Matchmaker Wang sighed. "Your man hasn't been back for two years, and now your parents are gone. Have you ever thought about what you're going to do in the future?"
Jiujiu already knew what Matchmaker Wang wanted to do when she came. Now that Matchmaker Wang had taken the initiative to bring it up, Jiujiu pretended not to understand and said, "Of course I'll take good care of my children in the future. As their mother, I'm happier than anything else."
"Although that's not wrong, it's better for a woman to have a man who knows her well. Don't you think so?"
Jiujiu smiled faintly. "Auntie Wang, you don't have to say anymore. Ever since my husband passed away, I no longer have such thoughts. Now I just want to take good care of my children."
Jiujiu was clearly rejecting her.
If it were someone else, Matchmaker Wang would definitely not say anything.
But Butcher Li had said that as long as she could persuade Jiujiu to marry him, he would give Matchmaker Wang one tael of silver as a red envelope.
Matchmaker Wang couldn't let go of the tael of silver, so she pretended not to understand Jiujiu's words and continued, "I know you can't forget the past, but people always have to look forward. You should also think for yourself. Listen to Auntie Wang's advice, it's time for you to find a man."
Jiujiu looked at Matchmaker Wang with a faint smile.
Matchmaker Wang panicked when she saw the smile on Jiujiu's face, but for the sake of money, she still braced herself and continued, "Yesterday, Butcher Li from the county town came looking for me. He said that he has taken a liking to you. As long as you're willing to marry him, he will definitely treat your two children as his own.
You might not know since you've been in the village all year round, but Butcher Li is famous for his wealth. His family slaughters two pigs a day, and the money they earn in a year is more than what an average family earns in a lifetime. If you marry Butcher Li, you'll definitely be a comfortable young mistress. "
Matchmaker Wang hadn't mentioned who he was for a long time. Now that she mentioned Butcher Li, Jiujiu had an impression of him.
Jiujiu bought meat from Butcher Li every time she bought it.
The first time, Butcher Li almost cut his own hand. After that, every time Jiujiu bought meat, he would give Jiujiu more.
At that time, Jiujiu only thought that this man knew how to do business. She didn't expect that he actually took a fancy to her.
But then again, it made sense. She was born so beautiful, it was normal for him to take a fancy to her.
However …
"I appreciate Auntie Wang's kindness, but I just want to raise my two children. I don't have such thoughts. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Auntie Wang."
Matchmaker Wang wanted to say more, but Jiujiu stood up and said that it was getting late, so she had to bring the children home to cook.
Jiujiu's words and actions were so obvious that Matchmaker Wang could only sigh helplessly and leave reluctantly.
After Matchmaker Wang left, Jiujiu went directly to pick up the two children.
However, in the past, after she brought the children home, the two children would go to the yard to play by themselves. Today, they were all around Jiujiu. Li Shoujie asked Jiujiu nervously, "Mother, are you getting married?"
Jiujiu, who was washing the vegetables, paused and turned to look at Li Shoujie. "Who told you that Mother is getting married?"
Li Shoujie lowered his head with an expression that said he had done something wrong. He whispered, "Auntie Li said it. She said that Matchmaker Wang came to find Mother, so Mother must be getting married."
After saying this, Li Shoujie looked at Jiujiu nervously. "Does Mother not want me and Little Sister anymore when she gets married?"
Li Shu was young and didn't quite understand what marriage meant, but she understood what Li Shoujie meant when he said that he didn't want me and Little Sister anymore.
When she thought that Mother didn't want her, Li Shu immediately burst into tears.
Li Shu's mouth was wide open, and Jiujiu could almost see Li Shu's throat.
Li Shoujie, who had been pretending to be strong, couldn't hold it in anymore when he saw Li Shu crying. Big drops of tears fell from his eyes.
Seeing her two children crying together, Jiujiu hurriedly wiped her wet hands on her apron. She squatted down and kissed Li Shu's face. Then, she kissed Li Shoujie's face. "Mother will not abandon you."
"But, but what if Mother gets married?"
"Mother won't get married and won't abandon you. Mother swears, okay?"
Hearing Jiujiu say that she wouldn't get married, Li Shoujie held back the tears in his eyes and muttered in a choked voice, "I, I'll believe you this once."
Jiujiu chuckled and lowered her head to kiss Li Shoujie's cheek several times before continuing to cook.
Dinner was stir-fried vegetables and small salted vegetables that Jiujiu had developed herself. It was especially delicious when paired with white porridge.
Because Jiujiu said that she wouldn't get married and that she wouldn't abandon him and his sister, Li Shoujie, who was finally able to relax, fell into a deep sleep after eating.
Looking at Li Shoujie's peaceful sleeping face, Jiujiu felt that it was time for her to leave the village.
She just felt that the people in the village were acquaintances who could help take care of the children for her. It wouldn't be too late to move to the county town when winter came.
However, today's incident made her realize that the village wasn't as good as she thought.
It was true that the people in the village were acquaintances who could help take care of the children. However, when there were too many people in the village, they would say some nonsense to their children just because they were acquaintances.
For example, everyone could tell that Aunt Li was someone who would tell the children that their mother didn't want them.
Today, Aunt Li said that she had coaxed them, but what if she said it again in the future?
It was like the wolf was coming. If she said it too many times, no one would be willing to believe her.
If those people said that she didn't want them in front of the children too many times, the children would really think that she didn't want them anymore.
Early the next morning, Jiujiu went to the county town to find the boss of the embroidery shop to ask about the progress of the decoration of the house. After learning that the house would be ready to move in in half a month, Jiujiu asked the boss of the embroidery shop to wait for her so that he could send a message to her.
Jiujiu had come here to buy embroidery several times. The boss of the embroidery shop knew a little about Jiujiu's identity. He knew that Jiujiu was worried about the two children and wanted to move here because winter was coming soon, so he agreed readily.
Jiujiu bought some food as usual and went back to the village on Old Zhang's bullock cart.
In the remaining half a month, no matter how busy she was, Jiujiu didn't leave the children with Aunt Li as usual. Instead, she took care of them herself.
Jiujiu had witnessed Matchmaker Wang's unwillingness to give up that day.
The bad thing about the people in the village was that they were warm-hearted.
In Jiujiu's eyes, Matchmaker Wang's matchmaking for her was something that bothered her. But in the eyes of the other people in the village, it was Matchmaker Wang's performance of caring about her.
Matchmaker Wang probably wanted Aunt Li to persuade her because she couldn't get anything good out of her.
Judging from what Aunt Li said to Li Shoujie yesterday, if Aunt Li couldn't persuade her, she might try to persuade her through her two children.
Children should have a pure mind like clear water. If they were tainted by the secular world, how could they be happy?
Therefore, Jiujiu would rather earn less money to take good care of her two children.
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