Chapter 11

Seeing the police about to arrest her, Gao Xuelian instinctively fought back, scratching one officer’s face with her long nails and leaving a deep mark.

“Let go of me! Damn your ancestors! Why are you arresting me? I don’t know anything!”

Her actions escalated the situation to assaulting a police officer, making her arrest even more justified.

Gao Xuelian was quickly taken away.

Yu Tuanjie watched deeply as she was led off and was about to step forward when Yu Fendou stopped him.

“Big Brother, even if you get her out immediately, will she be grateful? Will she admit her mistakes? I’ve tolerated how Sister-in-law has acted in the past out of respect for you, but this time she’s gone too far with how she treated Li!”

These words left Yu Tuanjie in silence.

He felt guilty for having married such a wife.

Perhaps it was good for Xuelian to go to the police station to reflect. Maybe she’d change her ways after this.

Yu Jiefang and Chen Ailan were also furious and had a serious conversation with Yu Tuanjie.

“This time, what Xuelian did was beyond excessive! It was downright vicious and inhumane! No eldest sister-in-law would ever push her younger sister-in-law toward someone like Liu Maokeng! Hasn’t Li been good to Bench?

Every time she goes to the mountains to pick fruit, she never eats any herself but brings it back to share with Bench and Pomegranate. Bench eats so much that Li skips meals just to save food for him! How does Gao Xuelian not see this? Why must she always disrupt the family’s peace?”

Yu Tuanjie lowered his head in guilt.

Yu Jiefang puffed on his pipe. “This time, if your wife reflects and changes her ways when she comes back, we’ll continue living together. If not, either you divorce her, or we split the family, and you live on your own.”

Yu Tuanjie was startled. “Dad, Mom!”

In this conservative rural era, both divorce and splitting the family would lead to endless gossip and rumors from outsiders.

But he knew better than anyone how far Gao Xuelian had gone this time.

Yu Tuanjie closed his eyes. “When Xuelian comes back, I’ll have a serious talk with her. Whether we can continue living together will depend on her behavior.”

The matter was settled for now.

Chen Ailan went to the kitchen, while the three Yu men stayed to chat with Lu Guanshan.

Lu Guanshan had already impressed the family with his behavior, but today he had thoroughly won their admiration.

Yu Jiefang even brought out his treasured cigarettes.

However, Lu Guanshan smiled and said, “Uncle, I don’t smoke. But my unit leader once gave me some tobacco coupons as a reward, so I bought a whole carton of cigarettes this morning to show my respect to you.”

He pulled a carton of cigarettes from the pile of gifts he had brought.

Yu Jiefang’s eyes widened in shock.

A whole carton of cigarettes! That was an entire carton!

In their village, most people were not well-off. Even the Yu family, considered better off, usually smoked homegrown tobacco leaves. Rolled cigarettes were a rare luxury, often saved for special occasions or even just worn behind the ear to show off.

Now, Lu Guanshan had gifted him an entire carton!

Yu Jiefang’s hands trembled with excitement.

Yu Tuanjie and Yu Fendou’s eyes lit up instantly as well.

This brother-in-law—they fully approved of him!

Lu Guanshan smiled warmly. “Dad, Big Brother, Second Brother, if my unit leader gives me more cigarettes in the future, I’ll send them home to you. I don’t like smoking, so they’d only go to waste otherwise.”

Yu Jiefang was stunned. “What did you call me?”

The Yu brothers: ??

Just like that, he was calling them Dad, Big Brother, and Second Brother?

But…

The three Yu men beamed and answered in unison, “Yes!”

What a good son-in-law!

What a good brother-in-law!

Lu Guanshan seized the opportunity to explain the gifts he had brought and then went over his personal circumstances in detail: the bride price, how the wedding would be organized, and plans for their future life together. He laid everything out clearly and thoroughly.

He put in his utmost effort to ensure everything was perfect.

If he was going to marry, he wouldn’t let his wife feel wronged.

A man who couldn’t make his wife happy had no right to marry at all.

The kitchen was bustling with steam and filled with mouthwatering aromas.

Pomegranate was eagerly helping Yu Li tend the stove behind the hearth.

Second sister-in-law Wang Xinghua and Yu Li’s mother, Chen Ailan, were busy stir-frying dishes together.

The more Yu Li watched them, the more she felt something was off—why were they so unusually cheerful?

Wang Xinghua scooped a big spoonful of lard into the pan. “Mom, today’s meal has to be extra delicious. I’ve tallied it up: we’ve got braised fish, pork stewed with potatoes, and stir-fried eggs with chives… six dishes. Is that enough?”

Chen Ailan immediately shook her head. “Not enough! You’re young and don’t understand. When a future son-in-law visits, at least eight dishes are needed to show our regard! It also symbolizes a harmonious and prosperous life ahead!”

Yu Li shot up from her seat, dropping the fire poker in her hand.

Her eyes widened. “Mom! Second Sister-in-law! A future son-in-law? What son-in-law? Why don’t I know anything about this?”

Wang Xinghua glanced at her with a sly smile, stirring the pan as she said, “Ask Mom.”

Chen Ailan gave Yu Li a sideways look. “Oh my, our little Li is shy now? Look at you. Every time Xiao Lu shows up, it’s like you’ve lost your soul. Today, Xiao Lu brought a pile of gifts—he’s here to arrange the engagement!

Besides, after how Xiao Lu helped us deal with that scum Liu Maokeng, you really should marry soon. With your pretty face, who knows when someone else might set their sights on you again?”

Chen Ailan had thought this through.

With her daughter’s looks and figure, it was difficult for an average man to protect her. Living in the village made her an easy target for troublemakers.

But marrying Lu Guanshan was different. Once they moved to the military base together, it would be perfectly safe.

Moreover, even though they had only met Lu Guanshan a few times, his behavior had been impeccable.

A man of such high quality—anyone with eyes would snatch him up. She couldn’t let Yu Li’s hesitation cause her to miss this opportunity.

“Li, let me tell you: garbage men should be cut off decisively, but when you meet a good man, you need to hold on tight. Do you think other women are fools? While you’re hesitating, someone else could swoop in. Right?”

Before Yu Li could respond, the adorable little Pomegranate chimed in with a nod, “Right!”

Yu Li turned to her. “Pomegranate, do you even know what Grandma is talking about? Why are you just agreeing? And where did you get that candy?”

Pomegranate shook her head, looking adorably smug. “Uncle gave it to me! As soon as he came in, he gave me a handful of candy!”

Wang Xinghua scooped the dish out of the pan and smiled. “Brother-in-law really is great—thoughtful and capable. He even remembers the kids.”

Wow!

They were already calling him brother-in-law and uncle?

Yu Li took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but in the end, she stayed silent.

Forget it. They weren’t wrong—Lu Guanshan was indeed excellent in every way.

Except for the fact that, according to the original story, he would die young, he was practically flawless.

But she still hadn’t made up her mind…

This was all happening so fast!

The lunch that day went exceptionally well. Without Gao Xuelian causing trouble, the family was in high spirits, and even Bench behaved unusually well.

The Yu men took turns trying to drink Lu Guanshan under the table.

In their village, forcing drinks on a guest was a custom—the more you pushed, the more enthusiasm you showed!

Yu Li watched as her eldest brother fell, then her second brother, and finally her father.

Lu Guanshan, however, remained seated with a slight flush at the corners of his eyes, smiling serenely.

His alcohol tolerance was incredible!

Yu Li couldn’t help but wonder: If he could drink this much, then the night he was drugged by Wu’s mother, was he really unable to resist?

Her heart thumped wildly.

Chen Ailan helped Yu Jiefang into the room to rest. The eldest brother went to his own room, and the second brother and Wang Xinghua took Pomegranate back to theirs.

“Li, Xiao Lu has had a lot to drink. Let him rest in your room for a while. Come help me wash the dishes in the kitchen!” Chen Ailan called.

Yu Li quickly agreed.

Her mom wasn’t really going to let her wash dishes—this was just an excuse to let Lu Guanshan rest, while avoiding letting them be alone together.

Leading Lu Guanshan into her room, Yu Li turned to leave, but a hand caught hers.

The man, flushed from the alcohol, had a large, warm hand that gripped her firmly. His eyes, tinged with red, were slightly dazed.

Yet, his lips curved into a smile, his peach blossom eyes shimmering with intoxicating charm.

Yu Li’s heart skipped a beat as he suddenly pulled her into his arms.

“I’m drunk. Let me hold you for a while, just for a minute. Is that okay?”