Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s
Chapter 59: Unwilling 058

Chapter 59 - Unwilling 058

The smile on the matchmaker's face deepened as she saw Tian Sangsang so eagerly asking her questions. She must really want to get married. What girl doesn't want to marry and rely on her husband's family? Especially someone like her, with such poor prospects—having someone willing to marry her was already a rare opportunity. In all the countless matches she'd arranged, Tian Sangsang was truly the most unattractive one. Really, who has skin that dark? Even just being a little lighter would've been an improvement.

"This man, you might have heard of him before—he's Chen Biao from the neighboring Chenjia Village."

Tian Sangsang racked her brain trying to recall if she'd ever heard of this person, but her mind was a blank slate.

She asked, "Matchmaker Hua, why would he want to marry me?"

"Isn't it because he admires your hardworking nature?" The matchmaker lied through her teeth, smiling. "Chen Biao, well, everyone calls him Brother Biao. His family lost all their relatives during the famine years—they all passed away. If you marry him, there'll be no in-laws to take care of, no younger sisters-in-law to deal with. Isn't that a good deal? And Brother Biao is loaded! While everyone else is toiling in the fields, barely making enough to eat in a month, Brother Biao just sits there and collects money. His monthly income is several times ours. Plus, Brother Biao especially loves children; he'll definitely treat your little Yanyan like his own son."

The implications were clear: no in-laws, no extended family drama. A single man, wealthy, and willing to accept her with a son—what a bizarrely "generous" man this must be. Such an altruistic man couldn't be found anywhere else in the world!

Tian Sangsang wanted to know the matchmaker's real motive today, so she probed further. "These days, people are either working in the fields, running small businesses in town, or heading out to the coast to find jobs. Sitting at home and just collecting money—what kind of work is that, Matchmaker Hua? I really don't understand, I've never heard of anything like it. Can you explain?"

The matchmaker glanced at Tian Sangsang, thinking she wasn't as dense as the rumors claimed. Didn't most people just get giddy at the mention of money?

"Well, let me be frank with you. Everyone around here knows this: Brother Biao runs a place where folks can have some fun in their free time. A group of people gathers to play cards—just a bit of harmless entertainment."

Tian Sangsang's brows furrowed slightly. Playing cards for fun? Did that mean gambling? If she weren't trying not to tear into the matchmaker, she would've cursed outright. Gambling, drugs, and prostitution—none of them are acceptable. From the bottom of her heart, she despised gamblers the most. Small bets might bring amusement; bigger ones destroy families and lead to endless disaster. She couldn't believe such a shady place existed in such a small area. Why wasn't anyone cracking down on this? It was outrageous!

"Sangsang." The matchmaker gently patted her and said, "I know what you're thinking. But don't feel that what Brother Biao does is dishonorable. Earning money is a skill, and he hasn't killed or broken any laws. He's living more comfortably than your grandmother's generation—it's not necessarily a bad thing, right? At the end of the day, isn't it all just about having enough to eat? And not just eating enough—eating well, too. If you go to his house, I guarantee you'll eat well. Even if you don't think about yourself, think about your son. Raising a child is hard work; it's tough to manage alone."

Of course, as a matchmaker, she was skilled at glorifying everything.

Tian Sangsang smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Matchmaker Hua, marriage is a big deal. I need to ask thoroughly. How old is Brother Biao?"

The matchmaker paused, her eyes flickering as she sipped water. After a moment, she regained her composure and answered naturally, "Brother Biao is forty-two this year, a little over a cycle older than you."

Tian Sangsang swallowed her frustration. More than a cycle? Just say almost two cycles, why not!

"He's been married three times before. But, each time, the women weren't fortunate—they all passed away within a few years. Now, everyone's too scared to marry their daughters to him. But really, what does their misfortune have to do with Brother Biao? I think you're lucky, which is why I'm bringing this up to you. He genuinely wants to settle down with someone now."

Damn it! Tian Sangsang cursed inwardly. Three wives all dead—who on earth would want to marry him? The matchmaker didn't explain how they died, and Tian Sangsang didn't want to ask further. At forty-two, without children, who knew if there were health issues?

Out of nowhere, a proposal like this—introducing someone who could basically be her father, a man with three deceased wives and no children? Problems everywhere! She'd rather remain single and raise her son alone than marry someone like that. What was she being taken for?!

"Mommy, I don't want an old grandpa as my dad, nor do I want a new dad. I want my own daddy." Meng Shuyan tilted his little head up to look at her.

Tian Sangsang gently stroked his head and spoke softly, "Mommy will listen to you."

She turned to the matchmaker sitting in the chair and said, "Matchmaker Hua, I appreciate your kindness. But honestly, I have no intention of getting remarried. To be frank, I'm still waiting for Yanyan's father."

"That heartless man left so many years ago—why would he ever come back?" The matchmaker scoffed. Back then, everyone knew Tian Sangsang had saved an incredibly handsome young man. The whole village had crowded to get a look at him. My, oh my, even as a married woman, she had felt envious. So when news spread that Tian Sangsang was pregnant, they sneered. It was like a beautiful flower wasted on a pig—the pig, of course, being Tian Sangsang.

"My dad will come back!" Meng Shuyan's young voice rang out firmly. Even if he doesn't, I'll go find him.

"Ah, don't listen to your child's nonsense." The matchmaker sighed inwardly. The kid was good-looking but too naive—blessed children aren't like this. "Sure, you're still young and can scrape by raising a child alone for now. But what about later? When little Yanyan grows up, goes to school, eats, dresses, spends—there'll be no shortage of expenses. You can't cling to an invisible future and stubbornly go down a dead-end path. Don't we women just hope to have someone to rely on? Not marrying isn't an option. It really isn't."

Tian Sangsang squeezed her son's hand and responded earnestly, "Matchmaker Hua, I understand everything you're saying, and I've thought it all through. I'll work hard to earn money. The two of us can make it on our own."

The matchmaker sneered. Someone like her, making money? With what? Did she think she was in such high demand? And yet, she spoke with such conviction! "Sangsang, you need to think this through. This isn't a game. Tell me, what's the problem? Brother Biao genuinely wants to marry you." The match had been promised to Chen Biao—this deal had to go through.

Tian Sangsang sighed and began, "Let me be honest, Matchmaker Hua. I've been waiting for Yanyan's father. Even if I can't wait for him, for the sake of my son, I want him to have better opportunities someday—to study and grow up in a better environment. As for Brother Biao, I don't see him as a good match. That kind of environment could ruin a child. When I've saved enough money, I'll take Yanyan to the city."