Chapter 244: Chapter 244 Dissatisfied with the Marriage
244 A Displeasing Marriage Arrangement
Grandpa Bai said that this sort of thing could be addictive. Throughout history, many people, after getting hooked on it, had disowned their relatives, sold their sons and daughters, and ultimately ended up with broken families and utter ruin!
Zhao Zhitong listened with a pounding heart, thinking that gambling was truly a wicked thing.
They hurried home without stopping, riding their horses hard.
Upon arriving home, they didn’t linger and immediately went to their grandmother’s house. At this time, the Sun Family was still immersed in a festive and joyous atmosphere.
Sun Youcai was busy in the courtyard, looking as if he was about to head out.
Sun Mei casually asked, "Little brother, what are you up to?"
Sun Youcai smiled shyly. "Mei Niang mentioned she likes the peony flowers I grow, so I was thinking of gifting her one."
After saying this, he blushed slightly, then asked with a puzzled look, "Hey, Sister, Brother-in-law, why have you come at this hour?"
Seeing the lovesick expression on Sun Youcai’s face, Sun Mei knew that annulling this marriage would likely be difficult.
Sun Mei then asked, "Oh, I need to discuss something with Mom. Where is she?"
Sun Youcai replied, "Mom and Dad are in the backyard."
"Okay." After saying that, Sun Mei headed towards the backyard.
Watching Sun Mei’s hastily retreating figure, Sun Youcai wondered aloud, "Why is Sister in such a hurry to find Mom?"
Zhao Dong thought for a moment and said, "It’s related to you."
Sun Youcai grew even more puzzled. "What? Related to me?"
Zhao Dong chose his words carefully before saying, "Today, when we went to the county town, we encountered a young man from the Zhou Clan."
Sun Youcai asked casually, "Mei Niang’s younger brother?"
Zhao Dong nodded.
"Have some tea, Son-in-law."
At this moment, Eldest Aunt brought tea for Zhao Dong and then said to Tongtong, "Your cousins are all in the backyard. Tongtong, don’t you want to go play with them?"
Zhao Zhitong shook her head. "I’ll go later."
Eldest Aunt smiled and returned to the kitchen.
Sun Youcai didn’t take what Zhao Dong had said seriously. He chuckled, "The Zhou Clan and we are from the same county town. It’s not surprising you met him there."
But Zhao Dong said, "Then can you guess where we bumped into him?"
Sun Youcai looked at Zhao Dong. "Where?"
Zhao Dong continued, "We saw him at the entrance of the Gambling House. He was being beaten and thrown out by their men, who were demanding he repay his gambling debts, threatening to break one of his fingers if he didn’t."
Sun Youcai was taken aback and said doubtfully, "Brother-in-law, are you sure you didn’t see wrong? My mother made inquiries, and she never heard anything about Mei Niang’s brother having a gambling habit."
Zhao Dong laughed awkwardly. "Haha, what you said might be possible. However, hypothetically, if it really was that young man from the Zhou Clan, what would you do about your engagement? Gambling is very dangerous; you really need to think this through."
Sun Youcai said, "Brother-in-law, you and your hypotheticals! Can’t you say something more auspicious?"
But then he replied seriously, "Even if it really is Mei Niang’s brother, it shouldn’t affect the engagement between our families. Calling off the marriage would damage Mei Niang’s reputation. Besides, his actions are his own; Mei Niang is Mei Niang."
"Mei Niang is a good person. We can’t let her brother’s misbehavior tarnish her reputation, can we?"
Stumped by Sun Youcai’s argument, Zhao Dong didn’t know what to say and could only laugh awkwardly. "Yes, yes, you have a point."
"Well, I’ll go check on your sister in the backyard."
After saying that, he got up and headed towards the backyard.
At this point, Zhao Zhitong was still leaning to one side, observing Sun Youcai.
It seemed Younger Uncle truly adored Zhou Meiniang. If Zhou Meiniang were a sensible and good girl who knew her place, then naturally, there would be no problem. But Zhao Zhitong just felt that Zhou Meiniang wasn’t a good girl; she wasn’t worthy of Younger Uncle.
At that moment, it was as if Grandpa Bai’s voice sounded in her mind, "Young girl, you don’t think she’s a bad girl just because she doesn’t like you, do you?"
Zhao Zhitong mentally retorted, puffing her cheeks, "Of course not! I just feel she isn’t good enough for my Younger Uncle!"
She could almost hear Grandpa Bai chuckle. "Young girl, you can’t judge someone as good or bad so easily based on your feelings. You need to verify it."
Zhao Zhitong then recalled what her Teacher had taught her: one shouldn’t easily jump to conclusions about whether a person is good or bad; people are complex.
But she had no way to interact with Zhou Meiniang. How could she find out if she was a good person or a bad one?
Just then, Sun Youcai, who was beside her, noticed the young girl’s pouted lips, furrowed brows, and indignant expression. He couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her puffy little cheeks.
He laughed and said, "Tongtong, what are you thinking about? You’re frowning so hard you could squash a fly between your brows."
Zhao Zhitong snapped back to reality. Looking at her Younger Uncle before her, she felt even angrier. Younger Uncle was so good. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he was so good to her. He was the best Younger Uncle in the world.
Then she asked, "Younger Uncle, do you really like that Zhou Meiniang a lot?"
Younger Uncle’s ear tips turned red. He coughed and said, deliberately stern, "You’re just a child, asking such a question without any shame! This isn’t something you should be worrying about."
"Also, you mustn’t be so impolite. Don’t call her by her full name; you should call her Sister."
Zhao Zhitong pouted and huffed. "I’m not a child anymore! I’m a little adult!"
Then she pressed on, "Younger Uncle, do you really like Zhou Meiniang that much?"
Seeing the young girl’s persistence, Sun Youcai could only nod. "She’s your future aunt. Of course, I like her."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhitong became even more unhappy.
Then, as if struck by an idea, she suddenly tugged Sun Youcai’s arm and said, "Younger Uncle, when you visit Zhou Meiniang’s house later, take me with you, please?"
Sun Youcai chuckled at the little girl. "And what would you do there?"
Zhao Zhitong coaxed, "Take me, please take me! I’ll be very good, I promise not to cause any trouble."
Finally, worn down by Zhao Zhitong’s pestering, Sun Youcai had no choice but to agree. "Alright, alright. But you have to be good, okay?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes! I’ll be very, very good!"
「Meanwhile...」
In the backyard, Zhao Guifen shot up in agitation after hearing Sun Mei’s account.
"I knew this wasn’t a good match! No, we can’t become in-laws with a family like that!"
As she spoke, she started to walk outside.
Sun Mei quickly grabbed Zhao Guifen. "Mother, what are you doing?"
Zhao Guifen exclaimed, "What am I doing? I’m going to find that matchmaker! She must have taken their money and deliberately failed to mention they have a brother like that! Gambling! That stuff is terrifying! This engagement absolutely cannot proceed!"
Sun Mei quickly said, "Mother, please don’t be rash. We need to discuss this properly before deciding anything."
Sun Kang also spoke up. "That’s right. Look at you, your temper flared up the moment you heard the news. Don’t be anxious; let our daughter finish speaking."
Zhao Guifen slapped her thigh. "How can I not be anxious! And that Youcai... those two families I found for him were so good, but he didn’t like a single one. He just had to have this delicate little missy..."
Just then, Zhao Dong walked in. He pulled Sun Mei aside and whispered a few words to her. Only then did Sun Mei again go to Zhao Guifen and say, "Mother, please listen to me."
"Right now, Youcai is head over heels for that Mrs. Zhou. He’s a filial son, so if you go and angrily break off the engagement now, he’ll surely listen to you. But afterward, in his heart, he might grow estranged from us."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Guifen gradually calmed down and listened quietly to Sun Mei.