Chapter 45: A Fight

Unaware that Zhao Leyi and He Weiyuan’s engagement was off, Wang Shuning slowly loosened her grip, following behind, reminding He Guoyue, who was unconsciously looking at the ground, “Hold the handlebars firmly, look ahead, don’t look down.”

To allow the two children to reach the seat, Wang Shuning had specially lowered the seat height using a wrench. However, they were only seven years old after the New Year, their arms not yet fully developed, so they had to lean forward when holding the handlebars.

He Zhuzhu, wearing an apron, stood under the eaves watching, saying that Gou Dan and Mingming were too young, even if they learned, they couldn’t support the weight of the bicycle, but the smile on her lips never stopped.

After Zhao Leyi returned to the educated youth point, Liu Sucun immediately stepped forward to inquire about the situation. “He Weiyuan didn’t bully you, did he?”

Zhao Leyi shook her head. “I’m not going to marry him. We just broke up.”

Liu Sucun blinked. Broke up? The village had already spread so many rumors about their marriage. Wasn’t it better not to get married?

Hu Haoguo, sitting on a small stool not far away, said unhappily, “He Weiyuan cares so much about you, he’s done so much for you, and you still want to break up with him? It’s just because he can’t afford the dowry. You women are so hypocritical.”

Darkness gathered in Zhao Leyi’s eyes. “My parents raised me, and they painstakingly supported me through high school. They didn’t raise me so I could just marry any man with nothing and live a hard life. If he can’t afford the dowry, he doesn’t qualify to get married.”

“You…” Hu Haoguo’s eyes were filled with anger after being humiliated.

When He Weiyuan returned home, He Weiguang was moving things. Since the family had split, some things had to be separated. He had to return to town for work tomorrow, and he had only taken half a day off to come back.

Seeing his younger son return, He Liangliang asked weakly, “When is the wedding set for? Even if the family is split, the parents still need to meet.”

He Weiyuan replied with a sullen face, “Zhao Leyi said that without ‘three turns and one ring’ and two hundred yuan in dowry, she wouldn’t marry. She just broke up with me.”

He Weiyuan’s mother was momentarily stunned. “That dung beetle! She stirred up our family and then just walked away. More than two hundred yuan, over a hundred left after building the new house, and she’s not willing? She’s a bad omen! I can’t swallow this! That shameless woman! I have to go find her!”

After cursing, she turned and ran to the kitchen, grabbing a rolling pin and running out.

He Liangliang quickly stood up and ordered He Weiyuan, “Stop your mother!”

He Weiyuan indifferently returned to his room. “We’ve already broken up. Why should I stop her? If I don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll really think I’m easy to bully. Let Mom go make a scene.”

A surge of anger choked He Liangliang. He felt dizzy and his head buzzed. He had quarreled with his family and split the family because of a woman, and just a few hours later, she broke up with him. She was truly heartless and unfeeling.

“Big Head, quickly go get your mother back. Our He family’s reputation is ruined today.” He Liangliang now wished he’d never had a son like He Weiyuan. His lack of ability and laziness were one thing, but he lacked basic filial piety and brotherly affection. Thankfully, the eldest son had a conscience; otherwise, who would support him and his wife in their old age?

He Weiguang hurried out. When he reached the educated youth point, his mother was pulling Zhao Leyi’s hair and beating her.

She punched and kicked, using all her might, her mouth full of curses. She not only called Zhao Leyi a bad omen and shameless but also insulted her mother.

Many people had gathered at the educated youth point, some trying to pull them apart. It was unclear whether it was because the two women were too strong or because they were pretending to pull them apart, but several people couldn’t separate them.

He Weiguang rushed forward, hugged his mother’s waist, and pulled her back.

“Ah, my hair!” Zhao Leyi cried out in pain.

After finally separating them, He Weiguang’s mother was holding a clump of hair. Upon closer inspection, white roots were visible—hair pulled from Zhao Leyi’s head.

Zhao Leyi clutched her head; it felt wet. When she looked, she saw blood on her hand and screamed, “My head is bleeding! My scalp is torn!”

Liu Sucun immediately tiptoed to look at her scalp. The bald patch showed blood. “She’s bleeding. Her scalp is torn.”

Zhao Leyi fell to the ground, clutching her head and looking at the clump of hair, bursting into tears. “He can’t afford the dowry; what does it have to do with me? That shameless thug came to beat me! He Liangliang is the production team leader; he thinks he’s so great! This is bullying! I’m going to report this to the town! You people in Dafeng Village are bullying the educated youths who came to the countryside, forcing people to marry, and beating them if they don’t! This is forced marriage!”

So much hair had been pulled out; what if it didn’t grow back? She would be bald!

She had just broken up, and He Weiyuan’s mother had beaten her. Rural women were so uncouth, full of curses. “You’re so violent! I’m glad I didn’t marry into your family; otherwise, I would have been beaten to death! He Weiyuan has a mother like you; he deserves to be a bachelor for life and never find a wife!”

He Haiming, hearing the news, rushed from home without delay. Before even entering the courtyard, he heard the cries and shouting inside.

Pushing through the onlookers, he saw Zhao Leyi sitting on the ground, clutching a clump of hair and crying.

Opposite her, He Weiguang’s mother was still trying to lunge forward, her right hand clawed like a sharp talon. If He Weiguang hadn’t held her back, she would have been on top of Zhao Leyi, beating her.

“The village chief is here!” He Qianghai shouted.

Everyone immediately turned to make way for He Haiming.

“What’s going on? How did it come to this?” He Haiming looked seriously at the chaotic scene.

Seeing the village chief, Zhao Leyi immediately cried loudly, venting all her grievances, repeatedly saying she would call the police and have He Weiyuan’s mother arrested. “This is intentional injury; I want her to go to jail.”

The villagers whispered among themselves. In their view, this was just a minor squabble, a neighborhood fight. Was it necessary to be so vicious, to send someone to jail? They didn’t expect Zhao Leyi to be so malicious.

He Haiming’s brows twitched. If this went to the town leaders, and they said he, as village chief, couldn’t even manage his village, he would definitely be held accountable for lax management.

He looked at He Weiyuan’s silent mother. “Marriage is free. Zhao Leyi doesn’t want to marry; why did you hit her?”

He Weiyuan’s mother cried out aggrievedly, “It’s because she demanded such a high dowry that my younger son fought with my husband, and then our brothers fought, and the family split. If it weren’t for this bitch seducing my younger son, would things have turned out like this?”

“My Weiyuan said he held hands with Zhao Leyi, hugged her, and kissed her. A shameless woman like that deserves a good lesson; otherwise, she’ll harm other unmarried young men.”