Chapter 3: Dog bites dog, let’s talk

When Song Fu turned the tables and tried to shift the blame, Zhang Chunyan became so furious that her already plain-looking face twisted with anger.

“Song Fu, you’re spouting nonsense! That never happened! Huimin and I have been close since we were little—how could I possibly say things like that about her?!”

“You were the one who asked me to come out today! You said you wanted to talk to Huimin but were afraid she wouldn’t listen, so you asked me to pass the message. That’s the only reason I came! I was about to leave after passing on the message, but you stopped me. And now you’re turning it all around on me?! Let me tell you, you’re not going to smear my name!”

Before Wang Huimin even had to say anything, the two of them were already tearing into each other like rabid dogs. What a perfect way to catch them red-handed. Wang Huimin wasn’t angry at all—in fact, there was even a hint of a smile on her lips. Now it was up to Song Jianjun to decide how to deal with it.

Song Fu was fuming at Zhang Chunyan’s shamelessness and pointed at her, just about to retort. But at that moment, Song Jianjun was so furious at his foolish nephew that he threw a punch, knocking him straight to the ground with a loud thud and a painful “ow!”

“Third Uncle, why did you hit me?!”

Seeing that pathetic expression only made Song Jianjun angrier—he looked like he wanted to kick him again.

“Consider yourself lucky that’s all I did! After doing something like this, what else is there to say? Go home first—we’ll talk there!”

It hadn’t rained for days, and under the bridge, there was only a shallow stream left. Song Fu landed right in a patch of wet mud. The fall didn’t hurt much, but he ended up with a muddy backside. His chest ached from the punch, and though he was grimacing in pain, he didn’t dare say a word. He just glared viciously at Wang Huimin, already suspecting that she had deliberately brought his third uncle here.

Otherwise, how could his uncle have shown up just moments after he left the house and while he was supposedly out working? This little wretch dared to set him up—just wait until after the wedding! He’d make her pay!

As Song Fu was dragged home to be dealt with, Zhang Chunyan looked around and said, “Uncle Song, I’ll head home first.”

Wang Huimin, focused solely on winning over Song Jianjun at the moment, had no intention of dealing with her—she stayed silent.

Song Jianjun replied, “Alright, go on home. We’ll talk about everything else later.”

Once Zhang Chunyan left, Song Jianjun headed home with Wang Huimin walking behind him. Song Fu, seeing no other choice, got up and followed them, limping along while clutching his mud-covered pants.

When they got home, and Song Jianjun saw the mess Song Fu had made of himself, he told him to go into the inner room and change his pants. After he changed and came back out, Song Jianjun didn’t scold him immediately but turned to Wang Huimin.

“Xiao Min, this has already happened, and it’s clear that Xiao Fu was in the wrong. What do you want to do about it?”

Wang Huimin ignored Song Fu’s sneaky glare and replied calmly, “Then, Uncle Song, what do you think should be done?”

Before Song Jianjun could answer, Song Fu muttered, “Wang Huimin, don’t be so petty. It’s not a big deal—just let it go. We’ll just get married and move on.”

Hearing that, Song Jianjun’s face turned cold instantly. “You’re messing around with another woman before you’re even married, and you call that a small matter? Don’t you dare speak like that again!”

Song Fu instantly fell silent. He had been scolded plenty by his third uncle growing up and had always been afraid of him.

Song Jianjun turned to Wang Huimin. “Xiao Min, say what’s really on your mind. We’re clearly in the wrong here. If you want to call off the engagement, I won’t stop you. Go home and discuss it with your parents. You don’t need to return the full bride price—just give me back nine hundred. Keep the remaining one hundred as compensation, and we’ll consider the marriage called off.”

Song Fu panicked upon hearing that. Wang Huimin was one of the most sought-after girls in the village—beautiful and well-mannered. To lose a bride like that right before the wedding? He couldn’t accept it.

“Third Uncle! No! They already took so much in bride price—how can the engagement just be canceled like that?!”

Song Jianjun shot him a glare. “Shut your mouth! This is all your fault!”

At that point, Wang Huimin finally spoke. “Uncle Song, I can make decisions for myself. There’s no need to involve my parents. I do have an idea. You don’t need to return the bride price, but I need to speak with you alone.”

Song Jianjun had already suspected that Wang Huimin’s visit had more to it than met the eye—especially since she had brought him to personally catch Song Fu and Zhang Chunyan together. Now he was curious to hear what she’d say next.

“Xiao Fu, go weed the garden. I need to have a proper talk with Xiao Min.”

When Song Fu heard that the bride price wouldn’t be returned, half of his anxiety immediately vanished. He thought, See? With the Wang family’s poor finances, once they’ve got the money, there’s no way they’re giving it back. Wang Huimin is destined to be my wife.

Before leaving, he gave Wang Huimin another look, already fantasizing that once he had her back in his grasp, he could do whatever he pleased. That disgusting look made Wang Huimin feel sick—she wished she could kick him into the wall.

Once Song Fu was gone, Wang Huimin looked directly at Song Jianjun. This man was clearly from a military background—even after working as a farmer for years, he still carried an air of dominance. But she wasn’t afraid.

“Uncle Song, now that it’s just us, I’ll speak plainly. I will never marry Song Fu.”

Song Jianjun wasn’t surprised—he thought the girl was about to negotiate over the bride price and waited for her next words.

But then the girl looked him straight in the eye, calm and steady. “But I can marry you. That way, I’d still be marrying into the Song family, and your bride price won’t go to waste.”

Upon hearing that, a flicker of surprise crossed Song Jianjun’s steady, stoic face. His brows quickly furrowed.

“What nonsense are you talking about?!”

Wang Huimin remained calm. “I’m not talking nonsense. You’re unmarried, I’m unmarried. My family took your bride price. I’m willing to marry you. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

The more she spoke, the more Song Jianjun felt she was completely out of her mind.

“Stop talking nonsense. You were originally engaged to Xiao Fu, and I’m his uncle. Even if that engagement falls through, I’m still your elder.”

“Besides, look how old I am. How could I possibly marry a young girl like you? I already told you, if you don’t want the marriage, then forget it.”

“If you can’t return the bride price, I won’t make it difficult for you. But don’t say things like this again. If word gets out, it’ll ruin your reputation. Go back home.”

As if Wang Huimin would really leave. She looked him straight in the eye and said, “I’m not afraid of my reputation—why are you? Don’t worry, I don’t care about your injury or your age. If we get married, I’ll definitely treat you well.”

It was clear she was serious—refusing to marry his nephew but determined to marry him instead. What kind of situation was this? Now it was getting awkward for them to be alone in the same room.

Song Jianjun stood up, clearly uncomfortable. “If you really won’t leave, then I’ll have no choice but to call your parents to come take you home.”

Wang Huimin grabbed his arm. “Don’t go yet—everything I said is from the bottom of my heart. It has nothing to do with the bride price. I simply chose you.”

Song Jianjun, caught by her grip, had a helpless look in his eyes. “Let go of me. Don’t pull on me like that.”

But Wang Huimin held on. “Then don’t rush off. Let me finish what I have to say, and I’ll let go.”

Song Jianjun, frustrated and unable to use force on a young girl, had no choice but to turn around and sit back down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed).

“Alright, go ahead and say what you want.”

Anyway, no matter what she said, he had no intention of changing his mind and marrying a girl so much younger than himself.