My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 18 Part 2

Huang Manjing hesitated. "If we really do this, there’ll be talk. People will speculate about why the two families broke off the engagement, and Xiao Taozi’s reputation—"  

"If we don’t take this step now, the You family will keep delaying, and it’ll only waste Xiao Taozi’s time. Now that he’s latched onto the Xue family, even if we don’t cancel the betrothal now, they’ll force it later."  

Huang Manjing’s heart turned cold.  

"If we cancel it ourselves now, at least we have the upper hand. If we drag it out and the Xue family intervenes, our Ji family will be at disadvantage."  

Ji Taoyu, seeing this, said firmly, "The You family can play both sides only because they think we won’t dare act for fear of damaging our reputation by breaking the bethoral. Now that they’ve attached themselves to the Xue family, and the Xue family is willing to overlook You Lingxiao’s existing betrothal, they’re no better than snakes and rats in the same nest. I’m willing to cancel the betrothal and let them have their way."  

[蛇鼠一窝 (she shu yi wo): lit. Snakes and rats in the same nest; fig. Wicked people colluding.]  

"If other families hesitate to marry into ours because of the broken engagement without understanding the truth, I’ll accept that."  

Huang Manjing, hearing Ji Taoyu’s words, made up her mind. "Since you don’t feel reluctant, your father and I won’t let you stay trapped in the You family, suffering their mistreatment." 

____

"How on earth did you get pricked by a needle? And at a big cloth shop, how careless can their workers be?"  

That afternoon, You Lingxiao returned from the city limping. Seeing the large bruise on the back of his son’s thigh, she hurried to fetch medicinal wine to rub on it.  

"I’m going to Shili Cloth Shop to give them a piece of my mind."  

"Why bother? Haven’t I embarrassed myself enough there already? Miss Xue ran off to her room as soon as she got back, such a spoiled temper. Luckily, the Assistant Prefect didn’t seem to mind."  

You Lingxiao hissed in pain, frowning as he said to You's mother, "This medicinal wine isn’t working. Mom, get me the small porcelain bottle on my desk."  

You's mother went to fetch the porcelain bottle and applied the new medicine to the bruise.  

You Lingxiao exhaled in relief. "Ji Taoyu’s medicine has always been effective. It should heal in a couple of days."  

"That sickly ger only knows how to fiddle with these things."  

You Lingxiao said, "I’ll go to the Ji family later."  

You's mother frowned. "Your leg is hurt like this, and you still want to go out? Stay home this afternoon and study. Don’t neglect your academics. You can go when your leg’s better, it’s not like they’re going anywhere."  

You Lingxiao had spent the day with Xue Hanxue. Though the Assistant Prefect was amiable, the young lady’s temper didn’t suit him.  

Comparing the two, he felt even more that Ji Taoyu was the better match.  

"Last time, after I passed the provincial exam, you wouldn’t let me go tell the Ji family right away. Uncle Ji has been displeased with me since then. If I don’t go apologize to him now, it might cause trouble."  

"What trouble? The Ji and You families have been evenly matched all these years, but now you’re a provincial graduate. Even with their village head title, the Ji family can’t compare to us anymore. Once you marry into the Xue family, the village head position will be yours to decide."  

"Right now, the You family is probably worried you’ll reject their child. Letting them stew for a bit will remind them who holds the power now. If you’re too eager, they’ll just get cocky."  

You Lingxiao sighed softly. After thinking it over, he agreed. It was better to wait until his leg healed before visiting Ji Taoyu, he didn’t want him to see him in such a sorry state.  

Just as they finished speaking, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.  

"Who is it?"  

You's mother set down the porcelain bottle. "Probably that Xia ger from your aunt’s family again. You know how he’s always clinging to you."  

"He’s hoping to marry you, but he can’t even read, and he’s crude and ill-mannered. Even the Ji family’s ger is better than him."  

You Lingxiao said, "Come to think of it, Cousin didn’t come when we hosted the banquet."  

"Your aunt said he caught a cold."  

You's mother grumbled as she dawdled to the gate. "Coming!"  

You Lingxiao sighed, tidying the bottles on the table, pulling down his pant leg, and straightening his clothes.  

Then he heard his mother outside say, "Village Head, Huang niangzi, what brings you here? Is it about this year’s taxes?"  

You Lingxiao’s brow twitched. He hadn’t expected the Ji family to come, but they shouldn’t owe taxes this year.  

A moment later, You's mother led Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing inside.  

You Lingxiao quickly greeted them with a smile and invited them to sit.  

Ji Yangzong saw You Lingxiao in the room and said, "Lingxiao’s here too. Good."  

Once everyone was seated, Ji Yangzong wordlessly pushed a small box forward.  

You Lingxiao, puzzled, opened it and found a red love knot inside.  

He recognized it immediately. Back when the two families were betrothed, his family had been poor, so he’d made this love knot as a token of his sincerity.  

You's mother's face darkened the moment she saw it.  

Back then, the Ji family had been in a higher position, and the You relatives had been indifferent. As a widow with a child, she’d clung to this lifeline, having You Lingxiao give the token mostly as insurance.  

She hadn’t expected it would become their biggest liability. She’d known the Ji family would use it as leverage, with this token, if negotiations failed, they could take it to the authorities, and the magistrate would have to intervene.