The two were scrambling for the item when an elder from the Chu family came over, grabbed Chu Man and scolded her, "Can you please be quiet?"
If they continue to let her act recklessly, the Chu family might completely fall out with the Jiang family.
Let alone reconciliation between the two families, it would be a blessing if they didn't become enemies.
Chu Man refused to comply and started crying again, "Those are mine! They are all mine! I want to take them all away!"
The elder raised his hand and slapped her hard in the face, "You don't need to bring anything! Come back with us now!"
Chu Man was beaten again, and the one who beat her was the Chu family's strictest fourth uncle. She was so scared that she shrank like a quail and dared not resist, allowing her uncle to drag her out by the arm.
"Father-in-law, I will take this evil creature back today, and I will come to your house to apologize some other day." Grandfather Chu clasped his fists and bowed to Jiang Dalang, then took Chu Man into the carriage.
Horse-drawn carriages are rare in the countryside, and few people can afford to use one.
Grandpa Chu remained silent all the way, not even looking at his niece who was huddled in the corner of the carriage, and just closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Chujia Village was about ten miles away from Chen Village, and the carriage arrived there in no time after speeding along the way.
Like Chen Village, the original Chujia Village was divided into two villages, Chujia Village and Chushan Village, as the population increased.
However, there are very few outsiders in these two villages, and most of the people who settled here are descendants of the Chu family.
The carriage came directly to the doorstep of Chu Cunzheng's house. The driver first stopped the horses, jumped off the shaft and helped Chu Taigong get off the carriage. He then helped the other two uncles get off the carriage. He then pulled Chu Man down and didn't care that she fell to the ground. He drove the carriage away.
The first person to run out was Chu Man's biological mother, Sun. Seeing her daughter fall to the ground, she rushed over to help her up, "My child, are you hurt?"
Chu Man hugged her mother and cried, "Mom, the Jiang family bullied me, wuwawawa, they even beat me."
"What? They beat you?" Sun was so heartbroken that she picked up her daughter and yelled, "The Jiang family actually dared to come and complain first. Let's go home and tell your father!"
The mother and daughter supported each other as they walked into the yard, and saw Taigong standing in the yard with his hands behind his back scolding Chu Cunzheng.
"You have spoiled a good child to the point of being unruly. I think you are getting more and more crazy! I have brought Manniang back today. From now on, her marriage with the Jiang family will be cancelled. I will select a girl with good character from the clan to marry the Jiang family's child."
Chu Taigong was also the patriarch of the entire Chu family, and no one dared to refute what he said.
Chu Cunzheng was so angry when he heard this that he said anxiously, "Uncle, this is not right. If you do this, what will happen to Manniang in the future?"
Grandfather Chu: "Manniang is only sixteen years old. She can find a family to marry her off in two years. As for the Jiang family, it's good enough that they didn't send Manniang to the government."
"No, no!" Chu Cunzheng just shook his head. "It's just a fight between children. Manniang is young and she didn't know how to control her strength. Why did it get to this point?"
An uncle shouted, "Shut up! The Jiang family's child is unconscious, and must have suffered a serious brain injury. She may die at any time. How dare you say such a thing? Aren't you afraid that the Jiang family will make your daughter pay with her life?"
Chu Cunzheng opened his mouth in shock.
Sun, who was about to make a noise, stopped and quietly pulled her daughter into the house.
"Man'er, tell mother, what happened? Why did you smash Jiang Cheng like that?" Sun asked in a low voice.
Chu Man pouted and muttered, "He is so disgusting. He actually took off my clothes..."
Sun's face darkened. "Didn't mother tell you at home that the couple should consummate their marriage on the night of their marriage? You...you...ah."
Chu Man snorted, "I don't want to consummate my marriage with him!"
Sun sighed.
It's too late to say anything now.
Just call off the engagement. If the boy from the Jiang family really dies and my daughter happens to be able to leave, she won’t have to bear the burden of being a widow.
It’s a pity about the eighty taels of betrothal gift, I guess I can’t keep it.
Since Taigong said he would choose a new girl to send over, the betrothal gifts must be given to that family. I'm afraid it won't work if we don't give some from our own family.
In the yard, Patriarch Chu scolded his nephew, and then returned home to talk with his two uncles and brothers.
After taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, he asked his two cousins, "Do you have any candidates for the Jiang family matter?"
Both of them shook their heads.
Chief Chu: "Regardless of family background, we only look at the character of the child. Can't we pick any one? Second brother, don't you have any in your village?"
My second uncle and the head of the Chu clan are also cousins. They separated from the family when they were young and were unfortunately assigned to Chushan Village.
However, he and his fourth brother have become the elders of the clan because they are older. Whenever there is any major event in the clan, he, the fourth brother and the clan leader will discuss it together.
"Yes, but how can I ask for it?" The second elder said, "She is a good girl, how can I push her into the fire pit?"
"Who is the fire pit?" Chief Chu said dissatisfiedly: "Second brother, you are too short-sighted!"
The elder from the second clan snorted and drank his tea.
He and the fourth brother did not agree to choose another girl from the Chu family to send over, but the eldest brother of the clan insisted on having his own way.
The Chu clan leader said angrily: "Who am I doing this for? You all think I'm old and confused, right?"
He stretched out his palm that looked like dry tree bark and slapped the table, "No wonder our Chu family is getting weaker with each generation. Even you two have lost your heads!"
The four elders couldn't help but speak up: "Brother, you can't say that. Even if we want to have a good relationship with the Jiang family and learn how to grow mushrooms, there is no need to sacrifice a girl from the Chu family."
"What do you mean by ruin? The Jiang family has many descendants and their fortunes are at their peak. If our Chu family's child marries them, he will enjoy happiness for the rest of his life!"
Chief Chu suppressed his urge to beat people and taught them a lesson word by word.
"I don't care what you think. You must choose a good girl for me today, and I will send her to the Jiang family tomorrow!"
As he said this, the Chu clan leader rudely drove them away: "Don't bother giving me an enema here, hurry back and prepare! If you can't do it well, your grandchildren's schooling next year will be postponed."
The two elders were driven out by the old patriarch. They looked at each other and sighed softly.
"Second brother, I think the daughter of Chu Laoshi in your village is pretty good. She must be fifteen or sixteen years old this year. Why don't you take her?" The elder of the fourth clan said slowly.
The second elder shook his head and said, "That's not right. The child has red spots on his forehead. If the clan leader sees it, he will definitely scold us for not being able to do things. And the Jiang family will never want a child with a disfigured face. Wouldn't that be a slap in their face?"
The fourth elder said: "Although the girl has red spots on her forehead, it can't be seen with her hair. Besides, apart from this, the child is outstanding in every way. I think she is the most suitable. Otherwise, why don't we go to Chu Laoshi's house and ask him?"
"Okay." That's all I can do.
The second elder of the clan sighed and walked towards Chushan Village with the fourth elder.
Chushan Village is right next to Chujia Village, separated by a dirt road.
The two old men arrived at Chu Laoshi's house soon.
Three shabby thatched huts and a small kitchen, as poor as most households in the village.
It is the spring planting time now, and Chu Laoshi seems not to be at home.
However, his youngest child was squatting at the door playing with ants.
"Qing'er, where is your father?" the second elder walked over and asked.