Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 4

Chapter 4

Father Cao said with a troubled expression, “Life is unpredictable, this is not something we could have foreseen. Xi-ge’er is a good young man, our family is very satisfied, and Bin-ge’er also has feelings for Xi-ge’er. But who could have predicted such a thing would happen? Xi-ge’er’s face is really… not presentable. We can’t be blamed for this. I say, it’s better to break it off.”

Liu Xiufeng felt distressed for her child. Looking at the Cao family members filling the room, she became furious. “You make it sound like you’re so troubled and wronged, as if you’re the ones in a difficult position. You have no idea how heartless you are disgusted by my son’s current appearance, and even trying to shift the blame onto us. If you had any conscience, you should welcome my Xi-ge’er into your family with proper ceremony! Instead of bringing a whole group of people to my house to break off the engagement!”

Matchmaker Wang cried out, “Oh dear!” and quickly went to support Liu Xiufeng, trying to soothe her. “Mrs. Liu, please don’t get upset. Aren’t we discussing this properly? A child’s marriage is not something to rush.”

Ye Shan couldn’t help but burst in, the sturdy man standing in the main room, fuming. “Is my Xi-ge’er so unworthy now! You’re so eager to break off the engagement. The wedding is next month! This is slapping our family in the face! How will my Xi-ge’er face anyone in the future!”

Cao Bin’s mother wasn’t one to back down either. Having managed the family finances for decades, she had a sharp and decisive personality. She completely lost the gentle and kind demeanor she had during the proposal and said shrilly, “Don’t blame this on our family! Did we burn Xi-ge’er’s face? It’s your negligence that caused him to injure his face. Now his appearance is ruined, he’s completely unpresentable. How can our family let him in? If my son marries him, our family will become a laughingstock!”

Liu Xiufeng couldn’t bear her speaking about Ye Xi like that, and she lunged forward to hit her. Matchmaker Wang and several other members of the Cao family quickly intervened, and the main room immediately became chaotic.

Father Ye slammed the table and declared, “Breaking off the engagement is fine, but you have to compensate for my Xi-ge’er’s reputation.” The Cao family’s attitude today showed they were determined to break off the engagement. Even if Xi-ge’er married into their family, he wouldn’t have a good life. It was better to comply with their wishes and break off the engagement, but this couldn’t happen without some compensation.

Liu Xiufeng added, “Yes, you have to compensate my Xi-ge’er, to help him out!”

Cao Bin’s mother was reluctant to part with the money. She had always been tight-fisted and refused. “If it weren’t for your son burning his face, the marriage would have been settled. Now you want us to compensate! No way!”

Father Ye said firmly, “Then we won’t break it off. If this matter goes to court, it’s you who went back on your word first!”

“Yes, let’s go to court then. The fault isn’t with our family. It’s your family who came to break off the engagement!” Liu Xiufeng said.

Seeing the Ye family’s stance, Father Cao made the decision. “Compensation is fine. You keep one tael of the engagement money, and return the remaining four taels to us.”

Hearing this, Liu Xiufeng became even angrier. “One tael? Are you giving alms to beggars! We’ll keep three taels and return two to you!”

Cao Bin’s mother refused. “You’re robbing us! You actually want three taels! Your whole family working in the fields for a year probably can’t earn three taels. This is taking advantage of our misfortune!”

Ye Shan, a man, couldn’t help but argue with the women. He said fiercely, “Is my Xi-ge’er’s reputation worthless? No one in the surrounding villages has ever had their engagement broken off. This is slapping my brother in the face! Asking for three taels from you is not unreasonable!”

The other members of the Cao family also stood up and started arguing with the Ye family. Ye Shan was so angry that he wanted to rush out and find the village elders. Were they bullying his family because they had no one to support them?

Just as he turned around, he saw Ye Xi standing at the door, having come out of the room at some point. He stood quietly, watching the chaotic scene inside.

“Xi-ge’er,” Ye Shan called softly, afraid he would be saddened by the scene. “Go back to your room. We’ll take care of this for you. Don’t be afraid.”

Ye Xi shook his head. This matter stemmed from him, and besides, there were many villagers outside the courtyard craning their necks to watch the commotion. How could he hide in his room?

“Brother, this is happening because of my marriage. I shouldn’t hide.”

After speaking, Ye Xi stepped over the threshold and into the main room. “Uncles and aunts, please stop arguing. I’m willing to break off this engagement.”

His words silenced the room, and everyone wiped their faces and sat back down.

Ye Xi looked at his parents before continuing, “Since the Cao family doesn’t want me, there’s no point in continuing this engagement. Our family isn’t the type to cling on shamelessly, making a spectacle of ourselves.”

Cao Bin’s mother finally lifted her eyelids to glance at Ye Xi, seeing that he was wearing a veil. “That’s right, Xi-ge’er is still sensible. If it weren’t for you accidentally burning your face, I would definitely be happy to have you marry into our family.”

Father Ye said with distress, “Xi-ge’er, we can break off the engagement, but we still have to ask for the compensation we deserve.”

Ye Xi said, “Our family isn’t trying to extort your wealth, we just want an explanation. Your Cao family isn’t some imperial household, I don’t care about marrying in. But your Cao family needs to apologize to me in front of everyone, and clearly state that it’s not because of any shortcomings in my character, but because your Cao family values appearances and rejects me.”

Liu Xiufeng wiped her tears and nodded. “Yes! This way, our family doesn’t even need a single tael of silver!”

Ye Shan added, “Xi-ge’er is right! Don’t think you can take advantage of us everywhere. Since you’re breaking off the engagement, then apologize and restore my brother’s reputation!”

The Cao family naturally refused. How could they do such a shameful thing? If outsiders found out, they would be laughed at.

Cao Bin’s mother scoffed and refused flatly, “Humph! We absolutely refuse! You can’t even handle our apology.”

Father Cao also refused directly, saying they would never do such a shameful thing.

“Then let’s stick to our request of three taels of silver as compensation,” Ye Xi said calmly, not annoyed.

Cao Bin’s mother felt the pinch of the silver. Hearing that she would have to pay three taels for nothing, she felt her heart bleed. She gritted her teeth and bargained, “Three taels is absolutely impossible, one tael at most.”

The matter reached a stalemate. The two families were at a standstill, and the sun was about to set when someone outside shouted, “Cao-ge’er is here!”

Cao Bin rushed over after finishing his studies at the private school. He knew his parents were bringing several uncles to Shanxiu Village today to break off the engagement with the Ye family, and that the Ye family would definitely not agree easily.

As soon as he entered the Ye family’s main room, he saw it was full of people. His mother scolded him, “Why are you here? Your father, I, and your uncles can handle this. You don’t have to show up.”

Cao Bin pursed his lips and replied, “It’s my marriage after all, it’s better for me to be here.”

Ye Xi stood to the side, looking at Cao Bin in his light blue robe. After the engagement, Cao Bin had come to his house once. At that time, Ye Xi hid behind the crack in the door and peeked a few times. He looked gentle and refined, with the air of a scholar, and Ye Xi was quite satisfied.

Now, this was the first time they were facing each other. Ye Xi lowered his gaze, wondering if Cao Bin had come to refuse to break off the engagement.

Cao Bin also shifted his gaze to Ye Xi. Standing next to his brother, Ye Shan, Ye Xi seemed slightly petite, but his waist was slender, his figure graceful. Although he was wearing a veil, the exposed eyebrows and eyes revealed a rare beauty. Cao Bin sighed inwardly, what a pity. Ye Xi was so handsome, he was very satisfied, but why did his face get burned? He held a sliver of hope that perhaps Ye Xi’s face wasn’t that badly injured, perhaps it could be cured.

Cao Bin bowed to Ye Xi in the manner of a scholar. “It’s our family’s offense, please forgive us.”

The Ye family’s anger subsided somewhat, thinking that the Cao family finally had someone with manners.

Ye Xi returned the bow.

Cao Bin said, “Actually, this marriage isn’t necessarily unbreakable. What outsiders say about Ye-ge’er burning his face is just hearsay. Wouldn’t it be better if it could be cured? If it can be cured, I’m willing to marry Ye-ge’er.”

He couldn’t bear to let go of such a beautiful young man like Ye Xi. Even the daughters of wealthy families in town lacked the captivating charm in Ye Xi’s eyes. Such a young man was truly hard to find.

Hearing this, Ye Xi’s eyes drooped, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his lips. He had thought Cao Bin was sincere and polite, but it turned out he also judged people by their appearance.

He smiled faintly and asked, “Then if the burn scar on my face can’t be cured, are you willing to marry me?”

Cao Bin opened his mouth, not knowing how to answer, his expression showing awkwardness and difficulty.

Seeing this, Ye Xi already had his answer. He reached out and gently removed the veil from his face.

The Ye family exclaimed in shock, “Xi-ge’er!”

But it was too late, Ye Xi had already removed the veil from his left face.

There was a collective gasp in the room. Ye Xi could see the emotions in everyone’s eyes, from surprise to shock, and finally settling on disgust.

Cao Bin saw the burn scar on Ye Xi’s left face up close, and he was so startled that he actually took a step back, not wanting to look a second time.

Ye Xi smiled, put the veil back on, and asked softly, “Are you still willing to wait for me to be cured before marrying me?”

Cao Bin coughed and remained silent.

His mother stood up with a look of disgust. “In my opinion, Xi-ge’er’s face is indeed incurable. With this appearance, it’s no wonder our family refuses. Even the old bachelors in the village wouldn’t want him. My Bin-er will be taking the imperial exam soon. If he passes and becomes a Xiucai, marrying someone with a ruined appearance would make him the laughingstock of the surrounding villages.”

The Ye family wanted to scold the woman, but Ye Xi said calmly, “Then please ask Cao-ge’er to apologize to me with a bow, and this engagement will be broken off.”

Cao Bin was initially worried that breaking off the engagement would damage his reputation, but now that he had seen Ye-ge’er’s horrifying face, he didn’t care anymore and hurriedly bowed to Ye Xi. “It’s our family’s fault, I’m sorry. I wish you well in the future.”

Ye Xi said, “Our family will keep the engagement silver. Since your family refuses to apologize in front of everyone, then you’ll have to pay some silver. We’ve agreed, our family will keep three taels, otherwise, we’ll ask the village elders and chief to judge.”

Ye Xi had made up his mind. Since he had taken charge of this matter, Father Ye and Liu Xiufeng couldn’t say much. At least this matter had a resolution.

Cao’s mother was still unwilling to part with the money, but Father Cao gave her a stern look. This was already the best outcome.

After the two families made their decision, Matchmaker Wang tore up the engagement contract, and both families pressed their fingerprints and signed a document, officially ending the engagement.

Cao Bin hurriedly left with his family, likely thoroughly frightened by Ye Xi’s face today.

Ye Shan patted his younger brother’s back sympathetically. “Xi-ge’er, you’ve been wronged.”

Ye Xi let out a long breath, feeling somewhat relieved. “I actually think this is a good thing for me.” If it weren’t for the accidental injury to his face, he wouldn’t have seen the true colors of the Cao family: Cao’s mother’s harshness and Cao Bin’s duplicitous and superficial nature. If he had really married into their family, who knows how much he would have suffered.

Now that the engagement was broken off, he was a free man.