"Madam Ye, everyone knows the rules when it comes to discussing marriage alliances. If things go well, everyone is happy; if not, nobody should spread word about it. Now youâve caused quite a scene; the whole village and several others know about it. Whatâs the meaning of this?"
"This matter? Has someone from my Ye family said anything?" Yang Chuxia asked a question and then inquired lightly, "And I donât even know who from my Ye family wouldâve said it, or where it was said?"
Ms. Liu Juniorâs face turned green. "Madam Ye, are you denying it now?"
"What is there for me to admit?" Yang Chuxia glanced at her, thinking this person must be crazy.
Ms. Liu Senior, seeing that her daughter-in-law failed to come to the point, spoke up herself, "Letâs speak plainly, Madam Ye. Now, the villages around are all talking about the Ye Family and our Liu Familyâs arranged childrenâs marriage, claiming that the Ye Family looks down on us, the Liu Family, and is saying that our Liu girl is not good enough, so youâre not going through with the engagement. I wonder if this rumor started with the Ye Family."
"Do you think we Ye family members have so much free time on our hands? To spread this and cause trouble for ourselves?" Yang Chuxia looked at her directly, "Ever since before the New Year until after, my family has been very busy, and soon we are to leave for my husbandâs post. Why on earth would I spread such a thing for no reason, as if I had nothing better to do?"
"Hmph, if it wasnât your family who spread it, then who did? Only our three families knew about it." Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister-in-law at last said something useful.
"How should I know who spread it? Youâll have to ask the person who did." Yang Chuxia said impatiently, "Besides, even if only our three families knew about it, how can you be so certain that it wasnât someone from your Liu Family who let it slip? Presumably, a good number of your Liu family members are aware of this matter â isnât it possible one of them couldnât keep it to themselves?"
Seeing that the conversation was getting nowhere, Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother jumped in, "Madam Ye, regardless of how you look at it, my Liu Family is at a loss here, our girlâs reputation has suffered. You tell us how to handle this matter; you owe us an explanation."
"An explanation? May I ask what kind of explanation I should give you? Did I spread this rumor? Donât make me laugh, would you? How would it benefit my two sons if I did? Surely, I didnât spread it just so you could come and settle scores with me."
At this point, Yang Chuxia had a moment of realization â indeed, what if the Liu Family themselves had spread the word, wanting to come to her family for recompense? She couldnât help but suspect them of such a scheme; it was not beyond them. She remembered every word Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister had said, and decided to keep her cool to see what they were really up to.
Land Officer Yang saw that the verbal spar had completed one round and then spoke up, "Letâs talk this out nicely. What are you doing, jumping in like that? Right now, the main issue is figuring out what to do about this whole situation."
"What is there to do about it?"
Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister-in-law spoke again, slightly uncomfortable under everyoneâs gaze, but then said, "Now that the nearby villages all know about it, in the end, itâs my daughter who is at a disadvantage. Everyone is spreading that she is no good â sheâs barely a year old, how can she be âno goodâ? There are long days ahead, and who knows what they will twist this story into? When my daughter grows up, how is she supposed to find a marriage? If this was with a commonerâs family, perhaps the rumor would be forgotten after a few days, but since itâs with your Ye Family, Iâm afraid this matter will always be remembered, no matter how much time passes."