Chapter 84 Conspiracy to Marry (Part 2)

  Ma Huai'an remained silent, but in his heart he was very resentful. He wasn't a god, after all, and at the age of twelve he had already passed the imperial examination as a child prodigy, it's just that he hadn't been selected in the two rounds of the county exam, but he was still young, and it wasn't like he couldn't take the exam anymore, so why did everyone have to say such unpleasant things about him!

  Young Master Yun is indeed a big shot? Mu Huai'an sneered inwardly, how could he compare to others? Others are from a family of scholars and officials, the direct descendant of the three dynasties' senior official Cloud Prime Minister, can he be compared to that?!

  He doesn't even have an ancestor who was a prime minister!

  Ma Huai'an suppressed the annoyance and discontent in his heart, and smiled: "Yes, yes, yes, nephew will follow aunt's teachings, nephew will not disappoint aunt! But second sister-in-law is also getting older, settling down before starting a career is also okay, right? Can't nephew be useless for a lifetime? Aunt, you are the mistress of the Yao family, if it weren't for you taking care of household chores and managing internal affairs, uncle wouldn't be able to work outside without worrying about his back. Uncle must respect you in his heart, this matter just needs you to mention it slightly, can uncle not give face to you? Besides, our Ma family won't bring shame to the Yao family!"

  Ma didn't say a word, and after a while, he said: "This matter can't be rushed. After all, this young lady has just married out, how can there be another daughter who is eager to marry again? You focus on studying well, I have it in mind."

  A fleeting thought of Yao Cunhui's appearance flashed through Ma Huai's mind, and he was overjoyed. He hastily bowed and said: "Yes, nephew thanks aunt first! With aunt coming forward, what can't be settled?" Thinking of Yao Cunhui, his heart felt both love and hatred, and he smiled, saying: "Actually, this matter can also be settled first, and getting married in a year or two is also acceptable!"

  Ma looked at him, suddenly letting out a "heh" of laughter, and said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "What? You really have feelings for that girl? And you're so... eager?"

  Ma Huai'an came over with a high hat, and Mrs. Ma naturally had to accept it. She couldn't show him that she couldn't persuade Old Master Yao or make decisions on her own, could she? She was determined to get this done no matter what. But seeing how much attention Ma Huai'an was paying to Yao Cunhui, she wasn't entirely pleased.

  Ma Huai smiled wryly and said, "Isn't this just being afraid of having too many dreams at night and being overtaken by others?"

  "Hmph!" A sharp glint flashed in Madam Ma's eyes as she coldly said, "It won't happen! You can rest assured!"

  "Aunt's words I naturally believe!" Ma Huai'an immediately followed with a sentence, leaving no room for the Ma family to retreat.

  Ma nodded and murmured in agreement, then chatted with him for a while longer before reminding him of something and letting him go back.

  Ma's mouth hooked up a cold smile, and his mood suddenly improved!

  Yes, how could she have forgotten? She is the mother, and Yao Cun Hui is her daughter. Doesn't the marriage of this daughter still require the parents' consent? Even if she were more capable or able to make a scene, what good would it do? Her fate was firmly in her own hands!

  Thinking of this, I suddenly feel that the gloomy atmosphere I've been living in is really not worth it.

  In the large study of the outer courtyard, Yao Cunhui stood in front of her father with her hands hanging down, her bright autumn-water-like eyes looking at her father, and smiled: "Father, what do you want to see your daughter for?"

  "Heh heh, sit down and let's talk! Between us father and daughter, there's no need to be so formal!" Old Master Yao waved his hand generously, with a warm smile on his face.

  When people encounter happy events, their spirits are lifted, and with a favorable wind, horses' hooves move swiftly; he is currently in such a state.

  "Thanks, Dad!" Yao Cunhui smiled and replied, walking over to sit down beside him, gazing at his father with a smile.

  Mr. Yao asked about the recent situation of Yaoshizan, and then mentioned the preparations for Yaocunjia's wedding, saying that she had been overworked during this period, and comforted her with a few words. Yao Cunhui was embarrassed, slightly lowering his eyes, smiling politely to his father, but in his heart he was puzzled: Why did he suddenly mention these things?

  "Father will be going on a long trip for the next two days," Mr. Yao finally got to the point, saying slowly: "It may take two months to come back. During this period when Father is not at home, you must take good care of Zaner, do you understand?"

  "Father is going out for so long!" Yao Cunhui was surprised and raised her eyes, saying: "What's the matter that Father has to go out in person? I don't know where he's going. It's about to be a hot summer day, and it's hard to travel outside. Father must take good care of himself! Don't worry, Hui'er will definitely take good care of her brother!"

  "It doesn't matter, haha! I can still take this little bitter taste!" Mr. Yao's face unconsciously revealed a smile, and his heart felt extremely pleased and relieved, after all, his daughter was considerate! The first thing that came to mind was concern for her own body!

  He was delighted in his heart, and the words that he had been too lazy to say to Yao Cunhui came out smoothly: "Dad wants to go to Shandong, Henan, Hebei and other places to socialize with those landlords, take a look at the crops in the fields, and pre-order the grain. When autumn harvest comes, it will be easy to pull the grain!"

  "So that's it." Yao Cunhui nodded, with a look of sudden realization, and smiled: "This matter is related to the quantity of goods in our Yao family rice shop. No wonder Father attaches so much importance to it! But why doesn't Father sign a long-term supply contract with those landlords? Wouldn't that be easier than running around every year, and Father wouldn't have to work so hard!"

  "Haha, it's hard for you to get this!" Old Master Yao was delighted to see his daughter so clever and patiently explained: "You're still a child after all, and you don't understand the human relationships and social norms in the business world. There are many ways to do business, and many things can't be decided by just one contract! Many people regret signing contracts afterwards! Here, there's also human feelings involved, but more importantly, it's about interests!"

  Yao Cunhui nodded slightly, seeming to understand and yet not understand. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said: "I get it! So in the business world there are no eternal enemies, nor eternal friends, only eternal benefits! Right, Dad?"

  Mr. Yao's eyes sparkled, and he savored her words carefully, momentarily stunned. After a while, he laughed and exclaimed: "Not bad, not bad! Hui'er's words are indeed piercing to the heart! Alas, Hui'er, if you were a son, your father would have no more regrets!"

  "I'm a daughter too and I can also share Dad's worries! At least, I can take care of Zan'er for Dad!" Yao Cunhui smiled.

  Mr. Yao nodded repeatedly, smiling and saying: "That's right! My Hui'er is the most capable!" Mr. Yao thought for a moment, then handed a book to Yaocun Hui from the table, smiling: "When I'm not at home these days, you can take a look at this when you're free. See if you can understand it. When I come back, let's talk about it again."

  Yao Cunhui flipped through it, and it was an account book from a rice shop. She secretly rejoiced in her heart, carefully took the account book in hand, and gently stroked it with the other hand, smiling: "Hmm, Hui'er must have looked at it seriously, wait for Father to come back and tell Father about it."

  "Good! Hehe!" Old Master Yao's eyes sparkled brightly, and he instructed her with some other words before ordering her to leave.

  Two days later, Old Master Yao set out on his journey, accompanied by Second Master Yao. They first went to Shandong and then to Henan. On their way back, they also stopped by Hebei to visit several large landowners who were engaged in planting, to take a look at the growth of this year's crops, and to confirm their purchasing intentions.

  "Alright! Disperse, everyone! The master is not at home, do whatever you want as usual. Whoever dares to make trouble will not be spared!" As the carriage drove away, Madam Ma ordered and her gaze swept over Yao Cunhui, Mao Shi and others.

  "Support Madame back!" Fourth Auntie closely followed Madam Ma's footsteps, supporting her arm, and under the escort of Old Mother Qiao, Cai Xia, and others, they left.

  "What a joke!" Mr. Mao spat lightly at their backs, his heart indignant, and turned to Yao Cunhui with a sneer: "You say, that fourth aunt is really someone who can't be helped, now that she's become an aunt, she's even worse than when she was just a maid!"

  Yao Cunhui smiled and said: "I want to take Zaner to Feiyouju to study and practice martial arts, Second Aunt please go first."

  The Mao family was very disappointed and hummed a sound in their noses, taking their own people away with them.

  Fourth Aunt sent word that Madam Ma had intended to betroth herself to Ma Kuang from the day after Old Master Yao left home.

  Yao Cunhui's heart sank slightly, but he didn't feel particularly surprised. However, Mrs. Rong's face changed color again and again, her eyes blazing with anger as she gritted her teeth and cursed: "Shameless scoundrel! Doesn't even dare to look in the mirror! Bah! A toad wanting to eat swan meat! Actually set his sights on Miss's head, how audacious!"

  Yao Cunhui let out a snort of laughter and instead advised Rong Mama, "It's their business how they think, why must you get angry, Rong Mama? You're getting all worked up for nothing, it's not worth it!"

  "Are you not angry at all, Miss? The Ma family doesn't have a single good person!" Mrs. Rong was still indignant, seeing Yao Cun's calm and composed expression with some astonishment.

  "What's there for me to be angry about?" Yao Cunhui smiled and said, "Their family has nothing to do with me, what they think or do is none of my business, why should I be angry?"

  Ma Huai'an wants to marry himself? Yao Cunhui doesn't feel angry, only finds it ridiculously laughable! In this world, people who don't know their own strength and are shameless, she has indeed encountered quite a few!

  If she were to panic and become flustered over such a trivial matter, it would be too much of a waste for this life that had crossed over with her memories intact.

  Rong's mother didn't expect her to say that, and was taken aback for a moment. She felt relieved in her heart, and quickly nodded: "Right, right! Miss is absolutely right! The Ma family is shameless and talks nonsense, what do we have to be angry about? Humph, Master would never be so muddled! And at worst, there's still Old Lady Yun and Old Master Yun!"

  "Hehe, you've finally said it!" Yao Cunhui smiled sweetly. The most important thing now is to get her father's agreement to let her join the family business. This account book left behind by her father, she must study it thoroughly! Other things can wait for now.

  As long as she has a significant position in this family and has the right to speak, does she think that a mere Ma can still hold her back with marriage? Her idea is not bad, but unfortunately, she still doesn't understand herself well enough! So it's destined that she won't win!

  She is a wise and resourceful person, not one who waits for opportunities to come to her.

  One night, Fourth Aunt suddenly arrived at Luomei Courtyard.

  Yao Cunhui and Rong's mother were both startled, and they hastily invited her into the house.

  Fourth Aunt had been secretly sending her messages all along, but she didn't need to take such a risk by coming to find her in person.