Chapter 33: Such Insolence and Disrespect

Chapter 33: Such Lack of Propriety

Madame Zhou’s gaze swept over Yunjiao as if she were appraising a piece of merchandise; she seemed quite satisfied with what she saw. Her daughter-in-law, Madame Yu, also stepped closer to examine the girl.

Yunjiao felt deeply uncomfortable, her pale face tightening. She struggled to pull her hand away, but Madame Zhou gripped it firmly, refusing to let go.

"Sister-in-law, don't frighten the child," Qian Fangru said, stepping in with a smile to pull Madame Zhou’s hand away.

Only then did Yunjiao manage to break free. Jianjia hurried forward to support her, casting an indignant look at Madame Zhou. *The old woman is of such advanced age, yet she has no sense of propriety, taking liberties with our young lady. Hmph!*

"The child isn't ugly at all," Madame Zhou said, completely oblivious to Jianjia’s resentment. She released Yunjiao’s hand with visible reluctance, her eyes still locked on the girl.

Yunjiao, still shaken, retreated behind Qian Fangru. She recognized this Madame Zhou, having lived here with her grandmother for several years. In her youth, Madame Zhou must have been quite a beauty; even now, in her later years, she retained a certain lingering charm. In Yunjiao’s memory, she had been a rather fragile, delicate woman.

Her husband—the elder brother of Madame Ding—had been a carpenter and a good-natured man who treated everyone with kindness. But fate was unkind to him; one day, while out for work, he had been trampled to death by a spooked horse. The owner of the carriage had been a scoundrel who simply fled the scene. The couple had been deeply devoted, and after his death, Madame Zhou had wept until she was nearly blind. Madame Ding, feeling sorry for her sister-in-law, had taken her in for a long stay.

Yunjiao remembered that during that time, whenever she saw her, the woman’s eyes were red and swollen. Yunjiao had felt great sympathy and even a measure of respect for her, believing her to be a woman of deep, tragic devotion. Yet, why was she acting like this now? Could it be that she had spent too much time with the second aunt and picked up her habits? Or perhaps she had always been this way, and Yunjiao had simply been blinded by her apparent misery.

The more Yunjiao thought about it, the more convinced she became. If she were truly delicate, how could she get along so well with the second aunt? Her grandmother had once said, "Bad timber drifts together," and that was exactly how they seemed.

"Sister-in-law, please, have a seat!" Madame Ding said, obsequiously helping Madame Zhou.

Qian Fangru pulled Yunjiao along. "Go and see your grandmother."

Looking at her mother, who lay aged, haggard, and unresponsive, Qian Fangru sat at the bedside and began to wipe away tears. Yunjiao stood by, sighing, not knowing how to comfort her, and simply patted her back gently.

Madame Ding grew impatient. "Sister-in-law, stop crying. It’s not time for that yet. It won’t be too late to cry in a few days."

This was a thinly veiled curse, suggesting that Lady Qian would pass away in a matter of days. Yunjiao gritted her teeth in indignation, but she did not wish to engage in a pointless argument with someone so tactless. She lowered her head and retreated to the side, remaining silent. Qian Fangru, who was naturally submissive, did not argue either; she simply wiped her tears with her sleeve.

"I heard everything you were saying inside while I was waiting out here," Madame Zhou said, sitting upright and looking at Yunjiao. "Tell me, is Yunjiao promised to anyone yet?"

She had brought her eldest daughter-in-law here today specifically for Yunjiao. Somehow, word of Yunjiao caring for her grandmother had spread, and her reputation for filial piety had reached them at home. Madame Zhou remembered Yunjiao as a beautiful child. A girl who was both stunning and filial would be a blessing to any family. Thinking of her young grandson who had yet to marry, she had been struck by an idea. After consulting with her family, they realized that while her eldest grandson was a scholar, he lacked connections and had made little progress, currently teaching at a farm to make ends meet. If they made a match with Yunjiao’s father, who was now a high-ranking official, wouldn't he be forced to help them? Even if it were just securing a position as an accountant, it would still be a government-paid post.

With this in mind, Madame Zhou had dropped everything to come here, fearing that such a fine granddaughter-in-law might be snatched up by someone else.

Qian Fangru looked at Yunjiao and saw her head bowed in silence. She felt a bit confused; the child was only so young, why were they suddenly discussing this? Not knowing how to respond, she stammered, "Not... not yet."

Madame Zhou’s face lit up, and she exchanged a glance with her daughter-in-law. "That is precisely why I am here. Sister-in-law, you remember my grandson, Shijin, don't you?"

Yunjiao glanced at Jianjia; both were struggling to suppress their laughter. *Shijin?* (Ten Catties). *Why not twenty?*

It was likely that the child had weighed ten catties at birth, so they had given him such a simple name.

"I remember..." Qian Fangru finally understood. So Madame Zhou was interested in Yunjiao for her grandson. No wonder she hadn't let go of the girl earlier.

"Look at your niece—she’s sensible and kind-hearted, and she’s taken such good care of her grandmother. The more I look at her, the more I like her. I only regret that I don't have a granddaughter this sweet," Madame Zhou said, looking Yunjiao up and down. "Though she hasn't fully grown yet, I know both her parents, so she certainly won't be short. She and my Shijin are of a similar age, and we are old acquaintances who know each other’s background. Tell me, do you think they are a good match?"

Qian Fangru was truly in a bind. She had no authority in her own home, let alone over her niece—especially not in a matter as significant as this. She dared not make such a promise. Moreover, Madame Zhou and Madame Ding were both difficult women, and the daughter-in-law, Madame Yu, was no saint either. Though she wasn't very clever, she had no desire to push her own niece into an obvious pit.

"This... I am afraid this will need to be discussed with Yunjiao’s father," she said, passing the burden to the heartless brother-in-law.

"But her parents aren't here right now," Madame Zhou countered. "As the saying goes, a daughter has eighteen mothers; even a passerby can offer guidance. Her mother is only a concubine and likely cannot manage her marriage. As her eldest aunt, you must step up and plan for her future. Otherwise, a child knows nothing. If you drag this out for a few years, a good opportunity will be missed, and what kind of husband will be left for her then? Tell me, Sister-in-law, isn't that the truth?"

Qian Fangru lacked a sharp tongue, but she could not agree to this. "Let’s speak of this later. Yunjiao is still just a child."

"Let me put it this way: as soon as the child enters the Ding family, I will treat her like my own granddaughter," Madame Zhou urged, growing anxious. "Sister-in-law, don't you trust me?"

"This..." Qian Fangru truly did not know how to respond—because the truth was, she didn't trust her at all. She looked at Yunjiao in distress and saw the girl secretly gesture toward Jianjia. Realizing what she meant, she asked, "If this marriage were to happen, how many maids would your family be able to provide for my niece?"

Madame Zhou’s face fell instantly, and her daughter-in-law’s smile vanished as well. Their family had been craftsmen and farmers for generations; where would they find the spare money to support maids? Even now that times were a little better, the only person in their household with a servant was her eldest grandson, who had a page boy to run errands.