Chapter 16: Not Worthy

“Aunt Yang, did I hear you correctly?”

Shen Anan almost suspected her ears were malfunctioning.

How did the conversation suddenly turn to marriage?

“Anan, you’re unwilling?”

Yang Qiuju was getting anxious.

She had just been busy persuading her son.

Actually, from the moment she first saw Shen Anan, she had liked this girl very much.

She was the daughter-in-law she had in mind!

This was a perfect opportunity. If Anan went to the countryside, what hope would she have of finding a daughter-in-law later?

But she also had selfish motives.

Her son was currently wheelchair-bound, although there was a chance he could walk again, there had been no improvement.

If he couldn’t stand up for the rest of his life, he would certainly not find a good wife.

No one can live a life without marriage.

After much thought, she decided to persuade her son.

She had finally persuaded her son, but she forgot that Shen Anan might refuse!

Yes! No matter how good you describe Huo Rufeng, he is still disabled.

Which girl, especially such a young girl, would be willing to spend her life with a man in a wheelchair?

Even though getting married would allow her to avoid going to the countryside, marriage is a lifelong commitment.

She sighed deeply.

She had been too abrupt.

“Aunt Yang, I’m not worthy of Brother Huo.”

However, Shen Anan said in a low voice.

Her eyes showed self-deprecation.

From the moment she first saw Huo Rufeng, she had been amazed.

His appearance, his conversation, his career.

Everything was top-notch.

The more she interacted with him, the more she felt that she was as insignificant as a weed by the roadside.

She didn’t see anything about him being in a wheelchair that was inferior to others. In fact, whenever she encountered problems, he acted as a protector.

Her refusal was because she genuinely felt unworthy of Huo Rufeng.

Such an excellent person deserved a much better wife.

He shouldn’t casually decide on his life partner just to protect her from going to the countryside!

“You are worthy of me. It is I who am unworthy of you.”

Huo Rufeng didn’t touch his food. He moved his wheelchair away.

Shen Anan instinctively wanted to help push the wheelchair, but he refused.

“No, I can go back to the room myself. You eat.”

It was still that indifferent voice.

It seemed impossible to discern any emotion.

But Shen Anan had spent almost a month with him, and at this moment, she vaguely felt that he seemed… angry?

Her mood sank.

After dinner, Shen Anan, as usual, wanted to go to Huo Rufeng’s room to help look after him, but the door was closed.

She raised her hand to knock.

But remembering the scene at the dinner table, she hesitated.

Separated by a door.

Huo Rufeng, sitting in his wheelchair, heard the noise outside and put down his book.

The book suddenly became uninteresting.

His mood became agitated.

He seemed to be waiting for something.

But the outside gradually fell silent.

Shen Anan went to the kitchen.

Usually, Huo Rufeng didn’t close his door. The fact that he closed it today meant he didn’t want her to disturb him.

In the room.

Huo Rufeng looked at his legs and fell into thought.

At night, Huo Aihua returned from the hospital.

After completing two surgeries, she was exhausted.

After showering, she returned to her room and learned about her wife’s plan to marry off their children.

She was stunned.

“Marriage? You want Rufeng and Xiao Shen to get married?!”

“It didn’t work out! They both felt unworthy of each other…”

Yang Qiuju sat up from the bed.

“They both felt unworthy of each other?! How is our Rufeng unworthy of Xiao Shen? Rufeng is…”

Huo Aihua paused.

She realized her voice was a little loud.

After calming down, she walked to the bed.

“Our Rufeng became a battalion commander at a young age, with a bright future! Which girl is unworthy of him?

I’m not saying Xiao Shen is bad. A virtuous wife is desirable, and she’s a fine person, but her family is problematic!

Marriage isn’t just about two people; it’s about two families!

I don’t expect our future in-laws to help us, but at least they shouldn’t be a hindrance!

But as you can see, Xiao Shen’s family situation… they forced her to give up her job, kicked her out of the house, and even tacitly allowed her biological daughter to repeatedly report Xiao Shen, causing her to be sent to the countryside!

Now it’s even more outrageous, they even reported it to our Rufeng!

This is before marriage. After marriage, it will never end…”

Huo Aihua pinched her brow.

She was truly worried!

Did she dislike Shen Anan? Impossible!

She was well-behaved and sensible; she had never seen such a pleasing girl.

But think about it, as a father, he had to consider his son’s future!

She pitied Shen Anan for having such people in her family, but she couldn’t let her whole family get involved in these messes, could she?

“Then you’ll just watch Anan go to the countryside?”

Yang Qiuju frowned.

Anan’s personality and appearance were too much to her liking, especially resembling her friend who had been missing for nearly twenty years.

This similarity made her unable to just watch and do nothing.

Seeing her husband silent, Yang Qiuju recounted the events at the supply and marketing cooperative.

After listening, Huo Aihua remained silent for a long time, finally sighing softly.

“I’ll look for some connections these two days and see if I can keep Xiao Shen in Hecheng.”

Huo Aihua said it, and she did it.

The next day, she took leave from the hospital and specifically went to several distant relatives to seek help.

Unfortunately, she sat on a cold bench for most of the day.

Not only did they refuse to help, but they also sneered at Huo Rufeng’s current wheelchair-bound situation…

Huo Aihua was aggrieved!

But what could she do?

You’re asking for a favor, you have to smile no matter what they say!

After returning home, she didn’t tell anyone about these things. Instead, she bought Shen Anan some daily necessities.

She couldn’t prevent her from going to the countryside, but buying her some things to make her life easier was a gesture of care.

Shen Anan was surprised.

Aunt Yang had settled her salary for the month this morning, twenty-five yuan!

Not to mention the previously agreed-upon eighteen yuan a month, she hadn’t even worked a full month, and she received extra money!

Now Uncle Huo had bought her a basin, soap, towels, and other daily necessities. She… how could she accept them?

“Good child, take them!”

Huo Aihua looked at Shen Anan’s sensible appearance. The frustration of seeking favors today was gone, replaced by shame.

Xiao Shen was such a sensible child, yet she couldn’t help at all…

Twenty years ago, she wouldn’t even need to ask for help; people would be vying to help her!

Now that the Huo family had fallen, these people’s true colors were revealed!

No, she had to find others to help tomorrow…

Sitting on a cold bench, so be it!

On the other hand, Shen Xiuxiu at the supply and marketing cooperative was also anxious.

Hearing that a batch of people would be sent to the countryside the day after tomorrow, she was now afraid that Shen Anan would find a way to stay in Hecheng.

After much thought, she took the internally flawed cloth bought by her male colleague and went straight to the hospital.

She had to ask Dr. Zhang again!

She had to confirm whether Shen Anan was on the list of educated youth going to the countryside the day after tomorrow!