Chapter 50

Li Meili nodded, feeling very pleased. Marrying Xu Guoqing meant a future of happiness ahead.

“Meili, aren’t you going to think it over some more?”

“Think about what? Guoqing is good-looking and from the city. How could I not be happy to marry him?”

Li Meiling nodded, “Alright.”

She looked at Li Meiling and thought back to when she had been beaten by Li Goudan in the past. Li Meiling had visited her then, so she said, “Sister Meiling, do you know much about your fiancé?”

Li Meiling shook her head, “I met him once when we got engaged, and I’ve seen him twice since. But we haven’t spoken much.”

“Meiling, no matter what, we’re cousins, so I won’t harm you. You should probably have someone inquire about him.”

Li Meili hesitated, “Meiling, do you know something?”

Li Meili bit her lip. “I heard he has someone else.”

Li Meiling stood up with a sudden jerk, “No way! Haitao wouldn’t do that.”

“Hmph, after Yang Haitao got engaged to you, he barely came to our house—probably only twice at most.”

Li Meiling deflated like a punctured balloon and sat back down.

She knew that in other families, young couples saw each other three or four times a month, but Yang Haitao had said he was busy and didn’t have time.

Li Meili continued, “He’s not a good person. You need to think carefully.”

Li Meiling’s eyes started to redden as she looked at Meili, “Is what you’re saying true?”

Li Meili sighed. She and her cousin had both suffered in their lives.

That Yang Haitao, though he worked as a regular employee at the food factory, had been her childhood friend. After Meiling’s husband passed away just two years into their marriage, Yang Haitao secretly took the woman in and eventually, they had a child together.

That woman was ruthless and scheming. In her pursuit of power, she had caused Li Meiling’s downfall.

Her weak and useless second uncle didn’t dare to say a word.

“Meiling, I’ve said all I can. I won’t say any more.”

Li Meiling pressed her lips together, “Thank you, Meili.”

At that moment, Li Yuechan walked in from outside.

“Wow, is it lively here? I hope I’m not late?”

Liu Xinghua hurriedly stood up, “Oh, Xiao Chan, I thought you were asleep inside! Where have you been?”

Li Yuechan looked around, “Oh, last night I missed my mom, so I went back to check on her. Since Meili’s engagement is today, I rushed back.”

“Good, you’re not late. The meal’s not ready yet.”

“Alright then.”

Liu Xinghua introduced, “This is Xu Guoqing, Meili’s fiancé.”

Li Yuechan nodded at the man, acknowledging him.

Xu Guoqing looked at the young woman in front of him. Not only was she pretty, but she also had a confident aura. He returned the greeting.

“Comrade Li, hello.”

He had heard from Liu Xinghua that the Li family’s third branch wasn’t very successful, but the third branch’s daughter, Li Yuechan, was said to have graduated from high school.

However, after a quick glance at her, Xu Guoqing, feeling insecure, lowered his head and thought about what kind of person could be worthy of such a beautiful girl.

After some small talk, the meal was ready.

Zhang Laidi brought the food over, and Huang Hehua, who was in the room, hadn’t made an appearance. Liu Xinghua didn’t mind; her daughter-in-law was upset with her because of the betrothal gifts.

After a while, the meal was served.

The whole family gathered around, with Li Meili sitting quietly, her head down in shyness, at the opposite end.

Xu Guoqing looked at Li Meili and shyly lowered his head.

Li Yuechan didn’t care about that. She looked at the dishes and thought, “Oh, not bad. We’ve got meat today, and two scrambled eggs. The engagement is a good reason to have nice food.”

Before they began eating, Xu Guoqing greeted everyone again before sitting down.

Huang Hehua casually nodded, and Grandpa Li Dashi said a few polite words.

By the time the meal started, no one from Li’s side had gone to work that day, which quickly spread through the village.

“Did you hear? The intellectual went to Huang Hehua’s house to propose today.”

“Really? After that incident, I thought he wouldn’t come to propose.”

“Tch, that Huang Hehua thinks she’s all that just because her two sons work at the factory. She walks around with her nose in the air.

These days, she’s stopped working, saying she’s going to enjoy life and be a lady of leisure. Now that her granddaughter’s marrying an intellectual, let’s see how she acts then.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But Meili’s a good girl, such a wonderful daughter, and yet she’s marrying an intellectual.”

“Ugh, with this situation, who is she even thinking of marrying?”

“Ah, these intellectuals aren’t worth anything. Look at Lan Cao, raising a child on her own, and still thinking that the intellectual will come back. I don’t believe it. Two years have passed, and where is he?”

“Yeah, that’s right, Lan Cao is such a poor thing.”

After dinner, Li Yuechan went back to her room to sleep.

At that moment, the accountant from the production team came over, “Aunt Huang, the production team called for you. They said you should come by in five minutes.”

Huang Hehua frowned, “Who called?”

“It seems like it’s your third son.”

Huang Hehua hurried to the production team office.

As soon as she arrived, the phone rang again. Huang Hehua immediately picked up the receiver.

“Hello.”

“Mom, it’s your third son.”

“Third son, why are you calling now?”

“Mom, is anyone around you? I need to talk to you about something.”

Huang Hehua glanced at the accountant nearby, who wisely walked away.

“Go ahead, no one’s around.”

“Mom, that damn girl came back last night, did you know?”

“Ah, I didn’t know. How did she get back?”

“Mom, can you help me with something? If it works out, I’ll give you 100 yuan.”

“What do you want me to do? Third son, I’m not going to get involved in anything shady.”

“Can you make sure that girl never comes back again? It’d be best to leave her there.”

“Third son, don’t scare me! What are we going to do about this?”

“Mom, Lizhen refuses to have another child with me because of that girl. If she’s gone, maybe Lizhen will finally agree to have another child.”

“Ah, so that’s the reason. No wonder that woman hasn’t given you any children.”

Li Jianguo’s eyes flickered, and he continued, “Mom, you can’t let me go through life without an heir, can you? So you absolutely have to help me with this.”

“This won’t be easy. You know what that girl is like.”

“I know, Mom, but can you think of a way?”

“Alright, but if this works out, I want 200 yuan.”

“What?”

“Third son, this is risky. I’m taking a big chance here.”

Li Jianguo gritted his teeth. “Fine, forget it. If you help me with this, I’ll give you 200 yuan.”

Huang Hehua hung up the phone, but this matter needed careful thought. It wasn’t something her third son could handle with just a few words.

However, as her mind turned, she smiled inwardly. 200 yuan!