Rushing back to her room, Madam Yao closed the door. "What are we going to do? That's a hundred taels of silver! Mother will definitely agree. Are we going to let the eldest branch walk all over us from now on!"
It wasn't that Madam Yao was overly anxious. She had been married into the Zhan family for over ten years. Not to say she lorded over others, but she had at least kept the eldest and third branches under her thumb. Madam Yao had even saved forty to fifty taels of her own private money.
Coupled with being a niece of Old Madam Zhan's family, Madam Yao knew how to please her mother-in-law. She did the least amount of housework but reaped the most benefits. The thought of the eldest branch making a comeback made Madam Yao wish she had given birth to a daughter.
Pacing back and forth anxiously, Madam Yao gritted her teeth and said, "She's so young and already knows how to seduce men!"
"Shut up!" Zhan Lao Er roughly pushed aside the bothersome Madam Yao. With a dark expression, he sat down on a stool. The arrival of Madam Wang, the matchmaker, had foiled all of Zhan Lao Er's previous calculations.
Zhan Lao Er suppressed his anger, a sinister and venomous glint gathering in his eyes. Even with Landlord Zhu interfering, he wouldn't let the eldest branch get a chance to rise!
Madam Yao, already as restless as an ant on a hot pan, was now roughly pushed aside by Zhan Lao Er. Her temper flared instantly. "You're taking your anger out on me..."
Her unfinished outburst was abruptly cut short as she met Zhan Lao Er's terrifying gaze. Madam Yao felt a chill down her spine and awkwardly sat down on the edge of the bed, no longer daring to make a sound.
Whatever malicious plans he had, Zhan Lao Er wouldn't voice them.
Though Madam Yao appeared shrewd, she was actually brainless. However, Zhan Lao Er, who usually relied on Madam Yao to fight for the second branch's benefits and maintain a good reputation, couldn't maintain his anger.
"What are you rushing for?" Zhan Lao Er chuckled, walking over and patting Madam Yao's shoulder. He consoled her, "The betrothal gifts include eight items, and one of them is a hundred taels of silver. But it will be seven or eight years before Xiao Yu gets married. What are you panicking about?"
"Are you saying?" Madam Yao's eyes lit up. Who wouldn't be tempted by a hundred taels of silver? After being "enlightened" by Zhan Lao Er, Madam Yao understood.
Clapping her hands in delight, Madam Yao's earlier anxiety vanished. "You're right. Let's get this hundred taels of silver first. Later, we can find an excuse to ruin Xiao Yu's reputation. Landlord Zhu's family wouldn't want a promiscuous daughter-in-law!"
The self-proclaimed clever Madam Yao quickly began to scheme. Ruining a girl's reputation was too easy. Not to mention the bachelors in the village, San Laizi and his gang weren't good people either. They usually liked to sneak glances at the chests of young women and wives. If they were given some silver, wouldn't they be happy to get a wife for free?
Zhan Lao Er glanced at Madam Yao, who was talking to herself, and curled his lips in disdain. She was truly foolish. Marrying those scoundrels would bring no benefits, and if they became a nuisance, it would be even more troublesome.
Thinking of Zhan Feiyu's talent in academics, Zhan Lao Er narrowed his eyes, concealing the shrewd glint within. He worked as a hauler in the county and was on friendly terms with Captain Ma, so he knew many shady dealings.
It was said that the "thin horses" meticulously raised in the south were worth a fortune. His niece was beautiful and educated. If she were sold to a wealthy merchant in the future, she would fetch at least a thousand taels of silver! The Zhan family had raised Xiao Yu for so many years, so it was only natural for her to contribute some money to the family!
Footsteps approached outside the bedroom. "Father, I heard Third Aunt say that Zhu Peng wants to marry Xiao Yu!"
Zhan Dalang blurted out anxiously, his entire demeanor agitated. "Father, we absolutely cannot let Xiao Yu marry Zhu Peng!"
He was often ridiculed and provoked by Zhu Peng and his lackeys at the private school. If not for the strict discipline of Tutor Lin, Zhan Dalang would have been beaten long ago.
It was the fifth day of the holiday. Zhan Dalang didn't want to be pressured by Madam Yao to study. After breakfast, he slipped out to play. He never expected to hear this shocking news upon his return.
"Dalang, don't worry. Listen to your mother." The thought of a hundred taels of silver made Madam Yao beam with joy. She pulled her son to sit down and continued, "Landlord Zhu's family is willing to give a hundred taels of silver as betrothal gifts, along with two sets of jewelry and four outfits. Later, Mother will get the silver and items for you, and then buy you a house in the county so you can study there."
"Besides, Xiao Yu is only seven years old. It's still a long time before she gets married." Madam Yao's anger flared at the mention of Zhan Feiyu's reputation as a child prodigy. Tutor Lin was also foolish, not recognizing Dalang's intelligence and constantly praising that dead girl.
Hmph! She had unfairly delayed her Dalang. When he went to study in the county later, and Dalang became a scholar, Madam Yao wondered how Tutor Lin would have the face to teach in the village!
Zhan Dalang detested Zhan Feiyu and Zhu Peng the most. He had rushed when he first heard that the Zhu family had proposed. After listening to Madam Yao's words, especially about the hundred taels of silver, Zhan Dalang was immediately tempted.
That was a hundred taels! It was enough to buy several new sets of clothes, or to eat several lavish meals at the Taifu Restaurant. Who would dare to mock him as a bumpkin or a peasant boy then!
"After we've reaped enough benefits and ruined that dead girl's reputation, hmph, then even if Landlord Zhu wants revenge, he'll target the eldest branch," Madam Yao said, growing more smug.
By then, Dalang might have already become a successful candidate and an official. It would be the perfect excuse to split the family. The thought of the eldest branch living miserably, worse than beggars, made Madam Yao grin widely.
"Then it's even better if Xiao Yu marries Zhu Peng. The Zhu family is our Zhan family's in-laws." Although Zhan Dalang hated Zhu Peng, he also envied the Zhu family's wealth. Zhu Peng wore silk and satin, and used the finest brushes and ink. If they were related to the Zhu family, wouldn't the benefits be even greater?
Madam Yao feigned anger and tapped Zhan Dalang's forehead. "My Dalang is still too pure and kind. Your paternal aunt is treacherous. Xiao Yu, at such a young age, is already instigating her mother to demand to study. This dead girl is not a good person. If they gain power, they will surely bully our second branch to death!"
The thought of Zhan Feiyu attending the private school while her third son could only stay at home made Madam Yao wish she could flay Zhan Feiyu alive. She said fiercely, "Dalang, remember that only Sanlang is your brother. Everyone else is a leech. When you become an official, these lowly creatures will cling to you relentlessly."
"It's right to listen to your mother," Zhan Lao Er agreed, which made Madam Yao even more proud. She was the backbone of the second branch. Without her planning and scheming, the second branch wouldn't have the good life they had now.
The thought of the second branch gaining money, Zhan Feiyu's reputation being ruined, and Zhu Peng having a fiancée with a notorious reputation, and the future of Zhu Peng and Zhan Feiyu fighting like dogs, filled Zhan Dalang with a sense of smugness and satisfaction, as if he were the only sober one. Those who offended him deserved no good end!