Jiang had always been cold to Xia Zhi, and only spoke a word or two with him before meals in the outer house. Now, however, Jiang took the initiative to find Xia Zhi, with the intention of hearing more about the affairs of the prefectural city.

  Xia Zhi knew that what Jiangshi actually wanted to know was not about the affairs of the imperial city.

  "All right, Aunt Jiang, if you want to listen, I'll tell you. But my words are just a guess, and I don't know whether they're right or not." Xia Zhi said with a smile to Jiang Shi.

  "Alright, alright. Auntie loves to listen to whatever you have to say." Jiang said this as she glanced around and then led Xia Zhi to the cucumber trellis. She also brought over two stools, one for Xia Zhi and one for Xiao Shu'er, and sat down on another stool herself, looking at Xia Zhi with an expectant expression.

  Xia Zhi smiled and didn't rush to speak.

  Jiang hurriedly got up and went to the cucumber frame to pick two tender little cucumbers, giving one each to Xia Zhi and Xiao Shu.

  "Don't let your grandma see this." It's not yet the season for eating cucumbers, and small tender cucumbers like these are usually left to grow longer. Most people wouldn't eat these because they think it's a waste.

  It's actually better to eat small and tender cucumbers like this.

  Summer arrived without warning, and as a result, the cucumber was picked and wiped with a cloth before being eaten. In this era, there was no pollution or pesticides, so natural organic foods like these could be eaten without washing with water.

  While eating the small cucumber, Xia Zhi began to tell Jiang about things in the city. During this time, she naturally couldn't help but mention Xia Dagu and then also mentioned Guo Xi and Guo Yuhuan. Jiang listened very seriously, occasionally interjecting a question.

  Gradually, Xia Zhi came to know what Jiang Shi wanted to hear most.

  The small cucumber was eaten long ago, and Xia Zhi's words were almost dry. Jiang Shi still had some unfulfilled intentions. However, Jiang Shi also saw that Xia Zhi seemed unwilling to continue speaking, so she didn't force it.

  "It's the summer solstice, you'll have to stay here for another night. Aunt will make time to listen to your stories about the prefectural city again." With that said, Jiang Shi hastily left.

  Xiao Shu had been listening on the side all along. At first, he thought Xia Zhi's words were quite interesting, but gradually, when Xia Zhi and Jiang Shi's conversation revolved around Wang Shuo, matchmaking, betrothal gifts, and whatnot about the young master of a coffin shop, Xiao Shu lost interest. However, he didn't leave; he had to stay by Xia Zhi's side at all times, serving as Xia Zhi's loyal little bodyguard.

  "Sister, you always talk about matchmakers and stuff. I think Auntie's eyes lit up when she heard that." Little Shu said to Xia Zhi after Jiang walked away.

  "Did you see her eyes light up?!" Xia Zhi smiled, "She loves listening, so I told her."

  "Sister, are you telling the truth?" Little Shu asked. Although he was clever and quick-witted, at this moment he didn't understand the purpose and significance of Xia Zhi and Jiang's conversation.

  "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to anyone?" Xia Zhi smiled, reaching out to pinch Xiao Shu's nose. "Xiao Shu, you did a good job today. Once we get home, I'll buy you some delicious food. And that piece of clothing, I made it for you myself."

  "Sister, shall we add a pair of shoes?" Little Shu's big eyes sparkled, and this was exactly what Xia Zhi had been spoiled with.

  The little tree is indeed clever and will take advantage of the opportunity to make demands on Xia Zhi.

  "You're beautiful." Xia Zhi's face immediately turned red.

  The little tree hurriedly smiled and called out "sister" repeatedly.

  Xia Zhi was amused by him, "You don't say it, but I will make a new pair of shoes for you. Haven't you seen me buying so many shoe materials? However, you have to let me do it slowly."

  "There's no rush, just take your time." Little Shu said excitedly.

  ……

  Upstairs, Xia Xiuren and Xia Qiao were taken by Tian Dabao to the mountain to see the fruit trees at some point. Madam Tian did not go, she was sitting on the kang with her head slightly lowered, if one looked closely, they could see that her eyes were red again.

  Opposite Tian's family sat Old Man Tian and Tian Wangshi, with Tian Dabao also sitting beside Old Man Tian.

  Tian Lao didn't know what he said, but Tian Dabao immediately knelt down with a thud. Then, he hugged Tian Shi's legs and shouted "Aunt" repeatedly.

  When Jiang walked into the upper house, she saw such a scene. She hesitated at the door and still went in. She didn't say anything, quietly walking to Tian Wang's side.

  Tian Wang knew that his daughter-in-law had arrived, but he didn't even look at her and instead continued talking to Tian Shi. "...You are his aunt, if you don't care about him, who will? The matter of Da Bao getting married is all up to you now."

  At this time, Jiang should not have disturbed Tian Wang. However, she thought for a moment and then called out softly to her mother, also gently tugging on Tian Wang's sleeve.

  Tian Wang turned back impatiently to look at Jiang: "What's up?" Didn't she see that she was busy? What she was doing now was the most important thing, related to Tian Dabao. How could Jiang be so tactless as to come over and interrupt her?

  "Mother, I have something to tell you." Jiang said to Tian Wangshi.

  Tian Wang's brow furrowed again into a knot. She knew her daughter-in-law's temper, and at this time, if it wasn't something really important, Jiang wouldn't have interrupted her like that.

  Tian Wang's family went to see Lao Tiantou in the morning.

  Tian Lao saw Jiang's arrival and the interaction between her and Tian Wang. Tian Lao gave Jiang a cold glance. Jiang felt a bit uneasy under Tian Lao's gaze, but she didn't back down, instead holding onto Tian Wang's sleeve tightly.

  Tian Lao Tou gave Tian Wang Shi a wink: "Hurry back."

  Tian Wang nodded and followed Jiang out.

  Tian Dabao was still kneeling on the ground, Tian wanted to pull him up but couldn't budge. Tian Dabao is a fool, born with intellectual problems. In the Tian family, Tian Dabao always listened to Old Man Tian's words.

  At this time, Old Tian wouldn't let him get up, and he wouldn't get up either.

  Tian's family was in a difficult situation: "Dad, all the methods that can be thought of have been thought of. I...I'll try my best..." In these years, Tian's family has always been responsive to Tian Lao's requests, and it is the first time today that they are feeling guilty and embarrassed.

  The eyes of the father and daughter had a brief contact, and they both had a very bad premonition. Old Tian thought that this girl would be useless in the future. What Mrs. Tian was thinking about was that her family members were gradually alienating themselves from her, and Xia Xiuzai's situation was not as good as before. In the future, she would find it difficult to lift her head in front of her parents again.

  ……

  Tian Wang followed Jiang out and stopped at the bottom of the window. "What's up?" Tian Wang asked impatiently.

  "Sister," Jiang said hesitantly, "I think this time my sister and brother-in-law are unlikely to come up with more money."

  Tian Wang's family saw that she was talking about this matter, so he glared at her. "A camel that is dying of starvation can still produce milk. If you squeeze a little harder, you can always squeeze out some money! It's not like it's not possible! Your sister doesn't earn any money herself, if your sister earned money, there wouldn't be so much to say." This was blaming Xia Xiuzai and also Xia Zhi's several children for being heartless and unwilling to wholeheartedly think of them, so they could only put their efforts on Tian Shi's body.

  "Even if we can still squeeze out some money, it's not directly available. Mother, have you seen Xia Zhi? I just asked her again. Mother, our Da Ya is also grown up and doesn't look bad either. If she dresses up, she's no worse than Xia Zhi." Jiang Shi didn't refute Xia Zhi's words, "Mother, if Da Ya can bring back the betrothal gifts like Xia Zhi did, we wouldn't need to ask anyone for help. We could directly use it to marry off our eldest son."

  Tian Wang's family looked at Jiang's family with suspicion: "You said before that you wanted to marry Da Ya, and we would collect more betrothal gifts. You didn't agree back then, what kind of trick are you playing now?"

  Tian Wang actually didn't like his daughter-in-law very much. Jiang, although seemingly gentle on the surface, was actually quite cunning and sometimes left you at a loss for what to do. If Jiang had made up her mind about something, even if she and Old Tian came out together, they still couldn't control her.

  Dà yā is fourteen today, two years ago, they had already arranged a marriage for Dà yā. The other party lives in the big mountains over 180 miles away from here, and their life is very poor. The man is twenty-five or six years old, and his family has only saved a few taels of silver. They don't mind that Dà yā is young, and they are willing to use all that silver as betrothal gifts, without pretending otherwise. After the betrothal gifts are given, they will take Dà yā back with them, and nothing else needs to be arranged from this side.

  At that time, she and Lao Tuan thought that Da Ya was a lazy girl who did nothing but eat at home, so they decided to agree. However, Jiang Shi was determined to die, and in the end, she made it impossible for her and Lao Tuan to do anything, and they had to call off the engagement.

  For this matter, she and Old Tian were indeed annoyed with Jiang. But apart from this matter, Jiang was obedient in all other matters, and was diligent and quick in her work, and even served their son and grandson very comfortably.

  For these benefits of Jiang's family, she and Old Man Tian tolerated her and her two maids. Of course, they also had other plans in mind.

  Although the family is willing to take out all their belongings, the silver money is limited after all. If it were in the past few years, they wouldn't care about the Jiang family and would definitely send Da Yu over. However, in recent years, Tian's family often took silver from home, and they also looked down on the few taels of silver given by that household in their private hearts.

  They want to wait for another opportunity, waiting for a family that can give more betrothal gifts.

  In short, this matter was in line with Jiang's intentions. For the past two years, Jiang had been humble and obedient, but also had her own thoughts. Now that she suddenly heard Jiang mention Da Yu on her own initiative, Tian Wang guessed that Jiang must have some plan in mind.

  Jiang is that kind of person who has a mind of his own, as Old Tian would say, with a "softly sinister heart": on the surface, he doesn't say anything, but in his heart, he's got everything figured out, and what's more, he's harboring some wicked intentions.

  Facing Tian Wang's suspicious gaze, Jiang was still gentle and obedient. She was indeed bought by the Tian family with a dowry, and she had been working hard for the Tian family all these years. From the moment she gave birth to her daughter, she had made up her mind that no matter what, she would not let her own daughter follow in her footsteps.