Chapter 7: Stealing the Wedding

To those unaware of the truth, these words could easily be taken to mean that Jin Niang Xu was of questionable character, accused of stealing from the Tong family.

Her mother was always honest and upright; there was no way she would accept such slander. “The item originally belonged to the Yao family and was given to Chuxue. What does sister-in-law mean by saying that?”

Upon hearing the name Yao, Tong Chuxue immediately understood why Jin Niang Xu had been reluctant to let her know before. It concerned her own marriage. As an unmarried woman, it was always unbecoming to have others openly discussing her betrothal.

But Tong Chuxue was no longer the same as she had been. Just yesterday, she was still worried about finding an excuse to postpone the marriage; today, the Tong family had handed her a reason on a silver platter, as if a pillow had been placed under her head just as she was dozing off.

She pulled Jin Niang Xu aside and whispered, “Mother, what exactly is this item that sister-in-law mentioned?”

Jin Niang Xu’s expression was complicated. After hesitating, she said, “It’s a silver bracelet. Back when your father was alive, the second branch of the Yao family had a good relationship with him. They arranged a childhood betrothal and gave your father a silver bracelet as a token. But now your elder aunt claims the Yao family’s marriage arrangement was with the Tong family, not you, and insists I return the bracelet. But it was clearly meant for you!”

As she spoke, Jin Niang Xu’s voice grew more emotional, tears streaming down her face.

While comforting her mother, Tong Chuxue observed the situation before her.

Zou Hongping’s expression was resolute, as if she would not rest until she obtained the bracelet. It was clear she would not be satisfied without it.

Tong Chuxue did not understand. In her memory, the Yao family’s status was no better than the Tong’s; it was hardly a match that would cause envy.

Nearby, behind the door of the Tong family’s main room, a small figure quietly crept up beside Zou Hongping. Tugging at her sleeve, she whispered, “Mother, will this work?”

Zou Hongping glanced at the two women—Tong Chuxue and her mother—who were crying openly, then confidently replied, “Yu’er, don’t worry. Don’t you know what I’m capable of? I will win this Yao family marriage for you.”

Tong Yu’er’s delicate cheeks flushed with two rosy clouds. She unconsciously twisted her hair with both hands, her heart brimming with hope. The Yao family had prospered greatly in recent years. Yao Tianyuan, who had been betrothed to Tong Chuxue, had just passed the preliminary imperial examination. It was said that passing this exam was akin to having one foot already inside the door of becoming a scholar. In the future, she would be the wife of a scholar—a position of great prestige.

Thinking this, Tong Yu’er glanced again at Tong Chuxue not far away. Because of years of hard labor and poor nourishment, Chuxue’s skin was dark and her frame small, her arms as thin as stalks of hemp—clearly not robust.

Unlike herself, with fair skin and a plump yet slender figure, her mother had said she was born with good fortune. She was definitely destined to become the wife of a scholar.

Meanwhile, Tong Chuxue offered a few simple words of comfort to Jin Niang Xu, stabilizing her emotions somewhat.

Just then, Tong Chuxue looked up and met Zou Hongping’s determined gaze. With a faint, almost knowing smile, she said, “Aunt, rest assured. If it’s not our family’s property, we naturally will not claim it.”

“I think Snow Girl is sensible,” Zou Hongping said with a radiant smile, certain of her victory. “If that’s the case, hand over the item quickly. Don’t force me to take action—it would be embarrassing for everyone.”

The Tong family’s third branch was shamelessly trying to seize the marriage arrangement with brazen confidence.

“Not so fast,” Tong Chuxue said, her eyes passing over Zou Hongping to rest on Tong Yu’er behind her. “Since Aunt insists the Yao marriage was not arranged with me, then may I ask, who did the Yao family agree to marry?”

Tong Yu’er, sensing Tong Chuxue’s gaze, quickly hid behind Zou Hongping. Frowning, Zou Hongping replied, “The Yao family only said they arranged a marriage with the Tong family. You’re younger, so some matters are not appropriate to discuss with you.”

Tong Chuxue couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Aunt, that’s not right. If the Yao family had only arranged a marriage with the Tong family but not specified who, the token should be with grandmother. How could it be with my mother? This must be a mistake.”

Matters between families were always communicated through elders, and tokens were usually kept by them.

“Grandmother! Grandmother, are you there? Does grandmother have the token that aunt mentioned?” Tong Chuxue called out loudly.

In this rural area, every household had low earthen walls. Her loud voice drew the attention of neighbors, who peeked into the courtyard to see what was happening. Even if the old matriarch wanted to hide inside, she could no longer avoid the commotion.

With a few grumbles, Old Madam Tong emerged, her tone sharp and displeased. “Who’s shouting? It’s broad daylight, not time to raise ghosts! Where did this shameless girl come from?”

Tong Chuxue smiled brightly. “She’s from your branch of the family.”

Tong Chuxue’s words struck Old Madam Tong speechless. She looked around with no one to vent her anger on and then shouted at Zou Hongping, “Oldest sister-in-law, everyone is about during the day, yet you don’t even lock the door? So anyone in the Tong family can come and go as they please!”

Though scolded by Old Madam Tong, Zou Hongping was not pleased, but thinking of Tong Yu’er’s situation, she swallowed her anger and spoke softly, “Mother, it’s all because of Snow Girl. When the Yao and Tong families arranged the betrothal, they gave a silver bracelet. I thought since the third branch had already separated from the family, the bracelet should be returned.”

Old Madam Tong only knew that Zou Hongping wanted a scholar as a son-in-law and agreed with that, believing such a relative might help the Tong family.

But she had never heard of the silver bracelet before and now grew excited. “I say, you two debt collectors only wanted half the compensation money when the third branch split. Turns out you were hiding something else all along! Let me tell you, before the split, everything belonged to the entire family. How dare you keep such a valuable item without handing it over? That’s outrageous! Hand it over now!”

Though Jin Niang Xu had long feared Old Madam Tong’s authority, she could not allow her to bully Tong Chuxue. “Mother, the Yao family’s item was originally for Chuxue.”

Zou Hongping stood beside Old Madam Tong. “Logically, when two families arrange a betrothal, both father and mother are involved. How could they bypass them and give the token directly to the third branch? To put it bluntly, the third branch has embezzled the Yao family’s property.”

Old Madam Tong nodded vigorously. Both she and her husband were still alive. Before the split, all family property should have been turned over to the household head.

Seeing Zou Hongping laying one accusation after another, Tong Chuxue sneered and glanced sideways at her. “According to aunt’s logic, the Yao family arranged the marriage with the Tong family, so the token should be with grandmother. But now it’s in the hands of the third branch. What does that mean? It means the Yao family’s betrothal was with someone in the third branch.”

Nearby, Tong Yu’er saw Tong Chuxue had not abandoned her claim to the Yao family and could no longer stand as a bystander. She rushed in front of Tong Chuxue and shouted, “You’re lying! You’re shamelessly stealing my marriage!”