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Chapter 113: Switching the Bride_l

The granduncle did not respond but looked over at his distant grandnephew before asking, “And where’s your sister?”

“My sister and my brother have gone to fetch water, they’ll be back soon.” As Chu Qing said this, he wiped his nose again.

The granduncle furrowed his brows and turned to ask his cousin, “Shall we stick around to check?”

“Of course!” The fourth clan elder took a quick glance around, then picked a smooth large tree root to sit on.

He wanted to see with his own eyes if this girl was indeed suitable.

Chu Qing was a good boy, noticing that the two elders were staying, he quickly went back inside the house to get a long bench for them to sit on.

The fourth clan elder nodded and asked, “Your name is Qingqing, right? What’s your sister’s name?”

Chu Qing: “My sister’s name is Chuchu.”

“Chuchu, a nice name. Did your father tell her about the potential

mother-in-law?” the fourth clan elder continued to inquire.

Chu Qing blinked, shaking his head in confusion. “I don’t know.”

The fourth clan elder, “How old is your sister this year?”

This Chu Qing knew: “My sister is fifteen. My dad said, after her birthday, he will go to town to buy fabric to make her a new dress.”

Fourth clan elder stroked his beard thoughtfully before asking another question. “Qingqing, you’re seven this year, right? Do you want to study?” Chu Qing met the gaze of his granduncle with a blank look.

Just then, Chuchu and their younger brother came back with a big bucket of water.

Seeing two clan elders sitting at their doorstep, they both paused with surprise.

“Sister, you’re back! The second granduncle was looking for you,” Chu Qing cheerfully ran over to help carry the water bucket.

Chuchu nodded to both clan elders, and with her younger brother, carried the water bucket into the kitchen. Only after that, she came out to pay her respects to the elders, “Second granduncle, fourth granduncle.”

The fourth clan elder noticed the girl conducted herself with composure and grace; he couldn’t help but nod in approval.

On her forehead was a small red birthmark, no larger than a fingertip, which could be easily covered by her fringe, barely noticeable.

She had a beautiful face, clear eyes, and appeared sensible and considerate. The fourth elder was even more pleased.

He stood up and said to Chuchu, “Chuchu, when your father comes back, tell him to visit the Chu Family in the village. The Clan Leader has some matters to discuss with him.”

Chuchu was taken by surprise but didn’t ask any question, she gently responded: “Okay, I’ll let him know when he’s back.”

The fourth clan elder, hands clasped behind his back, headed home and walked alongside his cousin, asking, “How many years have passed since Chu Lao Shi’s wife passed away?

The second clan elder thought for a while: “Probably four or five years, Qingqing could barely walk then. Chuchu, that girl, had to take care of him while she did all the housework.”

“What’s the story with that boy named Chu Yan in their house?” the fourth elder seemed more concerned about this.

Everyone in the village knew that Chu Lao Shi’s eldest son was not his biological child, but a burden brought to him by his second wife.

The situation in Chu Lao Shi’s home was complicated, which was why no matchmaker had visited their household even though Chuchu was a good fifteen-year-old girl.

“If Chu Yan is given Chu Lao Shi’s surname, it means he recognizes Chu Lao Shi as his father. He is not like what the rumors have been saying, destined to be Chuchu’s childhood betrothed.”

The second elder, aware of what his cousin was implying, explained everything to him.

Chuchu was the child of Chu Lao Shi’s first wife. After the first wife fell ill and passed on when Chuchu was three, Chu Lao Shi went to work and brought back a woman refugee, who had a five-year-old son named Chu Yan.

The woman later bore a son for Chu Lao Shi and named him Chu Qing.

Unfortunately, she fell ill and died when Chu Qing was around two years old.

Since then, Chu Lao Shi became more silent and refused to remarry.

The people in the village said it was because he is cursed and it affected his children, hence they did not have positive view of his family.

The fourth elder nodded: “As long as it’s not like what the rumors say.”

He was also worried that Chu Lao Shi had already promised Chuchu to Chu Yan. If that were the case, it would seem like he was bullying them if he were to intervene.

At the Jiang’s residence in Dongchen village.

After seeing off all the relatives, every member of the Jiang family looked utterly exhausted.

Their own wedding event was nothing but a complete disaster.

The groom was injured, the bride was taken away, and the bride’s family refused to back out of the marriage, insisting on sending another girl over instead.

What kind of situation is this? It’s unheard of in history, completely baffling.

Master Jiang and Madam Zhou were categorically against this bizarre suggestion.

Dani had cleaned the items in her elder brother’s bridal chamber, items brought by the bride’s family. Not a single one was left as they were all moved into the side chamber, ready to be returned to the Chu family when they had time.

This included the two red lacquered wood boxes from the bride’s dowry, two beds, a dressing box, a potty, a washbasin, a foot bath basin, and a bathing basin.

Dani collected all the items that belonged to their family together, waiting to hand them over to her elder brother for verification once he awoke.

Unexpectedly, before Jiang Cheng woke up, someone from the Chu family came over again.

This time, more than a dozen clansmen from the Chu Family came, along with a few women.

The most exasperating fact for the Jiang family was that they even brought a bridal sedan chair along.

The bridal sedan chair stopped directly at the entrance of Master Jiang’s new residence, and two unfamiliar matchmakers assisted a petite bride out of it.

Master Jiang almost laughed out of annoyance, “Clan Leader Chu, what’s the meaning of this?”

Clan Leader Chu chuckled and said, “My good son-in-law, this is the most exceptional child of my Chu Family. She is of the right age for your son and her character and looks perfectly match him.”

He then turned to the veiled girl and called, “Chuchu, come and greet your father and mother-in-law.”

The two matchmakers quickly supported the girl forward to bow.

The young girl bowed obediently, “Chuchu greets her parents.”

Madam Zhou was so angry that she turned around and went back to her room.

Of course, she was not angry at the girl, but at the shamelessness of the Chu Clan Leader.

They had clearly stated their intent to call off the marriage and refused to accept any substitute bride, but Clan Leader Chu still brought this girl over.

Master Jiang also gritted his teeth and spoke solemnly, “Clan Leader Chu, are you exploiting your age and taking advantage of the fact that my Jiang Family lacks members?”

Clan Leader Chu said, “What are you talking about? I’m doing this for the sake of making peace between our two families, that’s why I picked an appropriate girl. ”

Before Master Jiang could intervene, Clan Leader Chu continued, “Alas, if your family is really unwilling, why not let this child stay and take care of your son for now? When his health recovers, you can send her back home. This is our Chu family’s way of apologizing; my good son-in-law, you need not refuse.”

Master Jiang immediately refused, “What nonsense is that? My son has enough people to care for him. Clan Leader Chu, there’s no need for your concern. If you really feel guilty, you can return my son’s marriage book and dowry.”

He didn’t want to deal ambiguously with the Chu family any longer, instead, he directly demanded the marriage book and dowry back.

This time, Clan Leader Chu didn’t say anything else and ordered his subordinates to bring the dowry and marriage book. He then respectfully handed them over.

“Here, we have a total of one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Thirty taels were given when the marriage was agreed, plus eighty taels as the dowry. I also changed some sundry items into silver to add up to ten taels, and the remaining thirty taels are your son’s medical expenses. Please look them over.”

Clan Leader Chu’s attitude was very humble, which made Master Jiang feel somewhat uncomfortable.

After receiving the silver and marriage book, and confirming their correctness, he got Jiang Quan to take them into the house.

Jiang Quan and Dani moved out all the items that Chu Man had brought as her dowry, one by one, and handed them to Clan Leader Chu.

Clan Leader Chu didn’t say anything else, just instructed his clansmen to take them and load them onto the cart, ready to take back.

Afterwards, Clan Leader Chu bid his farewell, and Master Jiang did not ask him to stay.

With the departure of the bridal sedan chair, and the horse and mule carts, the members of the Jiang family finally breathed a sigh of relief and went home one after another.

Suddenly, they saw a petite girl standing at their front door. She was wearing a bright red dress. Isn’t she the substitute bride brought by Clan Leader Chu?

“Why didn’t you leave with them?” Dani couldn’t help but ask..