Chapter 21: Blessings from a Good Sister

The feast ended at 2 pm.

“Xiaowan, don’t see us off, we’ll drive ourselves back,” Zhou Haoting said, pushing Wu Lin into the car.

Wen Wan exclaimed in surprise, “How can you drive after drinking?”

“Xiaowan, don’t worry, I’ve been driving for years without any problems,” Zhou Haoting said confidently, turning to get his car keys.

Wen Wan realized that it was the 1970s, when there were very few private cars on the road. The rule against drinking and driving only came later.

Suddenly, a tractor rumbled closer and closer.

The tractor driver, Chen Tieshou, stopped his vehicle, his eyes fixed on the black sedan, longing to touch it.

“Xiaowan, are you here to see me off to my wedding?” Liu Xiaoling, wearing a red flower, smiled faintly, deliberately leaning against Chen Jianbing.

Wen Wan looked over, sneered, and crossed her arms. “Liu Xiaoling, you’re really impatient. You’re afraid someone will snatch your unwanted trash.”

“Xiaowan, didn’t we agree to be good sisters for life? Can’t you really forgive Jianbing and me?” Liu Xiaoling’s face turned green with anger, almost shouting. She glanced at Chen Jianbing beside her and spoke again, this time with a voice full of grievance.

After speaking, Liu Xiaoling pinched her thigh hard, and tears welled up in her eyes. “Xiaowan, I really want to be sisters with you, and I hope to get your sincere blessing.”

It hurt terribly, all thanks to Wen Wan’s sharp and sarcastic interruption.

If Wen Wan had heard Liu Xiaoling’s inner thoughts, she would have slapped her awake. It was Liu Xiaoling who started the confrontation, deliberately provoking her.

Wen Wan hadn’t missed the boastful look in the other woman’s eyes. She pretended to be scared. “Ah, a good sister who specializes in stealing men, I dare not have you. Who knows if you’ll push me into the water next time, or push me off a cliff?”

“Xiaowan, how can you frame me? I clearly fell in to save you. Everyone in the village knows that,” Liu Xiaoling cried out, her hands clenched into fists. Damn bitch, she’s such an eyesore.

“Oh, are you sure that’s the version everyone in the village knows?” Wen Wan raised an eyebrow and sneered. She wasn’t afraid of another confrontation.

Liu Xiaoling noticed Chen Jianbing stiffen. She pretended to be generous and tolerant. “Xiaowan, I know you’re upset, but don’t worry, I’ll have Jianbing introduce you to a good match later.”

“Who are you going to introduce a match for?” Zhou Haoting, returning with the car keys, overheard the last sentence.

His face instantly darkened, his gaze like a sharp blade, piercing Liu Xiaoling and Chen Jianbing.

Liu Xiaoling’s legs went weak, her eyes darted around. She remembered this was the man who saved Wen Wan.

Zhou Haoting moved to Wen Wan’s side. “Xiaowan, are you alright?” He glanced at the people on the tractor.

Seeing her daughter silent, Ding Guifang stood up, hands on her hips, and said triumphantly, “Wen Wan, you and my son-in-law have broken off the engagement. Don’t be shameless and block our way. We’re in a hurry to go to the wedding ceremony.”

She glanced at Zhou Haoting and clicked her tongue. “Wen Wan, in just one day, where did you find another wild man? You’re really…”

Swish, swish, swish! Cui Yulan’s face flushed red, her hands tightly gripping a large broom, she swung it at the tractor. “I’ll beat you two dog men and women to death! Shameless bitch! Murderer… I’ll stop you from talking nonsense…”

Chen Jianbing was caught off guard by the sudden attack. Feeling guilty, he didn’t dare grab the broom from Cui Yulan, only helping Liu Xiaoling jump off the tractor to dodge.

“Wen Wan, don’t go too far! Quickly pull your mother back!” Chen Jianbing shouted angrily.

Wen Wan pretended not to hear, keeping an eye on Cui Yulan.

After a few minutes, seeing Cui Yulan getting breathless and her anger subsiding, Wen Wan stepped forward, took the broom, and gently soothed her. “Mom, take a rest. I’ll take over.”

“Xiaowan, you… can you?” Cui Yulan, drunk, slurred her words.

Wen Wan calmly replied, “Mom, don’t worry.” With a clever move, she settled Cui Yulan on a stool, leaving the rest to her.

“Liu Xiaoling, Chen Jianbing, I sincerely wish you two bitches and dogs a long and happy life together.”

Chen Jianbing’s face changed drastically. He thought Wen Wan still had feelings for him. “Xiaowan, I’m sorry, I…”

Before he could finish, Wen Wan interrupted, “Don’t say sorry. My family has carried a lot of unfair blame these past few days, and we should thank you for having such a good mother and sister.”

Liu Xiaoling felt like she couldn’t breathe, wishing she could devour Wen Wan.

“Jianbing, it’s all my fault. I implicated you and got you scolded by Xiaowan,” Liu Xiaoling cried, taking the blame.

Chen Jianbing looked at his tearful wife, and his anger flared. “Wen Wan, I’ve tolerated you again and again. If you continue to harass me, I won’t let you off easily.”

“Ha… who’s harassing who? After just having a three-hundred-round fight with a chicken, do you think you’re all that again?” Wen Wan retorted without hesitation.

Chen Jianbing was furious, reaching out to discipline Wen Wan.

Zhou Haoting, seeing this, pulled Wen Wan behind him and kicked Chen Jianbing’s leg.

“Ah…” Liu Xiaoling screamed, grabbing Chen Jianbing’s arm.

Chen Jianbing, though he could have dodged, was flustered. With a crack, he felt a sharp pain in his calf, his right leg weakening, almost causing him to kneel.

“Chen Jianbing, are you even a man?” Zhou Haoting narrowed his eyes, his cold rebuke like a sword piercing Chen Jianbing.

Liu Xiaoling, tears and snot streaming down her face, trembled behind Chen Jianbing. “Jianbing… brother, are you alright?”

Chen Jianbing looked up at the man who had suddenly attacked him, his face pale, his anger boiling. He managed to utter a few words, “Who is he?”

“He’s my fiancé, just engaged,” Wen Wan said with a bright smile. “A very excellent young man. We’re a match made in heaven.”

Seeing Liu Xiaoling’s disbelief, she smiled again. “We have to thank you two for making it possible for me to meet the excellent Comrade Zhou Haoting.”

She enjoyed seeing Liu Xiaoling’s devastated and disappointed expression. She, Wen Wan, was excellent, and she would live a happier life than Liu Xiaoling.

Zhou Haoting understood and calmly said, “Yes, we have to thank Chen Jianbing’s poor judgment. Yesterday, as soon as I learned Xiaowan’s engagement was broken off, I asked my elders to propose marriage today.”