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

Yunzhu stepped aside to let her in, and the people in the main room looked up when they heard the noise.

Grandma Chen put down her work, glanced outside, and her brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Oh, everyone's here." Zhao Shi had already stepped over the threshold and entered, her face beaming with joy. "Happy New Year, Aunt Chen! Happy New Year, Sister-in-law Chen! Miss Wanxing is here too."

As she spoke, she walked inside, her gaze quickly sweeping around the room, pausing briefly on Amber, then passing over Green Ear, and finally settling on Autumn Chrysanthemum.

Qiuju raised her head, met her gaze, nodded as a greeting, and then lowered her head again, her hands still busy with the needle.

The smile on Zhao's face deepened.

Grandma Chen responded indifferently, "You've come from the Fu family, please have a seat."

Zhao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on the stool, her gaze sweeping around the room once more.

"Auntie, your house is so neat and tidy," she said with a smile. "You can tell that this is a family that knows how to manage a household."

Grandma Chen didn't reply, she just nodded.

Zhao was not embarrassed. Her gaze fell on Qinghui, and she clicked her tongue and said, "Is this Qinghui? Oh my, she's grown so tall. Children really grow so fast. She looks different every time I see her. Her eyebrows and eyes are so pretty."

Qinghui felt a little uncomfortable under Chen Wanxing's gaze and moved closer to her.

Zhao looked at Qiuju again, her smile deepening: "Qiuju, that girl is becoming more and more outstanding. Isn't it tiring to do this needlework every day? Tsk tsk, these stitches are so fine."

Qiuju slightly raised her chin, her needles still in her hand, she just smiled and responded softly.

Zhao went on and on praising for a long time, from Qing Sui to Qiu Ju, and then from Qiu Ju to the Chen family's daughter, saying she was well-mannered and blessed.

After praising the children, she started praising the adults. "Auntie, you are so lucky. Your granddaughters are all so capable. Everyone outside praises them."

"Our family is different. We have two sons, both incredibly quiet and barely speak a word."

She sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness: "You all know Chuanzi, he's honest and capable. He spends all year in the forests and fields, and the game he hunts can earn him a lot of money."

But he's just not good with words and doesn't know how to charm people, so he's still unmarried.

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the room understood.

Grandma Chen picked up her teacup, took a sip, and didn't say anything.

Aunt Chen's expression changed, and she slowed down the needle she was sewing the shoe soles in her hand.

Chen's mother was picking vegetables nearby. She paused for a moment, then continued.

Seeing that no one responded, Zhao was not in a hurry and continued, "Although Chuanzi is not my biological son, I cannot mistreat him."

"I know exactly what the bride price is like. Whatever other families ask for, our family can afford, maybe even more."

She paused, glanced at Qiuju, and softened her voice:

"Besides, we live in the same village. If our daughter marries here, it's close to her parents' home, so she can come back whenever she wants and easily take care of them. If she married someone else, she wouldn't have such a good life."

This statement is a blatant and overt declaration.

Grandma Chen put down her teacup, her face expressionless: "Youfu's child is still young, it's too early to talk about these things."

Zhao hurriedly said, "Oh, my good aunt, a girl's prime is the most important time. Thirteen is not young anymore, she'll be fourteen after the New Year."

There are plenty of people of that age in our village who are interested in dating, so let's settle things down first.

Aunt Chen finally spoke, her voice stiff: "As for the Fu family's matter, we're not in a hurry about Qiuju's."

Zhao glanced at her, still smiling, but her heart skipped a beat.

As Qiuju's biological mother, Aunt Chen's attitude was quite clear when she said these words.

As she was thinking about how to say a few more words of persuasion, she caught a glimpse of someone entering through the door.

It's Uncle Chen.

Uncle Chen had just returned from outside, still feeling the chill. He was stunned as soon as he entered the door, not expecting to have guests.

Zhao's eyes lit up, and she quickly greeted him, "Second Brother Chen, you're back! Perfect timing, come sit down and rest."

Uncle Chen, not understanding what was going on, sat down on the side, took the hot tea that Dongmei handed him, and took a sip.

Zhao repeated what she had just said, this time even more bluntly.

"...The bride price is negotiable; our family is sincere. As you all know, Chuanzi is honest and upright, and he won't mistreat Qiuju."

We're all from the same village, we know each other well, it's much better than marrying into another village.

What kind of situation does the Tian family have? Others may not know, but surely the people on their own estate know?

Uncle Chen listened without much expression on his face, but he didn't put down his teacup.

Aunt Chen watched him nervously from the side.

Qiuju lowered her head, and the needle and thread in her hands stopped.

The room was quiet for a few moments.

Uncle Chen didn't have high expectations for the bride price, but he did have some ideas about the Tian family's proposal that the woman marry into the village and could help support the family.

He can't compare to his eldest brother and third brother. His eldest brother has two sons, one of whom has already been sent away, and the other is sixteen or seventeen years old and will be getting married in the next two years.

As for the third brother, although his two children are still young, the third brother is more than ten years younger than him.

He was the only one who was still young, but he was old and his physical strength was declining year by year.

I wonder what the family's situation will be like when Xin Ge'er gets married. If Qiu Ju could stay by his side and help him out, Xin Ge'er's life would be a little better.

Thinking of this, Uncle Chen spoke up, his voice unhurried: "How much can you offer for the bride price?"

Qiu Ju's face turned pale instantly.

The shoe sole in Aunt Chen's hand fell to the ground. Grandma Chen glanced at Uncle Chen, her gaze heavy.

Zhao's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Second Brother Chen, don't worry about the bride price. Our family is sincere."

Chuanzi has saved up some money over the years, and we have some too. If we pool our resources, we can manage ten taels of silver. Go ask around in the village; which girl can command that price?

Ten taels.

When the number was uttered, everyone in the room was stunned for a moment.

In this small river village, for ordinary families, a dowry of five taels of silver is considered very respectable when marrying off their daughter.

The Tian family's ten taels of silver seem to be genuinely aimed at establishing a marriage alliance, not at taking advantage of the situation.

Uncle Chen didn't say anything, but he was thinking to himself that the price was indeed very high, but his daughter was worth it.

Qiuju was a quiet girl at home before, and he didn't think she was anything special.

But ever since she went to Kaifeng with Wanxing, she's been like a different person. She's grown up and isn't as taciturn as before.

What does it mean that people are willing to pay ten taels of silver to beg for her? It means that his daughter is capable, and that he has raised a good daughter.

The little bit of pride in his heart, like a small flame, quietly rose up.

Qiuju sat there, her lips pressed tightly together, her fingers gripping the needle and thread until her knuckles turned white.