Chapter 15: I Don’t Want

Chen Jianbing’s face instantly darkened. He hadn’t expected the Wen family to show him no face in front of everyone.

“What? Did you not bring the things?” Wen Dafu sneered sarcastically.

Yes, he deliberately prevented the Chen family from entering. They had already gone above and beyond by not going to the Chen family to cause trouble.

Sister Jing pushed her way to the front. During big events, she had to witness them firsthand.

Chen Jianbing’s low voice held barely suppressed anger. “Uncle Wen, the things are all here, as you requested.”

He handed over the bamboo basket and then took out five ten-dollar bills from his bag.

“Wen Dafu, this is fifty dollars in compensation for breaking off the engagement. Count it and see if it’s correct,” Chen’s father deliberately raised his voice, ensuring everyone around could hear.

Wen Dafu’s outstretched hand stopped mid-air. He exclaimed in surprise, “Ah…isn’t this the money your family was supposed to repay as a debt of gratitude?”

Before he finished speaking, he took a step back. “Chen Jianbing, take the money back. Your family broke off the engagement according to village rules. Your father is clearly trying to smear us.”

“Chen Jianbing, take back your marriage contract. From now on, we are quits. Our families are no longer connected through marriage.” Wen Wan generously produced the marriage contract.

The series of events caused an uproar among the onlookers.

Initially, they envied Wen Dafu for receiving another fifty dollars, but their feelings hadn’t settled.

Wen Dafu refused the money, saying it was repayment for a debt of gratitude, and that they were trying to smear his family.

“You don’t know, but I heard from my father-in-law that during the great drought, the Chen family relied on the Wen family to survive,” Sister-in-law Jing whispered to those around her, explaining the inside story.

Sister-in-law Qing covered her mouth. “My goodness, no wonder these two families had arranged a marriage between their children.”

“Back then, Wen Dafu’s mother gave the Chen family a large brick of glutinous rice,” Sister-in-law Jing said, gesturing with her hands.

“The Chen family is shameless. They did something wrong and then tried to smear their lifesavers,” Sister-in-law Qing sighed.

“Exactly. From now on, we should stay away from them,” Sister-in-law Jing sneered. “Some people, because their son is a soldier, think everyone in the county should give way to them.”

A flash of anger crossed Chen Jianbing’s eyes. In a few seconds, he raised his head, a stiff smile on his lips.

“Uncle Wen, my father spoke out of turn. Please accept this on behalf of Grandma Wen, to thank her for her help all those years ago.”

Wen Dafu didn’t hesitate, waving them away. “Go quickly. We don’t want your money. Let’s just say my mother misjudged you.”

Before Chen Jianbing could speak, he said firmly, “Ten years ago, we gave your family a brick of glutinous rice, and ten years later, you return it. From now on, we are quits.”

“Yes, my grandmother didn’t expect repayment when she saved your family. It was your family who begged my grandmother to arrange this marriage,” Wen Wan said bluntly, pushing Chen Jianbing away from the doorway.

“Wait…Xiaowan, I…”

Chen’s father’s face turned from green to red, and back again. His head was spinning. “Let’s go home.”

He pulled the still-shocked Chen Jianbing and rushed out of the crowd. “Make way…make way…”

Watching the Chen father and son quickly leave, Liu Qingliang felt guilty about his own narrow-mindedness. A few days ago, he thought Wen Dafu demanding forty dollars was extortion.

But today, Wen Dafu firmly refused Chen Jianbing’s fifty dollars in front of everyone. It seemed that Dafu wasn’t a greedy person.

Wen Dafu looked uncorrupted by wealth on the surface, but his heart ached. Fifty dollars! Fifty dollars! He had personally pushed it away, and his daughter had suffered a loss.

“What are you all crowding around for? Aren’t you tired from a day’s work? I’ll give you all extra tasks tomorrow,” Liu Qingliang loudly urged everyone to go home.

“Village chief, you ran faster than me when you were watching the excitement.”

“You’re just enjoying the drama,” Liu Qingliang said righteously. “As the village chief, I care about the safety of our villagers.”

He turned and grasped Wen Dafu’s hand. “Dafu, you’re a good man.”

Wen Dafu was stunned. Why did the village chief suddenly say that? What did he mean by “good man”? Did he see through his plan against the Chen family?

“Dafu, I know you’re angry and regretful for misjudging people, but don’t worry, we’ll support you,” Liu Qingliang patted Wen Dafu’s shoulder encouragingly.

The excitement was over, and the crowd dispersed.

“Daughter, my chest hurts…” Wen Dafu could no longer bear it, clutching his chest, full of regret.

Wen Wan reacted and said lightly, “Dad, you did the right thing.”

“Dafu, it’s just fifty yuan. When you have free time, do more carpentry work to earn it back,” Cui Yulan nodded repeatedly.

Wen Dafu was still upset. “Daughter, the shepherd’s purse and egg you fried at noon was delicious. I want more.”

Turning grief into appetite, he decided to cut wood in the mountains after work every day and make more furniture to sell for money.

“Okay, I’ll go to town early tomorrow. If there’s meat, I’ll buy some, and we’ll make shepherd’s purse dumplings tonight,” Wen Wan readily agreed.

They quickly finished their meal with the leftover cold-dressed purslane.

“Dad, how did you find out about Zhou Haoting’s situation?” Wen Wan put down her chopsticks and casually asked.

Wen Dafu paused and told Wen Wan everything he had found out.

“Zhou Haoting is from the neighboring Guilin Village. He’s twenty-five years old, has been a soldier for ten years, and only has a grandmother. I heard he was adopted by the Guo widow.

However, his family moved out of Guilin Village five years ago. I heard they now live in Tao Hua Town. He was returning to the village to do some business and passed by Taomi River.”

He secretly glanced at his wife and daughter’s faces.

Wen Wan nodded. “Dad, do you know where his family lives?”

“Not yet. His family had some unpleasantness with the villagers of Guilin Village. Only the village secretary seems to know their location,” Wen Dafu frowned and added, “But, daughter, don’t worry, I’ll go to Guilin Village in the next couple of days.”

“Dad, if you can’t get the address, it’s fine,” Wen Wan calmly said. “We’ll give the things to the village secretary and ask him to deliver them.”

If they didn’t want to get involved with the villagers, rashly asking for information wouldn’t be showing gratitude, it would be making enemies.

“Okay, when we’re free in the next couple of days, we’ll go to town to buy things and send them over,” Wen Dafu happily agreed.

Chen Dongzi’s suggestion this morning that his daughter marry Zhou Haoting had scared him. A twenty-five-year-old man wasn’t good enough for his beautiful daughter.