The Herbal Scents of Farm Life
Chapter 1076: Call off the Engagement

Chapter 1076: Chapter 1076: Call off the Engagement

Upon hearing this, Elder Mr. Zhou took a deep breath as his aged eyes flickered dimly and brightly.

Previously, after being driven out by the Lin Family time and time again, he had been harboring a feeling of ill will. Now that a marriage had been arranged with the prefectural magistrate’s residence, he was finally able to vent this ill will. He was just thinking about going to Ya Village to show off in front of Lin Laogeng.

Little did he know that the granddaughter-in-law he had thought so highly of would turn out to be such a person. His face had been slapped so hard it was practically ’smack smack’ resounding.

"Go, go quickly!" He waved his hand at his son.

"All right, I’ll go now."

Old Master Zhou nodded and hurried out to give the orders.

...

Several hours later, in the great hall of the Zhou family.

Elder Mr. Zhou still sat in his original seat, staring at the table full of dishes in front of him. Everyone looked on, but not a single person had the appetite to pick up a chopstick.

Zhou Liang was now sitting in the hall as well, glancing here and there.

Since he hadn’t heard the previous conversation, he didn’t know what had happened. All he knew was that the atmosphere in the hall was so oppressively heavy, he was desperate to find an excuse to get away.

Unfortunately, he didn’t dare to flee, nor could he.

He had been grounded for many days now, unable to go anywhere but the Zhou family household. Even the thought of climbing over the wall was impossible, since all the ladders had been put away, far beyond his reach.

Finally, the family retainer sent to gather information from the prefectural magistrate’s residence returned.

"Elder Mr. Zhou, Old Master, I’ve returned," he panted as he entered the hall, not even getting a clear view of who was inside before Old Master Zhou grabbed him by the collar.

"Speak, speak quickly!"

"That.... That Ninth Miss’s maternal aunt, she’s really still alive," the retainer hurriedly reported.

"What?!"

All who heard this exclamation were shocked.

If she was truly still alive, didn’t that mean that all the Zhou family had been played? Was the prefectural magistrate’s residence treating the Zhou family as fools, daring to marry a tainted woman into their noble house, hoping she would become the wife of the eldest grandson of the Zhou family?

"Father, what are we to do? Please think of something quickly," Madam Zhou said, utterly at a loss, her pleading gaze turned to Elder Mr. Zhou.

"Annul the marriage, this marriage must be annulled!"

Old Master Zhou also said angrily. How could their scholarly family accept such a woman into their fold?

"Yes, Father, let’s go annul the marriage. We must annul it. Otherwise, Liang’er’s entire life is ruined, what hope does he have left?" Madam Zhou’s spirits lifted at her husband’s words.

She had not considered that her son’s character was such that he had little hope to begin with.

"Annul the marriage?"

Elder Mr. Zhou’s cold gaze fell upon the two of them, and he took a deep breath.

He, too, wished to annul the marriage, but how was it to be done? Was it something that could be ended just by saying so?

That was the prefectural magistrate’s residence they would be dealing with—were they, an ordinary family, capable of offending such power? If the prefectural magistrate was amiable, that would be one thing, but if...

He could nearly envision it: if the Zhou family were to approach the residence to annul the marriage, the prefectural magistrate would certainly not give them a warm reception. Not only would they likely fail to peacefully break off the engagement, but their future days might also become difficult to endure.

Yet, the marriage...

It truly had to be annulled. The Zhou family had always led an unblemished life; how could they allow such a woman to marry into their home?