Ugly girl only wants to farm

Xu Chaoyan wasn't angry at what she said, and continued, "Yes, I'm black-hearted and rotten-necked, I'll make you rot in bed. Or? You can go to the left and let your Qiao'er take you to her house, where you can lie down however you want. We can't afford to entertain such a big Buddha like you. Don't you think so, Qiao'er?"

Zhang Qiao'er hadn't expected to get herself involved, and replied somewhat stiffly, "It's fine anytime, as long as Grandmother is willing."

She wondered to herself if she really wanted to send them over. She needed to go home and think things through. It wasn't appropriate for the two of them to go now. At least she should wait until she got back and sorted things out.

Meng Xiuzhi pointed at her and shouted, "Xu, what are you saying? How dare you disobey your elders? You don't know any manners at all. Jiuhe is going to be an official in the future. How can you manage his courtyard well with your ugly appearance and lack of manners? If you still have any shame, then ask to step down and save yourself from embarrassment in the future."

Zhang Qiao'er stood to the side, massaging Grandmother Meng's shoulders with a gloating expression, and said insincerely, "Aunt, please don't say that. Well, Sister Xu is quite capable. She manages the shop very well and takes good care of Brother Meng. It's just that she has a weak connection with having children."

She had only heard from her aunt that Zhang Qiao'er had come to the courtyard and then gone out with her aunt, and that the three of them were up to something.

She was just about to come back and take a look when she saw the three of them chatting and laughing. There were several plates of pastries and fruits on the table. She guessed that Zhang Qiao'er had brought these things over; she certainly knew how to be charming and ingratiating.

Forget it, just seeing those three makes me angry. As long as they're not causing trouble at home, that's fine. After giving the old lady a few more instructions, he went back to the shop.

After Xu Chaoyan left, Meng Xiuzhi spat at the old woman not far away: "Why does that old hag meddle in other people's business and fawn over everyone all day? She's so old, isn't she afraid of getting her comeuppance?"

Grandmother also mocked her: "Xiuzhi, haven't you seen it yet? Her family has already suffered retribution. Her divorced daughter's reputation is ruined, and her son still wants to pass the imperial examinations and get married. I don't think he'll ever get married. That boy of hers wants to pass the imperial examinations, but he looks so stupid and dull-witted, like a dark-skinned idiot. Unlike my eldest grandson, who is intelligent and clearly destined to be an official. Maybe he can even bring me back a noblewoman someday, making them all envious."

The old woman heard the mother and daughter talking back and forth, but she couldn't be bothered with them. She walked over and slammed the door shut, deciding to ignore them.

After everyone left, Meng Xiuzhi asked with some concern, "Mother, do you think that Xu woman will go to Jiuhe to complain? Right now, we still rely on them for food and shelter. Should we tone it down a bit? Especially you, you should really rein in your temper."

She recalled the meaningful look Xu Chaoyan gave her as she left, and a sense of fear crept into her heart. After all, she had done such shady things, and she was genuinely afraid that they would kick her out right now.

Because Zhang Qiao'er was present, the grandmother didn't get angry much, she just glared at her daughter.

"It boosts the morale of others while diminishing our own. At best, Xu is my Meng family's granddaughter-in-law, but now my eldest son and his family of three are in grave danger. I have to make the decisions. I don't see any signs of pregnancy in Xu's belly. We need to find an opportunity to make Jiuhe divorce her. Xu has a small bottom; it's obvious she can't have children."

After saying that, he took Zhang Qiao'er's hand affectionately and said, "Our Qiao'er is so gentle, virtuous and caring. You two are childhood sweethearts and are a perfect match for Jiuhe."

Zhang Qiao'er blushed deeply at her words. She took out a handkerchief and covered her face, looking shy and a little forlorn: "Grandmother, you're teasing me again. Brother Meng and his wife have a very good relationship now, how could I interfere? Besides, I'm still a widow. People say that widows attract a lot of gossip, and I'm afraid Brother Meng will be criticized."

In truth, she was secretly delighted that her grandmother was trying to break up the couple. When she was engaged to Meng Jiuhe, the Meng family was quite well-off in Hongmiao Village. She had hesitated at the time, but ultimately she held on because of Meng Jiuhe's handsome face. Later, the Meng family's life became a little difficult, and Meng Jiuhe was not even a scholar. As she grew older, her family never brought up the marriage again and kept putting it off. Eventually, her parents couldn't resist the temptation of money and made her break off the engagement and marry someone else.

She certainly wouldn't be willing to gamble her youth by having to toil in the village to support his education.

She couldn't afford to gamble. Although the Meng family was well-off, there was always endless work to be done in the fields. All year round, she could only make one or two sets of clothes.

She envied the girls in town who wore makeup so much. She wasn't bad-looking either. Later, her parents said they would find her a family whose conditions were several times better than the Meng family's. She only hesitated for a moment before immediately agreeing.

They had been waiting for Meng Jiu and Xiu Zhong to become scholars before they could get married. But when she saw her distant cousin marrying into a wealthy family in town and living a life of comfort, she could no longer resist.

Meng Xiuzhi held her hand with a pained expression: "Qiao'er, don't say anymore. I know that your parents have suffered all these years. You married that sickly man and have to live a widow's life. It's also our Meng family that has wronged you. If I had known, I would have asked my elder brother and his family to propose marriage to you sooner, so that you wouldn't have to suffer like this."

The grandmother stood by, looking heartbroken: "It's all my eldest son's fault for being so ungrateful. He insisted that a man should focus on his career and that Jiuhe should only talk about marriage and having children after he passed the imperial examination. Who knew that Xu would benefit so much?"

In fact, Meng Xiuzhi did know the inside story. The Zhang family had been dragging their feet and wouldn't budge. Originally, her eldest brother's family was doing quite well. But since her father passed away and her mother was often ill, life at home became difficult, and the Zhang family began to distance themselves intentionally or unintentionally.

They even proposed breaking off the engagement, contrary to their mother's insistence that they must pass the imperial examination to become scholars before marrying and having children. Indeed, experience truly matters.

Zhang Qiao'er covered her face with her handkerchief and sobbed, "It's all because Qiao'er is unlucky. I can't be your granddaughter-in-law. If my parents hadn't been greedy for that dowry, I might have been a member of the Meng family long ago, and I would be with Brother Meng. You would have your great-grandson, and we would have four generations under one roof. Fate is so cruel!"

Upon hearing the word "great-grandson," the grandmother's eyes suddenly lit up. She grabbed her hand and said, "Qiao'er, don't worry. Don't fret. Grandmother will definitely find a way to get her divorced and then let Jiuhe marry you. But as you know, Jiuhe's parents are missing, and our family doesn't have much to offer right now. As for the dowry, you can decide what to bring. Anyway, we'll all be family from now on."

Zhang Qiao'er wiped away her tears with her handkerchief, thinking to herself: So that's what the old woman was planning? She wanted to get something for nothing. Since her husband and parents-in-law passed away, they left her a house and land, making them a well-off family in the county.

Seeing that she had charmed the two men, she felt smug. But she couldn't possibly get married with nothing, could she? Otherwise, people would say she was throwing herself at the bride price.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Grandmother's dowry is not a problem, but we can't let others laugh at us. Doesn't Brother Meng also have a shop?" She stopped there.

Grandmother clapped her hands and exclaimed, "How could I forget about this? Just wait and see!"

Before leaving, she slipped some loose silver to Xu Shi, saying she should buy some tonics. With these two in charge, even if Xu Shi couldn't be divorced, life would still be chaotic. But right now, she really wanted to find someone to rely on. She'd heard that Meng Jiuhe had a bright future, was even more handsome than before, and owned a shop, so he must have made a lot of money. She regretted her decision back then.

After everyone left, Meng Xiuzhi looked at her mother and asked, "Now Jiuhe doesn't like us either. The couple had such a good relationship, how could he divorce Xu Shi? She didn't do anything wrong."

A slap landed on her head: "You're getting old, all you've got is age and no brains. If she's not wrong, can't you make some excuses? You're capable of cheating on your husband, so why can't you let her do it too? Can't she handle being alone?"

When Meng Xiuzhi saw her mother jump up and slap her, she ignored the pain and looked surprised: "Mom, your leg is healed. Why didn't you say so sooner? I had to take care of your bodily functions every day."

Grandma quickly cried out, clutching her leg, "It hurts so much! I was so angry with you that I forgot about it. I think it's broken again."

Meng Xiuzhi looked on with suspicion. Wasn't his voice booming just now? How could it be so fast?

"Are you dead? Hurry up and carry me back. Oh, and remember to ask your lover for a hand. This Xu family isn't easy to fool, so keep your eyes wide open and find an opportunity for Jiuhe to catch them in the act."

While carrying her elderly mother with great effort, Meng Xiuzhi complained, "Your grandson is so handsome, where am I supposed to find someone like Xu Shi who would ever be interested in those ugly girls?"

"Ouch!" Meng Xiuzhi cried out in pain as she was hit again.

Grandmother looked at her with a disappointed expression: "You've used all your brainpower on cheating on people. Can't you just drug her? One strong dose and she'll pounce on even a male dog. Then you can trick Jiuhe back."

"Mom, you're amazing! Old ginger is spicier. How can you be so amazing?"

"Of course, that's how you and your second brother came to be. Your short-lived father was rarely home." Realizing she had let something slip, she quickly shut up.

The weather remained calm for several days, which made Xu Chaoyan feel a little uneasy, thinking that the mother and daughter had become more reserved.

Meng Jiuhe had also been feeling a bit strange these past few days; his aunt had been unusually warm towards him, showing concern for everything he did. He was wary and would only offer perfunctory, unimportant replies.

Zhang Qiao'er waited at the entrance of the county school that day and went up to him with a smile after he came out.

"Brother Meng, my parents have come here and said they haven't seen you in a long time. They've prepared your favorite dishes at home and invited you over."

Meng Jiuhe refused outright: "I'm not going, I'm not eating, please move aside."

Shen Siheng looked at her with disdain: "Like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken, you're up to no good. You can eat it yourselves."

Zhang Qiao'er looked embarrassed: "Brother Meng, when you were little, they treated you like their own child. When you were bitten by a snake on the mountain, it was just my father carrying you back for a meal."

She suddenly leaned closer and whispered something, and Meng Jiu's expression changed instantly. He almost lost his footing.

"This is true."