Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter Ninety-Six: Add Fuel to the Fire (1/2)
Chapter 96: Chapter Ninety-Six: Add Fuel to the Fire
Translator: 549690339
“Grandma, what other purpose could I possibly have? I’m only thinking about our family. Third Brother still hasn’t taken a daughter-in-law. Despite many matches, none have materialized. It’s not that Third Brother is picky; it’s that others are turning him down. He’s not getting any younger, and it wouldn’t be good to delay this matter any longer. I think Xiao Xi is quite a good match. Although she comes from a servant girl background, she’s good in both appearance and other aspects, certainly better than an average girl.”
Mrs. Zhou naturally didn’t genuinely care about her husband’s half-brother. She was merely considering that if this marriage came to fruition, Xiao Xi was no more than Han Yu’s wife’s servant girl, easy to take into their home, thus saving on a dowry. The family would save a substantial sum of silver, and most of the benefits would go to her husband. Even though she spoke highly of Xiao Xi, Mrs. Zhou actually looked down on her for being a servant, thinking it would be easier to control a daughter-in-law of lower status.
When the Old Lady first heard Mrs. Zhou’s proposal, her brow furrowed deeply. She didn’t care much for the Second House, but she had always been keen on the Main House. Whether it was her eldest grandson, whom she favored, or her younger grandson, who often delighted her, both were her direct descendants. How could she accept a servant girl for them? Mrs. Zhou’s notion was too preposterous.
However, after hearing Mrs. Zhou out, the Old Lady wavered. What her granddaughter-in-law said made sense. For some reason, the matters of matchmaking had always been particularly unsuccessful for her younger grandson. Now that he was almost twenty and somewhat older, if they delayed any further, arranging a marriage would become even more difficult.
Having been with the Old Lady for so long, Mrs. Zhou knew her better than anyone. Seeing the Old Lady’s reaction, she knew her proposal had struck a chord, although the concern about Xiao Xi’s status lingered. She needed to stoke the fire further.
“Grandma, I know what concerns you. Even if Xiao Xi is a servant girl, she comes from the Su Family. Moreover, as Miss Su’s main maid, her position is different from ordinary maids. And the Su Family is no ordinary wealthy family, but a notably affluent one. Regarding my husband’s work — it may sound dignified — but in the end, he is merely serving the Su family’s master.”
“What? You’re saying Brother Ping’s boss is also helping the Su Family with their business? How come I’ve never heard of this?” The Old Lady was hearing this for the first time, which both surprised and displeased her. It was evident from her tight grip on the Main House’s finances that she was a woman with a strong need for control. Now, hearing about her favorite grandson’s matters from his wife instead of being in the know herself made her uncomfortable.
“I just heard about it from my husband. Men’s affairs from outside are normally not discussed with us women, and besides, we did not know Brother Yu’s wife would turn out to be Miss Su. We wouldn’t have thought in that direction, and even if told about the Su Family, we wouldn’t understand.”
With Mrs. Zhou soothing her, the Old Lady’s expression softened. Aside from anything else, Mrs. Zhou had a real knack for pacifying the Old Lady. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have held her own for so many years against her stepmother-in-law. Most of it was due to the Old Lady’s favor, while another part owed to Han Ping outshining the sons of the other two stepmothers, solidifying her position by intentionally downplaying Mrs. Han Wang.