A short distance from the clinic, Ouyang Meihua asked, "How was my acting?"
"Too fake," Tian Jing replied with annoyance. "With your skills, if you were really angry, who could stop you?"
"But," Ouyang Meihua whispered into Tian Jing's ear, "you don't know, Yuan Man was already standing at the clinic entrance. Before I could even shout for the security team to stop, he blocked me."
"Do you think he has feelings for me but is concerned about our age difference?"
"I don't know," Tian Jing shook her head. "It's not just about Yuan Man; we also have to consider Damaï's feelings. Before, we tried hard to guide her straight, and now we're pushing her towards Yuan Man. It's a bit..."
"Isn't this what Doctor Yang requested?" Ouyang Meihua scratched her head. "It was because Damaï was too young before. But things are different now. Bringing the two together again won't cause gossip."
As they spoke, the two returned to the Li family home. Damaï, Xiaomai, and Mother Li were anxiously waiting. Seeing them return empty-handed, they were relieved.
Damaï quickly explained, "Mother, I was just angry at myself for being foolish and not seeing it sooner. Little Aunt is right, we shouldn't lose a year's planting because of people who aren't worth it."
Tian Jing spoke before Ouyang Meihua could, "I still don't know what happened. Someone tell me."
"I'll tell you," Xiaomai's sadness had vanished, replaced by anger. It turned out those two young men were original residents from the northern block of courtyards. They met during the courtyard acquisition plan. After talking and chatting, they became acquainted. Later, the two young men pursued Damaï and Xiaomai respectively. Damaï and Xiaomai felt they were getting older and that the two men had good personalities, so they accepted their pursuit. Everything went well in the capital. They were told to come home after the New Year for their families to meet, and then they would prepare for engagement and marriage. Who would have thought that when they arrived, they were not only arrogant but also made demands? They said Damaï and Xiaomai's dowry must include an apartment or a courtyard, otherwise, they would break up. Damaï couldn't tolerate this and said, "Break up then, immediately." Damaï's suitor said she was an old woman who would never get married and that no one would want her except him. This enraged Damaï, who then chased him away with a broom.
"The northern block of courtyards again?" Tian Jing couldn't help but think. "Damaï, did they pursue you before or after the Xiao family's acquisition?"
Damaï paused before understanding her little aunt's implication. "It was after. They actively chatted with us. In fact, we'd only known them for about half a year."
"The Xiao family's acquisition was about four months after we met them."
"Moreover, neither of their families sold us their courtyards; they were still considering it."
"And the two of them often mentioned persuading their parents to sell us their courtyards."
Damaï's voice grew ashamed. "Little Aunt, we were fooled. You were right to keep us here to farm. We need to reflect."
"Alas, it's my fault for implicating you," Tian Jing sighed. "But I won't apologize because business is like a battlefield, and you have much more to learn."
Afterward, Tian Jing gave examples of how people can be framed and evidence planted in relationships, and then blackmailed after a breakup. Finally, she asked with lingering unease, "Did you leave anything of yours with them?"
Damaï and Xiaomai both shook their heads. "No, when we went on dates, we always came home early. They also invited us to their place for meals several times, but we refused."
"Because evenings were usually when Sister Du and we studied and had meetings, times that outsiders couldn't participate in."
"However," Damaï's expression darkened, "they did ask us which households in the north and south blocks were difficult to deal with."
"Including their personalities and tempers, the reason they gave was to help us find solutions."
"Little Aunt, we were wrong. Thinking about it now, we've leaked business secrets."
Tian Jing smoothly brushed the matter aside. "It's fine. I haven't formed a company yet. From now on, you are not even allowed to mention company matters to your partners. Otherwise, I will deal with it according to the rules."
The sisters were overjoyed that their little aunt was still willing to employ them and grinned. "Yes, thank you, Little Aunt."
Ouyang Meihua breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed her daughters' troubles were over.
Unexpectedly, Tian Jing, the "heroine," dropped another bombshell. "Damaï, Xiaomai, Little Aunt has found two good men for you. Do you want to meet them?"
Damaï shook her head. Xiaomai nodded. "Yes, those men said my older sister couldn't get married. After the New Year, Big Sister will be 26, and I'll be 24."
"I've also become an 'old girl who can't get married' in other people's mouths. We don't have time to delay further. Besides, I trust Little Aunt."
Damaï turned to her sister. "Didn't you want to marry into a big city?"
Xiaomai looked surprised. "When did I say that?"
"Do you remember the wedding we saw together when we first arrived in the capital?"
Xiaomai shook her head. "It was so many years ago, how could I remember?"
"You saw the bride's dress and said that weddings in big cities are beautiful, and you also said you wanted to wear that dress and have a banquet in a grand hotel."
"Big Sister?"
Xiaomai, with teary eyes, hugged Damaï tightly. "Big Sister, I was just envious when I said that; it wasn't sincere."
"At our age now, what we want isn't romance, but sincerity."
Damaï's words stunned more than just Xiaomai. Ouyang Meihua patted Damaï and Xiaomai's shoulders with heartache. "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not knowing that Damaï was planning to make such a sacrifice for a word from Xiaomai."
"Your father and I are wealthy. We can give you whatever kind of wedding, dress, or hotel you desire."
"We don't want it anymore," Xiaomai released Damaï. "Mother, external luxury is unnecessary false romance and true waste. Sincerity is the most important thing."
"Auntie Li Min has changed too; we can't be outdone by her."
"Oh, you're talking badly about me behind my back, and I caught you!" A voice came from the courtyard. Following the voice into the main hall was Li Min, who had caught them red-handed. "Tell me, what's going on with your suitors?"
"Li Min!" Mother Li doted on her two granddaughters. Just as the matter was resolved, her daughter came to stir up trouble. "Don't talk nonsense. They were just acquaintances of Damaï and Xiaomai in the capital. They don't think much of our countryside. Don't speak carelessly."
Li Min sat down at the square table and looked at her mother, her eyes red. "Mother, where is my careless talk needed? Those two were gagged by the security guards all the way here, and the villagers have already guessed most of it."
"It's over," Mother Li thought, only these two words.
Tian Jing winked at Ouyang Meihua. Somehow, Ouyang Meihua received the signal and, in an instant, hoisted Damaï onto her shoulder. "Damaï, Mother will take you to see a doctor." Before Damaï could react, Ouyang Meihua had already taken her to the clinic. "Doctor Yuan, Damaï is sick. Please take a look. I'll go home to get money." "Bang!" The clinic's courtyard gate also slammed shut as Ouyang Meihua left, closing it behind her.