C15 Messing

Upon hearing her refusal, Mrs. Feng impatiently spoke up, "Why isn't this suitable? Once you're married, you'll be the eldest sister-in-law. Don't be ungrateful," she said, turning to her son. "Eldest, just handle it. What does she know? Marriages have always been arranged by parents. It's not her place to speak!"

Gu Dachuan hesitated, "Well..."

"My parents haven't agreed to this, so how is it an arranged marriage?" Gu Fanjin wasn't one to back down and retorted, "Besides, you know exactly what you're up to!"

Mrs. Feng felt a bit guilty at her words. This girl had hit the nail on the head. Her eldest had mentioned that if this girl married into the family, the groom's side would give them two big roosters and two fat rabbits as a token of gratitude. Moreover, her eldest had said that whatever dowry the groom's family provided would be under her control, and she could do as she pleased.

Gu Fanjin realized what was happening—they were trying to sell her off!

"I'm making it clear today: whoever agrees to this can marry off their own daughter, but I'm not going!"

As she spoke, she glanced pointedly at Gu Xiuxiu, who stood behind Gu Dachuan. Gu Xiuxiu awkwardly turned her head away. Gu Fanjin smirked; she had thought Gu Xiuxiu was decent, but it turned out she was just the same as the rest.

Gu Fanjin said coldly, "With my parents not around, you're all eager to sell me off. If you push me too far, I'll throw myself at your doorstep and let everyone see what kind of heartless people you are!"

With that, she turned to leave, but Gu Xiuxiu grabbed her arm.

"Fanjin, what are you saying? Grandpa and Grandma are just thinking of your best interests. With Uncle and Aunt not here, you can't neglect your future while taking care of Momo and Junjun!"

Gu Fanjin shook off her hand. "Well, if it's such a great match, why don't you marry him, Xiuxiu?"

"I..." Gu Xiuxiu's smile faltered for a moment before she forced it back. "I got engaged a few days ago. You probably didn't know."

Gu Fanjin gave her a knowing look. "Oh, Xiuxiu, seems like you missed out on the perfect match Aunt was talking about. You'd be the eldest sister-in-law if you married into that family. Maybe you should think about calling off your current engagement."

"Well..."

Gu Xiuxiu's smile was now completely gone.

"Enough of this nonsense!" Old Man Gu slammed the table, his voice booming with anger. "You can't just call off an engagement like it's nothing!"

Gu Fanjin retorted, "And you can't just decide on an engagement like it's nothing, either!"

She glanced around at the others in the room. "If you really push me, I'll do exactly what I say," she warned, turning to leave. "Next time, Grandma, could you please clean the grease off your lips and the meat stuck in your teeth before you speak?"

"..."

As Gu Fanjin walked away, she could faintly hear Mrs. Feng's scolding from the house behind her. She smirked, amused by the commotion she'd left in her wake.

At the Tan household:

"What? They didn't agree?" Mrs. Wang was in the middle of slicing bread when she heard her second daughter-in-law's words. She was so surprised she stopped cutting.

Zhang Cuihua glanced nervously at the knife in her mother-in-law's hand. "Yes, the girl's side isn't too keen on it."

"My son is such a catch, and they still aren't interested?" Mrs. Wang was clearly displeased.