Chapter 99:
Old Li Tou sighed inwardly, having run all day until his legs gave out, only to return and suffer an undeserved disaster!
He could only accept Li Daqiang’s saying!
When you encounter such an unreasonable old woman, what can you do?
“By the way, Father, did you handle that matter?” Zhenzhu put down her mother and ran over to ask first.
Looking at this daughter in front of him, with big red lips and her face painted like a monkey’s butt, her eyes innocent and pure.
Her temperament was just like her mother’s!
She didn’t care about his injuries, didn’t care if he was tired or hungry?
She only cared about her own marriage, and he felt a bit sad inside…
Once she entered Zeng Manor, would she really treat her parents well?
Thinking of Second Brother’s attitude today, his family’s kids all seemed a bit…
Old Li Tou tremulously pulled a piece of paper from his bosom: “This is the marriage certificate, as you wished, in half a month you’ll be married!”
Joy flashed in Zhenzhu’s eyes as she snatched it. “Really?”
Hehe, great, was she really going to enter Master Zeng’s mansion and become a rich wife?
Her beautiful dream was about to come true! From now on, she’d have maids and servants to order around too?
Let’s see who at home would dare say she was lazy?
Old Li Tou saw how she held the marriage certificate, but he wasn’t as happy as he’d imagined; instead, he felt a bit disappointed!
“What? Father, Zhenzhu is getting married in half a month?” Li Sanmao frowned, becoming alert…
Li Daqiang felt this was too fast, speaking without thinking,
“Yeah, Father, half a month is too fast; normally isn’t it usually around a year?”
“Daqiang, what are you saying, fast how? Zhenzhu isn’t young anymore; marrying early is good for her!”
Xiao Zhou Shi quickly stepped forward to chime in.
In half a month, she wouldn’t have to serve or see this eyesore sister-in-law anymore—perfect!
Zhou Shi also perked up her ears to listen; if she’d known the old man had handled this, she wouldn’t have beaten him!
It was just about buying a tea set, wasn’t it?
“Father, you signed this marriage certificate?”
Luo Zhi’er felt something was very wrong!
Old Li Tou saw Luo Zhi’er’s serious face and explained,
“Oh, yes, Second Brother from Zeng Manor inquired; it’s on Xi Shui Street in town, the manor is very large.”
“Hehe! Lots of maids and servants to order around; that Master Zeng is said to be in the porcelain business, not too old, around forty, and quite handsome too!”
“You can all rest assured!” This was great news that had Zhou Shi thrilled enough to jump for joy!
“This family’s wealth, character, and looks are hard to find even with a lantern, so Father signed the marriage certificate quickly to avoid any changes!”
“But…”
This was a hundred taels of silver; if something went wrong later, where to get another hundred taels?
“But what? Luo Zhi’er, you’re just envious and jealous of me, right?”
“Too bad, Master Zeng took a fancy to me, a virgin maiden, not you, an ugly, married dead fatty!”
“Zhenzhu, how can you speak like that?”
Li Sanmao’s expression sharpened…
Li Zhenzhu was still a bit scared; thinking of what Luo Zhi’er had said to her yesterday, she held a grudge,
“Third Brother! Yesterday this almost got ruined by Third Sister-in-law’s hand, hmph! She’s a woman with ulterior motives, and you’re still protecting her; just wait until I become a wife, and I’ll make you pay!”
“You!”
Li Zhenzhu tilted her nostrils to the sky, lost in her beautiful dream, while Zhou Shi nodded repeatedly, hating Luo Zhi’er so much oil nearly came out!
“Exactly, old man, you did right signing the marriage certificate! Whoever dares ruin my daughter’s good fortune, I’ll never let her off!”
Turning her head, she put on a fawning facial expression again,
“Zhenzhu, hehe, Mother’s darling daughter, you just stay home these days, don’t do anything, keep yourself fresh and pretty, waiting to prepare for the marriage!”
“Got it, Mother!”
A shy blush appeared on Li Zhenzhu’s face!
Zhou Shi was determined: no one would block her daughter’s path to wealth!
Luo Zhi’er sighed, glanced at Li Sanmao, saw him frowning too, knew that with the marriage certificate signed, there was no turning back; they’d take it one step at a time, hoping for no mishaps.
Today Old Li Tou had gone to town, and she’d gathered mushrooms all day too; tomorrow she’d deliver goods, and thinking of the acorn bean matter, she confirmed it with Old Li Tou again.
“We’ll do as Third Wife said, acquire from the villagers! Oldest Brother’s wife, go pick some on the mountain when you’re free!”
“Yes, Father!”
Xiao Zhou Shi agreed.
Acquisition was of course welcome; it was many times better than her picking alone.
Zhou Shi pouted her lips, puckered like a chicken’s butt, wanting to complain, but after beating Old Li Tou today, she didn’t dare refuse again!
Besides, with her daughter about to become a rich family’s concubine, did she still care about those copper coins?
So she thought it through!
“Alright then, tomorrow we’ll spread the word about acquiring acorn beans at home, and set the price at one copper coin per jin!”
This acorn bean was quite easy to weigh; ten jin could generally be gathered in one morning!
“Mother, since you manage the silver, from now on when people come to sell acorn beans at home, you handle the acquisition!”
Luo Zhi’er said.
Zhou Shi was a bit unwilling.
“Exactly, you have nothing to do at home anyway; since you manage the money, you do it!”
Zhou Shi pursed her lips! “I’m busy to death, how do I have nothing to do?”
“Then how about you deliver the goods?”
“Deliver? Deliver what goods? Really, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it!” She cursed Old Li Tou inwardly for being heartless!
Old Li Tou wished he could give her a beating!
The next day, Luo Zhi’er took the termite mushroom oil to town; she still walked, and this time brought Miaomiao along; Li Sanmao hadn’t gone up the mountain since it was just a delivery.
On the way, they greeted villagers.
Seeing them walking to town, they were a bit puzzled why this Zhou Shi would let her third daughter-in-law take the girl to town for interaction?
“Miaomiao, going to town with your mother?”
Old Lady Zhao was sunning peanuts in the yard early in the morning and saw mother and daughter passing by, her eyes lighting up with joy…
Seeing Miaomiao, she called out to her affectionately.
“Yes, Grandma Zhao, don’t fetch water anymore; this afternoon when Miaomiao comes back, she’ll fetch it for you with Father and Mother!”
“Hehe, hey, what a good girl! Your mother taught you well!”
“Come, Miaomiao, Grandma grabs a handful of peanuts for you to eat on the road with your mother!”
“Thank you, Grandma Zhao!”
Mother and daughter walked and stopped, ate things, and rested!
They arrived in town when the sun was high; Miaomiao was attracted by the dazzling array of things on the streets, the bustling crowds, various vehicles—after all, it was her first time at this age.
Luo Zhi’er told her that after delivering the goods, she’d take her around.
Miaomiao obediently followed behind her, and at Yumian Tower, she just sat quietly waiting on the side!
Without affecting her delivery or discussing the acorn bean delivery with Shopkeeper Zhu!
Shopkeeper Zhu really liked Miaomiao; this girl’s little mouth was very sweet, just now she’d smiled and called him, “Uncle Zhu, hello!”
He’d even given her some of Yumian Tower’s small candies and snacks for greeting guests!
After finishing business talk, Luo Zhi’er stood to leave; she thought for a moment and still asked Shopkeeper Zhu,
“Shopkeeper Zhu, do you know Master Zeng of Zeng Manor on Xi Shui Street in town?”
Shopkeeper Zhu was stunned and thought seriously…
