PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 90.1

An Ruochen asked, “Did Father agree?”

“No, he refused.”

An Ruochen froze. Where did this stupid sister’s joyful look like she was about to get married come from?

An Ruochen sighed in her heart and patiently asked, “Why did he refuse? Although Father and Xue Family do not have dealings, Master Xue came to beg the An family and the matter is related to the life of his only son. He clearly provided an opening for Father to state some conditions. Perhaps Father is trying to whet Master Xue’s appetite and lure him into anxiety before he makes a big offer?”

“No.” An Ruoxi shook her head, “I asked my mother, and she said that Father doesn’t want to marry me off for the time being.”

An Ruochen frowned, “Because of Qian Pei?”

“She did not explicitly say that, but I guess so.” An Ruoxi wasn’t excited anymore and said with a bitter frown, “Wasn’t Master Qian always concerned about my marriage, saying he wanted to introduce some suitable people over? When you came over to scare Father, you said that our An family could marry anyone but not Qian Pei. Afterward, I heard Father and Mother say that Qian Pei didn’t want to marry our family’s daughters again. But when we pick a family, we must inform Qian Pei.”

“Maybe Father is Master Qian’s lost child from many years ago, so he respects him as a father.”

An Ruochen’s words met with a glare from An Ruoxi. “Don’t say it so unpleasantly.”

“Saying something unpleasant is better than doing it. Who should report to an outsider when your own daughter marries? Is it reasonable?” An Ruochen was seething in her heart, “The Xue family doesn’t interact with our An family, and of course, they look down on Qian Pei even more. In the past, when Master Qian hosted a banquet, whichever family didn’t want to go and refused to do business with Qian Pei, Father scolded them for not knowing what was good for them. He was referring to the Xue family, right?”

“Yes, yes. I also remember.”

An Ruochen then didn’t understand, “So it’s normal for Father to reject this marriage. Adding to that, Young Master Xue is young and sickly, his life will not last long, and he is not a good match. Are you rejoicing because no one has come to your door to propose marriage for too long, and this time someone has come so you can rejoice for a while?”

An Ruoxi exasperatedly squeezed at An Ruochen’s side and sat down: “How can you say that? I haven’t received a marriage proposal for too long. Who caused this? My eldest sister went to beat the drum in the middle of the night to report to the authorities, and my fourth sister disappeared in broad daylight. Our family is haunted by ghosts and evil spirits! Do you think the words outside are good to listen to? Besides, if you offend Master Qian, who wouldn’t think twice about what he says? Why else would I want to marry outside the county? But sister, you haven’t found a suitable marriage in the outer counties. You said the situation is bad and that you can’t leave the county for the time being. You see, I didn’t even blame you.”

An Ruochen was speechless, not complaining? Then who is the person who often comes to her to yell and slap the table?

An Ruoxi said, “Now that the Xue family has come to propose marriage, isn’t it a great opportunity?”

An Ruochen knitted her brows. Listening to this meaning, An Ruoxi actually wants to marry? “That Young Master Xue is sick and has a short life, right?”

“I know what sister wants to say.” An Ruoxi straightened her face, pursed her lips, and said, “If it was before, I myself would have been unwilling towards this match. Who wants to marry a sickly man? When the time comes, I’ll be a widow at a young age. But times are different now. I am sandwiched between you and Master Qian, and both sides are not human. He can kill me if he wants to, and you can poison me if you want to. Everyone thinks I’m a scourge. If I am to marry someone, it will be better if I marry someone who doesn’t get along with Master Qian, so if my parents want to get along with Master Qian and try to make me do something, it won’t have anything to do with me. A married daughter is like spilt water. I have to listen to my husband’s family. I don’t need to return to my mother’s house, so I don’t need to see Master Qian’s face. Also, I can’t hurt you anymore, so you can give me the antidote. I’ve done the math. This is really a good marriage.”

An Ruochen was speechless, so her second sister was actually not that stupid.

An Ruoxi continued, “Furthermore, the Xue family is a large family. The food, housing, and transportation must be good in every way. I heard Old Master Xue and Madam Xue are generous and warm-hearted. I also heard that although the Xue family’s son is weak, he is well-mannered and educated. Because he is sick, he couldn’t go for the official examination. Instead of waiting for you, who’s unable to say when you can arrange my marriage, or Father, who is being blackmailed by Qian Pei, I might as well marry into the Xue family. It is such a good family. It doesn’t matter whether it is rushed or whether Young Master Xue is truly sick and weak. At least I won’t be bullied and scared every day.”

An Ruochen understood. “Father refused the marriage, so you want me to help you make the marriage work?”

“Yes!” An Ruoxi was energized again, “Sister, there is no one better than you. You say, which other big family is better than the Xue family that has come to propose marriage to me? The good families are hiding as far away as possible. This is the opportunity God has given me! I can’t miss it.”

An Ruochen mulled over this in her mind and asked her, “Did Father refuse in an ugly way?”

An Ruoxi instantly wilted, “I heard that the words were quite unpleasant.”

“Did Father look for Qian Pei after the refusal?”

“Never. I heard that Master Qian went back to Fu’an County.”

An Ruochen said, “I’ll think about this and inquire about what happened with the Xue family first. Father has rejected it, and I’m afraid it won’t be easy afterward. You have to be calm. Don’t mention this at home, alerting Father and your mother. Otherwise, once they discuss it with Qian Pei, you will be done for.”

An Ruoxi was startled. “Master Qian won’t be flying around stuffing families over and asking Father to marry me off, will he?”

“If it’s the family he picks, naturally, you’ll be at his disposal. After you marry, if he still wants to utilize you and send you to do anything, your husband’s family will naturally listen to him.”

“How is it possible that someone would allow Master Qian to bully his own wife?”

“In this world, if there are pigs, dogs, cows, and sheep-like fathers who sell their daughters to 60-odd brutal old men to be ravaged in order to conduct business, then there will also be chickens, ducks, and geese who treat their wives as objects to please their masters.”

An Ruoxi snorted coldly, “It’s true. Even a righteous-looking general would secretly poison people.”