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

Chapter 5: The Marriage to the Xiao Clan is Cancelled
"father……"

I've met countless people and done a lot of things, but I still don't know which one my father is asking about.

He's a bit of a ne'er-do-well.

My eldest brother learned medicine from our grandfather from a young age, and now he is a well-known doctor named Zhao at Baicaotang in the county town.

My second brother loved reading. He wasn't naturally gifted, but he made up for it with hard work. After taking the exam three times, he finally obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). My father was so happy about this that he wanted to throw a three-day banquet.

Of course, he didn't do that. He just told his second son to keep working hard and they would celebrate together when he passed the imperial examination.

As for himself, the third young master of the Zhao family, he didn't want to study medicine or read books; he just wanted to do business and make money. But his father wouldn't let him do business. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—even running a pharmacy had already relegated them to the level of merchants; it was even more unacceptable for him to try to do anything else.

Therefore, he couldn't let his father know everything he did.

Have you met a girl?

Zhao Minghua... No way, Father sent someone to follow me?

"Father, I strolled around the county town twice this morning and walked around the town three times this afternoon. I saw countless girls along the way. I wonder which one you're referring to?"

Zhao Chenghun... this son is deliberately trying to drive me to my death.

Have you ever met the Xiao family's daughter?

Zhao Chengxun was so angry with his rebellious son that he didn't want to speak tactfully anymore. After all, if he spoke tactfully, the kid wouldn't be able to understand human language.

"A girl from the Xiao family? You mean the granddaughter of the patriarch of the Xiao clan?" Zhao Minghua was averse to arranged marriages, but since marriage was a major life event, he could only accept it: "She is a lady from a respectable family, and she rarely leaves her home. How could my son possibly meet her?"

"You unfilial son, I'm asking about Physician Xiao's granddaughter. Have you ever seen her?"

"Ah, oh, um, I've seen it before."

Zhao Chenghun was secretly delighted upon receiving this answer; just as he expected!
"You gave her money?"

What?
Zhao Minghua was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Turning to look at Qingsheng, he kept shaking his head, saying, "Don't ask me, I don't know anything, I really didn't say anything."

"Father, why would Physician Xiao's granddaughter ask for my money for no reason?" Oh well, I've been caught red-handed. Explaining would be the same as covering it up: "I gave her a deposit. I know that the Xiao family girl can process medicinal herbs, so I thought that in business, we shouldn't go to great lengths to find something nearby. It would be better to have her process some herbs and sell them to our Baicaotang. That way, we can save some money."

"Hehe, when did you become the head of Baicaotang?"

"No, Dad, doing business is all about seizing opportunities, because opportunities are fleeting." Zhao Minghua didn't know where he had gone wrong, which was why his father was holding him accountable. In any case, he was the one who caused this trouble, and he had to take responsibility. He couldn't let his father think too much about Miss Xiao.

“What a fleeting opportunity!” Zhao Chengxun slapped the table excitedly, but the stinging pain in his palm reminded him that he had gotten a little carried away. “Minghua, your method is good. We’ll buy the processed medicinal herbs from the Xiao family’s daughter. I’ll leave this to you.”

"father……"

Zhao Minghua was dumbfounded... He just wanted to deliver some ointment to the girl, but before he even reached the Xiao family, he heard the aunties and grandmas on the road saying that the Xiao family was extremely unlucky. They had nowhere to go, but when they rented a house, they burned down the kitchen. They didn't know how many more days the family of women and children could survive.

Seeing the Xiao family's miserable state, he was moved with compassion and took off his money bag. He quickly came up with this excuse, but his father found out and took it seriously.

What if the Xiao family's daughter doesn't know how to process medicinal herbs?
No, no, how could Physician Xiao's granddaughter not know how to process medicinal herbs? If she really didn't know how, she would have said so clearly at the time.

Given their character, those who dare to accept the deposit must have sufficient ability to process the medicinal materials.

“It’s settled then.” Suddenly remembering something, he said, “A few days ago I asked your mother to send a matchmaker to the Xiao family to propose marriage, but they refused. I think we should call off this marriage, after all, we are not good enough for them.”

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever Dad says."

Great! No need to be forced to be the groom. Zhao Minghua was genuinely happy and wanted to jump three feet on the spot.

"Never serious." The dragon has nine sons, and each of them is different.

Of the three sons, the youngest was definitely the most mischievous.

Judging from her appearance... how could she be worthy of Physician Xiao's granddaughter?
I'm really worried.

Never mind, I should go and talk to my wife about the cancellation of the marriage with the Xiao family.

"Sir, do you mean you're not going to arrange a marriage alliance with the Xiao family?"

This marriage was secretly approved by Mrs. Zhao and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao clan chief, and they were both very satisfied. Xiao Chunlan had also met Zhao Minghua several times and had long harbored feelings for him.

If the marriage alliance is suddenly called off, we have to ask why.

“Minghua is impulsive, while Chief Xiao’s granddaughter is from a respectable family. The two are not a good match.”

"How could that be? Xiao Chunlan is an excellent girl, I've met her..."

“There are many good girls.” I’ve taken a liking to one, but Zhao Chengxun didn’t dare to say it directly: “But there aren’t many who are a good match for Minghua. Marriage is to strengthen the friendship between the two Jin dynasties, not to make enemies. Minghua is still young, so there’s no rush.”

Zhou was completely dumbfounded.

However, she had no choice, as the man was the head of the household.

"I'll find an excuse to talk to Mrs. Xiao right away."

Honestly, how is she supposed to bring this up?

"There's no need to say it deliberately. Since the matchmaker was rejected when she came, just tell her that she doesn't need to come back to propose marriage."

"is this okay?"

"There's nothing wrong with that. Like I said, Minghua is impulsive and unruly. I need to discipline him properly for a few years before we talk about a suitable marriage when he's older."

The reason for waiting until she's older is that Physician Xiao recently passed away, and his granddaughter must observe three years of mourning.

Zhao Chenghun felt that he was really smart, having considered all aspects.

He didn't care what Zhou did with the matter.

The thought of a certain possibility made Zhao Chengxun feel particularly good, and he even hummed a little tune as he left the main courtyard.

"What did Minghua do today? How did he offend the master?" Zhou asked, puzzled, as if talking to herself, "That's not right. If Minghua really caused trouble and angered the master, he wouldn't still be humming a little tune."

No one knows a child better than their mother, but this time, neither Zhou nor Zhao Minghua, the person involved, were quite baffled: the master seemed very unusual today.

"Qingsheng, you really haven't told anyone about what I did? The master didn't even ask you?"

"Young Master, absolutely not, really not."

"Then why does Father know everything?" Zhao Minghua asked, puzzled. "How does he even know that I gave Miss Xiao money?"

"Besides, don't you find it strange? Father clearly disagreed with me going into business, but this time he agreed to let me negotiate with Miss Xiao about processing medicinal herbs. What does he mean by that?"

Qingsheng shook his head. "I'm just a servant. I don't understand. Please don't make things difficult for me."

"I understand." Zhao Minghua slapped his thigh, then hissed, "I know, back then, Physician Xiao was kind to my father, so my father wanted to repay the favor. He secretly helped the Xiao family under the pretext of purchasing medicinal materials."

Celebrating a birthday... Third Young Master, are you serious or not?
(End of this chapter)