Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

They worked until dark before heading home, where they dug another two loads.

In the twilight, Black Dog ran up to greet them, barking. As they drew closer, the grunting of pigs and the clucking of chickens and ducks grew louder. These familiar, bustling sounds welcomed them into the courtyard. Like weary birds returning to their nest, they felt their worries melt away, replaced by an immense sense of peace and serenity.

Under the dim yellow light of an oil lamp, Mrs. Yang set out dinner, and the family ate and chatted together.

But enough about the cozy scene at the Zheng Family’s home. After Li Changxing returned, he did as planned and asked Huang Dagunzi’s mother—Grandma Huang—to inquire about Meizi’s feelings on Li Changming’s behalf. In truth, this meant asking for Gou Dan’s mother’s opinion.

He didn’t dare to act on his own, so he found Li Changming and told him his plan.

Li Changming shot to his feet, looking like he was about to stop him, but Li Changxing pushed his cousin back down. "Can’t you have a little backbone?" he said, exasperated. "What’s the harm in asking discreetly? We’re asking Grandma Huang, and she’s not a gossip. Whether it works out or not, no rumors will get out. What’s the damn point of you keeping this bottled up and not doing anything? What if Meizi actually likes you? Then you’d be missing out on a great match! And if she doesn’t, we’ll just pretend it never happened. You can finally give up on her and focus on saving money to marry someone else. Or what, are you planning to stay single your whole life?"

Hearing this, Li Changming’s grip on him went slack. He slowly squatted down in dejected silence. Li Changxing stood beside him, also quiet, simply watching.

After a long time, as if he had made a momentous decision, Li Changming stood up. "Alright," he said to Li Changxing. "I’ll give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll really give up for good."

"That’s more like it!" Li Changxing said happily. "I’ll have my mom go talk to Grandma Huang. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone else find out."

Li Changming looked at his cousin with a complicated expression. "Thank you, Changxing. You have your own troubles, yet you’re still worrying about me."

Li Changxing laughed. "We’re brothers. You don’t have to be so formal. I’m off, then. I’ll have Grandma Huang ask tonight, and we should have an answer by tomorrow."

Li Changming nodded. He watched his cousin’s back as he left, his heart in his throat. He was completely out of sorts while working that afternoon, and at night, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Li Changxing, however, was exceptionally thorough. He gave his mother specific instructions to pass on to Grandma Huang: when she brought up the matter, she should find an opportunity to do so in Meizi’s presence. In other words, it was crucial that Meizi herself overheard it.

He wasn’t a reckless person; he had only urged his cousin to go for it because he had noticed that Meizi seemed very fond of Li Changming.

Perhaps Meizi, in her youthful innocence, hadn’t developed any romantic feelings for Li Changming, but she definitely held him in high regard. For one thing, whenever Li Changxing and Li Changming spoke with her together, Meizi was clearly more trusting of Li Changming.

Having accepted this difficult task, Grandma Huang went to Meizi’s house that evening. She arrived just as the family was eating dinner, so she waited for a bit. Only after Gou Dan’s mother put down her bowl and chopsticks did she come over to sit and talk with her. Gou Dan’s grandmother came over as well.

Gou Dan’s mother made small talk with Grandma Huang, all the while waiting for her to state the real purpose of her visit. ’She must be here for a reason, coming at this hour.’

But Grandma Huang was in a bind. While Gou Dan’s mother was chatting with her, Meizi had gone off to wash the dishes. ’And Changxing’s mother told me I absolutely have to ask about this in front of Meizi,’ she thought.

She chatted idly with Gou Dan’s grandmother for a while, and as soon as she heard Meizi’s footsteps just outside the room, she revealed the reason for her visit. "It’s Li Changxing’s mother who sent me. She’s hoping to ask for Meizi’s hand on behalf of Li Changming. She wasn’t sure what you’d think and didn’t dare send a formal matchmaker, fearing it would be awkward if people found out. If you’re amenable to the idea, then she’ll send a matchmaker over properly."

Gou Dan’s mother asked in surprise, "What? Li Changxing’s mother is asking for Meizi on behalf of Li Changming, not Li Changxing?"

Grandma Huang nodded with a gentle smile. "That’s right. It’s for Changming. She didn’t want his own mother to find out, afraid she’d make a big, noisy fuss, so she asked me to come and inquire on the quiet."

It’s said that a marriageable daughter will attract a hundred suitors, and Li Changxing’s mother sending Grandma Huang to discreetly inquire first was certainly a prudent approach. Even so, Gou Dan’s mother was furious. ’That boy, Li Changming, never would have dared to ask for Meizi’s hand before,’ she fumed internally. ’So he dares to ask now, just because he saved her? What is this, demanding she repay the favor with her hand in marriage?’

She suppressed her anger and said to Grandma Huang, "Aunt Huang, you’re practically family, so I’ll be blunt. Changming is a good lad, but he’s just too old for her—eleven years older than Meizi. I don’t feel this is appropriate. Yes, he saved my Meizi, and for that, I should give this serious thought. But marriage is for a lifetime! If two people aren’t a good match, forcing them together will only lead to a miserable life!"

Gou Dan’s grandmother, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement, adding that the match was indeed improper.

Grandma Huang heard Meizi’s footsteps halt outside the room and felt a sense of relief. ’As long as she heard it, that’s good enough.’ She could see that Gou Dan’s mother was angry. Although she hadn’t exploded, she was a woman who kept her feelings hidden; this display alone was enough to show how indignant she truly was.

She chuckled and said, "Gou Dan’s mother, when I left, Li Changxing’s mother told me she was just helping Li Changming ask. As the saying goes, a good daughter will have a hundred suitors—it’s perfectly normal. She told me not to let you worry about it. If it’s a no, it’s no big deal. And she wanted to assure you, they will absolutely not spread this around. Why else would she have come to me so specifically? It’s because she’s afraid of word getting out!"

This made Gou Dan’s mother feel slightly better. She repeated that the age gap was the main issue, insisting that she had nothing against Li Changming personally.

Seeing that her mind was made up, Grandma Huang didn’t press the matter and took her leave.

On her way out, she saw Meizi standing blankly by the door. She sighed. ’Now, it’s all up to fate to see if those two are meant to be,’ she thought.

After seeing Grandma Huang out, Gou Dan’s mother simply told Meizi to go take her bath, with no intention of asking for her opinion on the matter.

It wasn’t that she enjoyed being domineering. On the contrary, she deeply valued her daughter’s thoughts. However, she was convinced that Meizi could never possibly like Li Changming. Qingmu, maybe, but not him. And so, she didn’t even bother asking. In her mind, there was simply no need. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)