TTTQF Chapter 78

Breaking off the Engagement

“Uncle, Aunt, I’m back! The clan leader is here too.” Jiang Miao greets them directly, then turns to look at the three unfamiliar people and asks, “Who are you? What are you doing at our house?”

The woman forces a smile and says, “Don’t you recognize me, boy? I’m from the Liu family, the one that Jiang Yu is engaged to.”

Before Jiang Miao can react, Aunt Jiang shouts angrily, “Since you are here to break off the engagement, don’t mention anything about the engagement anymore!”

Engagement? Breaking off the engagement?

Jiang Miao is confused by these terms. How could Sister Xiao Yu suddenly be engaged and then have the engagement broken? Why has he not heard about this when he comes back for the New Year? Or is it simply that no one mentions it, and he doesn’t know because he has no memory of it?

“So you agree to break off the engagement?” Upon hearing this, Liu Chun’s eyes immediately brighten.

“Break off the engagement? Without first clarifying the reasons, are you expecting our Jiang family’s daughter to suffer in vain? Do you think that’s possible?” Uncle Jiang is so angry that his veins pop out, and he looks like he wants to throw them out.

“Ah, in-laws, we have stated the reason. The couple’s birth dates are incompatible; if they were to marry, they would only be enemies. It’s better to part ways amicably now.” The man named Liu Chun sighs, appearing to be in a difficult situation.

Jiang Miao senses something is wrong. He has just become engaged to Pei Che recently and naturally knows the process.

“Uncle Liu, you are mistaken. The proper procedure is to match the birth dates before the engagement. How can one match the birth dates after the engagement is set? Did your family not have someone match the birth dates before the engagement with my cousin?”

Aunt Jiang says, “Of course, we matched the birth dates! It turned out to be a great match, but now you’re making up excuses to break off the engagement, thinking our Jiang family is easy to bully? Clan Leader, please say something. Liu’s family is bullying us, and Xiao Yu should not have to suffer in vain!”

“The birth dates are matched poorly from the beginning. Since the engagement, our family has had continuous misfortune. Later, others say it might be due to the birth dates being incompatible. I have a master check the birth dates, and indeed they are incompatible. Clan Leader Jiang, tell me, if I don’t break off the engagement, won’t our family end up falling apart over a daughter-in-law?” Liu Chun argues convincingly.

Faced with pressure from both sides, Clan Leader Jiang thinks for a moment and says, “The fact that the two families could come together before is fate. Whether the marriage proceeds or not depends on you. Our Jiang family’s daughter, of course, cannot be wronged. However, if the birth dates are incompatible and it causes the family to fall apart, that is not acceptable either. You should discuss this further. I have some other matters to attend to, so I’m leaving first.” The clan leader leaves quickly, leaving behind some vague words. At first, it seems acceptable, but upon closer inspection, it is essentially no different from saying nothing at all.

Liu Chun watches the clan leader’s departing figure and turns to say, “See? Even your clan leader said that. What else do you have to say? I don’t want my family to suffer any more misfortune.”

“Nonsense! How does your family’s misfortune have anything to do with my cousin? Maybe you’ve done something heinous, and that’s why heaven is punishing you!” Jiang Miao is very angry. He has heard people trying to label Jiang Yu as a jinx. Apart from not being able to speak, Jiang Yu is perfect in every other way. Jiang Miao’s and Little Stone’s New Year clothes are even sewn by her.

“You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting! Let me ask you, if her fate wasn’t so bad, how would the Jiang couple have met their end? Isn’t it because of her bad luck?” Liu Chun’s family says sharply.

“Her bad luck? Then why aren’t you dead yet? According to logic, once the engagement is set, you become her in-laws. Why hasn’t she cursed you to death and instead let you come to our home and complain?” Jiang Miao can’t contain his anger. He has heard such things when he was young and knows well how upsetting it can be for those who are the subject of such comments.

“You… you…” Liu Chun is so angry he is trembling. He tries to calm himself and says, “No matter what you say, the engagement must be broken off today. I’ve brought the matchmaker with me, so return the marriage contract, the birth dates, and the betrothal gifts, and we’ll leave immediately.”

Aunt Jiang says, “If you don’t give a clear reason, don’t even mention breaking off the engagement.”

The Liu couple exchange glances and step aside to discuss. Seeing they are momentarily unable to speak, Jiang Er Aunt looks at the extravagantly dressed woman in the middle and says, “Matchmaker Yu, you should also be aware of the situation, otherwise, you wouldn’t have come along. Please explain clearly why the Liu family suddenly wants to break off the engagement.”

Matchmaker Yu smiles awkwardly and says vaguely, “In marriage, it’s all about mutual consent, isn’t it? Since the man’s side is unwilling to proceed, it means the marriage is off. Why persist in holding on?”

Her attitude clearly favors the Liu family, and her words seem to imply that the Jiang family is stubbornly clinging to the engagement.

“Matchmaker Yu, as a woman, you should understand how important reputation is for a girl, right? If your daughter were suddenly publicly rejected, and you could still say this, I’d truly admire you!” Jiang Miao says sarcastically.

Matchmaker Yu’s face darkens. “How can you talk like that? There’s been no marriage or consummation yet, so what impact does it have on reputation?”

“Since you think it has no impact, then, starting tomorrow, I’ll visit your home every day and chat with your daughter and daughter-in-law. Anyway, there’s been no marriage or consummation, so it won’t affect their reputation, right?” Jiang Miao lifts one corner of his mouth, looking at Matchmaker Yu with ill intentions, making her face turn a dark shade of anger.

“Alright, alright, alright, this old woman feels like she came here for nothing today, having to endure all this idle talk. In the future, if anyone in your family wants to get married, this old woman won’t dare to come again,” Matchmaker Yu says as she walks out, not forgetting to threaten them with marriage matters.

“Be on your way. Just because a butcher dies doesn’t mean we won’t eat pork. Our Jiang family’s marriages are not for you to meddle in,” Jiang Miao scoffs, clearly not taking her threats seriously.

Meanwhile, Liu Chun and his wife reach a decision. They look at Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang, who are waiting on the side, and ask them a question: “As long as we state our reasons, will you agree to break off the engagement and return the betrothal gifts?””

Uncle Jiang says with a gloomy face, “Just say it. We can’t be rejected for no reason!” With things being so serious, what else can be done if the engagement isn’t called off? If they are forced to marry Xiao Yu, will Xiao Yu have a good life in the future?

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Chun’s wife says, “Let’s be honest then. Jiang Yu is fine, but she cannot speak. Initially, we thought it would be okay since a quiet person won’t cause problems and it would be good for the family. But now things have changed. Our Liu Wang has become successful and is running a small business. How can he marry someone who can’t speak? She won’t be able to help at all…”

Liu Chun’s wife continues to complain, but it all boils down to her dissatisfaction with Jiang Yu’s inability to speak. They could refute other points, but this one is undeniable.

Uncle Jiang gives Aunt Jiang a look, and she understands. Aunt Jiang goes into the house to bring out a small wooden box containing the zodiac marriage contract and two small silver ingots given at the time of the engagement, totaling two taels.

“Bring out Xiao Yu’s things,” Aunt Jiang says coldly.

Liu Chun’s wife takes out a piece of yellowed paper with their birth dates written on it. Jiang Er Aunt snatches the paper and shoves the wooden box into Liu Chun’s wife’s arms, shouting, “Get out quickly! From now on, our families have nothing to do with each other!”

However, Liu Chun’s wife does not leave immediately as previously stated. Instead, in front of everyone, she opens the wooden box, first examining the marriage contract and birth dates, then weighs one of the small silver ingots in her hand and even bites it to check.

Jiang Miao, initially unsure of her intentions, is now disgusted. Apparently, she is testing the authenticity of the items. He glances around, finds a broom on the ground, picks it up, and swings it towards Liu Chun.

“Are you crazy?” Liu Chun exclaims in shock, trying to block the broom, but it seems to have a mind of its own, hitting him on the body and face. Seeing this, Aunt Jiang also grabs something to hit Liu Chun’s wife. Together, they force the unwanted visitors out.

The neighbors in the yard also leave, and the Jiang family returns to their rooms, still fuming.

“Second uncle, second aunt, is this why you ask someone to send a message for me to come back?” Jiang Miao asks.

Second Uncle Jiang nods. “Some news came through from there earlier, so I think you should come back to hear about it and see what to do. I don’t expect them to come today and even bring Matchmaker Yu with them.”

“They’re rejecting Sister Xiao Yu because she can’t speak, but she couldn’t speak before. How did they agree to the engagement in the first place?” Jiang Miao indirectly inquires, trying to learn more about what happened previously.

Uncle Jiang sighs. “The engagement happened three years ago when Xiao Yu was just sixteen. At that time, when the Liu family comes to visit, they are very polite, saying they have heard that Xiao Yu is of marriageable age and want to ask for Xiao Yu to marry their child.”

“I tell them right away that Xiao Yu can’t speak. They say all the right things, that they will never look down on her and will treat her as their own daughter, and so on. Your grandmother is still alive then, and the person who introduces her is from her natal family, so we keep an eye out and ask around.”

After asking around, we find that the Liu family seems quite straightforward, though they are poor and can only offer two taels of silver as a bride price. For a family like ours, who would dare to look down on someone for being poor? Moreover, Xiao Yu can’t speak, and among the suitors at that time, they seem the most reliable. Your grandmother and I agree to the engagement.

“It was originally agreed for the marriage to happen that year, but soon after, your grandmother passed away. Xiao Yu observes a year of mourning, and right after that, things on their side happen. The engagement keeps being postponed, dragging on until today. I don’t expect them to have been planning to break off the engagement all along!”

I see, Jiang Miao thinks. This must be a trial set by fate to prevent Xiao Yu from falling into a fire pit. However, the family doesn’t return the money before and insists on waiting until they become prosperous to call off the engagement. They must have the intention of leaving themselves a way out.

“Second uncle, it’s better this way. It’s better than having Xiao Yu marry them and then realize their true nature. Getting a divorce afterward would be even harder,” Jiang Miao says.

Uncle Jiang sighs. “That’s true, but it’s still very hard for Xiao Yu. Ever since she hears about this, she hasn’t smiled and doesn’t want to go out, fearing others’ whispers. Now that the engagement is really broken off, she will likely feel even worse.”

Yes, not everyone in the village is understanding. To most people, a woman who is rejected by the groom’s side must have done something wrong. Women who are rejected often find it even harder to marry later.

“How about letting Sister Xiao Yu come with me to the city for a while? After things settle down, she can decide if she wants to come back,” Jiang Miao suggests.

Uncle Jiang thinks for a while and says, “Then let her go with you for now.”

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