Chapter 7
Though puzzled, Li Changshun still went out personally to greet them.
“Why are you here? Please, come in.”
Lu Zetong wasn’t alone—behind him stood Chen Jibei, who was nearly half a head taller.
The man’s brows and eyes were sharp, his expression cool, but his hands were full of gifts: a flat paper bag with a faint oily sheen—likely cookies—and a netted paper bundle holding several Guoguang apples.
Many people’s eyes fell on the gifts, but Li Laidi just stared blankly at the man, stunned and slow to react.
Xia Shao was also surprised. If he’d just come to say the engagement was off, why bring so much stuff? It wasn’t as though he’d come to apologize.
Yet Director Lu’s demeanor was as sincere as if he were here to apologize. He placed the items neatly on the small desk by the heated kang bed and said,
“I heard you weren’t too satisfied with Jibei—thought he’s too young, immature, and not suited for a steady life.”
His words made everyone freeze, especially Tian Cuifen.
When had she ever said she wasn’t satisfied? She couldn’t wait for Xia Shao to hurry up and get married so she’d no longer be a “problem.”
Lu Zetong thought their silence was from surprise at his straightforwardness and continued, even more earnestly:
“The boy’s not the most steady, I admit, but he’s a good kid. When he heard the marriage was off, he asked me to come again and try. They say sincerity is rare—he’s so earnest, I believe he’ll live a solid life after marriage.”
That brought Xia Shao back to herself. “Wasn’t it your family who said it wouldn’t work out?”
“Right,” Tian Cuifen added, now realizing what was happening. “Your wife just came over saying your family already arranged another match, and the wedding’s next week.”
“Tieping came here?” Lu Zetong frowned.
He clearly hadn’t known. He turned to glance at Chen Jibei. “What exactly did she tell you?”
Liu Tieping hadn’t said much—just a few curt, unpleasant words. Of course, that couldn’t be told directly to Lu Zetong. Tian Cuifen quickly fetched two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. “Must be a misunderstanding somewhere. Sit down, let’s talk over lunch.”
“No need, we’ve already eaten,” said Lu Zetong, and he and Chen Jibei took seats by the door.
Last night, Lu had asked Jibei for his opinion. The young man only replied, “Do as you see fit.” Still, it didn’t seem like he objected much—he even went out early this morning to buy some things and prepare to discuss the marriage properly.
But when he returned, his sister-in-law Liu Tieping announced that the girl had refused again.
Lu Zetong thought it was over—like the previous times. Yet, uncharacteristically, Jibei insisted on going himself to clear things up.
Good thing they came—otherwise, who’d have known that Tieping had been stirring up trouble behind their backs?
And who’s to say this wasn’t the first time she’d meddled…
“This was our fault,” Lu Zetong admitted. “We didn’t communicate properly. I’ll be sure to ask her what’s going on.”
Li Laidi muttered, “If she already looks down on Xia Shao, how could they ever get along after marriage?”
If it were her own daughter, she’d definitely think twice about marrying into such a family with a difficult sister-in-law.
But since Xia Shao wasn’t her real daughter, what did it matter? Tian Cuifen shot her daughter a glare. “What do kids know? I think Comrade Liu isn’t like that at all—someone must have been stirring things up, telling her lies.”
Lu Zetong couldn’t respond to that, so he turned to Xia Shao. “What do you think, Xia?”
Xia Shao thought for a moment. “Can I talk to him alone?”
Since she’d assumed things were off last time, she hadn’t spoken much to Chen Jibei. Lu Zetong was a little surprised, but Chen Jibei had already risen to his feet.
The Li family lived in two side rooms, with a small courtyard. A few steps brought them to the gate.
From here, the people inside could see them but not hear what they said.
Xia Shao stopped and asked, “Didn’t you say you didn’t want someone like me?”
The afternoon sun was bright; Chen Jibei squinted slightly and replied, “Did I say that?”
Uh… come to think of it, he never actually did.
But he knew her temperament, knew her situation with the Li family, even asked about her past…
Xia Shao found it baffling. Chen Jibei, now adjusted to the light, looked at her calmly.
“You can’t go back to your hometown, right? I want to move out and live on my own. I need a household too.”
“So, you just want to move out?” Xia Shao found that a shallow reason to marry.
He paused, his eyes dimming slightly. “I just don’t want others arranging my marriage for me.”
She thought of his troublesome sister-in-law who’d tried to control both ends of his marriage prospects.
If she could pull such stunts, she probably wasn’t easy to live with either. Staying under the same roof with her must be miserable.
Xia Shao wanted marriage to secure a job; he wanted marriage to gain independence.
A marriage of mutual benefit—it made far more sense than some overblown love story about a man who fell madly in love at first sight and would “crash into a wall to marry her.”
She began to consider it seriously. “Can you do housework?”
“I can chop wood and light fires.”
So basically—no, but that could be trained. Her grandfather hadn’t known either until her grandmother “trained” him.
She recalled his temper. “You don’t hit women, do you?”
Chen Jibei frowned slightly. “Do I look like someone who would hit women?”
Well, who knew? A man could change after marriage.
Still, if he did hit her, she’d hit back—mutual combat, then divorce. After all, China’s only domestic violence shelter for men was in Shenyang, up in the northeast. She wouldn’t bully anyone, but she sure wouldn’t be bullied either.
When Xia Shao felt she’d asked enough, Chen Jibei added calmly, “You want a husband who comes home early, right? That’s fine with me.”
“…”
Why did that sound like he thought she was clingy?
Could she still explain that’s not what she meant?
Inside, Li Laidi had been distracted the whole time they were gone, constantly glancing toward the courtyard.
She was the first to notice them return. “What did you two talk about? Took you long enough!”
As if she and Xia Shao were close enough for such nosiness.
Xia Shao didn’t answer. Chen Jibei certainly didn’t—he didn’t even glance her way.
He merely gave Lu Zetong a polite nod and sat back down, his face impassive.
Li Laidi, rebuffed, was annoyed.
Lu Zetong’s smile, however, grew more genuine. “Didn’t Xia’s younger brother still need to return inland? Since both sides agree, let’s settle the matter soon.”
That was exactly what Tian Cuifen wanted to hear—her face lit up. “Whenever you’re free! Any day works for us.”
“Then tomorrow,” said Lu after a pause. “We’ll bring the betrothal gifts first. The wedding can wait a few days. I’ll need to send a telegram to Jibei’s parents and prepare a few things. Can’t have them show up empty-handed.”
Betrothal gifts—that meant bride price.
In those days, most people were poor. Sometimes a marriage just meant moving a few belongings together and calling it done.
That the Lu family was offering a bride price meant Xia Shao had truly landed a good match—how lucky could she be, to catch the eye of the Lu family?
Watching the two men leave, Li Laidi felt a sour pang of envy.
Then again, she thought, with that meddlesome sister-in-law in the Lu family, who knew if the wedding would really go smoothly? Once the woman heard Lu had gone back to propose again, she’d surely cause another scene.
And even if Xia Shao did marry in, with a sister-in-law like that watching her every move, life wouldn’t be easy.
Li Laidi snorted coldly and went back inside.
Xia Wanhui lingered behind after seeing the guests out, tugging his sister’s sleeve.
Xia Shao slowed down; he whispered, “That sister-in-law of his looks hard to deal with. Are you really going to marry him?”
“You’re worried about that?” She smiled. “After today’s drama, if she and I ever clash again, who do you think people will side with—me or her?”
“Of course, with you.”
“Exactly. The enemy in plain sight is never the scary one. It’s the ones hiding in the dark you have to watch out for.”
Inside, they were already cleaning the table. Li Laidi and Cheng Wenhua were helping on the floor while the eldest girl rubbed her sleepy eyes on the kang.
Seeing the child drowsy, Li Changshun told Li Baosheng and Cheng Wenhua to take her home for a nap. When Xia Shao and Xia Wanhui were about to leave, he stopped them.
“Since Xia’s marriage is settled, shouldn’t you bring out that deed now?”
“No rush,” said Xia Shao. “After I’m married, I’ll hand it over. Who knows if something will still go wrong before then?”
Liu Tieping’s stunt today made her wary.
Li Changshun frowned. “You’ll definitely give it to us after the wedding?”
His doubt made Xia Wanhui bristle. “Our family’s not like yours. My sister’s waited five years already—when has she ever gone back on her word?”
That jab hit home. Li Changshun’s face darkened.
But neither Xia sibling cared. They grabbed the cookies and apples and left.
Just as they reached the gate, Xia Wanhui turned back and asked Li Laidi,
“Didn’t you say they didn’t want my sister? Then why’d they come here begging again?”
Li Laidi: “…”
These two were infuriating—not a single decent one among them!
—
After leaving the Li family, Liu Tieping went to her mother’s house and didn’t return until nightfall.
The house was cold and quiet—no fire, no food. She scowled. “Out all day, the young one never home, the old one too can’t stay put.”
Heading into the inner room for some water, she nearly jumped when she saw Lu Zetong sitting silently on the edge of the kang, watching her.
“You scared me! Why didn’t you say something? Where’s Jibei? Out fooling around again?”
“He’s giving you some face by staying out of sight.”
She still didn’t catch the tone, scoffing, “Like he’d ever have that much sense. If I don’t come back, he wouldn’t even think to cook.”
Lu Zetong had had enough. “You went to the Li family today.”
It wasn’t a question.
Her movement faltered.
His voice deepened. “You really look down on Jibei that much? How does ruining his marriage help you?”
He rarely lost his temper, but this time he truly was angry.
Liu Tieping felt a twinge of guilt but quickly regained her confidence.
“What benefit could I have? I was thinking for him! That girl’s from the countryside—no job, no household registration, and a whole bunch of poor relatives back home waiting to leech off her.”
Since he already knew, she decided to lay it out plainly.
“I just don’t like her. I’ve already recommended Qiaoyun’s younger sister—Qiaojun, you’ve met her. She’s capable, attentive, and has an urban household registration.”
Last month, her sister-in-law Yang Qiaoyun had given birth to a baby boy—the first grandson of the Liu family’s generation.
Since their mother had passed and Qiaoyun’s mother was busy with another grandchild, her younger sister, Yang Qiaojun, had come to help with postpartum care.
Lu Zetong had met her—she was indeed capable. But still…
“When she first came, I suggested introducing her to Jibei. You were the one who refused, remember?”
And not just refused—she’d mocked him for it. “You know your brother’s reputation better than anyone. I can’t open my mouth for that. If they end up unhappy, how would I face Qiaoyun?”
Liu Tieping flinched at the reminder, then blustered,
“That was then. After getting along these past weeks, I’ve seen Jibei’s not as bad as people say. Maybe once he marries and has a family, he’ll mature.”
Those were the exact words Lu himself had once said to her.
He was silent for a moment, then said, “Then prepare yourself—tomorrow we’re sending the bride price to Xia’s house.”
Liu Tieping brightened instantly, thinking he meant Qiaojun. “Alright!” Then froze. “Wait—who did you say? Xia Shao?”
“Yes.” He struck a match and lit a cigarette.
She exploded. “How could you decide on her? Did you even listen to me just now?”
“Jibei chose her.”
“He chose, so you just agree? He’s still a kid—what does he know?”
She was practically shouting. Then she saw the cold, cutting look through the smoke.
“You’re pushing so hard to marry off Qiaojun—don’t tell me it’s for Dajun’s sake?”
Lu Zetong had been a soldier once. When he looked at someone like that, it felt like being pinned to the wall.
Her heart thumped, but she still tried to argue.
“You accuse me of looking down on Jibei, but don’t you look down on Dajun? What could I possibly get out of this? I just want the best for Jibei. Qiaojun’s trustworthy; that Xia girl’s from three thousand li away—who knows what her background really is? She’s nearly thirty and still not married—doesn’t that tell you something?”
Not married—so there must be something wrong?
Either a health issue or questionable morals, she implied.
Lu Zetong cut her off sharply. “Don’t slander her without evidence. Whatever schemes you’re plotting, leave Jibei out of it. And tomorrow, you’re not coming. No need to sour things with that mouth of yours.”
Her face darkened. “But I already promised Qiaojun’s family—how am I supposed to explain it now?”
“Explain it the same way you explained it to Xia today.”
Her eyes darted nervously. His tone hardened.
“When Dajun got married, you borrowed five hundred. Last month when his wife gave birth, another two hundred. If Jibei’s marriage falls through again, I’ll be asking when they plan to pay it back.”
Her face went pale. She fell silent.
Only then did Lu Zetong take a drag of his cigarette and mutter,
“We didn’t handle this right. We’ll have to make it up to Xia—with a bigger bride price.”
