Chapter 141: You are not worthy of him

It was a pity that Du Ruo's calculation finally fell through.

The next day, when the family was eating breakfast, Yan Pozi came to the door with a cane.

Perhaps because she had suffered too many blows during this period, Yan Pozi didn't look very well. Her hair was almost all white, and the wrinkles on her face were deeper, making that face look even more mean.

She didn't come alone, but followed by a young woman.

The woman was about eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and strong, with a pair of hands like bear paws, feeling like she could slap someone to death with one palm.

Although her figure was dull, her face looked extremely shrewd, especially those three-white eyes, which kept turning around in the frame, looking around.

The few younger ones hurriedly put down their chopsticks and stood up.

Zheng Shi was the one with the highest seniority here, so she immediately welcomed her with a smile. "Grandmother-in-law, have you eaten? Would you like to sit down and add a little?"

Yan Pozi's gaze fell on the table.

There were fish, meat, soup, and vegetables, and everyone had exquisite white rice in front of them.

Even the big landlord's family wasn't this extravagant!

Heh, Yan Pozi sneered in her heart, and her face didn't have any expression. "I won't eat, lest I get a stomachache when I go back."

Zheng Shi was stunned, not quite understanding what she meant, so she looked at Du Ruo.

Du Ruo pulled her mother behind her, smiled, and asked straight to the point: "Grandmother, what is the matter with you coming here today?"

"This is my grandson's house, can't I come here if there's nothing wrong?"

Saying this, Yan Pozi pointed to the strong woman. "This is to introduce you, her surname is Hao, her name is Jinzhi, she is the granddaughter of your aunt."

Du Ruo politely called "Cousin Hao".

Hao Jinzhi clapped her bear paws, laughing like boiling water. "Oh, so you are the eldest cousin-in-law? You look so beautiful, not at all like what the rumors say!"

Du Ruo laughed awkwardly and said a few perfunctory words, then stopped talking.

What to say? Ask Yan Pozi why she brought Hao Jinzhi here? Ha, thinking with her butt, she knew it couldn't be anything good.

She was as steady as a mountain, watching her nose and heart.

Hao Jinzhi sat on a stool to the side, carefully examining the few people at the table.

Three men, one with a baby face, one with a freckled face, and one who looked the best, both gentle and handsome, looking like a scholar at a glance.

It should be Jiang Erlang that Aunt intended for her to marry.

She was very satisfied.

Zheng Shi and Du Shi would eventually be separated, so she didn't need to care.

That beautiful little girl should be her future sister-in-law Jiang Wan. I heard she was still studying in school. Why study as a girl? What's the use of reading? Wasting silver.

When the time comes, see if Du Shi wants her. If she wants her, that's best. If she doesn't, she'll raise her herself.

Don't even think about reading books. When she grows up a few years, find a rich family to marry her into and ask for more dowry.

As for that maid Chunhua, she had to fight for it properly, and taste the feeling of being served...

Hao Jinzhi was thinking beautifully when Yan Pozi finally spoke. "Eldest daughter-in-law, Erlang, you two stay, I have something to say."

Zheng Shi was afraid that she would make things difficult for her daughter, so she was a bit unhappy.

Du Ruo smiled at her comfortingly. "It's okay, Mother, you take Wan'er and the others to the backyard to see the chili seedlings, I'll chat with Grandmother."

Zheng Shi had no choice but to go out unhappily.

Thinking about it, she was still worried, so she threw the dog into the house.

That girl named Jinzhi looked like she had the strength of an ox. What if they started fighting because they didn't talk happily? She couldn't let Aman suffer.

In the hall, except for the confused dog, only Yan Pozi, Hao Jinzhi, Du Ruo, and Jiang Zhan were left.

The two sides sat face to face, with distinct camps.

Yan Pozi looked at Jiang Zhan. "Erlang, you won the Prefectural Top Scholar this time, so the scholar title is secure, right?"

Jiang Zhan was silent for a moment, then said: "If there are no accidents, it should be."

"That's good." Yan Pozi nodded with satisfaction. "As the saying goes, establish a family before establishing a career. You are not young anymore, it's time to discuss marriage."

Jiang Zhan's face changed drastically.

He was a smart person, so he knew what Yan Pozi meant.

This was wanting to marry Hao Jinzhi to him.

"Grandmother, the schoolwork in the academy is heavy, I don't have any plans to discuss marriage for the time being."

Even if he did, it absolutely couldn't be Hao Jinzhi.

Not to mention whether there was any eye-fate, just saying that Hao Jinzhi was Yan Pozi's relative, he couldn't accept it.

Yan Pozi's drooping

Jiang Zhan still refused, "I don't think there is any need for that; having Eldest Sister-in-law manage the household is enough."

"I don't quite understand what Grandmother means by this."

Du Ruo also smiled, "Second Brother has just achieved the title of Prefectural Top Scholar; his future is bright, and who knows, he might even pass the Imperial Examination and land an official post. Why be in such a hurry to discuss marriage now? When that time comes, you will naturally be able to find a better match."

Before Yan Pozi could speak, Hao Jinzhi became unhappy.

"Does Cousin-in-law mean that I am not good enough and unworthy of Second Cousin?"

Du Ruo looked puzzled, "Why does Cousin Hao lack a clear self-awareness? Which part of yourself do you think makes you worthy?"

The greed in those eyes was so full it was about to overflow; she was simply not the same kind of person as Jiang Zhan.

Hao Jinzhi stood up abruptly, her large palms clenching with a creaking sound, "Cousin-in-law, don't belittle people. I may look average, but I have one good point: I bring prosperity to my husband!"

Du Ruo: "...???"

"It's like this: I have already checked the horoscopes for Erlang and Jinzhi. Jinzhi has a husband-prospering fate," Yan Pozi said with a serious air. "As long as Erlang marries her, his future official career will be smooth sailing and highly successful."

Du Ruo understood immediately; they had come prepared.

She didn't believe in this so-called fate, but even if it were true, so what? As long as Jiang Zhan refused, no one could force his hand.

"I do not agree to this marriage." Du Ruo couldn't be bothered to dance around with them anymore and stated it directly.

Yan Pozi lifted her eyelids, "Since ancient times, marriages are decided by the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. His father and mother are gone, so naturally, it is up to me, his grandmother, to make the decision."

Du Ruo did not show any weakness, "Since ancient times, the eldest sister-in-law acts as a mother. With his father and mother gone, it is naturally up to me, the eldest sister-in-law, to have the final say."

"Du Shi!"

Yan Pozi slammed the table and glared with a gloomy face, "Don't think I don't know your selfish motives. You're afraid that once Jinzhi enters the family, she will snatch away your power to manage the household, aren't you?"

"And what if I am?"

Du Ruo's voice was even louder than hers, "Don't forget, our two branches have already separated. You are from the First Branch; you have no right to point fingers at the affairs of the Second Branch!"

"You, you..." Yan Pozi was so angry she felt dizzy and quickly closed her eyes to steady herself.

Jiang Zhan looked at his eldest sister-in-law, his eyes shining.

Eldest Sister-in-law is mighty!

Hao Jinzhi was a bit stunned; she hadn't expected this cousin-in-law to not only look different from the rumors but also have a much fiercer temperament.

Sure enough, money nurtures people. It was likely that since the Second Branch of the Jiang Family was now prosperous, Du Shi's temper had risen along with it.

Yan Pozi finally recovered and sneered at Du Ruo, "Today I am giving you two paths: either let Erlang marry Jinzhi, and we will all be happy, or I will go to the county office to accuse Erlang of being unfilial. Let's see if he can keep his scholar status!"