A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Grandma Chen let out a long sigh of relief and patted Chen Wanxing's hand: "I'm fine. You're right. We're living a good life, and we can't let her spoil our fun."

Eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, is there still soup simmering in the kitchen? Don't let it burn.

Upon hearing Grandma Chen speak, Chen's mother and Aunt Chen quickly responded and got up to return to the kitchen.

The atmosphere in the main room gradually relaxed as the two women left and the pots and pans began to clatter again.

At this moment, Chen's father also adjusted his emotions. He turned his head and his gaze immediately fell on Sun Haobo, who was carefully handing hot tea to Chen Xiahe.

Looking at his considerate nephew-in-law, Mr. Chen suddenly thought of what Chen Guixiang had said. Those words had indeed had some impact on him; they had indeed delayed his daughter's development.

As for Chen Wanxing's marriage, her family can only try to be as picky as possible. If they really can't find a good one, what does it matter if she never marries?

The girl has a house and land. In their small river village, the clan chief and elders are all kind people, and he and the child's mother are also taking care of her.

When they're gone, they'll have their own brothers to back them up. If all else fails, they can just adopt one of Yancheng and Yanche's children.

But these things are still early, and there's no point in thinking about them too much. After a moment of silence, Mr. Chen's mind started working again. He decided to think about the present. His nephew-in-law was a well digger, honest and simple, and didn't talk much.

He remembered that his daughter had just bought a plot of land for building a house, and they might rebuild a new house after the New Year, but there was no well in that yard.

Although it's said that we can fetch water from their well later, since it's only two alleys away and not too far, in the long run, it's still inconvenient not having a well in our own yard. We'll have to carry water on our shoulders and by hand for drinking, washing, and watering the garden, which is time-consuming and laborious.

If the family were struggling financially, they wouldn't even dare to think about it. Digging a well, even a shallow one, is a considerable expense. But it seems that Wanxing is planning to dig a well in the yard.

My niece's husband happens to be here right now, so we can go and see if there's a suitable place to dig a well in that house.

Father Chen and Uncle Chen led Sun Haobo out, while Mother Chen and Aunt Chen were busy preparing lunch in the kitchen. Only Grandma Chen, Chen Xiahe, and Chen Wanxing remained in the main room.

Chen Xiahe sat down next to Chen Wanxing and spoke first. Her voice still carried a hint of lingering anger, but now it was more of a gesture of comfort and sympathy for her sister:

"Sister, I was so angry just now. That old hag was spewing filth. Please don't take it to heart. Sister, you are so beautiful. Your skin is so fair and tender. You look just like the daughter of an official in the opera."

"What age stuff? People who don't know you well wouldn't guess you're twenty. If you ask me, what country man is good enough for you?"

As Chen Xiahe spoke, she seemed to remember something and added, "However, sister, I think that old hag made a valid point: a girl's youth is limited. You really should consider it. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to find someone."

Seeing her sister's angry expression, Chen Wanxing knew that her sister meant well, so she patted the back of her hand to indicate that she didn't care.

Grandma Chen was still angered by Chen Guixiang's words. She leaned back in her chair, stroking the warm teacup in her hand, but judging from her expression, she was clearly in a daze.

When she came to her senses after hearing Chen Xiahe's words, her gaze fell on Chen Wanxing's calm and beautiful profile, and she couldn't help but sigh again. The sigh was filled with the long years and complex feelings.

"Xia He's words might make sense to others," Grandma Chen said slowly, her voice low but clear, "but when it comes to our Wanxing, it feels like a tangled mess of threads in my heart."

"Sigh, what she said is true; it's your family that's held you back." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze tracing Chen Wanxing's face inch by inch.

"In the years you weren't back, Grandma couldn't sleep at night. When she missed you so much that her heart ached, she would think wildly. She wondered what her eldest granddaughter would look like if she were still here?"

Has she promised herself to someone? Is she doing well? Later, the more I thought about it, the less I dared to think positively. I was afraid that if I thought too highly of her, what if she really suffered, what if she had some bad experience, what if she wasn't doing well? I wouldn't be able to bear it.

At that time, I told myself that as long as God opens his eyes and lets me see you again, I don't ask for anything else. If she is willing to come back, this house will always have her room and her bed.

Your elder brother Yancheng is a kind and honest man, and your sister-in-law is an only child. Given her family's circumstances, she understands the hardships women face the most. And your parents, needless to say, are also very supportive. Our family will definitely accept you. Whether you marry or not is entirely up to you. We won't lack your food.

As Grandma Chen spoke, her eyes reddened slightly. She paused, took a sip of tea, and then continued:

"But you really came back, and you've grown up so much, so beautiful, so steady and capable, a hundred times better than Grandma had dreamed of. Grandma's heart is now restless and greedy again."

Looking at you, I feel that none of the young men in this surrounding area are a good match for my granddaughter. We should find you someone better—someone well-educated, from a wealthy family, and who knows how to care for others.

Her brows furrowed, the last glimmer of hope suppressed by the shadow of reality and the gloom brought by the recent farce.

"But Grandma has to think about it whether she wants to or not. In our rural family, good young men get engaged very early. Moreover, those who are truly educated and reasonable, and whose families are well-off, would not wait until they are over twenty years old to get married."

"Anyone who hasn't gotten married by this point either has a serious problem, or there's some hidden story in their family, or they already have a wife and now they want to take a second wife, which might mean becoming a stepmother..."

Grandma Chen's voice lowered, filled with obvious resistance. She shook her head, as if trying to shake off this ominous thought:

"Whenever I think about this, it feels like needles are pricking my heart. I can't bear to see you suffer that injustice. I can't bear it a thousand times over."

Wanxing, Grandma isn't urging you or forcing you. It's just that Grandma is really unsure. You've seen a lot of things and are a child with your own opinions; you're definitely more decisive than Grandma.

Tell your grandmother the truth: what are your plans for the future? What are your thoughts on this important life event?