Chapter 4 I Marry You

Before coming, Wang Huimin had already thought out what she would say. After all, she had lived in the Song family for several years and knew Song Jianjun fairly well. As long as she made full use of that understanding, she wasn’t worried about persuading him.

With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at Song Jianjun and said, “Uncle Song, I didn’t want to do this either—but I had no other choice.”

“My parents only demanded such a high bride price from you because they wanted to sell me and use that money to pay for my sister’s education. They’ll never return the money, and they certainly don’t care about how I feel.”

“But I’m a person, not a commodity to be bought and sold. Just because I didn’t agree to the marriage, they tried to beat me before I left—I ran away from home.”

“Even if you don’t force me, and even if you’re willing to let go of the bride price, they’ll just sell me to someone else.”

“I don’t want to be passed from hand to hand like a thing. But I absolutely cannot marry someone like Song Fu, so marrying you is my only way out.”

Seeing a flash of sympathy in Song Jianjun’s eyes, Wang Huimin pressed forward and wiped her tears. “Uncle Song, I’m just trying to find a way to save myself. I hope you can help me.”

“I’m not trying to force you to actually be my husband. As long as you agree to be my husband in name and save me from that family, that’s enough. All they care about is the bride price—they won’t care who I marry.”

“I know a thousand yuan isn’t a small amount. I won’t let your money go to waste.”

“If you agree to help me, I promise I’ll find a way to pay you back in the future.”

Looking into those beautiful eyes, so full of sincerity and desperation, even Song Jianjun couldn’t help but be moved. So this was her plan. He knew exactly what kind of people the Wang family were, and her idea truly wasn’t a bad way to save herself. Still, it felt wrong.

“Xiao Min, I know your family’s situation. But even if I wanted to help you, this just isn’t appropriate. You should go back home.”

Seeing that despite all she’d said, Song Jianjun had clearly softened but still refused her, Wang Huimin switched tactics.

“I know what you’re really thinking. You feel it’s improper because I was previously engaged to Song Fu and now want to be with you instead.”

“But just this morning, you were the one who came to my house to deliver the bride price. Outsiders only know that I’m marrying into the Song family—they don’t know who exactly I’m engaged to.”

“There’s more than one man in the Song family. If I marry you, it’s still the same.”

“Besides, if you refuse, you won’t get the bride price back, and Song Fu’s chances of marrying someone else will be even worse.”

“If you won’t think of me, at least think of your nephew. Do you really want him to stay single for the rest of his life?”

“But if you agree to my plan, I can guarantee that Song Fu will marry Zhang Chunyan—and you won’t have to pay another bride price.”

“That way, you get a wife, he gets a wife, and the family gains two working hands—without spending another cent. Isn’t that a great deal?”

When Wang Huimin laid it all out like that, Song Jianjun’s expression became hard to read. He just stared at her silently.

Wang Huimin gave one final push. “You know exactly what kind of person your nephew is. And someone like Zhang Chunyan is a perfect match for him.”

“Besides, even if you had more money for a bride price, would you really want him to go ruin another good girl’s life?”

In his past life, Song Jianjun had deeply regretted what happened, blaming himself for ruining an innocent girl’s life because of Song Fu. Wang Huimin didn’t believe he wouldn’t be moved by those same words in this life.

And indeed, it was those final sentences that finally convinced Song Jianjun.

He knew exactly what Song Fu had done. No matter how he tried to discipline him, it never worked. No good girl would be safe with him. In the end, it really was his failure as an uncle. This wasn’t Wang Huimin’s fault.

After a long silence, he finally opened his mouth. “Let’s say I agree to help you. What do you plan to do next?”

That was all she needed. A smile immediately bloomed on Wang Huimin’s face.

“I’ve got that part handled. I’ll keep my promise, but you must also stick to your word and marry me.”

“Don’t worry—I’ll take care of things at home and help you manage the household. We’re helping each other here.”

“Once I’ve paid you back, our arrangement will be over. I won’t cling to you. Let’s get the marriage settled as soon as this is all done.”

Watching her walk away confidently, Song Jianjun thought that, up until now, he’d only seen her as a hardworking, practical girl—someone good for running a household. But through this situation, he realized that wasn’t the whole story. A girl like her deserved a far better life.

For the first time, he felt something different toward her.

After leaving, Wang Huimin returned home. Wang Qingcai wasn’t there—only Tian Yongmei and Wang Huishu were around. When they saw her come in, Tian Yongmei immediately scowled.

“You little brat, you still know how to come home? Where did you run off to just now?!”

Wang Huimin snorted. If she hadn’t needed to tie up loose ends, she wouldn’t have come back at all.

“I went to the Song family. I’m not marrying Song Fu—but I am marrying Song Jianjun. We’ve already talked it through, and he agreed.”

Both Tian Yongmei and Wang Huishu were shocked.

Wang Huishu thought she’d gone insane. That cripple, Song Jianjun, was so much older—and there were even rumors that his injury wasn’t just to his leg, that he couldn’t even function as a man anymore. Why would she choose to marry that old cripple over a young man like Song Fu?

Tian Yongmei also thought something was seriously wrong. “Are you crazy? That Song Jianjun is way too old! He’s just a lame bachelor who never managed to get a wife. You’d pick him over a young man? What are you thinking—did you fall for his pension money or something?”

Wang Huimin had no patience for Tian Yongmei’s mouth. Song Jianjun had never wronged them—why talk about him like that?

She shot her a cold look. “He’s only twenty-seven—still very young. Why I want to marry him is none of your business. If you don’t agree, then return the bride price to the Song family and cancel the engagement.”

At that, Tian Yongmei immediately protested. “Absolutely not! The Song family already handed over the bride price. There’s no way we’re giving it back!”

“If you want to marry Song Jianjun, then go ahead. As long as the Song family agrees, we won’t stop you. But don’t even think about getting a single cent of that bride price back!”

Wang Huimin gave a cold laugh and ignored the mother-daughter pair, turning and heading into the back room.

She found an envelope and a few sheets of paper, sat down by the kang (heated brick bed), and started writing quickly.

She and Zhang Chunyan had been classmates since they were young. Zhang Chunyan had always been bad at studying, and Wang Huimin had been the one to teach her how to write. Their handwriting was almost identical, so it wasn’t hard to imitate.

But the content of the letter—that needed precision.

Thinking about how she was now one step closer to a happy life, Wang Huimin could barely contain her excitement. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Zhang Chunyan’s face.

She tucked the letter into her pocket and headed straight for Xu Xiaowei’s house. He should be home around this time.

Once you find out what kind of person Zhang Chunyan really is, let’s see how your engagement holds up!