"If they dare speak ill of you, I will make such a scene that Yang Qingrui will lose face. Hmph, these households care most about reputation, men included. Once a manâs reputation is gone, how many good families would let their daughters marry into his?"
Ms. Qian of Wang Family had originally planned to stay put if the Yang Family disagreed, but now, hearing her nieceâs words, she realized she truly couldnât stay.
"Auntie, letâs leave quickly."
With that, the aunt and niece hurried toward the Yang Familyâs front courtyard, cleverly avoiding the familyâs people.
By the time Yang Chuxia called for the maids, there was no one in the guest room, and not even the bedding had been unfolded.
The maids glanced at each other and hurried off to report.
"Theyâre not in the guest room?"
"Mhm, thereâs really no one in the big auntieâs guest room."
"Did you search the rest of the house?"
"Not yet!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiayun completely lost her composure, slapping the table with a smack, "Are you all stupid? Hurry up and search the yard. If thereâs no one there, send someone after them immediately. We must find those two."
"Yes, yes."
The maids quickly went to carry out the order.
"Sister, donât tell me she learned that we wanted her to hand over her purse and made a run for it?" Yang Xiayun asked, displeased.
"Thatâs actually quite possible," replied Yang Chuxia. "My second aunt might not have thought of it, but Qian Xiaoqing probably did."
"Alas, how could Qingruiâs purse have ended up with her?" Ms. Wang simply couldnât understand. Whatever they said about her son giving it to her, it couldnât be. Her son wouldnât be that thoughtless.
"How can she have obtained it?" Yang Chuxia scoffed. "Either she found it when she and my second aunt came searching the yard last time, or she bribed someone close to Dachuan. The people around Dachuan, and even those in our house, Mom and Dad, you really need to look into this."
"We will investigate. Iâll have someone look into it right now," said Yang Dachuan, clearly outraged. His son, pure and honest as he was, should never have to marry a widow, especially one who was older; it would be nothing but a laughing stock.
"We also need to discuss the marriage prospects for your eldest and your younger brother. Theyâre not getting any younger."
As soon as Yang Chuxia mentioned marriage, Yang Qingtong immediately raised his hand, "Sister, please spare me, spare me."
He even stood up from his chair, "Dad, big brother and I have agreed to inspect our familyâs shops tomorrow. From now on, Iâll help manage things, so that Sister doesnât have to work so hard while sheâs pregnant. Therefore, I need to rise early tomorrow. Iâm off to bed."
Without waiting for anyoneâs reaction, he had already run off.
"Hey, this rascal!" exclaimed Ms. Wang. "Xiaxia, youâve seen this, right? When it comes to their marriages, these two brothers of yours always act like this." It was enough to make Ms. Wangâs hair turn white with worry.
For most people, itâs their daughters who are the hardest to marry off properly, taking care of all aspects, but in her family, her daughterâs marriage was the easiest. It was her sons who were causing her heartache.
"Didnât I tell you last time?" Xiaxia said. "You check out the prospects first, and once you find a good match, then you talk to Qingrui. If he doesnât like the first or second option, thereâs bound to be one heâll like eventually."
"You know, youâre right. I really did take a fancy to a girl once," Ms. Wang said, reminded of the time she met a girl in town and was quite impressed.
"Really?" Now Yang Chuxia was intrigued. "Whose daughter is she?"