Wang Cuihua, as a matchmaker, was extremely well-informed—and had an infamously big mouth. Whatever she heard would be known by the entire village the very next day. She even knew which household’s chicken had laid two fewer eggs!
On top of that, she didn’t match people out of conscience. It was all about profit. Whoever paid more silver would be praised to the heavens. A lame man could be described as honest and homebound, and a mute could be turned into a quiet, reliable gentleman who didn’t speak nonsense.
Because of her notorious reputation, Chu Fuyu didn’t bother being polite.
“So it’s Matchmaker Wang,” she said coldly. “I don’t have any connections. I just earned some silver from years of work. Is there something you need? If not, then please leave.”
Wang Cuihua froze, clearly not expecting such a blunt refusal. But then she remembered—she had dealt with Chu Fuyu before. This woman had always had a fiery temper and was not easy to mess with, especially since she was raising three children alone.
Thinking of her purpose today, Wang Cuihua forced a smile.
“Oh, Sister Chu, what are you saying? Of course I came for something important.”
Chu Fuyu raised an eyebrow. She didn’t believe this woman had anything good in mind.
Seeing Chu Fuyu’s cold expression, Wang Cuihua cursed inwardly but kept smiling. She stepped forward and said,
“Sister Chu, you’re lucky. The wealthy Master Zhao from town is looking for a second wife. He’s extremely rich—owns two large estates in town and many acres of land. Silver, silk, food—he has everything. He eats white flour and pork every day. His life is beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
And he has taken a liking to you. Isn’t this a heaven-sent opportunity?”
Chu Fuyu sneered inwardly.
Of course she knew Master Zhao.
He was around thirty years old, indeed wealthy and somewhat refined. But there were rumors—he was “fated to harm his wives.” He had already married four times, and all four wives had died under strange circumstances.
Leaving aside the fact that she had no intention of remarrying—she still had three children to raise and secrets to hide—just that single rumor alone was enough to make anyone stay far away.
Even though Chu Fuyu had once been a firm non-believer in superstition, after experiencing transmigration, she had to admit that some things in this world were not easily explained.
And even if Zhao were truly perfect, she still wouldn’t care.
She could raise her children on her own. Why would she step into another marriage and risk becoming worn down in this ancient system?
So she refused directly.
“Matchmaker Wang, I’ve never planned to remarry. Take this good fortune and find someone else.”
“Oh no, don’t be like that, Sister!” Wang Cuihua became anxious and grabbed her hand. “Let me explain properly. Master Zhao is only thirty this year, handsome like jade, refined and well-educated. Men like him are rare even with a lantern in broad daylight!”
The more she spoke, the more proud she looked, as if Zhao were her own relative.
She looked Chu Fuyu up and down again.
“Not to mention our Lishui Village—even across Xing’an Town, there are plenty of women wanting to marry him. If not for your beauty, your fair skin, and your good figure, this blessing wouldn’t have fallen on you!”
Chu Fuyu almost laughed out of anger.
“If it’s such a blessing, why don’t you take it yourself?”
Wang Cuihua immediately flattered herself, “If it fell on me, I’d thank heaven, ancestors, and Buddha three times over!”
Chu Fuyu had no patience left. Her children were already watching nervously from inside the house.
She directly pushed Wang Cuihua toward the door.
“I already said it—don’t bring this up again, and don’t step into my house again. Leave!”
Seeing her determination, Wang Cuihua became even more urgent.
“Wait, Sister Chu! Don’t rush! Let me explain clearly—Master Zhao’s conditions are truly excellent. Even fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls might not catch his eye. The reason he chose you is because you are fertile. You gave birth to three sons—everyone in ten miles and eight villages envies you!”
“He has no children of his own from previous wives. As a scholar, he cannot take concubines, so he asked me to find a woman who can bear children.”
“And don’t worry—he agreed that you can bring your children with you when you marry! No worries at all now, right?”
Chu Fuyu’s face darkened completely. She grabbed a broom from inside.
“I already said I won’t marry! Not in this life! If you come again, don’t blame me for throwing you out myself!”
Wang Cuihua still tried to speak, but seeing the broom raised, her expression changed instantly.
She couldn’t help but curse:
“Bah! You think you’re something? A half-old woman with such a temper! No wonder your husband divorced you! I worked so hard to find you such a good match, and you don’t even appreciate it. You’ll regret this one day!”
“If you end up kneeling and begging me later, I still won’t help you!”
Hearing her turn hostile, Chu Fuyu stopped holding back. She swung the broom straight at her.
“Beg you? In your dreams! Go splash some water and look at your own face! Doing such shameless matchmaking—be careful you don’t get struck by lightning one day!”
“You—! You—!”
Wang Cuihua, usually sharp-tongued and unbeatable, was completely stunned for a moment.
Before she could recover, she was already shoved out the door.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, cutting off the curious villagers watching outside.
By the time Wang Cuihua came to her senses, she was already outside. Surrounded by neighbors pointing and whispering, she spat angrily a few times, cursed under her breath, and quickly left in embarrassment.