Chapter 203: Help and Hindrance
“Mother, don’t blame me for pouring cold water, but the Zhao family is clearly becoming a scholarly family. Mother, please stop thinking about the Zhao family.
“It’s better to consider the Wu family. Those who make lanterns are a suitable match for us.
“Otherwise, even if the marriage can be arranged, if Fourth Sister marries into the Zhao family, who knows how difficult it will be, how she will be looked down upon,” Wu Erjie’er said coolly.
Aunt Wu was stunned.
“Alas, there’s something I didn’t want to tell Mother,” Wu Sanjie’er sighed. “The day before yesterday, Da Lang lost his temper with me and almost laid hands on me. Mother, you know Da Lang has a good temper and is very good to me.”
“Did he lay hands on you? Did he hit you?” Aunt Wu quickly pulled her third daughter’s hand and looked at her wrist.
“He almost laid hands on me, he didn’t,” Wu Sanjie’er pulled her hand back. “Doesn’t Mother want to know why Da Lang lost his temper?”
“Why?” Aunt Wu asked with concern.
“It’s about what happened the day before yesterday. Mother, you still have to ask? The day before yesterday, Matchmaker Miao came to our home to find me,” Wu Sanjie’er said slowly.
Aunt Wu didn’t react immediately. “Your Matchmaker Miao was afraid you would worry and said she would inform you. What happened?”
“Da Lang got angry just hearing that Matchmaker Miao came to find me. Alas, it’s hard for me to say this, alas.” Wu Sanjie’er flicked her handkerchief, sighing repeatedly.
“Just tell the truth. Mother is straightforward. If you don’t tell her, she’ll never guess,” Wu Erjie’er spat out a melon seed shell.
“As soon as I got married, Da Lang said that he was hesitant about this marriage. There was only one thing he was dissatisfied with, and that was because of Matchmaker Miao. Da Lang said our family is a matchmaker family, one of the lowest of the lowly professions,” Wu Sanjie’er said, watching her mother’s expression.
“Eldest Sister hasn’t returned home for so many years. Hasn’t Mother ever wondered why? Everyone outside says our family is a matchmaker family. Hasn’t Mother ever heard of it? Because of this, Eldest Sister, I, and now Third Sister, have endured so much grievance,” Wu Erjie’er immediately chimed in.
“Whenever Aunt Yin from the Yueyang Cloth Shop sees me, she always says with pity that we sisters have such good character, yet we are associated with the word ‘matchmaker’,” Wu Sanjie’er continued.
“Alas, it was out of necessity,” Aunt Wu said in a low voice. “We are orphans and widows. If it weren’t for your Matchmaker Miao, how could your Eldest Sister have married into a Recommended Scholar’s family? It was something we wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
“Your marriages also owe a lot to your Matchmaker Miao. You both know that for your sake, your Matchmaker Miao put in a lot of effort.
“I also know that the reputation of matchmakers is not good, but now, we still have your Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister. You two bear with it for now. When your Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister are married off, I can manage on my own. At that time…”
“Does Mother really think that Eldest Sister, I, and Third Sister marrying into such families is Matchmaker Miao’s capability?”
Wu Erjie’er glanced at her mother.
“Mother is truly straightforward. Eldest Sister has looks and knowledge, needlework and cooking skills, household management and guest reception, she excels in everything. Those Recommended Scholars are very discerning people. If they hadn’t taken a fancy to Eldest Sister, would they have been manipulated by a matchmaker from the lowly professions like Matchmaker Miao?”
“Second Sister is absolutely right. Not to mention far away, just look at the Li family in Cai Lian Lane. They came from the Kunshan Countryside. We are orphans and widows, but at least we have Mother. They have no parents, look at the marriage of their third daughter!
“The Hong family is so good! Starting with Eldest Sister, none of our sisters’ in-laws can compare to them,” Wu Sanjie’er said impatiently, glancing at her mother.
“If the Li family is stronger than us, it’s only because they have a Xiucai Scholar, but their Eldest Sister chose self-combing. How embarrassing!
“They also came from the Kunshan Countryside, and their house is rented. If we really compare, how can they compare to our family? Compared to their Third Sister, does Mother think our sisters married well?” Wu Erjie’er spat a melon seed shell far away.
“Your Matchmaker Miao said it’s because their Fourth Sister got involved with the Young Lord,” Aunt Wu said, her voice faltering.
“If their family also had a matchmaker mother, and was also called a matchmaker family, would her Fourth Sister still have gotten involved with the Young Lord?” Wu Erjie’er questioned.
“Even if…” Aunt Wu sighed. “We don’t dare to offend her now. You know her methods. If you really anger her, she’ll target Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister’s marriages, and even the best marriage will be ruined by her.”
“Then it’s up to Mother. As long as Mother makes a decision, we sisters will surely fight for it. My marriage and Eldest Sister and Second Sister’s marriages have already been ruined by the reputation of this matchmaker family. It’s already like this, there’s no way to bring it up again.
“Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister are so good, but we can’t let her harm them again,” Wu Sanjie’er said, staring intently at her mother.
“Mother, you know Matchmaker Miao’s plans best. She’s not young anymore. How many more years can she be a matchmaker? When she can no longer do it, alas!”
Wu Erjie’er let out a long sigh.
“We sisters will take care of you in your old age. Whether it’s my Third Son or her Da Lang, no matter how unwilling they are, they won’t say anything. But if we have to take care of another Matchmaker Miao, then they can say whatever they want. At that time, I’m afraid it will even affect our ability to provide for Mother in her old age!”
Aunt Wu’s expression became distressed.
This was her greatest worry. Relying on her daughters for old-age support was already difficult. Adding Matchmaker Miao to it, she truly dared not think about it.
“I’ll say it upfront,” Wu Sanjie’er said, glancing at her mother. “My Da Lang hates the words ‘matchmaker’ the most. If you want him to support Matchmaker Miao in her old age, even if I hang myself in front of him, it won’t happen. If that time comes, Mother, don’t blame me for not taking care of you either.”
Aunt Wu looked at her third daughter, who had her arms crossed, and her face turned a little pale.
She had long planned that among her five daughters, her third daughter’s household was the simplest, with only one mother-in-law. At that time, she only needed to be a little attentive to her mother-in-law and could live with her third daughter, helping to take care of the children and so on.
The other daughters all had large families, and they definitely wouldn’t accommodate her.
“Your Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister’s marriages…”
“Mother, don’t worry. With us three sisters, are you afraid Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister won’t find good husbands? Don’t worry, as long as the words ‘matchmaker’ are gone, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister will definitely marry much, much better than us!” Wu Erjie’er said with a smile.
“If the words ‘matchmaker’ are removed, and Matchmaker Miao isn’t offended, you have a plan?” Aunt Wu said, hesitating for a moment before gritting her teeth.
“As long as Mother makes a decision,” Wu Erjie’er said with a smile.
“Mother, don’t worry, we sisters are here,” Wu Sanjie’er and Wu Erjie’er exchanged a glance, and they both smiled.
