The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 37: Women are not allowed to stay in college

"Brother Minghua, don't you remember me?"

The woman's voice was still so sweet and delicate. Every time she called him "Brother Minghua," Zhao Minghua felt a suffocating sensation, as if his lifespan was about to be shortened.

Should I remember you?

Zhao Minghua looked at Qingsheng in confusion. Qingsheng's eyes had already twitched. The madam was right to scold him. It was true that the young master's memory had been eaten by a dog. Wasn't this the eldest daughter of the Xiao family who was to be engaged to him?

Oh dear, he doesn't remember her. And then what? She'll be heartbroken and cry, and the young master won't know how to comfort her!
"Brother Minghua, it's me, Chunlan?"

"Chunlan?"

"Yes, I am Chunlan. Don't you remember me?"

"Isn't Chunlan the head maid in your sister-in-law's courtyard?" Zhao Minghua asked Qingsheng again. Qingsheng... Young master, I'm not responsible for cleaning up the mess you've made.

"Ahem, young master, that Chunlan is the head maid, and this is Xiao Chunlan, the eldest granddaughter of the Xiao family patriarch." Ugh, what more can I say? I've already given you such a clear hint.

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I don't know you." After Zhao Minghua found out who it was, she only had one thought: run away as fast as she could. She knew she wouldn't live long if she married someone like that: "Qingsheng, let's go."

Qingsheng discovered that the young master wasn't walking, but running. His long legs made him run incredibly fast, taking three steps in one go, completely ignoring the people behind him calling out "Brother Minghua," which broke their hearts.

"Young master, wait for me, wait..."

"Young Master, why are you running so fast?" Qing Sheng finally caught up with his master, panting. "Young Master, are you running so fast because you're afraid she'll eat you up? Isn't she your fiancée? Are you afraid of her?"

"Who said she's my fiancée? Don't talk nonsense. It would be strange if you didn't get beaten to death for ruining someone's reputation."

"Why not?" Qingsheng asked doubtfully. "I heard from my mother that Madam asked a matchmaker to come and propose marriage."

“That was in the past, it was my mother’s decision. It’s over, don’t bring it up again.” Zhao Minghua quickly said, “Even if I remain a bachelor for the rest of my life, I will never marry her.”

Brother Minghua, Brother Minghua, good heavens, this is not the voice of a proper girl. It's so sweet that it gave him goosebumps all over.

"No way, young master, you've really given up? You're not going to marry her?"

To be honest, Qingsheng also felt that this Miss Xiao was really... completely incompatible with his young master.

The third young master of the Zhao family is completely immature and needs to be coaxed; and this Miss Xiao is also immature...tsk tsk, I can't even imagine how lively the third branch of the Zhao family will be if she is really married into the family.

"It's true, my father said it himself."

That's good!
Qingsheng thought to himself, "My life is fate too. If the master's life is hard, then the servant's life won't be good either."

Zhao Minghua's swift escape left Xiao Chunlan completely bewildered.

She immediately went back to inform her mother, Madam Wen.

"Mother, has the engagement with the Xiao family been finalized?"

"You silly girl, don't you know how to be shy? What's the rush? If I said I wouldn't go, you'd think I was desperate to get married." Madam Wen comforted her daughter, but she was puzzled. It had been a month and a half since the matchmaker last came, so why hadn't she come to mention it a second time?
Something's not right. Usually, it should come a second time every ten days to two weeks.

“Mother, I saw Zhao Minghua in town today. I called out to him, but he didn’t even respond to me.”

"You silly child, the fact that he's ignoring you means he's well-mannered. Think about it, would it be nice if he started flirting and talking to every girl he saw on the street?"

"But he knew it was me, and after hearing my name, he ran away as fast as he could without saying a word to me." "He was just shy."

"What's there to be ashamed of?" Xiao Chunlan pouted. "I'm the one who should be ashamed, okay?"

"Yes, you should be the one who's shy, but you're rushing around calling out to her. What kind of girl acts like that?" Madam Wen was very annoyed. "Chunlan, you can't make a deal by rushing around. Don't be so enthusiastic. It makes you seem cheap. You're the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, a prominent clan. You need to learn to hold your head high. You're more than a match for Zhao Minghua. This is a marriage downgrade for you, don't you understand?"

"I know, mother."

What's the difference between marrying down and marrying up?

As long as she's happy.

"Mother, your daughter is almost sixteen years old, Mother..."

"Your child, your father and I were thinking of keeping you for another year or two, so that you could get married when you turn eighteen." Madam Wen was also quite helpless with this daughter who had been spoiled since childhood: "It's always good to stay at home, but it's difficult to go out. When you were a daughter in your parents' home, we treated you like a treasure. But after you marry into another family, you will have to be filial to your parents-in-law and serve your husband. You will have to be bound by the family rules of another family. How can you be as carefree as you are in your boudoir?"

"Mother..."

Xiao Chunlan leaned on her mother and acted coquettishly, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"A daughter is like a tree that cannot be kept at home; if you try to keep her, she will only become an enemy." Madam Wen smiled bitterly: "Mother knows. I don't know what's so good about that Zhao Minghua that makes you so anxious."

"Mother, he is perfect in every way."

"Yes, yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

"Hehe, Mother is the best, Chunlan loves Mother the most."

"Go away, go away, that trick of yours won't work on me. Do you think I'm some old lady or old man?" Madam Wen said, "Your temperament, you've been spoiled by your grandparents too, I'm really worried..."

"Forget it, there's no need to worry. Mrs. Zhao and I are old acquaintances, we know each other well. She's not the kind of person who would torment her daughter-in-law."

"Mother..." Xiao Chunlan blushed deeply. She loved hearing that she was Zhao's daughter-in-law.

Ms. Wen received a hint from her daughter that she wanted to settle things with Zhao Minghua as soon as possible, and it seemed that she was eager to get married this year.

But why hasn't the Zhao family made a move for so long?
"Granny Chen, let the Zhao family know. More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye. Strike while the iron is hot."

"Yes, ma'am."

Granny Chen recognized the matchmaker and immediately went to find her.

"Alright, alright, I'll go ask Mrs. Zhao right away."

Not only was the Xiao family anxious, but the matchmaker was also anxious. Both the Xiao and Zhao families were wealthy and powerful. If this marriage was successful, the matchmaker's fee would be enough for her to live on for a year!

However, to her surprise, when she went to the Zhao family to ask, Mrs. Zhao said that the matter was not urgent.

"What's wrong?" The matchmaker knew immediately that things were in trouble; something unexpected must have happened. "Mrs. Zhao, I'm famous for matchmaking in the surrounding villages. Don't worry, as long as I come to your door this time, this marriage is definitely going to happen!"

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Mrs. Zhao's words were simple: "My husband said that the third son is impulsive and still just a child himself, so it's not appropriate for him to be involved in marriage too early."

What?
(End of this chapter)