Chapter 189 - 189 178 Failure

Words : 1470 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

189: Chapter 178 Failure 189: Chapter 178 Failure Manbao watched the matchmaker and the Yao family leave, then ran back to the main house to find her mother, “Mom, will she be my fourth sister-in-law in the future?” Zhou Silang, who had also returned to the house, pricked up his ears to listen. Ms. Qian looked up and glanced at Four’s expression before asking her, “Do you like her?” Manbao scratched her head and said, “It’s not me getting married; do I have to like her for it to work?” Ms. Qian nodded, turned to Zhou Silang, and asked, “What about you, do you like her?” Zhou Silang blushed and said, “I’ll listen to Mom.” Ms. Qian pondered for a moment and said, “I’m afraid this marriage won’t work out.” The red on Zhou Silang’s face faded, and he lifted his head to look at his mother, almost ready to cry, as he pursed his lips and asked, “Is it because their family looks down on me?” After all, Ms. Fang had indeed inquired about the gambling. “No,” Ms. Qian did not want to explain too much, but seeing Zhou Silang’s complexion wasn’t good, she knew he had misunderstood, so she explained, “I think you two are not suitable.” She said, “That child is too obedient.” Zhou Silang blinked and asked, “Isn’t being obedient a good thing?” Ms. Qian gave him a sideways glance and said, “I’m looking for a daughter-in-law, not a servant. What would I need her to be obedient for? You’re not resolute, and rather unpredictable; you need someone decisive to manage you. That girl is too shy and listens to her mother too much; after she enters our family, she will probably just listen to you as well. That’s why you’re not suitable.” Zhou Silang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and he stammered, “But, but I think being obedient is pretty good...” Under Ms. Qian’s gaze, Zhou Silang’s voice got lower and lower, and in the end, it was almost inaudible, “Alright, I’ll listen to Mom.” Did he even have any other choice? Zhou Silang felt that he had been busy for nothing today, so he returned to his room to change out of Zhou Wulang’s clothes, “It’s so difficult to find a wife.” However, Manbao found it quite amusing, “Fourth Brother, you must take me along again for the next matchmaking.” Zhou Silang was somewhat disheartened and said, “It’s just like being meat on a chopping board, being picked over by others; it’s not fun at all.” He had been looking forward to the event before the visitors arrived; after all, it was about getting a wife, and the thought alone excited him. But today started with Ms. Fang’s sharp gaze sizing him up, followed by various questions. He was already a bit fed up. “They know my situation; why did they have to ask me again in my presence?” “To see if you are a good person,” Manbao still felt some regret, “Actually, Sister Yao was really pretty.” Knowing that this marriage arrangement wouldn’t happen, Zhou Silang’s face finally stopped blushing, and he objectively said, “She’s just alright.” Over the past year, he had made many trips to the county town, and with the selling of goods, he had seen many pretty young girls. Of course, there were those prettier than Miss Yao. Since they were not fated, there was no need to admire that kind of beauty, so he quickly put the matter behind him and started encouraging Manbao, “Manbao, today is the Winter Solstice, shouldn’t we be stewing some mutton at home?” Manbao swallowed and said, “Mom said we are going to kill a chicken today.” “Sister makes delicious noodles which can be topped with mutton, chopped finely, cooked together with sauce, and then poured over...” Manbao’s salivation increased rapidly. She jumped off their bed and ran towards the main house. She took her money box from Keke, looked at the remaining twenty-three coins inside with hesitation, but ultimately took them all out and ran to give them to Zhou Silang, saying, “Fourth Brother, go buy it now; I’ll ask Sister to start the dough for noodles, and we’ll have noodles for lunch.” Zhou Silang received the money with a beaming smile, fished around in his own coin pouch, and added seven coins to it, “I don’t have much, I can only add seven coins; just wait, I’ll go buy the meat now.” Zhou Silang’s money came from what he saved each day out of the five coins Ms. Qian gave him when he sold things in the town. He managed to save one or two coins a day, and now he had accumulated slightly more than Manbao, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Zhou Silang called Five and Sixth, and the three of them ran towards Dali Village; the big market was there, and they were sure to find mutton. Manbao then ran off to ask Zhou Xi to start the dough for noodles. Ms. Qian soon realized this was Zhou Silang’s idea. She couldn’t help but say to Zhou Xi, “You see, this is why I dare not marry him off to such a girl.” Zhou Xi couldn’t help but laugh while agreeing with Manbao to “make it later” and saying, “This boy is too unconcerned; even though we’re talking about his marriage, he’s only thinking about food.” Ms. Qian sighed, “If he weren’t getting old and it would make it even harder to find a wife, I really would like to wait a couple more years before marrying him off. His three older brothers could carry half of the household responsibilities by the time they were fifteen or sixteen, and they were sensible early on. Five seems to have promising prospects too; why does it have to be so worrisome with him?” On one hand, the Zhou family found the Yao family unsuitable, and on the other hand, at Zhou Dahong’s house, Ms. Fang also felt the two families were not a match. After leaving the Zhou family’s place, they didn’t immediately leave the village. Instead, they returned to Zhou Dahong’s house, where Ms. Fang first sent the matchmaker away before asking her daughter about the meeting with Zhou Si. She focused on what they did and talked about outside. Ms. Yao, sensing that her sister-in-law was not entirely pleased with Zhou Si, said, “Zhou Jin’s family are straightforward people; if you are unwilling, just speak directly to the matchmaker, that’s that. Matchmaking requires mutual liking, after all. There’s no rush; our girl is young, and we can take our time to find the right one.” Ms. Fang hesitated for a long while, then finally nodded, “Alright, I’ll have a word with the matchmaker later, let her keep looking for us.” Ms. Yao couldn’t help being curious, “What didn’t you like about Zhou Si? I think what his mother said is not wrong; he has reformed this year, and after all, the boy only gambled that once.” “I know, he’s not bad, but his family...” Ms. Fang glanced at her daughter sitting with her head down beside her and whispered, “There are just too many people.” Ms. Yao was surprised, “Isn’t it good to have many people? A flourishing family, who in the village would dare to bully them?” “That’s on the outside, but what about on the inside?” Ms. Fang said, “Not to mention anything else, there are six brothers. Eventually, there will be six sisters-in-law. My girl is shy; once she marries into that family, if she can’t speak up, who knows how she’ll be bullied.” Ms. Yao laughed, “If it were some other messy family, your worries would make sense, but you don’t have to worry with the Zhou family. Don’t see me as a sickly sister-in-law now, but she is the one in charge of their family. She has always been fair, just look at how she manages the first three daughters-in-law, and you’ll know. My niece won’t suffer in their family.” Ms. Yao said, “As for the future, if my sister-in-law should... well, the Zhou family will certainly divide the family. After all, there are six brothers. Without the parents, living together is inconvenient. It will be up to the children to take charge themselves.” “This is also one of the reasons I’m reluctant,” Ms. Fang spoke softly, “Look at her health; she needs to take medicine every day. Having a sick person at home, how much would that cost?” Ms. Yao looked at her, then fell silent.

Chapter 189 - 189 178 Failure

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