Hong Ayi came in, helped pick out a few pieces of fabric, and looked at Mrs. Xu with a calm demeanor, asking: "I just heard something, I don't know if you know about it or not."

  "What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Xu casually, she was worried about the winter clothes, everything else was fine, but Shan Geer's clothes couldn't be made up, if not made up, new ones had to be made, where would the money come from? Alas, that big box of fabric...

  "It's said that Mother Zhong has found a good match for Dong Jie. When Hong Mother mentioned the two words 'good match', she felt her emotions rising again and quickly took a deep breath to calm herself down."

  "Winter sister go to the kitchen and take a look." Hearing what Hong Auntie said was about this matter, Mrs. Xu hastily sent Li Dong away.

  Hong Ayi reached out and grabbed Li Dong's arm as she turned to leave with a red face, "It's better if Dong Jie hears this."

  The indignation and sarcasm in Mrs. Hong's words were heard by both Mrs. Xu and Li Dong.

  Mrs. Xu looked at Hong with a mixture of confusion and fear.

  Li Dong glanced at Mrs. Xu, seeing that she didn't say anything else, shifted her position to lean against the edge of the bed, looking at Hong Niangniang, and her heart rose to her throat... The marriage arranged by Zhong Niangniang for her was definitely not a good thing!

  "What family affair? I don't even know." Mrs. Xu's voice was already shaking.

  "Speaking of which, Mother Zhong and Master discussed sending Dong's sister to be a concubine for the Wang official in Hangzhou." Hong Mother also didn't beat around the bush, saying it directly.

  "What?" Mrs. Xu exclaimed, her mind buzzing with shock.

  Li Dong's legs went soft, and she slid down along the edge of the kang. Hong Niangniang reached out to pull her up, "Sister, don't be afraid, you have your mother, you have me! What are you afraid of? Don't be afraid!"

  "Mother." Li Dong looked at Mrs. Xu, tears streaming down his face.

  "Really? Old master..." Mrs. Xu grabbed hold of Hong's nanny, her whole body trembling.

  "Madam!" Hong's voice rose, "Look at you! You must hold on, your daughter is still counting on you!"

  Hong Auntie said as she poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mrs. Xu, "You must calm down first! We've just discussed this, the eight characters haven't been revealed yet! Take a deep breath! Take another one, drink the tea."

  Mrs. Xu swallowed a few mouthfuls of tea, her hands tightly grasping the cup, following Old Lady Hong's words, taking one deep breath after another.

  Li Dong was calmer than Mrs. Xu and quickly moved over to her, using forceful strokes to pat her back and help her catch her breath.

  "It's like this," seeing Mrs. Xue calm down a bit, Old Lady Hong continued: "That Wang Tongzhi sent us many things..."

  "It's..." Madam Xu had only just spoken one word when she was interrupted by Old Lady Hong, "Madam, please listen to me first. Zhong Nian said that Magistrate Wang is a superior official, what right does he have to send things to our household? Who knows where she heard it from, but she told Master that Dong Jie met with Magistrate Wang when she went to Hangzhou last time, and they both took a liking to each other..."

  "She's talking nonsense!" Li Dong was so anxious that tears came down.

  "Nonsense! On that trip to Hangzhou, I was with my sister from start to finish. Where did I ever meet this Wang Tongzhi? Only someone as brazen as this old lady would dare spout such nonsense in broad daylight! And only our master would be willing to listen to such rubbish!"

  Hong's wife snorted and said unclearly whether she was scolding Zhang's wife or Li County Magistrate.

  "Old master... this is Dong Jie! His daughter! His own flesh and blood!" Madam Xue was anxious, angry and frightened, tears streaming down her face as she trembled.

  Li Dong looked at Hong Niangniang, and his tears didn't flow as much anymore. Hong Niangniang seemed a bit different from usual...

  "This thing, I only heard it up to here, and then Mountain Brother's affairs came out later. It seems that this matter was put aside first. Winter Sister is lucky, and I heard this news today..."

  Alas, is Winter's fate good or bad, who knows? What can be done even if one hears about it? That old lady has made up her mind, when has the master ever vetoed it? The master has nodded in agreement, when has the mistress ever said no?

  "Alas, Dong Jie is pitiful, Old Master and Mistress... Alas, Sister is a poor soul with both father and mother."

  Hong's aunt wiped away tears, she was really disappointed and heartbroken with Mrs. Xu.

  "Mother Ah, you have to save me, you can't..." Li Dong seemed to have figured something out, pulled Xu's sleeve, and knelt down while crying.

  "She dares! If he dares..." Mrs. Xu's two hands grasped Li Dong, trying to pull her up, but she had no strength in her body at all.

  "If he dares... I'll fight him!" With a burst of strength, Mrs. Xu suddenly grabbed Li Dong with one hand.

  "Madam, don't be in a hurry, take your time, Dong Jie, don't cry, I'm here for you, quickly let me help you catch your breath!"

  Mrs. Xu's forehead bulged with anger, and Hong Yiniang immediately calmed down and hurriedly poured another cup of tea for Mrs. Xu.

  "Mother, you have to calm down, Mother, you can't... Fifth Brother, I, Sixth Brother and Ah Xia are all relying on you... everyone is counting on you, we can only count on you..." Li Dong patted Xu's back gently, his voice choked with sobs.

  "Madam, you must hold on tight, the children are looking up to you. As a mother, if you don't stay strong, the kids will suffer. Alas, Madam, you have the reputation of being virtuous and obedient, no matter what Master does or doesn't do, you always follow the four virtues. You've earned a good name, but it's a pity for the children..."

  "I never thought that the old man would be so devoted to that old lady, he doesn't even care about his own flesh and blood, not even his own mother... now he's going to bury his son to serve his mother..."

  Old Lady Hong chattered on and on, it was unclear whether she was offering advice or fanning the flames.

  "Auntie, I'd rather die... And Xia, later on, she's probably going to marry her off as a concubine too..." Li Dong didn't fully understand, but relying on her intuition, she felt that she had to follow up with Old Lady Hong.

  Hong Ayi gently patted Li Dong's back, who was crying non-stop, and felt extremely delighted. Although the master and mistress were confused and couldn't speak, Shan Ge and Dong Jie were truly a rare find!

  "Don't worry... don't worry..." Mrs. Xu didn't drink tea this time, but tightly grasped Li Dong's sleeve and slowly let go, taking a few deep breaths, looking like she had calmed down a lot. "Dong Jie, you can rest assured, unless I die, no one will dare to harm you, or Shan Ge either!"

  "It's fine for others, but if it were the master... Alas, the mistress is virtuous and talented... Alas! Virtuous and talented." Auntie Hong dragged out the word "de" and let out a heavy sigh.

  Mrs. Xu's face turned pale, "As a couple, we are like enemies... I respect him... That is my respect for him! If he dares to send Dong Jie away... away..." Mrs. Xu couldn't say the word 'concubine', "I'll fight with him to the death! I'll stake my life on this!"

  "Madam, this matter can't be solved just by talking tough. It's not a matter of life and death. Madam, please calm down first." Hong Ayi poured another cup of tea and handed it over to Xu Madam, who took it and drank the whole cup in one gulp this time.

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