The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 976 - 221: Self-Awareness

Chapter 976: Chapter 221: Self-Awareness

Pei Qin glanced at her stance, knowing that Xie Yi had arrived with a displeased expression, and Pei Qian was already fuming with anger. She could be scolded to the point of utter humiliation and wanting to die, so she reminded her, "The two have already been intimate; you can confront her, but don’t take it as far as to cost a life."

"Even if they have been intimate, one cannot marry such a woman into the family! How can you, the elder sister, agree to such a matrimonial arrangement!?" Pei Qian couldn’t help but blame her.

Pei Qin raised an eyebrow, "Pei Wendong said he likes her and has decided to marry her. Just because you disapprove doesn’t mean you can prevent him from marrying her. The couple is willing, what more do you have to say?"

Pei Qian choked on her words, and angrily retorted, "Should we also marry someone like Xie Yi who harbors ill intentions!? Just because they’ve been intimate, she dreams of climbing up the social ladder!? To put it nicely, she’s the daughter of a county official, but to put it bluntly, they are currently worth nothing at all! She simply wants to marry into our family based on their intimacy, wishful thinking! Call her over to me!"

"Watch your tone, don’t upset someone into seeking death," Pei Qin said. After finishing, she did not stop Pei Qian further but turned to peel sunflower seeds instead.

"That kind of insincere and fortune-seeking girl wouldn’t think of seeking death!" Pei Qian huffed and sat waiting for Xie Yi to come.

Upon hearing that Pei Qian wanted to see her, Xie Yi tidied up a bit and hurried over. Even though Pei Wendong hadn’t said much about his third sister’s temperament, from her recent remarks and demeanor, Xie Yi could guess that she must not be easy to get along with. She came over respectfully and gave a very polite curtsey.

Pei Qian scrutinized her from head to toe, noticing her oval face with a pointed chin and delicate small eyes brimming with gentleness like autumn water, her demeanor tender and composed, exuding an aura of scholarship. Pei Qian scoffed in disdain, "I hadn’t noticed before—I thought you were a maid from our house. Ms. Xie certainly has the air of an educated lady; do you plan to stay with us indefinitely?"

Seeing her hostile approach and the fact that Pei Qin had no intention of intervening, Xie Yi bit her lip and replied, "My maternal family is not wealthy. When the Wa Ci invaded Capital Jingcheng, our home collapsed. Once they have repaired it, they will take my brother and me to live with my maternal family."

"Even you don’t believe those words! Even if three rooms have collapsed, it’s possible to squeeze in; yet you ended up living in someone else’s house, how is that proper?" Pei Qian bluntly stated. She disliked the act of people looking pitiful and biting their lips!

Pei Qin glanced at her, indicating that it’s okay to inquire about the situation, but she advised against forming real enmity, as after all, Pei Wendong had decided to marry Xie Yi, and she would soon be his wife.

Enduring the humiliation, Xie Yi, with her eyes downcast, said, "My brother and I are now alone and destitute. Brother Wendong has kindly saved us, and I, Xie Yi, am not ungrateful. I have already discussed with my brother that once we retrieve the Xie family’s assets, we will give half to Brother Wendong!"

Pei Qian let out a cold laugh, "How much wealth does the Xie family have, and how much of it can you retrieve!? The matter of retrieving assets should be handled by our family, shouldn’t it?"

Xie Yi remained silent, knowing that her maternal family should have stood up for them, but they were obviously unwilling; her family also lacked the power to forcefully claim their share of the Xie family’s wealth. She now could only rely on Pei Wendong.

Seeing her speechless, Pei Qian became even more contemptuous, "Although our family is not an aristocratic family, we are particular about whom we marry into the family. Ms. Xie, emerging from an official family, you should understand the principle of matching social status, right?"

Her phrase ’emerging from an official family’ so plainly and openly contemptuous made Xie Yi’s face turn pale, and she clenched her hands inside her sleeves, saying softly, "I know I’m currently not worthy of Brother Wendong..." As she spoke, tears suddenly began to fall one by one.

"No need to cry in front of me, I hate it when people put on a pitiful act and shed tears! My elder sister also dislikes weepy women!" Pei Qian became even more annoyed seeing her like this.

Xie Yi hadn’t heard Pei Qin say a word in her defense or support, so she forcibly held back her humiliation and sorrow, and fought back the tears.

"My brother did speak of marrying you, but matrimony is a serious affair, dictated by the commands of parents and the arrangements of matchmakers. Without parents, it falls to us elder sisters to make decisions regarding his marriage. With this year’s imperial examination, once the golden list is announced, countless maidens from genteel families—of high moral standing and extraordinary talent, with deeply rooted cultural backgrounds—will vie for suitors. Our family may not need to seek powerful connections, but at the very least, we should find my brother a wife of good character and virtue! After all, one marries a wife for her virtue; taking concubines is up to his own wishes!" Pei Qian didn’t straightforwardly say it, but she implied without mincing words that Xie Yi was not fit for Pei Wendong, and she was only worthy of being a concubine.

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