stingy landlady

Chapter 122 Revisiting the Plants and Trees (2)

Wang Yifei kept a close eye on the three Gui Xiang sisters during his meal with Madam Qian. Seeing that only the three of them were in charge, he then asked Wang Yiyun:

"Fifth brother! Eldest brother is careless, letting so many young girls run a shop here! No wonder sister-in-law is worried!"

Wang Yiyun, not understanding, said:

"What's there to worry about? This is an academy, full of people who study the classics! And we're on good terms with Guizhi and the others! My elder brother used to come here often, and Father has come many times too! Besides, I'm here too, we're all family, so we'll definitely take care of each other!"

Madam Qian hurriedly said:

"Sister-in-law doesn't know! I'm just worried that Guixiang will be getting married in a few years, and we should be more careful about the separation of men and women! Otherwise, with matchmakers talking about it, how will she find a good husband if she's always hanging out with men?"

Wang Yiyun looked displeased and said to Wang Yifei:

"Third Brother! Please, Third Sister-in-law, watch your words! A woman's reputation is of utmost importance! Please, Third Sister-in-law, be kind with your tongue!"

"Fifth brother! Don't take it to heart! Your third sister-in-law isn't a bad person! She just doesn't know when to speak!"

He then looked at Madam Qian:

"If you have something to say, go home and talk to your sister-in-law. Why keep talking such irrelevant things to your fifth brother!"

When the three Gui Xiang sisters were not busy, Wang Yifei said to Gui Xiang:

"Guixiang! Your mother asked us to look after you! But your third uncle has been busy and hasn't had time to come over! He's on leave today, so he specially brought your third aunt and sister to visit you!"

If there's anything you need Uncle's help with, just let him know!

Gui Xiang bowed and said:

"Thank you, Uncle and Aunt! Everything is fine now, we don't need any help! If we need anything, we'll ask you for help!"

"Good good!"

On their way home, Wang Yifei said to Qian:

"My eldest brother's children have all been trained well. Any one of them could be a good family man. I wonder whose son will benefit from them in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Qian was moved but did not express her opinion.

"As for the partnership with Caomujian, I'll ask my older brother when I get back from this business trip. You're asking the kids about this anyway, so it's ultimately the adults who should make the decisions!"

Mr. Qian thought for a moment and said:

"Perhaps it's because my eldest brother's children are too capable! That made me mistakenly think they were in charge. It's my husband who has a long-term vision!"

"You're so quick-witted! My business is either good or bad – if it works, great; if not, forget it! You're my brother after all! I can't let you get angry!"

"Yeah! I know!"

Gui Xiang and the other two discussed Wang Yifei's family in the carriage. Gui Hong said:

"I don't know what they're after! Coming back again and again, is it just for a meal?"

Gui Xiang smiled and nudged Gui Hong:

"Didn't Mother ask them to come?"

"Mom is really something! Isn't it good enough for us sisters to be like this? She's just looking for trouble for us!"

Gui Hong pouted.

Guizhi said solemnly:

"Big sister, second sister! We need to be careful! There's a saying that goes, 'If someone is unusually helpful, they're either up to no good or a thief!' We haven't been in touch for so long, and this sudden enthusiasm probably has a reason!"

"Second sister! Third sister! Do you both have bad feelings?"

Gui Zhi said to Gui Xiang:

"Doesn't the eldest sister have any examples? The second uncle and aunt are right there; they were only driven by profit!"

Gui Xiang thought for a moment:

"Go back and tell Dad, so that nothing goes wrong and we don't get blamed!"

Gui Hong also agreed, saying:

"We also need to talk to Mother. She shouldn't make decisions without consulting us! What if we're not careful and she sells us off? We'd be helping her count the money!"

Guizhi listened for a moment, then thought about the future marriages of the group and asked Guixiang and Guihong:

"Eldest sister! Second sister! This is just how Mother is! So, when you two find husbands in the future, will Mother have to find them for you? Will it be like what Second Sister said, selling out your two older sisters and then praising them and helping them count the money!"

Gui Xiang's face immediately fell with worry.

"Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers! What can be done about it?"

Gui Hong raised her small face stubbornly and said:

"I can't let my mother choose my marriage! I don't trust her!"

"What else can we do but choose ourselves?" Gui Xiang looked at Gui Hong, thinking she was just being stubborn!

Guizhi quickly said:

"Why don't you choose for yourself! Mother is at home every day, what good marriage can she pick out! It's all thanks to the matchmaker's mouth! She can make the dead sound alive, and the lame sound like they're a perfect match!"

Gui Xiang and Gui Hong chuckled.

"It's like you've heard of it before!"

"Eldest sister, second sister! I hope you can both find good husbands! They say getting married is like being reborn, so this time, we should choose someone we like!"

"Big sister! Don't accept your fate! How foolish it would be to hand over your destiny to others! We can be filial to our parents, but we can't be blindly obedient!"

Gui Hong also said to Gui Xiang:

"Big sister! Mother will definitely use your reputation and marriage as leverage in the future! Big sister, don't listen to her, you have to have your own opinions!"

We're out and about every day, we run into all sorts of people! Don't let a matchmaker sell you out!

Gui Xiang looked at her two younger sisters who were concerned about her and said:

"Look how anxious you two are, as if your mother is some kind of villain! Your mother just doesn't know much, unlike us who are out there every day and hear and see more!"

Besides, what kind of logic is it for us to find our own husbands?

"Oh, never mind! I'm still young! It's not like I'm desperate to get married!"

Guizhi joked:

"Big sister isn't desperate to get married! This is called being prepared for a rainy day! Hahaha!"

"That little head of his! He's thinking about all sorts of things all day long!"

Guihong told Dazhu about Wang Yifei's family's visit to Caomujian. She repeatedly pointed out that her third aunt might have ill intentions, so Dazhu could only tell them to be careful these few days and promised to check on them whenever he had time.

Dazhu returned to his room and looked at Li Shi lying lazily on the kang (a heated brick bed). His anger was mixed with helplessness!

Looking at Dazhu's unpredictable face, Li asked:

"Honey! What's up?"

Dazhu thought for a moment and then said:

"The children are doing a great job among the grass and trees! You don't need to look after this one or that one! Didn't I tell you before that people's hearts are unpredictable?"

Li sat up and said:

"I'm lying here every day, unable to go anywhere! Besides talking to Siya and Xiaoqiong, who else can I talk to!"

You're all so busy every day, no one pays any attention to me!

"Could it be that someone's picking on me because I'm just lying around doing nothing?"

Dazhu had no choice but to patiently explain:

"Nobody's picking on you! You've been a bit busy lately! The kids are worried you won't recover properly after your postpartum period, or you'll develop health problems that are hard to treat later!"

The children are all very understanding and don't want to bother you with trivial matters!

Dazhu paused for a moment, then continued:

"Have you forgotten when that Qian family tried to get information out of you before? This time you asked them to take care of Guixiang and the other children, and now they've set their sights on Caomujian again!"

Look at you, are you trying to find someone to look after the children, or are you just creating trouble for them?