Chapter 2: Lu Zhengting

“Daughter?” Mother Lin and Father Lin panicked.

Mother Lin gripped Lin Wan’s hand tightly and whispered, “Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.”

Lu Zhengting was not only deaf but also crippled, making him essentially useless. Though handsome, no one wanted him. After all, who would willingly marry a cripple? In the countryside, survival depended on physical labor—what could he possibly contribute?

Father Lin, thinking his daughter feared her family wouldn’t support her and that she’d be at the mercy of her eldest uncle after returning home, urged, “Daughter, don’t worry. Your father’s not dead yet. I’ll risk these old bones to protect you from any mistreatment.”

The Lu Family’s eyes lit up.

Old Madam Lu, in particular, disliked her third son but couldn’t let him remain a bachelor forever. That would only invite gossip, ridicule, and shame.

If Lin Wan married him, not only would her youngest son be freed from his obligation, but the cripple would also gain a wife—a win-win situation for everyone.

She exchanged a glance with her second daughter and eldest son.

Lu Ersao* immediately chimed in with a forced laugh, “Oh, this is wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Sister-in-law, you have no idea how capable our Third Brother is!”

Many rolled their eyes. Capable of what? Carrying water? Working the fields? At this point, he probably couldn’t even perform his marital duties.

Eldest uncle of the Lin Family was pleased. As long as Lin Wan remained with the Lu Family, they wouldn’t have to return the betrothal gifts. With his second brother incapacitated, the family relied heavily on the brothers’ support, and most of the betrothal gifts would go to them. He was already planning to use the money to arrange a marriage for his son.

Lin Wan noticed that everyone except her parents wore expressions of relief, as if a major problem had been resolved. She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. They think they can scheme against me? They’re dreaming.

She gripped Mother Lin’s hand tightly, giving her a reassuring look that said, I know what I’m doing.

But Mother Lin looked bewildered. What’s happened to my daughter? She’s like a completely different person.

In the past, Lin Wan hadn’t been particularly clever. She would cry and throw tantrums when faced with difficulties, unable to come up with solutions. Even though Lu Zhengqi found her beautiful, he had no intention of marrying her, and the Lu Family looked down on them.

She and her husband had tried to persuade their daughter to give up if things didn’t work out, insisting she didn’t have to marry Lu Zhengqi. But the girl stubbornly refused, infatuated with him and unable to let go. She repeatedly offered her warmth only to be met with cold indifference, enduring scorn without wavering.

At times, Mother Lin even resented her daughter’s stubbornness, wondering why she couldn’t understand their family’s situation and why she was so desperate over a man. To the girl, Lu Zhengqi seemed more important than her own family. Yet, since their daughter insisted, they had no choice but to support her.

Now, Mother Lin sensed a genuine change in her daughter, who seemed willing to let go of Lu Zhengqi. Initially, she thought it was just a fit of pique, but the look in her daughter’s eyes just now suggested otherwise.

Her daughter was remarkably calm.

Perhaps the shock had finally awakened her, making her mature and sensible. Mother Lin felt a surge of relief.

Father Lin sighed at his daughter’s unwavering resolve. He glanced toward the east room and saw Lu Zhengting sitting at the table, reading a book. Despite being in a wheelchair, his posture was remarkably upright, showing no hint of dejection.

Father Lin thought that while this man was disabled, his military background guaranteed good character, making him far superior to his younger brother. If their daughter married him, at least he wouldn’t mistreat her. As a disabled veteran receiving government subsidies, they should manage financially.

Sigh, he can’t hear, so there’s no way to communicate. Our daughter will inevitably feel lonely.

Here we are, arguing and bickering, while he remains completely oblivious, deaf to our concerns. If our daughter ever clashes with her mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, he won’t be able to step in and protect her.

Father Lin hated his own powerlessness, his inability to provide a better future for his daughter. She’s being dragged down by me. Otherwise, why would she have to endure such hardship?

Since Lin Wan had agreed and her parents didn’t object, the matter was settled. No one bothered to ask Lu Zhengting for his opinion.

Old Madam Lu clapped her hands in delight. “Quickly! The brigade secretary and brigade leader are here. Let’s get the marriage certificate written up.”

Once the marriage certificate was written, there would be no turning back.

In the city, couples had to obtain marriage certificates from the neighborhood office. But in the countryside, the old customs still prevailed: they simply had the village secretary write one. With the marriage certificate and their household registrations combined, Lin Wan’s grain and oil rations would be transferred to the Lu Family, officially making her Lu Zhengting’s wife.

Seeing Old Madam Lu’s smug expression, Lin Wan said coldly, “Wait. I have one more condition.”

Old Madam Lu’s eyelid twitched. “What do you want now?”

“Lu Zhengqi wronged me,” Lin Wan declared. “He owes me compensation. What kind of man doesn’t offer any? What does he take me for?”

Her parents immediately echoed her demands, insisting on compensation. They believed ten yuan would be a fair sum, giving their daughter some private money. Their family was poor and couldn’t afford a dowry; they had only managed to scrape together two chests and a table with two benches.

Old Madam Lu was about to protest again, but Second Sister-in-law Lu and Eldest Brother Lu, sensing the gravity of the situation, asked how much Lin Wan wanted.

“Two hundred yuan,” Lin Wan stated.

“Two hundred? You wouldn’t fetch half that if we sold you!” Old Madam Lu’s face instantly darkened.

Second Sister-in-law Lu, as the women’s director, had experience resolving family disputes. She recognized Lin Wan’s outrageous demand as a bargaining tactic. After a brief discussion, they decided to offer ten yuan.

Lin Wan scoffed. “Are you trying to shoo away a beggar? Fifty yuan less, and we’ll take this to the commune cadre!”

Her childhood friend’s uncle was a commune cadre, and it was his intervention that had secured the Lu Family’s agreement to the marriage in the first place.

Another round of haggling ensued, but Lin Wan refused to budge. Finally, Old Madam Lu gritted her teeth and reluctantly agreed.

Fifty yuan was like tearing flesh from her bones. The team didn’t even distribute that much in an entire year.

Lu Ersao whispered to Old Madam Lu, “Mother, don’t worry. Once her family leaves, she’ll be alone here. Where can she hide the money? We can just sneak a look when she’s not paying attention and take it.”

Old Madam Lu snorted. “I don’t need to sneak around. When parents are alive, younger generations can’t hide private wealth. This money is just for her to save face. Once her family leaves, she’ll hand it over to me.”

Lin Wan received the fifty yuan and considered giving thirty to Mother Lin, but decided against it for now. If she gave it to her mother, eldest uncle would definitely find a way to take it.

With the matter resolved, both families cheered up and celebrated with a festive meal for the wedding party and guests.

Old Madam Lu, however, remained displeased. If it had been her youngest son’s wedding, she would have gladly celebrated lavishly. But for Third Brother’s wedding? What was there to celebrate?

She instructed her daughters-in-law to hide the meat, fish, and eggs, serving only a plate of each to the cadres. The Lin Family’s wedding party would have to make do with the abundant summer vegetables from the garden, cooked simply with oil and salt.

Lin Wan was also hungry, so she asked her mother to bring over some dishes and steamed buns. She insisted her mother eat her fill before returning home.

Mother Lin had initially lost her appetite, but seeing her daughter so lively, she breathed a sigh of relief and ate heartily.

Feeling that as a member of the Lu Family, she shouldn’t be reserved with the Old Madam, Lin Wan went to the east room to retrieve the meat, fish, and other dishes the Old Madam had hidden, intending to share them with her mother.

As she was busy arranging the food, she turned to find herself face-to-face with a pair of deep, dark eyes. Lu Zhengting sat there quietly watching her.

Though she had seen all kinds of men in modern times, looking at Lu Zhengting up close, she couldn’t help but think, Damn, this man is seriously handsome!

Lin Wan smiled warmly at him.

Lu Zhengting sat at the table, turning to look at her. He noticed the gauze wrapped around her forehead, a piece of meat stuffed in her mouth, her snow-white cheeks puffed out, and a plate piled high with braised carp in her hand.

Caught red-handed, she showed no embarrassment, instead smiling openly.

Taking advantage of his deafness, Lin Wan grinned and mouthed, “From now on, you’re my cheap husband. Please take good care of me.” With that, she carried the plate back to the west room to eat with Mother Lin.

Lu Zhengting, who could read lips, stared in stunned silence: What?!

TN: Lu Èrsǎo (陆二嫂子) — Second Sister-in-law Lu. A respectful/familiar way to address the wife of the second eldest brother in the Lu family.