Chen Cuihua did not expect Jiang Rao to ask this; she thought Jiang Rao would be so ashamed that she couldn’t lift her head. It seemed this little slut was a brainless fool.

【Something about this plot feels off.】

【Wasn’t Jiang Rao unwilling to marry a poor boy? Why is she acting so strange all of a sudden?】

【I don’t know why, but Jiang Rao seems to have broken away from her set character. Though it’s a bit weird, the plot has actually become more interesting than before.】

【Jiang Rao is actually playing straight ball?!】

Lu Shen’s heart thumped violently, pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his chest. He felt his throat dry and looked at her in disbelief, “W-what did you say?”

He must have heard wrong just now.

How could such a beautiful little fairy possibly take a liking to him?

Jiang Rao’s delicate brows slightly knitted. Her voice carried that spoiled tone, “I’ll only say this once, you better listen carefully.”

“Are you willing to marry me?” Her clear and deep black eyes locked onto him.

“I… I…” Under her gaze, Lu Shen’s heart pounded wildly, beating so fast it made him uneasy, and his brain nearly stopped functioning.

This time, he didn’t hear wrong.

She actually wanted him to marry her?

【Say yes! Hurry up and say yes!】

【This inexperienced boy who’s never dated is way too innocent.】

【In our generation, kids in sixth grade were already secretly dating, but Lu Shen turns out to be so pure…】

【Lu Shen is such a good husband. Even after becoming the richest man, he never fooled around outside, stayed clean and self-disciplined. A man who truly upholds male virtue.】

“Looks like you’re unwilling.” Jiang Rao glanced at him. “If you’re unwilling, then forget it. Still, thank you for saving me. You can go now; you don’t need to take responsibility. I’ll just marry someone else.”

After speaking, Jiang Rao turned around, draped in Jiang Tianhua’s jacket, and started walking away.

“Hey, Second, don’t go!” Chen Cuihua saw Jiang Rao about to leave and quickly blocked her path, frantically winking at Lu Shen. “You silly boy, can’t you see our family’s Second has her eye on you?”

Lu Shen’s heart raced even faster, almost beyond his limit.

She… she liked him?

“Why aren’t you saying yes already? If you don’t agree now, you’ll never get such a good marriage again!” Chen Cuihua tirelessly promoted, “In all the villages within ten miles, you won’t find a girl prettier than our Second. You silly boy, what are you standing there for? Miss this chance, and there won’t be another!”

Lu Shen was nearly overwhelmed by this pie falling from the sky, dizzy and lightheaded. Seeing that Jiang Rao was really about to leave, he was afraid he would never see her again in his life. Gritting his teeth, he said, “I’m willing!”

Afraid she didn’t hear clearly, he raised his voice and repeated, “I’m willing!”

Jiang Rao’s footsteps paused; she turned back and looked at him.

The moment his eyes met hers, Lu Shen’s blushing habit kicked in again. His heart thudded like a drum, and his words came out stammering, “I-I’m willing!”

“Now that’s more like it!” Chen Cuihua slapped her thigh, her face beaming with joy.

With this marriage settled, she could finally set her mind at ease.

Marrying a poor boy, this little slut would suffer plenty in the future!

“If it’s unwilling and forced, I won’t accept it.” Jiang Rao’s black, luminous eyes fixed on him; her eyelashes fluttered lightly. “You don’t need to force yourself.”

“No, no forcing, no forcing at all.” Lu Shen hurriedly denied, “Being able to marry you would be the greatest blessing of my life, it’s just that I…”

He lowered his head in shame, “My family is poor, I’m afraid I’ll treat you badly.”

Jiang Tianhua’s expression changed slightly. He tugged at Chen Cuihua’s sleeve, whispering, “Our Xiao Rao is so beautiful and in such good condition; isn’t it bad for her to marry a poor man?”

Chen Cuihua had long known that this rough man’s family was poor, but she put on a face of understanding, “What’s wrong with being poor? As long as he’s steady, hardworking, willing to toil, and treats our family’s Second well, that’s enough.”

She turned her head and forced a smile at Lu Shen, “Our family isn’t snobbish. It’s fine if you’re poor, don’t worry.”

【Hahaha, I’m dying. She says she doesn’t mind Lu Shen being poor, but isn’t she secretly pushing her own daughter to marry someone rich?】

【A snake hiding behind a Buddha’s smile. I see it clearly now. She’s trying so hard to marry Jiang Rao off to Lu Shen just because she wants Jiang Rao to suffer later. This old woman is no good.】

Lu Shen felt both moved and embarrassed. He glanced at Jiang Rao, his face burning hot, and quickly shifted his gaze away. “As long as she doesn’t mind me being poor, and doesn’t mind living a hard life with me, that’s enough.”

He wouldn’t stay poor forever. He would work hard, strive to succeed, and make sure she lived a good life.

“No, she won’t mind, she won’t mind!” Before Jiang Rao could speak, Chen Cuihua immediately jumped in, eager to settle the marriage as fast as possible.

Lu Shen clenched his fists tightly; a faint flush spread across his wheat-colored cheeks, and his palms were sweaty. “I’ll treat her well for my entire life.”

“That’s good. With your words, I’m relieved.” Chen Cuihua, not giving Jiang Tianhua or Jiang Rao a chance to speak, hastily concluded, “Then this marriage is settled.”

Jiang Rao, of course, could see right through Chen Cuihua’s little schemes. “Are you satisfied with this son-in-law?”

“Satisfied, of course I’m satisfied. Look at him, thick eyebrows, big eyes, handsome features. You won’t find many men in the village with a face as upright as his. And look at his build, you can tell at a glance he’s someone who can endure hardship and knows how to live a good life.”

“Since you’re satisfied, if I marry into his family and they’re so poor, shouldn’t you give me some dowry?” Jiang Rao curved her lips and smiled.

“Of course, I have to give it.” Jiang Tianhua quickly said. He leaned close to Jiang Rao, tugging at her sleeve, “Xiao Rao, you’re not really interested in him, are you?”

“Even though we can’t marry you off to the town mayor’s driver, we can still find another good family, one that’s a bit wealthier. You’ve been pampered since you were little; can you really endure such a hard life?”

“I just like him.” Jiang Rao knew that if, after marriage, she didn’t act recklessly like the bullet comments had described, her life would only get better and better, and her blessings were still ahead.

Besides, her first impression of Lu Shen was actually quite good.

Her voice wasn’t too loud nor too soft, just enough for Lu Shen to hear it clearly.

Lu Shen felt as though his whole body was boiling. Once he married her, he would work hard to make sure she lived a good life.

He heard she ate three eggs a day; after marrying her, he wanted to work hard so she could eat six eggs a day!

“Since you two have feelings for each other, of course I’ll prepare a dowry,” Chen Cuihua said awkwardly.

It just wouldn’t be as much as she gave her Xiao Yu.

“Then I want thirty cloth coupons, thirty grain coupons, thirty meat coupons, and ten Great Unity bills.” Jiang Rao’s delicate voice rang out.

“You must be out of your mind for money!” Chen Cuihua’s face completely changed, “That’s asking like a lion opening its mouth! Where would our family get that much money?”

And she even dared to ask for the Great Unity bills? Was she crazy?!

Even Xiao Yu’s dowry didn’t have that much!

“Xiao Rao, our family isn’t rich. Altogether, we only have fifteen cloth coupons, eighteen grain coupons, and eight meat coupons. As for Great Unity bills, we only have three in total…” Jiang Tianhua’s expression was troubled as he lowered his voice, “Even if we emptied out the house, we couldn’t give you that much.”

“But isn’t Jiang Yu going to marry Song Dechao?” Jiang Rao looked at them innocently, “Didn’t Song Dechao give Jiang Yu quite a lot of betrothal money? How could it be impossible to take out some?”

“That’s our Xiao Yu’s betrothal money, how could we give it to you!” Chen Cuihua gritted her teeth, no longer caring to maintain her virtuous-wife image, “Your appetite is far too big!”

“But that was supposed to be my betrothal money.” Jiang Rao glanced at the surrounding villagers, then laughed aloud, “If Jiang Yu hadn’t seduced Song Dechao, and the two of them hadn’t climbed into bed while I wasn’t home, the one marrying Song Dechao would have been me. Giving me some money as compensation isn’t too much to ask, is it?”