Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 28: Chapter 19: Juhua’s Panic (Part 2)

Watching Qingmu walk into the kitchen, a glimmer of hope rose in her heart. ’My brother cares about me. At least for now, I can rely on him.’

’Even if I can’t rely on him forever, as long as I work hard and make this family prosperous, my brother will be able to get a wife. Then I’ll be safe, won’t I? If our family is wealthy, wouldn’t those people who find me an eyesore be willing to marry their daughters to my brother for the money?’

Her mind raced with these anxious thoughts. Forgetting she had lived two lives, she clung desperately to the young man’s sleeve like a lifeline, her sobs choking her!

Seeing Juhua’s face red and swollen from crying, her eyes puffy and bloodshot as she gasped for breath, her lips trembling, and the clusters of growths on her face standing out in a terrifying way, Qingmu felt a pang of both anger and pity. He said to her furiously, ”Don’t you worry. Even if I can’t get a wife for my entire life, I won’t let you be married off to some riff-raff!”

With that, he pulled his sleeve from Juhua’s grasp, ran outside, and spoke bluntly to Matchmaker Wang, who was still arguing with Yang Family. ”My sister will not marry a widower. Even if I can’t get married myself, I won’t let my sister be married off carelessly. You should leave now!”

Yang Family was also furious that Matchmaker Wang had brought up the widower in his forties. But being older and more calculating, she didn’t let her anger show on her face. After all, she would still need the matchmaker’s help for her son’s marriage in the future.

She told Matchmaker Wang tactfully that she doted on her own daughter and wanted to keep her at home for a few more years. Even if she couldn’t marry into a good family in the future, she would never be casually married off to some old man!

Matchmaker Wang was not pleased to hear this. ’I’m doing all this for your own good, and you don’t even appreciate it,’ she thought. ’For a pockmarked girl, you’re willing to jeopardize your own son’s marriage prospects. With your girl’s scary face, what kind of family does she expect to marry into? You must be daydreaming!’

She was just about to make a few cutting remarks to snap Yang Family out of her daydream when Qingmu rushed out and said his piece. Furious, she shot to her feet, her broad face falling. ”Well now! I guess I was just being a busybody, worrying that other families would look down on your son for having a pockmarked sister, trying to figure out how to marry your daughter off to pave the way for your son’s engagement. Here I am, running myself ragged for you, and you don’t even appreciate it. Fine, I’ve said too much! I’m leaving—since I’m being kicked out!”

Yang Family was mortified. She shot Qingmu a glare and quickly tried to placate Matchmaker Wang with soft words, saying things like he was just a child who didn’t know any better, a simple-minded boy.

But Matchmaker Wang ignored her. With a ”Hmph,” she turned and left, though not without grabbing a handful of peanuts on her way out. The bowl was already nearly empty, with only a few lonely peanuts left at the bottom.

After seeing Matchmaker Wang off, Yang Family turned to Qingmu reproachfully. ”All matchmakers are like that. I hadn’t agreed to her proposal, so why did you have to be so blunt and kick her out? You just made an enemy for no reason!”

Qingmu’s face was taut. ”She was allowed to stand here spouting nonsense? Look, she scared sister so much she’s crying!”

”What?” Yang Family grew anxious at his words. Only then did she remember that her daughter was in the kitchen and had probably overheard her conversation with Matchmaker Wang.

She rushed into the kitchen and saw at a glance that there was no sign of a fire in the stove. Juhua was squatting pitifully by the stove opening, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

A wave of sorrow washed over Yang Family, and tears welled up in her eyes. She pulled Juhua to her feet and chided her, ”You silly child, why don’t you trust your own mother? Do you think I’m like Liu’er’s mother? I would rather die than marry you off to just anyone to suffer for the rest of your life—you’re my own flesh and blood!” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but burst into sobs.

As mother and daughter were crying, Zheng Changhe came in. He had also heard Matchmaker Wang’s words and was filled with rage, but being a man, he felt it wasn’t his place to argue with a woman like her.

He walked into the kitchen, saw the two of them bawling their eyes out, and said furiously, ”From now on, when we look for a match for Qingmu, we’re not using that wretched woman—insulting my daughter like that. Just because Butcher Zhang is dead, doesn’t mean we have to eat hairy pork!”

Qingmu also came in and said, ”Mother, didn’t I tell you a few days ago that I don’t want to think about marriage right now? This outcome is actually perfect.”

Zheng Changhe waved a hand. ”Right! Let’s wait until our family is better off, and then we’ll see them come begging at our door! That son of a bitch Liu Fugui, I’ll make him regret this for the rest of his life!”

Yang Family quickly wiped her eyes and said to him, ”What’s the point of making him regret anything? Let’s just live our own lives and not get caught up in these arguments. Juhua, dear, don’t be scared! Your father and I would never be as brainless as Liu’er’s mother. As for your marriage, as long as you’re unwilling, we won’t force you. The same goes for your brother.”

Zheng Changhe quickly reassured Juhua, ”My girl, you’re your father’s favorite! How could I bear to marry you off to some old widower? Just set your mind at ease! Hey now! I’ve been working all day and I’m starving. How come the stove is still cold? My girl, you didn’t get angry and decide not to cook, did you?”

No matter how uneasy Juhua still felt, she was deeply moved by her parents’ words. ’Maybe I’ve been too cautious. This simple couple truly cherishes their daughter like the apple of their eye. It seems I’m the one who hasn’t trusted them enough.’

She finally relaxed and forced a smile for her father. ”I’ll start right away, it’ll be ready soon!”

Yang Family shot Zheng Changhe a look and said to Juhua, ”Juhua, dear, you go wash your face and get some rest. I’ll make the meal!”

Juhua quickly replied, ”It’s alright, Mother! I’ve already prepared all the ingredients, it won’t take long. You’ve been busy all day, you should go rest.”

’My parents dote on me, so I should be even more diligent. If I’m lazy and spoiled, who would still care for me?’

In the end, mother and daughter worked together, and soon the meal was cooked and served on the table.

******

Never mind Juhua’s parents and brother, who were busy comforting her and cursing Matchmaker Wang and Liu Fugui. Let’s talk about Matchmaker Wang, who stomped out of Juhua’s house in a huff and headed for the river ferry in Qingnan Village.

As she passed Zhang Huai’s house, she ran smack into Granny Hua, who had just put down her rice bowl and come out looking for someone to gossip with.

The moment Granny Hua saw Matchmaker Wang, she eagerly sidled up to her. Where there’s a matchmaker, there’s fresh gossip!

********

The following is not part of the main text. Juhua pondered worriedly: What’s going on? Why are the favorites and clicks for *Ugly Woman, Juhua* so high, but the recommendation votes are so few, far less than the number of favorites? This is so strange. Is this book popular or not? Every day she would run to check the recommendation votes, staring at them eagerly, hoping the number would go up.