Her daughter’s reputation in the village wasn’t great, but she was undeniably pretty. However, in the eyes of villagers, beauty wasn’t much of an advantage. Marrying a man with a stable, ironclad government job might make her life a bit challenging.

“I…”

An Xin was about to speak when Tian Zhengying, seated among the crowd, quickly interjected.

“Sister-in-law, your daughter An Xin and Captain Bai are a good match, so let’s just set a date for the wedding quickly. Otherwise, some things may become impossible to keep under wraps.”

Originally, she had come to An’s house intending to humiliate Chen Hongyan, to criticize her as a failure who couldn’t even raise her children properly.

But the gifts Bai Yichen gave to the village officials, including herself, were too generous. Even if she didn’t want to accept them, she couldn’t afford to damage anyone else’s interests. So, Tian Zhengying reluctantly closed her gossipy mouth and chose to speak more ambiguously.

However, her words weren’t really ambiguous—everyone present immediately understood what had happened.

Chen Hongyan, who hadn’t fully grasped the situation earlier, now realized what Tian Zhengying was implying. She was referring to the fact that her daughter had already been intimate with Bai Yichen.

The thought made Chen Hongyan’s gaze immediately land on her daughter. An Xin quickly looked down, guilt written all over her face.

The rice was not only cooked—it had popped into popcorn. Everyone in the village knew about it now, and there was no hiding it from her mother anymore.

In a timid voice, she murmured, “Mom…”

How could a young woman like her openly discuss such a matter in front of so many people?

Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Chen Hongyan immediately understood. Something must have happened between her daughter and Bai Yichen. No wonder the village officials themselves had come to discuss marriage.

A flicker of pain crossed Chen Hongyan’s eyes, but it eventually turned into a soft sigh.
“Oh, you…” Her voice carried the exhaustion of a mother who had worried herself to pieces.

Watching the mother and daughter’s silent exchange, Bai Yichen stood up from the crowd, his expression sincere.

“Auntie, I’m here today to discuss my marriage to An Xin.”

Since the situation had already unfolded, as a man, he couldn’t let An Xin face the world’s judgment alone.

They had made the mistake together, and he needed to step up and face it with her.

Sure enough, as soon as Bai Yichen spoke, the expression on Chen Hongyan’s face softened. The village officials also looked relieved.

Seizing the moment, Village Chief Hu Zhigang chimed in.
“Ms. An, both young people have spoken. Why don’t you just agree to the marriage?”

Bai Yichen added firmly, “Auntie, please rest assured. After we get married, I will treat An Xin well.”

After all, children were their parents’ treasures. Since he had decided to marry An Xin, it was only right to reassure her mother. Why else would someone entrust their daughter to him?

As he spoke, Bai Yichen straightened his posture. His deep, earnest gaze exuded an undeniable sense of reliability, making him naturally convincing.

Chen Hongyan couldn’t help but nod silently as she turned to her daughter.
“What do you think?”

Whether to marry or not was ultimately An Xin’s decision. After all, she would be the one living the married life.

Chen Hongyan wasn’t the type of authoritarian parent who dictated her children’s choices. Having worked hard to raise her daughter, she wanted to respect her wishes.

Everyone’s eyes turned to An Xin, making her suddenly tense up. But when she thought about everything that had happened, she steeled herself and said resolutely, “Mom, I’m willing to marry him!”

Her words relieved the tension in the room. Everyone exhaled a collective sigh of relief.

But then, An Xin continued in a clear voice, “However, I have one condition.”

Her gaze locked firmly on Bai Yichen. Bai Yichen met her eyes, his deep gaze unwavering. Their eyes connected, and unspoken emotions collided in the air. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as his low, steady voice came through his lips.

“What is your condition? Please, tell me.”

If it was within his ability, he wouldn’t hesitate to agree.

As the crowd wondered what condition she might set, An Xin’s voice echoed in the room.

“After we marry, I’ll continue supporting my family. I’ll take care of my mother’s illness and ensure my younger siblings are educated and become successful.”

Fearing misunderstandings, she quickly added, “Of course, I’ll earn the money to support my family myself. I won’t touch a single penny of yours.”

Her words caused a brief silence to fall over the room.

The village officials silently criticized her in their hearts:
Is this girl out of her mind? What kind of married woman still clings to her family like this? Raising her siblings to become successful? Do you know how much money that would take?

Chen Hongyan was equally stunned. No one understood their family’s situation better than her. They could barely afford to eat, and if An Xin were burdened by her family, she might never live a happy life.

At the same time, two voices rang out in the room:

“Agreed!”

“I disagree!”

The one who agreed was Bai Yichen. He hadn’t expected this girl, An Xin, to suddenly surprise him. Her determination and sense of responsibility stood out. She wasn’t someone who sought wealth and scorned poverty.

It was clear to him the An family was dirt poor—he didn’t need to investigate. The moment he stepped through the door, it was obvious.

An Xin’s willingness to continue supporting her family after marriage showed her kind and loyal heart.

Not only would he agree to her condition, but he was also willing to help her family as much as possible. After all, her family was clearly struggling.

The one who disagreed was naturally Chen Hongyan. The An family was like a bottomless pit. It was enough for her daughter to marry someone with a stable job and live a decent life.

As a mother, she didn’t want her daughter burdened by the An family’s heavy responsibilities. Her daughter deserved a happy life with her new husband.

As for herself and her other children, they would survive day by day as best they could. All her children were equally precious to her, and she couldn’t bear to let An Xin’s life be ruined by their family’s struggles.

The village officials, meanwhile, chose to stay silent. This was a family matter, and they had no place to interfere. They knew the An family’s dire situation. If An Xin were to leave and cut ties with her family, the entire household might starve to death.

As long as Bai Yichen agreed to An Xin’s condition, the marriage would proceed. The next step was convincing her mother.