Chapter 13

“What kind of talk is that?! Where is there a custom where the woman’s family pays for the wedding?”

Chen Ju Xiang jumped up all of a sudden. She had just lost 300 yuan, her heart ached so much she couldn’t breathe. She was hoping that Zhan Hongyan would marry Li Jian and get some dowry money to reduce her losses.

“Sister Li, you northerners don’t know our southern customs. Here, it’s the man who gives money to the woman’s family. Li Jian has to raise two children, I know he’s struggling, but he’s a widower with two children. My Hongyan is an unmarried virgin, she’s going to be a stepmother. It’s Li Jian who’s lucky to have my Hongyan, you should give more dowry.”

With Zhan Xinyue and Sheng Tunan gone, Chen Ju Xiang’s courage grew, and she became more talkative. She circled around Liu Ru Yan, looking her up and down with the eyes of someone inspecting a commodity.

“I say, Sister Li, you’re not young anymore, but you’re still presentable. Why don’t I find you a match, get you married, and get some dowry for your brother’s wedding?”

Before Liu Ru Yan could retort, Li Jian couldn’t sit still anymore and said loudly, “I will always take care of her.”

The two children also hugged Liu Ru Yan’s legs, wanting to be held. They were afraid that Liu Ru Yan would really get married.

Liu Ru Yan was weak, she held the younger Li Shen Xing in her arms, and with the other hand she held Li Jin Yan, her expression smug, “These two children were born and raised by me, they’re close to me.”

“Sister Hongyan, if you really want to marry Xiao Jian, then show some sincerity. We have to go to work, you two can discuss it and come find me later.”

With a disdainful smile, she put her youngest son in Li Jian’s arms, took Li Jin Yan’s hand, and walked away gracefully.

As soon as they left, Chen Ju Xiang grabbed Zhan Hongyan’s ear, “You little vixen, you act like you’re not worth anything and want to marry Li Jian. Now look, you’ve been taken advantage of. Where is there any money left for you?”

Chen Ju Xiang’s hair was disheveled, she was furious, like a defeated old hen, she could only vent her anger on the chick.

“Mom, Mom, don’t hit me. Give me 50 yuan, I swear, Li Jian will make a fortune, and I’ll buy you the best clothes and the biggest house then.” Zhan Hongyan squatted down, dodging Chen Ju Xiang’s hand.

“We only have 75 yuan left, tell your dad, don’t ask me.” This trick had always worked. Chen Ju Xiang relented, but she dared not make decisions about the last few yuan. She would have to wait for Zhan Ai Guo to come back and discuss it.

Unlike the chaos here, Zhan Xinyue sat in Sheng Tunan’s car, silent.

Earlier, Sheng Tunan had caught up with Zhan Xinyue’s footsteps, impulsively proposed to her, and even quickly picked a large bouquet of wild roses from the roadside and stuffed them into Zhan Xinyue’s arms.

At this time, the villagers were coming out of the brigade headquarters one after another, having collected their farming tools. They all smiled kindly at them. Compared to the cunning Zhan Hongyan, everyone had a much better impression of Zhan Xinyue.

There were many people on the road, Zhan Xinyue didn’t know how to refuse. Just as Sheng Tunan drove back, the two of them got in the car.

Sheng Tunan drove the car to the middle of a hillside, where it was quiet, only the sounds of birds and bees collecting nectar.

After a long time, Zhan Xinyue finally spoke, “Commander Sheng, I’m sick, I can’t marry you.”