The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 277: So Many People Like Me (5)_1

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: So Many People Like Me (5)_1

"Good! Good!" Pei Qin nodded in agreement, since she hadn’t figured out what to sell next at the stall, she’d just stick with the sesame sauce flatbread stand for now!

Soon, September ended and October began.

The first day of October was the Cold Food Festival, and it was also the day of ancestral worship. Together with Qingming, the Double Third Festival, and the Ghost Festival, it was one of the four major traditional festivals dedicated to the deceased.

Today also happened to be the village market day, and Pei Qin did not set up her stall. Instead, she stayed at home to fry sweet potato balls, bake sesame sauce flatbreads, make dumplings, and cut a basket of paper money to take to the mountains of Back Mountain Village to pay respects to Lady Fang.

All the families in Back Mountain Village were worshipping their ancestors, especially Old Pei’s House. The second branch’s Pei Zongli had come back alive, even bringing with him a wealthy family’s daughter as his wife and had fathered two sons. Now, with a new house built and a silk fabric shop opened in the county town, it was a significant event for Old Pei’s House, and they conducted the ceremony with great solemnity to comfort their ancestors.

The graves of Old Pei’s House were located on the hillside behind the village, close to the village proper. As Sister Peiqin and her brothers descended from the mountain, they ran into the members of Old Pei’s House returning from the gravesite.

Lady Chen’s gaze suddenly became deep and piercing as her eyes swirled within their sockets.

Old Pei’s House had found out that the land owned by Pei Qin wasn’t purchased by her but by a wealthy young master who then leased it to them to farm. They also learned about the sweet potatoes growing on that land, and though they didn’t understand the details, the fact that Master County had come to inspect meant it definitely wasn’t anything ordinary.

No one expected that Pei Qin would somehow get involved with Master County. Lady Zhu’s gaze swept over Pei Qin like a needle, "Wenlee is going to discuss marriage this year. Even if you move out, you still carry the name of Old Pei’s House. Many people in town say you’re mixed up with a man every day. I don’t care what you do with yourself, but don’t ruin Wenlee’s reputation and affect her marriage prospects!"

Pei Qian’s gaze became venomous at once, "We were driven out! We’ve had nothing to do with Old Pei’s House for a long time! Carry your family’s name? Don’t flatter yourself! If you can’t find a good marriage arrangement, it’s not our fault! You’re slandering our reputation and blaming us!"

"Who says I don’t have a good marriage arrangement! It’s you stray kids who nobody wants! No matter how much money you make, no one will respect you or wish to marry you!" Pei Wenlee retorted angrily.

Pei Qian reddened with rage and was about to quarrel.

"Where has all your study of poetry, books, rites, and etiquette gone?" Pei Qin asked her coolly.

Pei Yuan grabbed her, stopping her from arguing with Pei Wenlee, "What’s the point of quarreling with her? It’s beneath us!"

Pei Qian bit her lip, remaining silent, her gaze filled with hatred and anger.

Pei Qin surveyed Pei Wenlee with a mockingly amused look, then turned her gaze to Lady Chen, Lady Zhu, and the others, "The sister of a Scholar won’t fail to find a good marriage match! But let’s not mention again that my siblings and I carry the name of Old Pei’s House in the future. Otherwise, if your elder sister here doesn’t marry, how can the younger brothers and sisters marry first? Wouldn’t that make us the spineless ones in people’s eyes?"

"You have nothing to do with my family anymore!" Pei Wenlee shouted angrily.

But the adults wished differently, especially now that Pei Qin had somehow become acquainted with Master County. Pei Zongli had not yet regained his official status, and after the new year, Pei Wenli would continue to try for the imperial examinations. If they could build a connection with Master County, it would make these two significant matters much easier to handle.

Pei Zongli, well aware that knowing someone in the government made things easier, approached Pei Qin with a warm tone, "Qinqin! Our family has built a new house, and you haven’t visited yet. Come over and have a cup of tea with us!"

Pei Qian immediately grabbed Pei Qin, looking at Pei Zongli with wary eyes, and wouldn’t let Pei Qin go. He was putting on a show of benevolence and must have heard something; he surely wanted to deceive big sister!

Pei Qin glanced at the hand grabbing her arm tightly, her gaze cold as she looked at Pei Zongli and raised an eyebrow, "And then perhaps discuss the matter of elevating a concubine to primary status?"