Chapter 169 Rejecting the Matchmaker

Chapter 169: Refusing the Matchmaking

They were simply not the same kind of people. Looking at her mean-looking sister-in-law, Jiang Mingzhen sighed inwardly.

She began to miss the years when their families had no contact—now *those* were quiet and peaceful times.

After that, no matter what Niu Yanxia said about exchanging contact information, arranging a meeting to see each other, or introductions, Jiang Mingzhen refused with “It’s not suitable” or simply didn’t respond.

Watching this scene, He Guoxu felt deeply insulted.

So what if she runs a lousy shop in the city? Does she really think she’s some rich, beautiful socialite? He’d have to see for himself whether his aunt’s niece was truly that aloof!

When she returned home, Jiang Mingzhen told her husband about the day’s events and instructed him, “If my elder brother and sister-in-law ask for Yingxue’s or my parents’ phone numbers, you absolutely must not give them out.”

“I know,” He Minsha shook his head, feeling speechless. “They say even rabbits don’t eat the grass by their own burrows. Yingxue is our niece—sister-in-law really has no boundaries…”

Jiang Mingzhen sneered, “Exactly. She even said it would ‘strengthen family ties.’ What era is this? That old-fashioned thinking isn’t popular anymore.”

He Minsha sighed softly, “Let her say what she wants. Don’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Mingzhen replied, “I’ve already dismissed her like passing gas.”

*

He Family Village.

Niu Yanxia, having been rejected by her sister-in-law earlier, still felt a knot of anger in her chest even after dinner.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. She said to her eldest son, “Jiang Mingzhen refused, but that doesn’t mean her parents will. Tomorrow, let’s find a matchmaker to go to Nanhe Village and sound out the Jiang family.”

“A happy event that ‘strengthens family ties’—older folks really go for that sort of thing.”

Jiang Mingzhen hadn’t even discussed it with her own parents. Perhaps after meeting them, they’d be very satisfied with her son.

No sooner said than done. With that, she bustled out the door.

He Minhe saw her leaving and asked, “Where are you going so late?”

Niu Yanxia, already at the main gate, turned back and said, “Just going to Sister Wang’s place for a visit.”

Sister Wang, also known as Wang Fang, was the village matchmaker. Thinking of his two unmarried sons, He Minhe waved her off, indicating she could go.

The next day, Wang Fang, entrusted with the task, arrived at Nanhe Village. After inquiring about the location of Jiang Xianzheng’s house, she walked over with a beaming smile.

Knock, knock, knock.

Jiang Yingxue came out to answer the door. Behind her followed a black dog, with a small bird perched on its back.

“Who are you? Who are you looking for?”

Wang Fang smiled, “You must be Yingxue, right? You look just like a fairy. I’m the matchmaker from He Family Village. You can call me Auntie Wang. I’m here to see your grandparents.”

A matchmaker? She was the only unmarried person in the household. Which toad had set its sights on her?

Jiang Yingxue stepped outside and closed the gate behind her.

“My grandparents aren’t available. You can tell me whatever it is.”

Wang Fang said, “Young girls are shy. Better call the adults out.”

Jiang Yingxue replied, “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I’m going back inside.”

“Oh, you child,” Wang Fang chided Jiang Yingxue with a glance. “Let’s go inside and sit down to talk.”

“No need. You can say it right here.”

Wang Fang gave Jiang Yingxue a strange look. This girl appeared gentle and delicate, but she was unexpectedly assertive.

But then again, someone running a shop in the city probably couldn’t afford to be too timid in business.

“Well, I’ll be frank then. There’s a young man from our He Family Village who is interested in you. Would you be willing to meet and talk?”

“No,” Jiang Yingxue said calmly. “Auntie Wang, if you’re here for matchmaking, you don’t need to bother. I don’t need it.”

Wang Fang smiled, “You’re already 24 after the New Year, right? When I was 24, my child was already helping support the family. Young people shouldn’t think they’re still young. Time waits for no one. Year after year, before you know it, you’ll be an old maid.”

“Just listen to me. The man is a few years older than you, but he knows how to care for people. You can’t go wrong meeting him.” After all, she’d get paid for arranging the meeting.

“How about this? Let’s set up a meeting for tomorrow. Girls are shy and don’t like to speak up, so I’ll take your silence as agreement.”

Jiang Yingxue’s cool gaze swept over her as she said coldly, “No need for your concern.”

She added, “People are fragile. Some die at 24. Auntie Wang, you’ve lived this long—it hasn’t been easy. Better not come here for matchmaking again; it might shorten your lifespan.”

With that, she went back into the courtyard and locked the gate.

Wang Fang called after her, “You girl, how can you talk like that!”

“You don’t even know which young man it is and you’re already refusing? At least meet him. You might be satisfied once you see him.”

The only response was Xiao Kui’s barking, “Woof! Woof! Woof! ... Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Seeing this, Wang Fang had no choice but to head back.

Before she could leave, she heard an acquaintance greet her, “Oh, isn’t this Sister Wang? What, here to matchmake for some young man or girl in our village?”

Wang Fang said, “It’s Jiang Xianzheng’s granddaughter. That girl is so stubborn.”

Auntie Guo said, “Her? Which rich young master are you introducing to her?”

“Not a rich young master. Just a young man from my village—handsome, sensible, and filial.”

The He Minhe family was only average by rural standards. In Wang Fang’s eyes, although Jiang Yingxue was quite pretty and ran a small stall in the city, she was, after all, a country girl. The He family was a perfectly suitable match.

Auntie Guo asked curiously, “What business is the man in? How many properties does he own in the city?”

Wang Fang smiled, “Although the girl is pretty, she has a bad temper. Rich young masters aren’t that easy to find.”

Auntie Guo said disdainfully, “So the man has nothing to his name, then.”

“What did my Uncle Xianzheng say?”

Wang Fang said angrily, “That girl is too unreasonable. Not only did I not get to see the parents, I didn’t even get a cup of hot tea.”

“Sister Wang, with the kind of match you’re proposing, it’s a wonder she didn’t curse you out, and you’re expecting tea?”

“Sister Wang, you came without doing your homework,” Auntie Guo said, pointing to the unfinished building ahead, her tone tinged with envy and pride. “This is our village’s shopping mall. What do you think? Impressive enough?”

Wang Fang said, “It is quite impressive. Building a shopping mall in the countryside—whose family is that rich?”

Auntie Guo replied, “It’s Uncle Xianzheng’s granddaughter. Sister Wang, don’t even think about introducing some poor fellow with no house or car. Even if you introduced a rich young master worth tens of millions, she might not even be interested.”

This year, they had a more comfortable New Year than last, thanks to the money from selling nutritious, healthful vegetables.

From the village meetings, they learned that the seeds for the nutritious vegetables were developed by Jiang Yingxue. She also had a share in the fertilizer store and provided the seeds to the villagers for free.

Not only that, she funded the construction of a park in the village. The village chief and Party Secretary also mentioned during meetings that if the shopping mall did well, they could start small businesses in the village too.