Chapter 10 : A scumbag and a shameless woman, a match made in heaven

Xu Yaqiu was very pleased with the conditions.

In her previous life, when Fang Xiaoluo married Zhou Yanwen, the betrothal gift was only one thousand yuan.

And when Shen Zheng married her, he gave only five hundred yuan.

Zhao Lihong was also quite satisfied, especially since she could arrange for Xu Yaqiu to work in the factory, which meant she would have a formal job. This was something many people wanted but couldn’t get.

But she still didn’t soften her stance, thinking it was better for the Zhou family to feel the pressure.

“We still need to discuss this further.”

Zhao Lihong winked at Xu Zhigang, then pulled Xu Yaqiu aside and left.

After they left, Zhou Ping swung the feather duster directly at Zhou Yanwen, “I told you to control yourself, you little bastard! I’ll beat you to death!”

Qian Haixia, heart aching for her son, shielded him and said, “It’s already like this, what’s the use of hitting him now!”

Zhou Yanwen winced in pain and kept retreating behind Qian Haixia, “How was I supposed to know it was Xu Yaqiu? I thought it was Fang Xiaoluo.”

Qian Haixia sighed, “Yanwen, you and Xiaoluo are not meant to be. Just be good to Yaqiu from now on.”

Zhou Yanwen was fuming inside; he hadn’t even decided yet, and things had already turned out like this.

Xu Yaqiu and her family went home to discuss things. By the next day, they sent word to the Zhou family that the betrothal gift should be at least two thousand yuan and that Xu Yaqiu couldn’t be wronged. If they didn’t agree, they would go to the government to see if anyone could mediate.

Zhou Ping and Qian Haixia, afraid the matter would get bigger, had no choice but to agree.

All their savings were now spent on Zhou Yanwen’s marriage.

The wedding was scheduled for half a month later, on the sixth day of the fourth lunar month, an auspicious date for marriage.

Three days later, Xu Yaqiu finally felt better. She changed into a new shirt, wore a newly made gray blazer, and put on some small leather shoes. She bought a few things and boarded the bus to Honghe Village.

She was going to tell Fang Shijun and Zhang Xinyan that she was getting married and to invite them to her wedding on April 6.

More importantly, she had to tell Fang Xiaoluo that the person Zhou Yanwen was marrying was her, not the country girl, Fang Xiaoluo. And she also wanted Fang Xiaoluo to know about the high betrothal gift!

For the past three days, Fang Xiaoluo hadn’t gone anywhere and had stayed in Honghe Village. Her relationship with her family had been warming up.

Every day she worked in the fields with Zhang Xinyan and others, cooking for the family. Although it was tiring, it made Fang Xiaoluo feel grounded and more certain that she was truly living in the 1980s.

These days had helped her realize some things.

She didn’t plan to accept the formal job at the embroidery factory. She was fine with doing odd jobs when she had time, it would earn her some pocket money.

But earning pocket money wasn’t her goal. The past couple of days, she had been thinking that she could dilute the spiritual spring water from her space to use for growing vegetables.

If her vegetables tasted better, she could even implement a quota system, take pre-orders, and raise the price.

The main thing was that she needed to figure out how to make more of the spiritual spring water so that she could grow a variety of crops. She could even start her own factory in the future.

Also, regarding Shen Zheng, it had been the fourth day, and she needed to give him a response.

“Mom, I have something to do later, I might not be back until evening, so don’t wait for me for dinner. When I get back, I’ll bring you some treats.”

Fang Xiaoluo changed into the outfit she wore when she returned from Jiangcheng.

Zhang Xinyan responded, “Okay, be careful.”

“No need to bring anything back, Xiaoluo. Keep your money for yourself. Don’t keep buying things for the family.”

Just as Fang Xiaoluo was about to leave, their neighbor, Aunt Wu, called out, “Xinyan, look who’s back?”

Zhang Xinyan looked toward the door, her heart skipped a beat, “Yaqiu?”

Fang Xiaoluo looked at Xu Yaqiu. It was obvious she had dressed up intentionally today, her face was pale, her lips painted red, and she tilted her neck, as if to say to everyone, “I’m a city girl.”

Her appearance attracted quite a few villagers who had gathered to watch.

Today was Sunday, so Fang Qiang hadn’t gone to work, and Fang Jie hadn’t gone to school. Hearing the noise, they all came out.

Xu Yaqiu walked in with a bag, “Dad, Mom, I’m back to visit you.”

“Big Brother, Xiao Jie, come and help carry the things.” Xu Yaqiu waved the eggs and apples in her hand. “I bought these for you.”

Neither Fang Qiang nor Fang Jie moved to help.

Fang Jie furrowed his brows. “What are you doing back here?”

Xu Yaqiu felt a bit embarrassed, but then quickly put on a bright smile. “I’m from this family, of course, I have to come back and see you all.”

Fang Jie responded, “We don’t want your stuff. Take it back to your city parents.”

Fang Yamei also wore a cold expression. “Yeah, we don’t want your things.”

“Didn’t you say you were disgusted with us? Why are you back now? Watch out or you might end up losing your shoes!” Fang Yating muttered.

They hadn’t forgotten how smug Xu Yaqiu had looked when she left, almost as if she was trying to sever all ties with the Fang family.

They weren’t sure what she was doing back today.

Although it had only been a few days, they had completely accepted Fang Xiaoluo as their real sister, and things had been going very well between them.

Fang Xiaoluo cooked for them and did household chores with them, never like Xu Yaqiu, who was lazy and would always boss them around just because she was the eldest.

Zhang Xinyan looked at Xu Yaqiu, who had been raised under her care, and her heart ached.

But she still said, “Yaqiu, take your things back. Just live your life well in the city.”

Xu Yaqiu realized that her family didn’t seem to welcome her anymore.

She felt a surge of resentment, this must be Fang Xiaoluo’s doing.

But it didn’t matter. Didn’t Fang Xiaoluo love Zhou Yanwen so much?

“Mom, I’ve already bought everything, so don’t refuse it,” Xu Yaqiu said with a smile. “I came here today specifically to invite you to my wedding on April 6th in the provincial capital.”

Zhang Xinyan was stunned for a moment. “You… you’re getting married? Is it to that Commander Shen?”

When the matchmaker had first introduced Commander Shen, they had been hesitant to agree. Although he was powerful and influential, he was much older and had three children.

These children weren’t his biological ones, but anyone who married him would have to take care of them as a stepmother.

They hadn’t agreed, but Xu Yaqiu had been adamant about it.

Xu Yaqiu proudly looked at Fang Xiaoluo. “No, the groom is Zhou Yanwen, the eldest son of the director of the Jiangcheng Clothing Factory.”

Fang Xiaoluo wasn’t surprised. All the signs pointed to Xu Yaqiu wanting to marry Zhou Yanwen.

But it was just right, both the scumbag and the vile woman matched each other perfectly. What surprised her was how quickly they had moved.

“Xiaoluo, why aren’t you saying anything? Although Zhou Yanwen was originally your fiancé, we’re really a good match. The Zhou family has already proposed, and Zhou Yanwen gave me two thousand yuan as betrothal money.”

As soon as Xu Yaqiu finished speaking, there was an uproar from everyone.

The villagers were talking among themselves, and two thousand yuan as betrothal money was definitely a large sum.

Many people were saying that Xu Yaqiu was lucky, she went back to the city and managed to marry the son of a factory director. This was a life of wealth and privilege.

Xu Yaqiu felt proud as she listened to the villagers gossiping. This was the reaction she wanted.

But when she turned to look at Fang Xiaoluo, she found that Fang Xiaoluo had no reaction at all.

The Fang family, however, was uneasy, not about how much the betrothal gift was, but about something else…

“Xiaoluo, Zhou Yanwen is your fiancé?” Zhang Xinyan couldn’t accept it. From the looks of it, Xu Yaqiu had stolen their Xiaoluo’s good match.

When Zhang Xinyan asked, the villagers outside started speculating, and all sorts of rumors started flying.

Fang Xiaoluo took Zhang Xinyan’s hand, gently patting the back of her hand, and then looked at Xu Yaqiu. “Congratulations, Xu Yaqiu. A scumbag and a shameless woman, a match made in heaven. You two are truly a perfect pair.”

“You!” Xu Yaqiu didn’t expect Fang Xiaoluo to insult her like this. “How dare you curse me?”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled. “You’ve got it wrong. I never curse people.”

Xu Yaqiu was so angry she almost fell backwards, and after a long pause, she sneered, “Xiaoluo, I know. Zhou Yanwen chose me and not you. He even gave me so much betrothal money. It’s understandable that you’re upset, you…”

“Captain Shen?”

Before Xu Yaqiu could finish, Fang Xiaoluo’s gaze had already shifted elsewhere.

Xu Yaqiu turned to look and saw someone in military uniform, standing tall and straight. It was none other than Shen Zheng.

How did he get here?!