Xu Miaotong stood still, her breath heaving with anger, her entire body trembling.
"How shaless can you be? My marriage is my own business, who do you think you are to interfere?" Xu Miaotong retorted through gritted teeth.
No sooner had Miaotong spoken than the faces of Xu Huiran and the rest of Xu Jingyi's family turned. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire
"What kind of way is that to speak to your elders? You have no respect. Everyone is just thinking of your best interest, and if you don't appreciate it, that's fine, but why resort to insults?" Xu Huiran's face imdiately darkened.
"Look at the third child's family— is this the kind of child you raised? She's a college student, yet so well-mannered, already talking back to her elders!"
Ju Hong's face turned red at being spoken to like this and even she felt her daughter's reaction was a bit too much!
Upon hearing this, Miaotong's face grew even paler, her lips bleeding from biting them so hard!
"Niece, it's not that your Uncle is taking your aunt's side without reason, but I must say a few words to you. You're not getting any younger, and you've seen the state of your family. Even if your dad gets better, can he still work as he did before?
Your mum is getting on in years too, and her health isn't great to begin with. How much longer can she work? Relying on the small profit from selling vegetables in the market, how much can she really bring ho each day?
And look at what your mum eats, just the unsold leftover veggies from the day. Don't you feel sorry for her as her daughter?
If you have any filial piety, you should think about your parents' well-being. You're grown up, and it's ti to start sharing the burden, especially with your dad's condition, which cannot be delayed!" Xu Jingyi passionately advised.
After hearing this, Miaotong's eyes imdiately reddened. Her parents were her soft spot, and Xu Jingyi had hit her right in the heart!
She knew all too well the difficulties her parents faced, which is why, during her university years, she rarely bought new clothes for herself!
Even if she bought any, she would choose the cheapest, most durable jeans that she could wear for a long ti, and even then, if required for school events, she would rent a dress.
As for holidays, sumr and winter breaks, she never got to enjoy them. While others went traveling or on dates with boyfriends,
she was always working part-ti. She earned her tuition and living expenses all by herself, never asking for a di from her family. Sotis, she would even send money back ho!
She had planned that once she graduated in a year and found a good job, she would start earning money, and then her family's conditions would improve.
But life is unpredictable, and who would have expected her father to have such an accident? Their already struggling existence was hit by yet another blow, like the last straw breaking the cal's back.
Miaotong's heart ached, as if torn by a knife. Why was life so unfair to her?
She had never given up hope on life, treating everyone around her sincerely, every day of her life, but it seed like all the misfortunes enjoyed landing on her.
Seeing his niece's attitude soften, Xu Jingyi thought her defenses were down and that there might be hope for his plan. Just a little more pressure and she might just give in!
Seeing the opportunity, Guo Lan added, "Niece, don't be sad, we all want what's best for you. We are all true relatives, we won't do you wrong!
That gentleman from Binzhou cos from a wealthy family, and he is quite the suitor. I've seen him, his na is Shao Jie, and many wealthy daughters can't even hope to get close to him!
Young Master Jie hardly spares them a glance; he wants a girl from an honest family. If he takes a liking to you, you and your family will be set for life!"
Upon hearing this, Miaotong felt her heart twist painfully inside. She really didn't want to et this so-called Young Master Jie; in her heart, there was only one person!
If she hadn't t Ling Fan, perhaps facing this situation today, without any control over the outco, she might have just gone with the flow and accepted it all.
Seeing Miaotong's conflicted expression, Guo Lan and the others gave Yin Huiying a aningful glance, "Xiao Ying, don't you have Young Master Jie's contact? Have him co over and take a look. If he happens to fancy her, then it's a win-win situation for everyone!"
Huiying couldn't wait, and imdiately took out her phone to send a ssage. As long as Young Master Jie cos over and takes a fancy to Xu Miaotong, everything would be easily handled.
At that point, it wouldn't matter whether Xu Miaotong agreed or not; once Young Master Jie made up his mind, the matter would be settled!
In a daze, Xu Miaotong ca to her senses upon hearing the words. Her face pale, she looked towards her eldest aunt and her second uncle's family. Had they decided on the matter before she could even agree?
Yin Huiying, having just sent the ssage, looked at Xu Miaotong with envy in her eyes and spoke, "Cousin, if this goes well, you really should thank . If I didn't already have a boyfriend, Young Master Jie would not have been passed on to you!"
However much Yin Huiying sugarcoated her words, the truth was that Young Master Jie was just too picky and simply not interested in her; otherwise, she would have dumped her current boyfriend long ago!
Xu Miaotong took a deep breath, and with tears in her eyes, she turned towards her mother, Ju Hong, "Mom, I don't want to et this so-called Young Master Jie. I'll find a way to get the money for Dad's treatnt, you must believe !"
At that mont, she realized she had no interest in eting any man. Her heart only harbored the shadow of one person, and that was Ling Fan. She wanted to follow her own heart!
Years later, when she looked back on this mont, her heart was filled with silent sentint. This difficult decision, the elusive figure in her heart, had altered the course of her life!
Seeing her daughter with a face full of tears and pain, Ju Hong's heart ached terribly, and she could not help but feel her own eyes well up with guilt.
It was all because they, as parents, were not capable enough. If they had been more able, would their children have to suffer like this?
Seeing this, Xu Huiran, with a face that was all twisted up, remarked sharply, "Really, kindness taken for weakness! Are you not aware of your own good fortune? At a ti like this, you still put on airs?
Do you think you're a fairy from the heavens? Or a princess, waiting to choose your own son-in-law?
I just can't understand how you can let such a good opportunity pass by, it serves you right to live this life of poverty!"
Xu Huiran was truly venomous with her words, always hitting where it hurt the most, no matter how harsh!
Even Xu Hong, who was standing nearby, grew anxious, "Cousin, no offense, but we all an well. You're being a bit unreasonable, aren't you? We have already inford Young Master Jie, and now you are backing out?
Young Master Jie's family has vast wealth and influence; they are not to be trifled with. You can't even imagine what offending Young Master Jie could lead to!"
Earlier, Guo Lan praised Young Master Jie as a handso and impressive man, but in the blink of an eye, he has beco not soone to provoke!
Before Xu Miaotong could react, Xu Jingyi also joined in, "Niece, I'll speak frankly—it's unfilial of you. Your father is lying on his deathbed, and yet here you are, indulging your whims. Forget it, I don't even know what to say to you anymore!"
With a barrage of words, everyone left Xu Miaotong with no room to breathe.
Filled with indescribable grievances, tears involuntarily began to stream down her face. Ju Hong, seeing her daughter like this, felt a heart-wrenching pain; indeed, one's own flesh and blood is truly the dearest.
She imdiately went to embrace Xu Miaotong, choking back sobs, "My dear girl, let's not et that so-called Young Master Jie. We'll find a way to pay back their money once we've borrowed enough. We can figure out our family's issues on our own!
If your dad really is in trouble, then it's just our fate. If he were awake, he certainly wouldn't agree to sacrifice your happiness for a life of luxury for the family!"
"Mom?" Xu Miaotong called out, her tears falling like broken strings of beads as mother and daughter wept bitterly together.
Xu Jingyi, seeing this, silently lit a cigarette and started puffing away, enveloped in the smoke. The situation had escalated to a point where he could no longer press the matter.
Guo Lan clenched her teeth in frustration but remained silent. Xu Hong stood by awkwardly, knowing there was a saying, "No cruelty, no husband." Today, if he wasn't ruthless, the loan sharks would end him.
Before he could say a word, Yin Huiying, standing nearby, beca impatient and couldn't help but turn to look at her mother.
Xu Huiran and her daughter were devoid of compassion; their hearts were hardened, firmly believing in the principle that one must look out for oneself at the expense of others.
"As the head of the third branch, you of all people should understand—matchmakers' counsel and parental approval have guided marriages since ancient tis. When presented with a great opportunity, you fail to grasp it. The child is ignorant, and now even the elder is acting foolish!
You show no decisiveness at the critical mont, instead following the child's whims. If Old Xu ends up living poorly, it is surely because of you, the jinx that's been leading him!" Xu Huiran said bitterly, her words biting and relentless.
PS: My recent state has not been ideal, resulting in hair loss... There were typos and issues with the narrative flow in these chapters, so I've revised them a bit~~~
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