That Damned Woman Broke Off Our Engagement First

Several other ladies nearby chimed in, "Coming to a place like this isn't considered frivolous. Besides, isn't your cousin here too?"

"What kind of talk is this? It's utterly absurd. Does it mean that women are being frivolous when they go out?"

Sun Hao squinted at Di Nianci and said:

Nianci, do you think you've acted frivolously?

They're about to get married, why come to a place like this?

You should be at home embroidering your wedding dress and preparing for the wedding.

Get back there right now.

Ding Nianci was so angry she was trembling. She gritted her teeth and remained silent.

Sun Hao continued to humiliate:

"Your Ding Family is so poor now that you probably don't even have a dowry. It's your good fortune that I've taken a liking to you."

Don't be ungrateful. Before I lose my temper, go back now and finish embroidering your wedding dress properly."

Ding Nianci's tears slowly flowed down her cheeks:

"No matter how down on their luck the Ding Family may be, it's not your place to humiliate them."

Sun Hao, I used to think we were childhood sweethearts, and that we were mutually in love.

But now I realize that's not the case at all.

Guo Xinyue walked out of the private room, tears streaming down her face, and said:

"Brother Hao, did I make Sister Nianci angry?"

Sister Nianci, I just wanted to see what an aquarium is like, I didn't mean anything by it, please don't be angry, okay?

Hao-gege likes you the most! This time he even bought us the exact same gift!

Sister Nianci, look, isn't this bracelet pretty?

Zhou Wanwan leaned over to take a look and said:

"Yes, it's beautiful. This bracelet is really beautiful, and it's a couple's set. It's a design from Yingluo Workshop!"

However, these are all unique. That means this is the women's version; who wore the men's version?

Yingluo Workshop is under Zhou Wanwan's name.

Everyone stared at the bracelet and said, "What material is this bracelet made of? It looks really pretty! And it seems especially sparkly."

Is this bracelet truly one-of-a-kind?

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said:

"Of course! All the bracelets from Yingluo Workshop are unique, and each one is very expensive!"

A pair of couple's bracelets like this would be worth at least 5,000 taels of silver.

Guo Xinyue said smugly:

"I didn't expect you to have such good taste!"

"Yes, this bracelet is worth over 5000 taels of silver, and Brother Hao is wearing the other one."

Ding Nianci gave Sun Hao a cold look. Sun Hao said, "Xinyue is my cousin. We grew up together. Don't misunderstand. What's with that expression?"

Ding Nianci took a deep breath and said:

"Sun Hao, it doesn't matter who you give gifts to, we're not related anymore anyway."

In front of so many people, I formally annul this engagement. After I return home, I will inform my parents.

Sun Hao flicked his sleeves and said:

"Ding Nianci, don't push your luck. I've already been very accommodating in front of so many people."

What are you fussing about? It's just a bracelet!

Ding Nianci sneered and said, "Sun Hao, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Stay away from me from now on."

Sun Hao laughed heartily:

"For someone as down-on-their-luck as you, it's already an honor that someone would marry you."

Don't push your luck. If I really don't marry you, you might as well cut off your hair and become a nun.

Ding Nianci looked at him calmly and said:

Even if I were to cut my hair and become a nun, it wouldn't be a good thing for you. And what good would your Sun Family do?

Anyway, I've broken off the engagement, so you can marry whoever you want.

Sun Hao was so angry his face turned blue:

"Everyone heard that! That damned woman, she rejected my kiss first."

I'd like to see what your Marquis's mansion can become, and what you, Ding Nianci, can become.

I'll make sure you never get married for the rest of your life.

If you still want to marry me, you can only be a concubine! Bah! A concubine? I'd look down on you then!

Ding Nianci turned pale with anger; she knew that what Sun Hao said was true.

She'll probably never get married in this lifetime.

Ding Nianci gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, I won't marry you then! I don't care anyway!"

Sun Hao snorted coldly and turned to leave.

After Sun Hao left, Ding Nianci could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

She's still just a 16-year-old girl.

Zhou Wanwan said casually, "Let's go find a private room to sit in."

Upon entering the private room, Ding Nianci broke down in tears:

Why are they treating me like this? What did I do wrong?

"I just wanted to travel and broaden my horizons before the wedding, what did I do wrong?"

After Ding Nianci finished crying, Zhou Wanwan said, "Don't you think this is a good thing in the long run?"

Ding Nianci was taken aback and looked at Zhou Wanwan. Zhou Wanwan said, "This man is unreliable. Even if we get married, he definitely won't treat you well. Don't you think he's saved your life?"

Ding Nianci wiped away her tears and said:

"Actually, it's okay if I never get married, but then my parents will never be able to hold their heads high again."

Our Marquis's mansion is already in dire straits; if this continues, it will be finished.

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said, "Does your Marquis's mansion really need to rely on a woman?"

The Old Scholar Tree beside him said, "This Marquis's family is really unlucky. Marquis Ding had seven daughters but not a single son."

Ding Nianci said helplessly, "My father had seven daughters, and we had no sons. My father loved my mother deeply and was unwilling to take a concubine..."

Zhou Wanwan looked at Ding Nianci and asked, "Are you good at managing a household?"

Ding Nianci paused for a moment and said, "I'm not only good at housekeeping, I also do some business, but it's all small-scale and doesn't make much money."

Zhou Wanwan nodded and asked, "So, what are your special skills?"

Ding Nianci thought for a moment and said, "I'm good at embroidery, does that count? My embroidery master is a famous embroiderer in the capital."

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said:

"Ding Nianci, would you be willing to stay in my embroidery workshop?"

Learn little by little, slowly. If you master the skills, you can become a manager with excellent compensation.

Ding Nianci exclaimed with delight, "Really? I'm willing, thank you, Miss Wanwan!"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said, "I haven't finished speaking. Everyone who follows me needs to sign a contract of servitude. Are you willing?"

Ding Nianci knelt down without hesitation and said, "I'm willing, because I know you're a capable person."

Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Alright! Let's sign the indenture first, then you go to the embroidery shop."

The manager of the embroidery workshop earns ten taels of silver a month, plus commission, so our workshop's business is quite good."

Ding Nianci nodded in agreement and quickly signed the contract of servitude.

Ding Nianci then left with Zhou Wanwan's manager.

The Third Princess poured Zhou Wanwan a cup of tea and said, "Master, you seem to accept everyone who comes your way? Do you take in just anyone?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Of course not. I don't accept people with impure hearts, nor do I accept useless people."

The third princess thought for a moment and said, "But I talked back to you before! Why did you take me in?"