Chapter 28: The Young Daughter-in-Law

As the conversation drifted, it somehow eventually turned toward Shi Zhaodi.

"It is truly better to have a daughter," one remarked. "Someone as well-behaved as Zhaodi, who gets good grades and is so sensible, really gives her parents peace of mind."

Shi Zhaodi looked up and offered a faint smile, saying nothing.

"Indeed," sighed Sister Zhang. "If I had a daughter like that, I would be content. Unlike my Qiangzi, who does nothing but cause trouble for me all day long."

From start to finish, Shi Zhaodi barely interjected, only responding when directly asked. On one hand, she did not know what to say; on the other, she did not want to bring any trouble upon her mother. After all, within the Jiang household, it was no secret that she loved to cling to Jiang Hao'en, and that he, in turn, doted on her.

In the past, some had indiscreetly joked that she would one day be the young master's bride. When her mother overheard this, she had sternly reprimanded them. Since then, no one dared to gossip openly, though whispers inevitably persisted behind closed doors.

Only a few days ago, while going to see her mother, Shi Zhaodi had happened to overhear people discussing her and Jiang Hao'en.

"What good is it to be pretty and well-behaved? A servant's child is a servant's child; how could she ever be a match for the young master? A peasant hen can never turn into a phoenix just by flying onto a high branch."

"Well, you never know. If the young master insists, perhaps the master and mistress will yield. After all, whenever the young master has one of his episodes, Zhaodi is the only one who can handle him."

"That is impossible. We are just talking among ourselves, so don't you go repeating this, but the master and mistress are already planning to arrange a marriage for the young master. They will likely announce it during the old master's birthday banquet. It is clear as day—the master and mistress look down on Zhaodi and will never let her cross their threshold!"

Afterward, Shi Zhaodi could not recall how she had walked back. She had never once dreamed of flying onto a high branch to become a phoenix; she only wanted to be with Jiang Hao'en. Yet, that seemed to be an extravagant hope. The disparity in their status stood as an immovable barrier.

Moreover, as the two-year deadline drew ever closer, her unease grew. Hearing what Sister Li and Sister Zhang had said today, it seemed the Jiang family truly intended to betroth Jiang Hao'en.

Shi Zhaodi felt a sense of daze. Just then, her mother walked in and told her to go back and study, adding that she would be busy until late and that her daughter should go to sleep without waiting up. Shi Zhaodi returned to the small house, took a shower, and seeing that it was still early, thought that Jiang Hao'en likely hadn't gone to bed yet.

Unable to resist, she ran over to Jiang Hao'en's quarters. He was not in the room, so she picked up a book to read, thinking that if he hadn't returned soon, she would head back to her own room to sleep.

She did not know how much time had passed. Just as she was drifting off into a hazy sleep, she felt someone cover her with a blanket. Shi Zhaodi opened her eyes at once, and the first thing she saw was Jiang Hao'en’s fair, habitually expressionless face.

"Brother, you're back!" Shi Zhaodi’s eyes lit up, and she spoke with a hint of excitement.