The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 541 This Lifetime is Completely Ruined (11)_1

Chapter 541: Chapter 541 This Lifetime is Completely Ruined (11)_1

Li Hualing duly responded, making a trip back to her parents’ home.

Grandma Li on that side was still waiting for a response from the Fang family.

It certainly couldn’t drag on day after day.

Pei Qian ran back, her face alight with interest, "Elder sister! Elder sister! That Li Baolian..."

"What happened?" Pei Qin raised her eyebrows.

Pei Qian rushed into the room, gasping for breath and unable to conceal the excitement on her face, "Second sister and I went to the market to buy vegetables, and we ran into her! That Li Baolian, she’s also involved with Zhang Shiqian!"

"With Zhang Shiqian?" Pei Qin was surprised. What did she have to do with Zhang Shiqian?

Grandma Fang and Lady Yu eagerly asked what was going on.

"When Zhang Shiqian saw her, he called her Sister Lian and even tried to grab her hand. Li Baolian shook him off!" said Pei Qian, contemptuously turning up her nose. This Li Baolian really was... as fickle as water!

"Could it be that the young master discussing the marriage is this Zhang Shiqian?" Grandma Fang said happily.

Pei Qin shook her head, "Zhang Shiqian doesn’t look like a rich young master, and he can’t even pretend to be one." He only acts like some lofty, learned man.

"We should find someone to probe Zhang Shiqian’s intentions," Old Scholar Fang said.

Lagging behind, Pei Yuan had just returned and heard what Old Scholar Fang said, "Then we should find someone from Sun Dashun’s family! They live in the same alley as the Zhangs."

In Taiping Town, there were originally three prominent clans. The Suns were the most numerous, occupying the eastern side. To the west were the Zhangs, and at the western edge of the village lived the Kongs. Other surnames came from elsewhere, like Landlord Zhao’s family and Sister Peiqin and her siblings.

Both of Sun Dashun’s daughters-in-law worked at the noodle shop, and after one more year, the shop would be handed over to their family. So when Pei Yuan mentioned it at the noodle shop, Lady Zhao, the elder daughter-in-law, went back home to ask her mother-in-law to inquire.

Zhang Shiqian, having been released from jail, could no longer continue his studies or hope for an official title. No respectable family was willing to discuss marriage with him, so he was a bit mentally unstable, and the Zhang family rarely let him out. However, his episodes of instability were infrequent, and occasionally he did go out.

Soon, Lady Zhao returned, saying that Zhang Shiqian had pursued Li Baolian, wanting to marry her.

Li Hualing also brought back news, "That rich young master... his surname is Zhao."

Pei Qin sneered, "Zhao Junchao?"

Li Hualing was not certain, "I’m not too clear on the specifics. My aunt said it seemed like he was involved in the marriage proposal or something, and someone got deceived. A lot of people talked about it over the past two years, so she’s been waiting, hoping to see Li Baoxiang achieve an official title and find a good match."

The few people from the Fang family exchanged glances and came to an approximate understanding. Li Baolian was entangled with Zhang Shiqian and had interactions with a rich young master with the surname Zhao—it must have been Zhao Junchao. His family was fairly wealthy, with a younger uncle working as a clerk in the County Government Office and him studying at the county school. At that time, it made complete sense for him to want to get involved with Li Baolian.

"There’s nothing more to say! Liuming can prepare for the next examination in peace, and we should head home too!" Old Scholar Fang stood up and said.

Hearing this, Lady Yu completely relaxed, "If the Li family brings it up again, we’ll compensate them with silver."

Grandma Fang nodded, "That settles it then! Let’s go home too! Staying here all this time has prevented Qin’er from getting proper rest."

Old Scholar Fang had things packed up and stopped by to greet Sun Lizheng, mentioning that if the medicine money ran out, just say the word, and they would come to visit Li Baoxiang when his plaster was taken off.

Seeing them leave without bringing up the marriage, Grandma Li was furious, "What does their family mean by this? Do they still want to retract their promise!?"

"Could they be waiting until after Fang Liuming’s spring examination?" Sun Lizheng speculated.

If Fang Liuming passed the spring examination and earned a title, what if they didn’t want to proceed with the marriage? They hadn’t given a clear answer until now.

Fang Liuming no longer stayed at the workshop; he had moved to a wing room in the backyard of Liu’er Alley and settled his mind to reimmerse himself in his studies.