Chapter 23: Wang Qiuhe’s ThoughtsEarly the next morning, Lin Qinghe went to the county town to deliver the last load of firewood to Aunt Yu and explained the reason. Without further delay, she returned home early.As soon as she entered the village entrance, she spotted Wang Qiuhe from a distance, walking toward her with a beaming face.Pretending not to see her, Lin Qinghe walked straight past. However, things didn’t go as she wished—Wang Qiuhe stopped her.“I heard the Zhao Family came to break off your engagement yesterday.”Lin Qinghe halted and looked up at her. “What does that have to do with you?”“It really has nothing to do with me. I just felt a bit happy when I heard the news.” Wang Qiuhe wore a smile, her expression brimming with barely suppressed excitement.She must be out of her mind—someone else’s broken engagement, yet she’s this happy.After a moment’s thought, Lin Qinghe spoke up. “What, do you fancy Zhao Zhengping?”Recalling that she and Wang Qiuhe were born in the same year, they were about the same age. But in the past, whenever Wang Qiuhe saw her, she always wore a sour expression, never looking pleased. Now, she had come to ask about the broken engagement, and with such a cheerful face.Hearing this, Wang Qiuhe immediately wiped the expression off her face and coughed awkwardly. “What nonsense are you talking?”“Oh, I must have been mistaken. You don’t fancy Zhao Zhengping.” Lin Qinghe feigned sudden realization. “I remember you once said in front of me that Zhao Zhengping is just a bookworm. It seems you really don’t think much of him.”At these words, Wang Qiuhe grew flustered. “What nonsense are you saying? I never said such a thing. Someone like Brother Zhao will achieve great things in the future. You actually broke off the engagement with him, Lin Qinghe. You really have no vision.”“Whether I have vision or not is none of your concern. If you fancy him, send a matchmaker to propose.”“Don’t talk nonsense. A girl’s status is precious. How could the woman’s side propose? If there’s to be a proposal, it should come from the man’s side.” As she said this, a shy smile appeared on her face.Then, looking up at Lin Qinghe again, her expression turned critical. “Look at you—you’re becoming more and more unruly, running outside every day. No wonder the Zhao Family doesn’t think much of you. If you had behaved properly, the engagement wouldn’t have been broken off.”“The broken engagement suits you just fine, doesn’t it? If I had truly behaved properly and the engagement hadn’t been broken off, you’d be the one worrying, right?” Lin Qinghe said with a hint of amusement.Wang Qiuhe was not someone who followed rules. Her mother passed away early, and with someone as unreasonable as Butcher Wang as her father, how could he raise a reasonable daughter? Just the fact that she was blocking her way and saying these things showed she wasn’t a proper person.“You…” Wang Qiuhe grew agitated by her words, but then she thought—since the engagement was already broken off, it would be Lin Qinghe who would regret it later. Instantly, she felt pleased again.“The Zhao Family doesn’t think much of you, and your engagement was broken off. I know you must be upset inside, just putting on a brave face. Fine, I’ll be considerate of you.”“Thank you for your consideration. Now, don’t block the way. I have things to do at home.” Lin Qinghe didn’t want to argue with her further. The engagement was already broken off, and the matter was over. There was nothing more to say.Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, so different from the image Wang Qiuhe had imagined—Lin Qinghe crying her heart out at home—she couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment."What else is there to keep you busy? You've been rejected in marriage, aren't you upset?" Wang Qiuhe's gaze fixed intently on her, hoping to detect some trace of sorrow or disappointment. Yet, after staring for a long while, she found not even a hint of extra emotion—only a face of utter calm.Why should she be upset? Out with the old, in with the new. But she couldn’t say it like that. Lin Qinghe smiled and said, "Instead of standing here blocking my way with pointless talk, why don’t you go try to win Zhao Zhengping’s favor, or join Aunt Qian in doing some needlework?"Flattering and currying favor would surely make it easier to propose marriage later. Though, Mrs. Qian might not be so easy to win over.As for Wang Qiuhe’s intentions, there was no need to hide them in front of her—they were plain as day. And yet she still talked about a young woman’s dignity? Ha.At Lin Qinghe’s words, Wang Qiuhe’s face flushed red and then paled. She hadn’t expected the other to be so sharp, seeing right through her thoughts in an instant. It was her own fault for getting carried away with joy."Hmph, you want me to go find Brother Zhao so he’ll be distracted and fail his exams, don’t you?" Wang Qiuhe said disdainfully. "I never thought you’d be so malicious. Just because the engagement was broken off, you’d try to ruin someone’s future. Just wait—when Brother Zhao passes the county exam and becomes a scholar, you’ll regret it."Such words were truly unpleasant to hear. Lin Qinghe frowned slightly and replied, "Let me make this clear: even if he becomes the top scholar in the imperial exams, I won’t regret it.""Better keep it that way. Don’t come crying and clinging to him once he becomes a scholar and his fortunes rise—that would be truly disgraceful," Wang Qiuhe said warily.She hadn’t dared hope the two families would break off the engagement. Now that it was done, it was best they never crossed paths again. She didn’t want any further entanglements between them."You think too much, and too far ahead," Lin Qinghe shook her head, then added, "I just wonder, from what position are you saying all this to me? If you were Zhao Zhengping’s fiancée, I’d listen. But what exactly is your relationship with him now?"Purely meddling in others’ affairs.Wang Qiuhe’s face flushed and paled again at these words. Blustering, she said, "Even if there’s no relationship now, there will be soon."She thought to herself, it wouldn’t do to arrange another engagement right after the previous one was broken off—it would seem too hasty. People might gossip, as if something had been going on even before the engagement ended."Then talk to me after you have that relationship!" Lin Qinghe swept her gaze over Wang Qiuhe, curled her lips into a cold smile, and stepped past her.Left alone, Wang Qiuhe stamped her foot in frustration. "This Lin Qinghe, rejected in marriage and not even hiding at home in shame—instead, she has the nerve to roam around and speak to me like that. Truly shameless."But Lin Qinghe’s words did hold some truth. Now that Zhao Zhengping was free of his engagement, she needed to act quickly before someone else got to him. Zhao Zhengping, after all, was a scholar—refined and gentle, well-liked by the young women and wives in the village. Before, his engagement had kept others from entertaining ideas, but now that it was broken off, who could say?The mere thought that someone might beat her to it and secure a marriage arrangement with Zhao Zhengping made her restless. Her heart burned with urgency—she had to get her father to send a matchmaker to propose immediately. A good husband must be seized first; this was no time to worry about a young lady's modesty.With that in mind, she turned and hurried toward home, her steps swift and determined. She felt she couldn't wait another moment, never once considering whether he might agree.

Eldest Sister of a Farming Family: Managing the Household, Farming and Opening Shops