Chapter 40: Win Win Situation

Chen Sheng winked at his mother, “Mom, forget the rest, isn’t Xiangcui a great girl?”

“Yes, yes, Xiangcui is beautiful, educated, and has a great butt, so she’ll bear sons.  Are you happy now?” Mother Chen said impatiently.

Chen Sheng grabbed his mother’s arm, “Mom, there’s an opportunity to marry her.”

Mother Chen snorted, still mentally calling Deng Xiangcui a vixen who had bewitched her son.

Chen Sheng didn’t get angry, “Mom, you might not know this, but Qiao Fangfang is related to the Deng family.”

Mother Chen looked up, “What? Related to the Dengs?”

She didn’t know. The incident with Deng’s shrew yelling at their shop was months ago. She vaguely heard that the Dengs had a wedding this year but didn’t pay attention.

“Yes, she’s related to the Dengs, and she’s Xiangcui’s sister-in-law!”

Mother Chen immediately started theorizing, “That bitch did this on purpose! She introduced a crazy woman to us because she still resents us and wants to harm my son!”

“Mom, let me finish,” Chen Sheng shouted.

Seeing her son’s anger, Mother Chen stopped.

“Okay, son, I won’t say anything. What do you want to do?”

Chen Sheng’s expression softened, “I’ve met many girls, but none are better than Xiangcui. I want her.”

“There’s an opportunity. I have to try. If it works, great.  If not, we can extort money from the Deng family.

First, to avenge the previous humiliation, and second, to increase my bride price.  I can find a better girl.

Either way, it’s a win-win situation!”

Mother Chen looked at her son questioningly.

Chen Sheng continued, “Mom, the elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Qiao Fangfang is the crazy girl’s aunt and Xiangcui’s sister-in-law.

She plotted against us, so we’ll plot against her.

Mom, take the money and find her. Say we like her niece and will pay the bride price.  She’ll become our daughter-in-law.

Make the receipt vague.  Say you received 300 yuan, without names.  Add a clause about double the bride price if she backs out.  Get her signature.

Once she signs and takes the money, we’ll go to the Deng family and get your daughter-in-law.”

Mother Chen’s eyes lit up, “Good! Excellent! Two birds with one stone! If it works, we’ll get a daughter-in-law. If not, we’ll get the bride price back.

It’s her money and signature. Even if the Deng family denies it, it’s their problem, not ours.

We’ll stick to our guns. They took the money, so they either give us their daughter or pay back!

Hmph They tried to trick us, and that shrew! I’ve endured her for a long time. When her daughter falls into my hands, we’ll see who begs for mercy!!!”

Mother and son chatted excitedly.

Urged by her son, Mother Chen took a metal box from under her bed, containing the bride price for her son.

At the hospital, only Lei Honghua and Qiao Jianguo were there.

Mother Chen chatted with Lei Honghua, then subtly brought up Gaoshi Village.

“I went to Gaoshi Village twice.  Your family has been lively lately”

Lei Honghua, angry, poured out her heart, complaining about being a stepmother, scolding Qiao Youcai’s brothers, Liu Afang, and Qiao Jiangxin.

“My good niece, we’re country folk.  How can they be so cruel? How can we live?

The family expenses, illnesses…

They’re all from that beast!  It almost killed me!  If it weren’t for the children, I would have died of anger!

And my fourth son, even if we’re not from the same mother, we’re brothers! Why would they do this?

I’m so miserable, woo woo woo”

Mother Chen looked at Lei Honghua, who was sobbing, feeling conflicted.

Her son wasn’t lying. The chickens and pigs were killed, and the uncle was almost killed.

But the perpetrator was the stepsons, not the crazy daughter.

Her eyes flashed with coldness.

The stepsons were thorns in the stepmother’s side.  She blamed them to sell her crazy daughter for a good price.

Hmph, Lei Honghua must have known she went to Gaoshi Village to investigate, so she tried to deceive her.