Chapter 423: Chapter 424: My Father Is Long Dead

Xu Nuo clenched her fists and shook her head. "My mother only ever said my father died long ago. She never mentioned anything else."

She remembered that when she was still a little girl, both her mother and grandfather had told her that her father was gone, so her answer was delivered with righteous conviction.

Xu Wenhua knew that continuing to argue wouldn’t do them any good. "And who might this madam be? This is our family’s business. It’s not right for you to interfere, is it?"

He struggled to stand, but without a word from Jin Qianqian, the guards wouldn’t dare let him go.

Jin Qianqian took Xu Nuo’s hand. "This is my future niece-in-law. They will be married as soon as the mourning period is over. Her business is my family’s business."

Xu Wenhua couldn’t just watch such a prize slip through his fingers. Even though he had been intimidated by these nobles before, he couldn’t care about that now. "Impossible! Without my approval as her father, how can she possibly get married?"

Mrs. Xu Zhong reached out to grab Xu Nuo. "A girl raised without a mother just won’t do. Marriage isn’t something a girl gets to decide for herself."

But there was no way they would let her get her way this time. Before she could even get near Xu Nuo, Li Qiu sent her flying with a swift kick, while the other maids simultaneously took up defensive stances.

The four maids who had joined the household later had been persistently training in martial arts with Master Wu. If they couldn’t even handle a single woman like this, they wouldn’t deserve to serve the Madam.

Yu Lu’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the four maids. She hadn’t expected the people around Jin Qianqian to be so deceptively skilled.

She curiously asked Yang Wenlan, who was also watching the excitement from the side, "Do you know how she trains her maids? They look so delicate, but the strength in their kicks is quite impressive."

The maids who served ladies of their standing were all raised to be like proper young misses. If one had a few people like this by their side, they would feel completely safe when going out, even without guards.

Yang Wenlan was clearly tempted as well. "She and her husband trained these girls themselves. Our situations are different. Our servants are all born into the household and mostly just learn rules and etiquette. Still, it might be worth a try when we get back."

"Who I marry is none of your business! You clearly didn’t investigate properly. I am registered as a female head of household. Even my own mother couldn’t make decisions about my marriage, so who do you think you are?"

Mrs. Xu Zhong was stunned. What young woman from a good family registers as the head of her own household? She exchanged a look with Xu Wenhua. ’Could it be that his ex-wife was preparing for this all along?’

To be registered as a female head of household was equivalent to establishing one’s own separate household, but it didn’t carry a very good reputation.

Xu Wenhua knew his scheme today had failed. He struggled and began to plead, "This is all a misunderstanding! I really am her biological father. Child, even if you refuse to acknowledge me, I can’t bring myself to disown you as your father. I truly came just to see if you were doing well, to see if anyone was taking advantage of you.

You’re a young woman managing such a large business all by yourself. I was worried someone might try to take advantage of you, so I came to help you keep an eye on things.

But now that you’ve found a powerful backer and don’t need your own father anymore, we’ll just go."

Xu Nuo couldn’t believe he was still trying to shift the blame. "I don’t know about anyone else’s motives, but I see your malicious intentions crystal clear. Now go. And don’t ever come back, or else I won’t be so polite."

Jin Qianqian knew it was best not to dig too deep into the matter. If they pressed it, they might actually end up legally saddling the girl with a biological father who could control her.

"Just so you know, my husband was this year’s top scholar and is now the Prefect of Lv City. Xu Nuo is about to become my Gu family’s niece-in-law. If you come here to make trouble again, the Gu family will not stand idly by." To crush their hopes, Jin Qianqian brought up her status for the first time.

Yu Lu, who had been enjoying the show, now jumped in to add her two cents. "I’ve taken a liking to this girl. If you have any trouble in the future, just go directly to the Taifu Mansion and ask for Second Madam Niu. I’ll back you up."

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Yang Wenlan added, "Your mansion is too far from here. My He Family from Hua City is much closer. Feel free to come to us if you need anything. Given my friendship with your Seventh Aunt, I can certainly help you out."

The Xu family members were so frightened they could only swallow hard. Even as common folk, they had heard of these prominent families.

They couldn’t afford to offend even one of them, let alone three at the same time.

Mrs. Xu Zhong, who had been so shrewish before, now wilted. It seemed they were destined to never get their hands on this money.

She gazed longingly at the brokerage. It might not look like much, but it was surely filled with valuable things.

’I can’t look. The more I look, the more upset I get.’

Only then did Jin Qianqian wave her hand, allowing the guards to release Xu Wenhua. "Today is the auspicious day our two families are discussing marriage matters. I don’t want to deal with this unpleasantness, so hurry up and get lost!"

As for the blow Gu Lehuan had taken, they had to let it go. The man was, after all, Xu Nuo’s biological father. It could be considered a tiny repayment of some favor.

The Xu family didn’t dare utter another word. As soon as they were told to leave, they turned and fled.

The onlookers were all stunned. In just that short time, Xu Nuo had managed to secure herself such powerful backing.

Any ideas they’d had, any moves they’d made behind her back—it was time to scrap them all.

Xu Nuo looked at Jin Qianqian, at a complete loss. "Madam, if you think I’m too much trouble, it’s alright to back out. I’ll understand."

Jin Qianqian glanced around. "You silly girl, don’t talk such nonsense. How can we go back on our word for something that’s already been settled?

We’ve been standing out here for a while. Aren’t you going to invite us in to sit down?"

Before Xu Nuo could react, Matchmaker Lao had already squeezed to the front. After that whole ordeal, she was determined to see this marriage finalized for Xu Nuo’s sake.

"The girl is just stunned with joy. Please, Madams, come inside. Inside, please."

With no more outsiders to cause trouble, everything proceeded smoothly. The marriage proposals were exchanged, officially settling the engagement.

Jin Qianqian knew Xu Nuo was still in mourning, so she didn’t impose on her for too long, arranging for a celebratory banquet at Tianfu Restaurant instead.

"Thank you both so much for your help today, my dear sisters. Let me toast you both with this tea in place of wine," Jin Qianqian said gratefully, holding up her cup.

"Aren’t you being a little cheap? On such a joyous day, and you’re trying to fob us off with tea?" Yu Lu shot her a look. "I’m not letting you get away with that if there’s no good wine."

Jin Qianqian immediately turned her gaze to Yang Wenlan, who flinched and quickly looked away. Just as she’d feared.

They heard Jin Qianqian say with a wink, "Sister Yang, in my humble opinion, no wine in the world compares to the flower wine from your estate. I wonder when this year’s batch will be ready? We’re all dying to have a taste."

Yang Wenlan was left utterly speechless. That couple was clearly sharpening their knives for her and her husband.

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