In Yun Jiao's memory, Gu Mei was still fine the day before, but by the next day, it was as if she had become a different person. Not only did she refuse the marriage, but she also managed to sweet talk Li Shi into allowing her, not yet fifteen, to marry instead.
It took a lot of persuasion from Matchmaker Auntie Two before the Jiang Family agreed to the change.
No matter how you look at it, something about this situation seems odd.
Gu Mei's eyes flashed nervously. Of course, she wouldn't admit she was reincarnated.
In her previous life, after her father disappeared, as the eldest sister, everything in the household depended on her. Every day she had to concoct medicine for her mother, cook meals, and wash clothes for the family, and tend to the vegetable garden.
You should know, their family used to hire servants.
All these tasks were previously done by the servants.
After her father went missing, her mother had to take medicine daily, and the household ran out of money. They couldn't afford the servants anymore and had to let them go.
She was exhausted every day, just wanting to escape the burden of her maternal family, so she pleaded with Matchmaker Auntie Two to find her a marriage.
Auntie Two said that ordinary families usually waited until after the autumn harvest to have money to discuss a marriage. Now she only had one urgent marriage proposal from the Jiang Family, which needed to be consummated quickly.
Although Gu Mei was unwilling to marry for fortune, she was pleased with the idea of marrying soon.
However, Auntie Two added that although Jiang Dalang was ill now, when he was healthy, he was full of strength and could do the work of two strong laborers.
Moreover, the Jiang Family was well-off, living in houses made of green brick and tiles. Not only that, Jiang Dalang's younger brother, Jiang Sanlang, was a prodigy from a young age. He became a scholar at just fifteen and was well-known throughout Nanyang Prefecture, said to be a heavenly Wenqu star descended to earth, destined for officialdom. Marrying there would surely lead to a life of prosperity.
Gu Mei, however, wanted to marry Jiang Sanlang, yet Auntie Two said that the Jiang Family planned to find an official family's daughter to marry him after he ranked in the exams, which would be of help in his official career.
Countless wealthy families wanted to marry their daughters to Jiang Sanlang and sought Auntie Two's matchmaking, but the Jiang Family refused them all.
Such a sought-after match couldn't possibly fall to her!
Gu Mei considered her family's decline and realized that marrying Jiang Sanlang was indeed a fantasy.
If she couldn't marry Jiang Sanlang, then Jiang Dalang would suffice.
After all, they were a family, and if Jiang Sanlang became successful, Jiang Dalang's life wouldn't be too bad either.
As long as Jiang Dalang could pull through this rough patch.
Gu Mei believed she was fortunate; if she married, this wedding for fortune would surely succeed.
Since Li Shi cried every day and cared for nothing, she took the initiative and accepted the marriage proposal.
Who would have thought that on the wedding day, Jiang Dalang would die, and the days ahead, alas, are better left unmentioned.
Only Gu Mei reincarnated too late; the marriage was already settled the day before, the betrothal gifts were to be exchanged the next day, and the following day was the wedding, with half the bride price already spent.
The money was not much of an issue; the family still had some savings. They could find something to pawn, and the money could be arranged. However, breaking off the engagement would damage the girl's reputation.
If it got out later that she had been engaged, her prospects would significantly diminish, making it even harder to find a suitable match.
Quick-witted, Gu Mei pushed fourteen-year-old Yun Jiao out as a replacement.
Faced with Yun Jiao's questioning now, Gu Mei hesitantly said, "I changed my mind because I was worried that no one would take care of Mother and Brother."
"You're too young and don't know how to do anything. The household chores still fall to me."
Yun Jiao pulled Gu Chuan over, "What a great excuse! Is this how you take care of your brother?"
"How long has it been since he had a bath?"
"It's still August, and surely he should bathe every day, right? Look at his hair, smell the stench on his body!"