Chapter 2626: Mission 12
Editor: Henyee Translations
The eyes of the Jiang family widened in disbelief, not antic.i.p.ating Yan Danqiu’s strong reaction.
While the North Village residents were not impoverished, the scarcity of Elementary Scholars was evident. Among all the villages, there was only one Jiang Changxiu. Which girl in the North Village wouldn’t aspire to marry him? Being wed to Jiang Changxiu meant becoming a future official’s wife.
Yan Danqiu was considered fortunate to be engaged to Changxiu.
Initially, the Jiang family a.s.sumed that breaking off the engagement would lead to Yan Danqiu crying and protesting her unwillingness. They had antic.i.p.ated such dramatics and prepared accordingly.
Yet, Yan Danqiu’s unexpected response caught them off guard. Her words dripped with disdain for Jiang Changxiu, questioning the scholar’s penchant for despising the poor and favoring the wealthy. If he wished to call off the engagement, she insisted on returning the silver and herbs.
Her words struck a nerve, portraying Jiang Changxiu and his family in a negative light.
The Jiang family seethed with anger, but in the face of Yan Danqiu’s audacious words, they hesitated to retaliate. Their anger simmered beneath the surface as they grappled with how to respond.
“What do you mean by our family accepting your father’s silver and medicinal herbs? When did our Jiang family receive such things from you?” a member of the Jiang family retorted immediately. “On the contrary, you accepted them. Return the betrothal gifts from our Jiang family!”
The Jiang family reacted swiftly and engaged in a heated exchange with the Yan family. However, the majority of the Jiang family members were vocal, while only Yan Danqiu from the Yan family responded, creating a noticeable disparity in the argument. It took a considerable amount of time for the Jiang family to formulate a coherent response.
What family did they think they belonged to? They were scholars. Why were they entangled in an argument with a country girl here? It was beneath their dignity.
“Our Jiang family is not unreasonable. Regardless of any additional items, today’s engagement is terminated, and we won’t owe each other anything in the future. Don’t antic.i.p.ate any favors from our Jiang family,” the elder of the Jiang family hastily declared, eager to conclude the matter.
Yan Danqiu harbored no desire to be a part of the Jiang family. Having severed the engagement, she felt a sense of closure.
With the annulment finalized, the atmosphere in the Yan family’s old house took a turn for the better. Everyone appeared joyous.
The Jiang family, having provided some benefits, left without much ceremony.
Yan Danqiu didn’t spare them a second glance, content that they were gone.
As the Jiang family departed, Gu Chaoyan prepared to leave as well.
However, someone from the Yan family’s old house halted her. “Wait, there’s more…”
It was Old Man Yan who spoke.
After the Jiang family’s departure, Old Man Yan, seated at the head, put on a show, accompanied by a malicious expression on Old Lady Yan’s face.
Members of the Yan family’s first and second branches wore smiles, clearly antic.i.p.ating what would unfold.
Gu Chaoyan sensed that things were not as straightforward as they seemed.
If the Jiang family came to annul the engagement, it indicated that the people in the old house were no longer holding back and could now mistreat the weaker members of the third branch at will.
Gu Chaoyan could almost predict that their discussion would involve the third branch’s farmland.
“Is there anything else?” Gu Chaoyan inquired calmly.
Old Man Yan appeared displeased. Yan Danqiu had never shown such an att.i.tude before.
“What else could it be?” Yan Tieniu responded.
“Third has been gone for so long.” Old Man Yan said, “Your third branch is all useless.”