Chapter 24: Marrying, Not Marrying

And besides, going deep into the mountains to gather herbs and turning them in at the supply and marketing cooperative was considered a legitimate and proper way to earn money. This was the Gu family’s rare chance to make a profit—why should they tell outsiders about it?

Shen Meifang squeezed her way over to Ji Tangtang, looking like a crab waving its claws, and snapped at the crowd:
“Didn’t she already say it? The supply and marketing cooperative purchased the herbs. What’s there to ask? Even if you ask, would you even recognize medicinal herbs?”

Ji Tingting, watching Shen Meifang’s manner, felt alarm bells go off in her heart. Hadn’t Shen Meifang always disliked Ji Tangtang? Why was she suddenly speaking up for her? Could it be… because she heard that Ji Tangtang made money selling herbs?

Ji Tingting quickly figured it out, and her heart filled with regret as she clenched her palms. She had only thought of ruining Ji Tangtang’s reputation and pulling the matter back on track, but she forgot that Shen Meifang was a greedy, self-serving woman. Once she found out Ji Tangtang could identify medicinal herbs—and that it was a legitimate way to make money—of course she’d be tempted.

Sure enough… Ji Tangtang spreading word that Gu Shiyu was to become her live-in son-in-law was nothing more than a ploy to lull her into carelessness. She’d been entangled with Brother Hongwen for so many years—how could she give up so easily?

Ji Tingting’s heart spun in panic; she hated Ji Tangtang for being scheming, and she hated Shen Meifang for being so opportunistic. Hadn’t she been the one praising her match with Brother Hongwen before? And now, just because Ji Tangtang could identify a few herbs, she was changing her tune?

At this point, the villagers were just as angry and dissatisfied as Ji Tingting. Ji Tingting, bound by the image of kindness she’d worked so hard to maintain, didn’t dare shout at Shen Meifang. But the villagers didn’t care and immediately began questioning Shen Meifang.

“How come we can’t ask? Shen Meifang, even Captain Liu didn’t forbid us to ask. Who are you to forbid us?”
“Exactly, Shen Meifang, you’re being way too overbearing!”
“What are you to Ji Tangtang, huh? Can you make decisions for her? Whether public or private, it’s none of your business!”

…

“Ji Tangtang is my future daughter-in-law—why wouldn’t I have a say?” Shen Meifang smugly looked at Ji Tangtang, waiting for her to confirm it. This girl had liked her son Hongwen since childhood—of course she’d seize this opportunity to marry into the Gu family.

Ji Tingting, seeing Shen Meifang’s behavior, felt her heart skip a beat. She prepared herself that if Ji Tangtang really took this chance to snatch away her marriage to Gu Hongwen, she would fight to the death.

But instead, Ji Tangtang only smiled brightly at Shen Meifang and said:
“Auntie, I don’t think I count as your family’s future daughter-in-law, do I?”

Shen Meifang was stunned. Ji Tingting, who had been about to rush forward, also froze in surprise. Wasn’t Ji Tangtang always eager to marry Brother Hongwen? Why wasn’t she seizing this chance? Why was she even speaking to Shen Meifang like this?

“Our families did send a matchmaker, yes—but from the very beginning, it was made clear. It’s your Gu Shiyu who’s coming to the Ji family as a live-in son-in-law. He’s marrying into my family—not me marrying into yours.”

Ji Tangtang’s smile deepened. “That makes it more like you’re sending me a daughter to marry into the Ji family. After we’re married, you can think of me as your son-in-law. But I’m certainly not your daughter-in-law.”

Shen Meifang nearly fainted from rage. Though Gu Shiyu wasn’t her biological son, outsiders didn’t know that. To everyone else, Gu Shiyu was her own son, the Gu family’s son. And now Ji Tangtang, in front of everyone, was saying she’d be marrying Gu Shiyu into her own family as a live-in son-in-law, giving Shen Meifang no face at all.

What’s worse, her carefully laid plan… had just collapsed. How could she stomach this?

“You… you…” Shen Meifang wanted to declare that she was breaking off the engagement.

But Ji Tangtang seemed to see right through her thoughts.
“You’re backing out? You don’t agree to the marriage anymore?”

“She backs out, then pick me! I’m willing to be your live-in son-in-law!” someone shouted from the crowd.

No one knew if it was just for fun, or if they truly thought being the Ji family’s live-in son-in-law was a good deal. But soon, more men chimed in, voices rising one after another, all claiming they’d gladly go to the Ji family as a son-in-law. They even said if Shen Meifang refused, so much the better—Ji Tangtang could just pick again.

Some even compared themselves with Gu Shiyu, saying: “Gu Shiyu is paralyzed and bedridden, but I can earn ten work points a day. If I joined the Ji family, I’d be a strong laborer!”

Shen Meifang, who had planned to play coy and put Ji Tangtang in her place, suddenly panicked at the crowd’s reaction. If this marriage fell through, she didn’t know how much longer she’d have to feed that paralyzed Gu Shiyu. She dared not posture anymore. Swallowing her anger and bitterness, she forced herself to say:
“Who said I was backing out? Since the marriage was agreed upon, there’s no reason to go back on it. What I said just now was a slip of the tongue—I just wasn’t used to the idea yet. I forgot that Shiyu would be going to your family as a live-in husband.”

Her mind raced—was it better to push off the paralyzed burden, or better to hold onto Ji Tangtang’s ability to earn money?

But before she reached a conclusion, Ji Tangtang spoke again.

“Since there’s no backing out, then Captain, please allow me another day off. Tomorrow, I’d like to go with Comrade Gu Shiyu to the commune to register our marriage.”

The pace of events was so fast and so abrupt that the onlookers could hardly follow. Weren’t they just talking about the bicycle, about herbs, about the procurement officer playing favorites? How had it suddenly jumped to marriage?

“This bicycle,” Ji Tangtang explained, “I borrowed from Comrade Gu Shiyu’s army comrade, just so I could take Gu Shiyu to the commune to register our marriage.”

“Though Comrade Gu Shiyu is marrying into my family as a son-in-law, he is a soldier of the nation, who has contributed greatly. Even his current paralysis is an honorable mark of service to the country. I cannot let Comrade Gu Shiyu feel wronged. After we get our certificate, I want to personally organize a wedding for him. Conditions may be limited, and the ceremony may be simple, but I will do my utmost to show my sincerity. I hope to care for him for the rest of my life, so he never feels coldness for the sacrifices he made for the country. And I hope you all will come then, to give us your blessings.”

Her words were logical and deeply moving. Indeed, as she said, though Gu Shiyu was now bedridden, he was a hero, someone who had served the nation, worthy of respect.

Ji Tangtang taking him as a live-in husband might sound unflattering, but given his condition, the fact that she neither despised him nor abandoned him—instead choosing to organize a wedding and commit to caring for him—was truly noble and admirable.

Many villagers spoke up to give their blessings, promising they would attend the wedding.

Captain Liu Daocheng readily approved Ji Tangtang’s request for a day off, even asking if she had any difficulties. If she did, she must speak up—the organization would find a way to help her.

Shen Meifang was beside herself with anxiety. She couldn’t just let this marriage go through so easily. At the very least, she couldn’t let Ji Tangtang take Gu Shiyu away without giving anything in return.

That 400-plus yuan from selling medicinal herbs—she had to hand it over!