Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 540 - 280 Hanging_1

Chapter 540: Chapter 280 Hanging_1

A few days ago, Old Duke Liang brought the matchmaker, Prince Consort Pan, to the Qian family, aiming to formally settle the marriage arrangement between Liang Jinzhao and Qian Yixiu.

Prince Consort Pan sneered, "Old Duke Liang, your family is of noble and wealthy heritage, and your granddaughter-in-law is the esteemed daughter of the Cui family. The Qian family, on the other hand, are peasants from the countryside with no foundation, and my Pan family is almost of commoner status. My granddaughter is not good enough for your grandson."

Liang Zechong was taken aback. How had the matter he’d been so confident about taken such a turn? He said angrily, "Are you thinking of calling off the engagement?" Then he asked Qian Sangui and Qian Manjiang, "Do you share this view?"

Qian Sangui said, "I can’t bear to let Xiu’er marry into hardship."

Qian Manjiang also said, "Xiu’er has already suffered so much. I can’t bear the thought of her suffering for the rest of her life."

"What do you mean by that?" Liang Zechong asked again.

Prince Consort Pan scoffed, "Don’t play dumb. Haven’t you heard the gossip going around? They’re saying the Qian girl is vulgar and still dreaming of climbing up to marry into the Liang Mansion of Duke Weiguo. My granddaughter isn’t even formally engaged to your grandson yet, and she’s already being slandered like this. If they were officially betrothed, wouldn’t she be drowned by the spit of gossip?"

Liang Zechong reflected and understood. Among his family, only his eldest daughter-in-law had no dirt on her and disliked the idea of a Qian girl as her daughter-in-law, it must have been her spreading improper remarks. He then said, "If someone from my mansion has been spreading rumors, I will surely discipline her when I return and explain it to both your Pan family and the Qian family. But us old folks, including Zhaozhao, are sincerely wishing to ask for Miss Qian’s hand in marriage."

Having heard this from Liang Zechong, Prince Consort Pan found it difficult to directly dismiss the engagement they had previously agreed upon. He simply stated they should wait longer, as they were to form a kinship, not enmity. He didn’t want to send his granddaughter to another family to endure mistreatment. They could officially settle the engagement when the elders from both families agreed, it wasn’t too late. He believed that if Liang Jinzhao, being of age already, saw that Old Fox Liang was unwilling to wait, his family would take the initiative to end it. Then the engagement would be called off.

However, to his surprise, Liang Zechong agreed to wait, even saying that his grandson would marry no other than the Qian girl.

Prince Consort Pan was puzzled and asked, "Old Duke, Zhaozhao is already twenty this year, aren’t you anxious to see great-grandchildren?"

Liang Zechong laughed and said, "My second granddaughter-in-law is already with child, and I will be able to hold my great-grandson next year. As for Zhaozhao, if he can marry a wife who warms his heart, then waiting is not an issue."

Prince Consort Pan was even more puzzled. He had always thought of Liang Zechong as an old fox who, whether in giving or taking, always aimed to gain the greatest advantage. Though Xiu’er was excellent, she seemed insufficient to delay the marital affairs of his eldest grandson to such an extent. Could it be that his granddaughter possessed unknown qualities?

Qian Manjiang also wondered. He was aware that many families of good standing wished to form marital ties with the Liang family; even with his daughter’s qualities, was it worth delaying Liang Jinzhao, who was already twenty years old?

Only Qian Sangui felt that his granddaughter was the best and worth waiting any amount of time for, no matter who the others were.

With Liang Zechong having said this, Prince Consort Pan and the father and son Qian Sangui had no foot to stand on. They figured since Xiu’er was still young, waiting another year or two to discuss the marriage wouldn’t be too late. And so, the matter of the marriage was left in suspense once more.

Qian Yixiu was not in a hurry either. Her body was only thirteen years old; it would be best to wait a couple more years before discussing marriage. It was Uncle Liang, a man of his age, who should be anxious; at his age, others’ children would already be running around.

Seeing Uncle Liang’s longing gaze, which made it seem as if she had wronged him, Qian Yixiu thought to herself that if he wanted to discuss it, then he should go do so. It would be best if he could be persuaded to then go back and convince Old Duke Liang.

After many days of consideration, Qian Yixiu concluded that no matter how good Uncle Liang was, she could not marry into the Liang family. Not just because Uncle Liang’s mother disapproved of her, but also because she did not want to be confined to a life within a grand household—a lifestyle that perhaps none of his elders could accept. It would be best to amicably part ways now while the engagement wasn’t officially settled and no bad feelings had developed.

When Liang Jinzhao pointed ahead, not far off was a teahouse, Qian Yixiu nodded her head to agree.

Liang Jinzhao walked ahead while Qian Yixiu followed. As they approached the teahouse, she could see that it was none other than Capital City’s Wuxi Teahouse. Wuxi Teahouse, being his mother’s private property and supposedly managed quite successfully by the Wuxi Business Company under Shopkeeper Cui’s supervision, indicated that she was capable of doing good business. A woman who could manage business affairs on such a large scale, surely capable of utilizing people effectively, should also be a visionary and strong-willed. So why would she short-sightedly underestimate someone like herself—a stock full of potential?

Qian Yixiu set aside her thoughts and followed Liang Jinzhao to a private room on the third floor. Those following her, however, were stopped by Liang Gao, who asked them to accompany Monkey Sister to another private room.