Chapter 326 Forced Onto the Stage

her heart skipped a beat. Her anger subsided, replaced by a tinge of unease."Master, please listen to me explain.""Well, Taiwu is just young and was seduced by that widow."“As his mother, I have alrea...The woman's name was Hu Ailan. She was the wife that Mu Shi had chosen for him when he was in his early twenties, respected within the clan. Hu Ailan was also a child of misfortune. Her family were indigenous people from Yemu village. Both her parents had died of illness, and it was Mu Shi who took pity on them and asked his eldest son to help bury the couple.

After the death of Mr. and Mrs. Hu, only their grandmother and granddaughter, Hu Ailan, were left in the family. The grandmother was grateful to Mu's kindness and saw that Zongyu was capable, so she decided to match the two children with Mu's.

Of course the Mu family was willing. Hu Ailan at that time was well-behaved and obedient, four years younger than Zongyu. They just had to wait two years and the two children could get married.

She went home and told her eldest son about it. Zongyu immediately refused at the time.

Their family was barely scraping by. His mother's health was poor, and she had been taking medicine almost constantly these past few years. Zongbei needed to attend school, and they also had to save money for Yulian's dowry. To top it off, people from their ancestral home would come looking for things or causing trouble every now and then.

Zongyu didn't want to add more burden to his family at all. What kind of wife should he marry at this time

On one hand, Mu thought it was pitiful for Hu Ailan to be alone. On the other hand, he felt that having a wife meant they could share responsibilities, and there would be someone in the house who understood their needs. When she passed away, his eldest son wouldn't be completely alone.

The Mu family hadn't given much thought to the matter of carrying on their legacy.

Since the son was unwilling, Mu Shi certainly wouldn't force him. She thought that this matter would just end like this.

By the end of the month, news of Old Madam Hu’s death reached the village. It was also rumored that before she died, Old Madam Hu had entrusted her granddaughter to the Mu family and arranged a betrothal with their eldest son.

When Mu heard the news, he was also very surprised. This was entirely Hu's own decision. Ever since she asked her son and learned that he didn't want to marry Ailan, she had refused Hu.

It's unbelievable that this old woman, before she died, fearing her granddaughter would be left without support, actually spread such rumors herself.

The following afternoon, after taking care of Old Madam Hu's affairs and packing up all her belongings, Hu Ailan knelt at the doorstep of Zong Yu's house.

Zong Yu entered and exited, too lazy to even acknowledge her. He was using this method to force the other person to accept this marriage contract. Did he think he was a pushover that could be bullied at will

The eldest son remained silent, and Mu Shi dared not let Hu Ai Lan enter the house freely. However, Hu Ai Lan was stubborn and knelt at the door of Zong Yu's home for two days and nights, her skin peeled from the sun, and she looked frail and weak.

Village head Wang was afraid that if the last seedling of the Hu family died like this, it wouldn't sound good when it got out. It wouldn't be good for the family's reputation either.

Zongyu, this kid, already has a terrible reputation in the village. Now he's bullying an orphan girl If he drives everyone to hate them and wants to drive their whole family out of the village, even Wang, the village head, won't be able to protect them then.

"Wang, the village head, went to Zong Yu's house and analyzed the stakes involved, sighing as he spoke."

"You should just take this child in. After all, you and the other family were already discussing a marriage before, and Ah Yu even helped Ai Lan with her parents' funeral arrangements. How can this not be fate"

Perhaps after they became husband and wife, Ah Yu wanted to open it.

Mu Shi had no choice but to, under immense pressure, carry Hu Ai Lan who had fainted at the doorstep back home.

Zong Yu didn't say another word after that, and just like that, Hu Ai Lan lived in the Zong family for two years.

Two years later, Hu Ai-lan came of age. Mu Shi had promised her that when she turned eighteen, he would let Ah Yu marry her and arrange their wedding.

For the past two years, Hu Ailan has tried her best to please the Mu family in order to stay with them. She has been very obedient.

Although Zongyu appreciated his mother's willingness to keep Hu Ailan, he still thought it was a good thing that someone would be able to take care of her. After all, Yulian would eventually get married too, and the family couldn't be without a woman to run the household.

It's not that over two years he had developed any real feelings for Hu Ailan. With over seven hundred days and nights added together, the number of times he spoke to Hu Ailan could be counted on his ten fingers.

Almost every time it was about the Mu family that he would speak up.

When Mu saw that his eldest son wasn't so opposed to the marriage, he chose an auspicious date himself and set the wedding day for the two. The family would have a simple ceremony, and they would invite Village Head Wang to witness the marriage and make it official.

A month before the wedding, Hu Ailan said she was going to the market to buy things for the wedding. Somehow, she had an affair with Sun Gui from Xiahe Village.

At first, the members of the Zong family didn't know about this. Mu thought that no matter what, it was still a marriage, and it wouldn't be good to wrong Hu Ailan. So, she let her eldest son hunt for something big to sell for some silver and buy Hu Ailan a decent dowry.

That night, Zong Yu sold the silver from the hunt and vanished, as did Hu Ai Lan.owever, it made the man opposite him even more nervous."My lady, you are too kind. It was just a small effort, nothing at all."Don't take it to heart.Mu raised her head, and only then did she see the...