Chapter 298: It Was Impossible
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yuan Hui was silent for a moment before saying, “Then how about I go and discuss it with my grandmother?”
“There is no hurry. Let’s wait and see the Ye clan and the Hong clan’s reaction.” Zhao Chuchu stopped her. “Don’t tell the old lady about last night for now, or she will definitely be mad.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
Yuan Hui was a bit confused. She couldn’t make up her mind, so she could only listen to Zhao Chuchu.
Zhao Chuchu sighed. “You should have learned some martial arts back then, so you can at least protect yourself.”
“Is it too late for me to learn now?”
“No, but it’s going to be hard. Do you still want to do it?”
“I’d do anything to get stronger. Chuchu, when you return to Yuanjiang County, why don’t I come with you to learn martial arts?” “I thought we agreed on the Imperial City.”
“If I can choose, I don’t want to go to the Imperial City.”
“Silly girl, you can also learn martial arts in the Imperial City. It is not difficult for you to ask Mrs. Ding to find a teacher for you.”
“You don’t want to teach me?” Yuan Hui pursed her lips.
Zhao Chuchu answered, “It’s not like that, but the martial arts I learned are not quite suitable for you.”
What Zhao Chuchu learned was all deadly moves unsuitable for defense.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I believe you.”
Zhao Chuchu chuckled.
After Yuan Hui became relieved, she asked Zhao Chuchu to come with her to the old lady’s place.
The old lady had heard about Second Mr. Ye’s sordid affair with Third Mr. Hong.
When she saw Yuan Hui and Zhao Chuchu, Old Mrs. Yuan started to scold the two men for being shameless and then criticized their families.
Zhao Chuchu listened without saying a word, while Yuan Hui occasionally said a few words to echo her.
“Huihui, don’t worry. Even if your grandmother died, she would not let you marry into a family like that. You’re such a good girl. You deserve better.” Old Mrs. Yuan was worried that Yuan Hui was upset because of this, so she softly comforted her again.
Yuan Hui had calmed herself down, and she was joking with Old Mrs. Yuan, “Grandma, what if I don’t marry into a man’s family? How about a live-in son-in-law?”
“No way,” Old Mrs. Yuan said without even thinking. “Very few men would want to do that, and those who would are trying to get everything in their favor and eventually change the family name to their own.”
“Huihui, you are still young. Men can be very treacherous at times. I’ve heard many stories about how a live-in son-in-law messes up her wife’s family. I’d rather spend most of our money preparing dowries for you than have a live-in son-in-law. See, if your future husband ill-treats you, you can at least have a home to return to.”
“But if that husband of yours is up to no good, you will probably end up homeless. I can’t look out for you for the rest of your life, after all. Men are unpredictable. Never try to test a man’s integrity because that will more often than not disappoint you.”
Yuan Hui immediately said, “I was joking. Of course, I will not have my future husband live here with us. I have a brother at home, right?”
“I’m not being biased, but I have seen way too many tragedies like that. I’d never want anything like that to happen to my Huihui. But don’t worry, I have found a better family for you. There’s no need for you to consider these nasty people in Guangqing Province in the future.”
Originally Old Mrs. Yuan did not intend to tell her this, but after such an incident with the Ye clan and the Hong clan, she decided to tell Yuan Hui for fear that she would be paranoid.
She brought the letter from Duke Ding’s wife and read it to Yuan Hui.
“Huihui, please rest assured during these days. The best is still waiting for you. Duke Ding’s wife knows someone much better than all the men you’ve known before, so you just have to wait,” said Old Mrs. Yuan as she smiled.
Yuan Hui finished reading the letter and handed it to Zhao Chuchu.
Zhao Chuchu glanced at the letter and saw Duke Ding’s wife was indeed trying to find a husband for Yuan Hui.
However, she did not mention who this person was.
Zhao Chuchu guessed that it was likely to be Qiao Heting.
After all, Duke Ding now held military power. He was a man of power and means, which might easily earn him jealousy from the mysterious man. If Qiao Heting married a lady from a noble family, the man would probably take action very soon.
But the case for the Yuan clan was different. The men of the Yuan clan were businesspeople. As rich as they were, they were not as influential as a lady from a noble family.
However, if Qiao Heting married Yuan Hui, the mysterious man would let his guard down.
Although the Wei Dynasty did not have a law where merchants were not allowed to join the government, merchants were taken for granted by those high officials and noblemen and were not a menace to them at all.
The Yuan clan mainly dealt in salt, but they still had to work with the imperial court, which meant their actions were subjected to the imperial court.
If the imperial court stopped their cooperation with the Yuan clan, the Yuan clan would be put in a very embarrassing situation.
The mysterious man must be eager to see a nobleman like Qiao Heting marry a woman like Yuan Hui.
“Grandma, has Mrs. Ding ever mentioned the name of the man?” Yuan Hui asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
Old Mrs. Yuan said, “Since the Duke’s wife came to send us the message in person, I presume it must be a fine young man. I met the Duke’s wife some years ago, and she is quite easy-going and agreeable. She won’t set us up.” “What if the Duke’s wife herself is mistaken about the man?”
“How could that be? If she is not sure, how would she give you this offer?
Although I don’t know much about her, I can see she means no harm to us. Huihui, just put your heart at ease. She will definitely find you a good husband.”
Yuan Hui lowered her head and whispered under her breath, “But grandma, if I really have to marry someone in the Imperial City, we won’t be able to see each other often.’
“Silly girl, you don’t have to worry about me. As long as you find a worthy husband, distance won’t matter. See, I’d never consent if you marry a dishonest man next door.”
“Chuchu, do you understand what I’m saying?
“Yes.”
Zhao Chuchu was convinced.
The Ye and Hong clans were very close to them, but all their men were the worst.
Old Mrs. Yuan would rather want Yuan Hui to stay unmarried for the rest of her life than marry a man like them, in which case she’d lead a miserable life and suffer endless grievances.
“Huihui, why don’t we wait and see what kind of man Mrs. Ding has found for you.” Zhao Chuchu did not advise Yuan Hui to be self-reliant on her own. This era was not friendly to women who were on their own. The rule of society dictated that women should start a family with men and not depend on their own. She did not want Yuan Hui to be an exception, so she wanted her to find a worthy husband.
Even Yuan Hui herself was unaware of her inner thought. She also wanted the man to be Qiao Heting.
However, Yuan Hui knew it was impossible.
She knew she was not worthy of a man like him.
If Qiao Heting indeed married a businessman’s daughter, he would become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City.
“Okay, I’ll wait.” Nevertheless, Yuan Hui chose to compromise as there was no other way for her.
Zhao Chuchu leaned in and whispered, “Maybe you can get what you wish for.”
Yuan Hui’s face blushed, and she answered, “Well, I hope so, but that’s not very likely..”
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