Chapter 97: The Fourth Year He Didn’t Come Back

It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned that name. When Hu Yao talked about her relationship with Zhong Jinghuai, she didn’t make a big deal out of it. Only the neighbor’s older sister and Hu Qiao, along with the Hu family, knew the details.

Zhong Jinghuai gave Hu Yao the utmost tolerance and respect, always putting her wishes first. They confirmed their relationship shortly before the resumption of the college entrance exams and the return of the educated youth to the city.

He was going back. He had made it clear to her, and he had promised her that he would come back to marry her. Before he left, he even went to Hu Guifen to pay the betrothal gift.

He knew Hu Guifen was not good to her, but because she was her mother, he, a man of such gentleness and courtesy, still treated her with respect. Even when Hu Guifen demanded a large sum of money, he didn’t get angry. He only asked her to treat Hu Yao well.

Hu Guifen readily agreed, but soon after Zhong Jinghuai left, she had an accident. After being in a daze for two months, she couldn’t wait to sell Hu Yao off!

At that time, Hu Yao was practically engaged to Zhong Jinghuai. Yet, she still did that! Even now, Hu Guifen comes to her often, scolding and slandering her, but she never mentions this matter. She only thinks that selling Hu Yao off and getting her a husband is a great favor.

After four years of being in a daze and waking up, Hu Yao went from being confused and helpless to gradually accepting reality. She wasn’t without wondering why Zhong Jinghuai hadn’t come back. Did he really not know about Hu Guifen selling her?

In four years, so much had changed. Hu Guifen didn’t mention Zhong Jinghuai, and Hu Yao didn’t want to bring it up either. When she woke up and was lost, she couldn’t help but think of him. But now, she no longer thought about him. He didn’t appear when she needed him most. Now, he hadn’t even sent a single message. She had given up on him.

Now when Hu Yao thought about it, she wasn’t sure if even if Zhong Jinghuai had managed to come back, he would still be able to accept her in her state of being in a daze and take care of her as he did before.

Times had changed, and perhaps they were not meant to be together, no matter the reason.

Even if she still thought about him, what could she do? It was unrealistic.

“Whether I remember or not is none of your business. You can leave.” Hu Yao looked at her, her eyes calm, not at all like the reaction Hu Qiao had imagined.

Hu Qiao was stunned and gritted her teeth. She didn’t believe that Hu Yao didn’t miss Zhong Jinghuai at all.

She couldn’t stand doing all the hard work in the Hu family and being gossiped about by the gossiping women anymore! She went to Hu Yao, hoping to use Zhong Jinghuai’s name to get her help!

“Sister, Zhong Jinghuai is about to get engaged to another woman. His parents actually came to see you four years ago!” Hu Qiao said, a little anxious when she saw Hu Yao’s indifference.

“After Zhong Jinghuai went back to the city, he went to teach in a remote area, so he didn’t have time to come back to find you. But he sent his parents to bring you back to the north city. However, after you went into a daze, A-niang didn’t get any news from Zhong Jinghuai. She thought that those city people were just playing with you, so she was eager to marry you off. When Zhong Jinghuai’s parents came, you had already been taken away by Jiang Han.”

Hu Qiao’s eyes flickered, her words half-truth and half-lie.

After Hu Yao went into a daze, all of Zhong Jinghuai’s letters ended up in her hands. At that time, she was so resentful and indignant. Why could someone be so good to Hu Yao? So, she was jealous. She concealed all of Zhong Jinghuai’s news, instigating Hu Guifen to marry Hu Yao off to the old cripple!

A fool paired with a cripple, that was the fate Hu Yao deserved!

It was when Zhong Jinghuai’s parents came that Hu Qiao learned that Zhong Jinghuai’s family was so wealthy, and his parents were also kind and open-minded. They really wanted to take Hu Yao back with them to live a good life!

But Hu Yao had already been sold! They were too late!

Hu Qiao wasn’t foolish enough to tell them about Hu Yao being in a daze. She only said that Hu Yao had married after Zhong Jinghuai left. Hu Guifen had received two payments, and how could she give back the money in her hands? Hu Yao was sold by her. Before that, she had also received Zhong Jinghuai’s betrothal gift. She was afraid that Zhong Jinghuai’s parents would ask her to return the money, so she took the initiative to make a scene, saying that Zhong Jinghuai had abandoned Hu Yao first.

She was unreasonable and made Zhong Jinghuai out to be a low and shameless person, angering Zhong Jinghuai’s parents, who were usually gentle and refined, so much that their necks turned red. It was a very unpleasant scene.

In the end, they left in disappointment.

They went back and told Zhong Jinghuai, who was already teaching in a remote mountainous area, about the situation. He didn’t believe that Hu Yao would get married so quickly. He anxiously wrote several letters asking if it was Hu Guifen who forced her. He wanted to go back to find her, but the mountains were high and the roads were long, and he couldn’t leave immediately.

Of course, those letters also fell into Hu Qiao’s hands. How could she tell him the truth? She didn’t reply to any of his letters.

“After A-niang scolded his parents away, Zhong Jinghuai didn’t believe that you really married someone else. Four months later, his parents came again, but by then, you were already pregnant with Jiang Han’s child.”

“In the second and third years after you went into a daze, Zhong Jinghuai also came back to see you. He saw that your husband was very good to you. He didn’t come back in the fourth year.”

“Sister, he really cared about you!”

“I, I’m telling you all this just so you won’t be kept in the dark…” Hu Qiao looked at Hu Yao with a sincere sisterly affection.

“He doesn’t know that you went into a daze and married your husband. He doesn’t know now either.”

Of course, this was also Hu Qiao’s doing. Hu Yao was already “married” at that time. A man like Zhong Jinghuai, still concerned about Hu Yao’s reputation at that time, didn’t inquire much from the villagers, fearing that he would cause trouble for her.

At that time, Jiang Han was already doing well. What the villagers talked about at that time was all about Hu Yao finding a good home and a good support!

“He doesn’t know I went into a daze? He doesn’t know, you don’t know? How did I go into a daze? Don’t you know in your heart?” Hu Yao’s eyes flickered, her hand clenched tightly. Hu Qiao’s words had an impact on her.

“You came to tell me all this, what’s your purpose?” Hu Yao’s voice turned cold.

“Sister, what purpose would I have? I just heard from a former educated youth that Zhong Jinghuai is getting engaged, so I thought I should tell you. You’re doing well now. You still have each other in your hearts. You should…” Hu Qiao looked innocent.

“I’m already married. It’s none of my business if he gets engaged or not.” Hu Yao interrupted her impatiently. How could she believe that Hu Qiao had good intentions?

“Get out. I don’t welcome you! Don’t come to see me again. I’m not your sister!”

Hu Qiao’s face darkened. She was already like this, and she still come and beg, she still has the same cold and indifferent attitude. Since she doesn’t give her any face, then don’t blame her for a desperate fight!

“Are you sure you want me to leave, Hu Yao? If I step out of this door, who knows who I’ll tell about your old relationship with Zhong Jinghuai?” Hu Qiao stopped pretending.

“What if I go tell your brother-in-law about you and Zhong Jinghuai? Will your good life be peaceful from now on?”