The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 660: Bai Jinyan Pays a Visit (3)_1

Having delivered the gifts, I temporarily returned to Landlord Zhao’s residence and discussed with him the arrangements for the betrothal and the wedding. His home was far from Taiping Town, and it was inconvenient for my parents to travel such a long distance, so the betrothal was entrusted to Landlord Zhao, who was also considered one of my elders. When the wedding took place, a cousin from my side of the family would come over to help manage the event.

Landlord Zhao was very happy to see Yang Boyan and Pei Qian getting married, which brought his family and the Pei Qin family closer by a degree. Yang Boyan was his daughter-in-law’s brother, with an excellent character and family background, definitely a man worth entrusting a lifetime to. Although Pei Qian was a little brash, she had significant abilities and courage. After Pei Qin received the Decree from The Imperial Court, her status also rose, making them a suitable match.

On this end, preparations began actively, waiting for Pei Qian’s anger to subside, so the betrothal could be arranged right away.

Pei Qin came over to see Pei Qian, "Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is human instinct, and you can’t dismiss it just for that. As long as Yang Boyan is still decent, and you both truly like each other, that’s enough!"

Pei Qian pursed her lips, "... His cousin waited for him for so many years, and now she has become an old maid and got rejected. Even if I don’t mind, all those people who wanted Yang Boyan to marry her hate me now! Even if I do marry into their family, I won’t have peaceful days!"

"About that, if Yang Boyan also has feelings for his cousin, you don’t have to tell me; I wouldn’t support you two. That’s just unrequited love! If every case of unrequited love required the other party to marry, wouldn’t the world be in complete chaos? You live your life; why care about how others see you!" Pei Qin patted her shoulder.

It took a while for Pei Qian to speak again, "Their Yang family doesn’t seem to have good intentions either." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Pei Qin gave her a fierce glare and shoved her head, "Since everyone is malicious, why don’t you take a bomb and go seek revenge on society!"

Pei Qian snorted, "That’s exactly what I’m saying."

"Then you first think about it, what kind of life you want to live, what kind of person you want to marry, what kind of family. After weighing all aspects, then you decide how to choose!" Anyway, whether it is Yang Boyan or Zhao Xiaochen, both are good choices! Neither of them would be like that brooding presence in the back courtyard, driving you crazy.

Bowing her head, Pei Qian fell silent. If she were to marry Yang Boyan, it would be like groping in the dark, all alone in an unfamiliar household, having to look at their faces, endure the bullying of his family members, and be used in their schemes. The little joy Yang Boyan could give her, could it really offset what she would have to endure?

Seeing her silence and confusion, Pei Qin suggested she take her time to consider, "Besides, there’s no rush; you’re still young. I’m planning to have you marry at seventeen, so there are still a few years!"

This was the first time she had fallen for someone, constantly thinking of him. Even when unhappy, her mood would brighten upon seeing him. Thinking of the small things he deliberately gave her, the thoughtfulness behind them, she couldn’t help feeling delighted and her lips involuntarily curved into a smile.

Pei Qian still wished to marry him.

If only she weren’t so malicious in her speculations about his family, or if he weren’t the eldest son—if they could live separately, close to her elder and second sister, she could enjoy many happy things with him and have a pleasant and fortunate life.

To marry him was possible, but she must set conditions! They must live separately and reside near her family’s home! Otherwise, she wouldn’t even discuss it with him! Humph!

Having made up her mind, Pei Qian waited for Yang Boyan to seek her out, so she could tell him her terms.

But the person who came looking for her wasn’t Yang Boyan; it was a proud and noble woman in her twenties, radiating elegance and beauty.

"Who are you?" Pei Qian was out in the yard picking coriander and came out holding the vegetables to ask.

"I am Bai Jinyan; you must have heard of me. Yang Boyan’s fiancée," Bai Jinyan said, slightly lifting her chin.

Pei Qian’s face suddenly changed, "You...."

Bai Jinyan glanced at the modest brick courtyard and then scrutinized Pei Qian. Seeing her change of expression upon hearing her name, she said, "You must be Pei Qian!"

The maidservant sizing up Pei Qian showed disdain and resentment. This Miss Pei Qian was slender, her looks and demeanor inferior to their young lady’s in every way. Dressed in plain cotton clothes with only a satin-lined vest on top—how rustic! And she was even picking vegetables. How could Young Master Yang take a fancy to someone like her and want to marry her as his official wife? They must be blind!

When Bai Jinyan saw what Pei Qian looked like, she felt much more relieved. Had Pei Qian been an extremely beautiful woman, a pitiable frail young lady, or someone with any other outstanding quality, she might have been worried. But Pei Qian as she was had no chance of comparing with herself. Even if her elder sister had been conferred a Decree by The Imperial Court, her brother-in-law was just a Ninth Grade small official, just starting out and could not compare to their Bai family.

Seeing the scorn in her eyes and contempt from the maidservant behind her, Pei Qian’s anger rose, "What did you come to my house for?"

Bai Jinyan replied directly, "I came to see the person who captured Yang Boyan’s heart, the person who makes me take a concubine’s place. I just didn’t expect..." she said, smiling slightly.

"Take a concubine’s place!? Hasn’t he broken off the engagement with you?" Pei Qian’s eyes widened.

Bai Jinyan nodded, "Indeed the engagement was broken, so the position of the main wife is temporarily yours." Everyone knew she had been promised to Yang Boyan, and now at this age, she could hardly marry someone else.

Pei Qian’s heart sank to the bottom, as if she had plunged into an icy pool. Her hands gripping the coriander squeezed so hard that the delicate leaves broke in her grasp.

Seeing her pale face and the coriander broken in her hand, Bai Jinyan smiled subtly, "But you don’t need to worry. Since Yang Boyan is determined to marry you, and your uncle and aunt have agreed, once you marry him, just manage the inner courtyard and be the official wife. I won’t threaten your position as his wife, nor will I interfere much with the affairs of the inner courtyard. I will be taking over the family business and won’t have the time to inquire further. So, we can live together peacefully," she stated, full of confidence and composure.