside the house.

"Sister-in-law!"

Zhuang was also inside discussing things, and they were already figuring out that the Xu family could help Mo Fan get a job!

Hearing Liu's voice crack, he frowned. "What's wrong with all this shouting?"

Liu burst into the room: "Eldest sister-in-law! We're blood sisters-in-law, after all! There's no such thing as an outsider or a concubine's daughter. Second sister-in-law, how could she humiliate me and Mo Yuan like this?"

"Alright! Just say what you want to say!" Zhuang said impatiently.

"Sister-in-law, you're still asking me?" Liu plopped down next to Zhuang, her breath coming in short gasps. "At home... besides Moqing, the other three girls are all of marriageable age. I..." She let out a sob before continuing:
"I married a heartless man, and I can't rely on him for anything. My father is gone, and my elder brother and sister-in-law are in charge of the household. They usually don't welcome me back. Sigh, we parents are heartless and useless. But Yuanyuan... she's such a good girl!"

She's exceptionally talented and filial. I've already entrusted her marriage to my two sisters-in-law, haven't I? I know it's putting you in a difficult position, but I really have no other choice!

She wiped her snot and tears, clearly very excited: "Your two daughters, with your elder brother and you, and the Zhuang family, have both married well. Mowen has her uncle, her parents, and the Wang family. It's obvious she's found a good match. She's the eldest, that's fine, but why do I hear that Moyi's marriage is also arranged?"
Sister-in-law, our Yuanyuan is even ahead of Moyi! The older sister isn't engaged yet, but the younger sister is. They're just stepping over Yuanyuan's face like that! What are we supposed to say about this?
"Will they think Yuanyuan is ugly, sick, has a bad temper, or behaves badly? Sister-in-law, no sister-in-law would bully someone like this!" she said, sobbing.

"Poor Yuan'er... I, as her mother, have failed her!"

Knowing she couldn't stop her, Zhuang ignored her and let her cry her heart out.

Liu recalled the mistreatment she suffered at her parents' home. Her concubine had given birth to a son but couldn't keep him, and her beauty faded, her love waned, and she died in despair. She herself had been arbitrarily married off by her stepmother, given a pittance as dowry, and married to a husband who wouldn't even eat a dog's bread. No money, no son—how would she survive?
She cried even harder, unable to catch her breath.

After waiting for a while, Zhuang said, "Okay!"

"I know you're worried for Yuan'er because their marriage is arranged. But you can't just criticize her like that! Have you forgotten that we've already separated our family?" The general rule is that if the eldest child isn't engaged, the next child won't be considered. Otherwise, people will misunderstand and think that the eldest is sick, ugly, or unruly, etc.

Liu's eyes widened: "Sister-in-law! How can you say that? We know whether we've separated the family or not. Do outsiders know? When people are suspicious of Yuan'er, how can I explain to each and every one of them? The New Year is coming soon, and both my older and younger sisters are engaged. How can my Yuan'er still have the face to show her face?"

Madam Zhuang was somewhat helpless; this matter, if one wanted to find fault, wasn't without its problems. Unable to handle it all, she instructed her maid, "Go and invite the Second Madam here!"

As soon as the news spread within the family, Wang knew that Liu would make a scene. However, no matter how much she made a scene, it wouldn't affect her good mood.

He entered with a radiant glow, slowly taking off his cloak. "Sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, did you call me over because you need something?"

Zhuang said, "It's something that needs to be said by your third sister-in-law. You can tell her yourself!"

Liu looked at Wang with immense grievance: "Second sister-in-law, Mo Yuan has been calling you 'Aunt' for over ten years! I have a quick temper and sometimes I don't mean what I say, which sometimes makes you angry. But Mo Yuan hasn't! She has always been very respectful to you! You can't humiliate her like this!"

Wang was straightforward; since she understood what she meant, she didn't pretend to be ignorant. "Third sister-in-law, you mean the marriage between me, Mowen, and Moyi, right? First of all, we're already..."

"Second sister-in-law!" Liu stopped her as soon as she saw her bringing up this again: "Don't try to fob me off with that 'dividing the family' nonsense now, okay? We live together, and when people come to visit during the holidays, it's always the whole family. All the sisters' marriages are arranged, but you're excluding Yuan'er. What will people think?"

Wang always prioritized what suited her own tastes, regardless of what others thought.

So she smiled and said, "I didn't stop you from finding a husband for Yuan'er! You're Mo Yuan's mother, so it's your responsibility to take care of it! Who do you think I am when you talk to me?"

"You!" Liu's eyes suddenly flashed with hatred.

Seeing that look, Wang's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly remembered what Mo Wen had told her: "Liu's behavior is extremely unsavory. Don't push her too far. If she acts shamelessly, she might ruin everything."

Yes, she's not afraid of losing face, but I am!
"One of these two girls' marriages was a lucky coincidence. The other was arranged by my eldest sister, who swallowed her pride and begged for it. Sister-in-law, what can I do? Reject it?!"
Or should I tell them, "I have a niece, so I'll take care of her first"? Third sister-in-law, this is a family matter, and each family should manage its own affairs! What's with all this crying and fussing? Besides, the matter of Mo Wen is basically settled.

Mo Yi's intention is just that—an intention—it's still a long way from engagement! You don't need to worry about people gossiping about Mo Yuan during the New Year! Alright, I have a lot of things to take care of on my end!"

After saying that, Wang turned and left.

Liu hesitated for a moment, then exclaimed, "Fine! You're going to bully me like this! Mo Rusong, you good-for-nothing!"

Hearing the commotion behind her, Wang went back into the house. "Mother, is Third Aunt making a scene again?" Mo Wen was in her room.

"Exactly! It's utterly inexplicable. Your aunt didn't even say a word, just watched! Hmph, maybe... she's jealous that your marriage bypassed Mo Hong and Mo Xin!"

Mo Wen smiled faintly and said, "Mo Yuan always thinks she's better than me in every way. Perhaps she thinks she has to surpass me in marriage too!"

"What a joke! What is she thinking?!" Madam Wang said with disdain, "Look at her! The Xu family wants a mistress, a future noblewoman. First and foremost: she must be stable and dignified... Mo Yuan, hmph, she's not even as good as Mo Yi!"

Mo Wen paused for a moment, then sighed softly…

(End of this chapter)