Li Huifang and Huo Qilan walked along the country road.
The sun blazed fiercely, fine beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
“Mom, why do we have to come to this ghost of a rural place?”
Huo Qilan wiped her sweat and looked around at the backward countryside. The road was so narrow their car couldn’t even enter, forcing them to walk the rest of the way, filling her with complaints.
Li Huifang raised a hand to block the sun. Sand and dust flew beneath her feet, several grains slipping into her high-heeled leather shoes, making every step painful.
“You think I want to? It’s all because of your idiotic big brother — he’s bewitched and insists on marrying that country slut. I’m going to see for myself what she looks like!”
Unable to bear it anymore, Li Huifang angrily sat on a roadside stone, removed her shoes, and dumped out the dirt inside.
Huo Qilan was almost dying from the heat too. Her skin was delicate and couldn’t stand even a little sunlight.
She quickly broke off a banana leaf from a nearby tree and plucked several bananas. “Here, Mom, eat some bananas to cool off.”
Li Huifang hesitated at first, but she was indeed thirsty, so she ate.
Mother and daughter walked while eating, and soon reached the address written in the letter.
Seeing the newly built brick house, Li Huifang’s disgust lessened slightly. At least this family wasn’t as poor as the thatched huts at the village entrance.
“Anyone home?” she called while wiping sweat and knocking on the door.
The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing Qin Dafen’s beady little eyes. “Who are you looking for?”
Uninterested in the marriage in the first place, Li Huifang hadn’t noticed the address written in the second letter and had come according to the first one.
As a result, she ended up at the Shen family’s house.
Seeing the person who came out, Li Huifang forced a smile. “We’ve come to discuss a marriage proposal.”
“A proposal?”
Qin Dafen flung the door wide open, staring at them in surprise.
Could they be proposing to her daughter Cuiping?
But she hadn’t even contacted a matchmaker yet — did they hear about Cuiping’s beauty and filial reputation and come on their own?
That would be wonderful — she could even save the matchmaker’s fee!
“Please come in, you two must be tired.”
Qin Dafen eagerly invited them inside and thoughtfully served tea and sunflower seeds.
Seeing how sensible the woman was, Li Huifang’s displeasure eased.
“By the way, where’s that widow? Call her out so we can see her.”
Still resentful, she insisted on seeing the woman first.
Qin Dafen looked puzzled. “What widow? My daughter isn’t married yet.”
“Miao Miaomiao is your daughter?”
Li Huifang grew more confused and asked directly.
“Miao Miaomiao?!”
Qin Dafen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Y-you’re here for Miao Miaomiao?”
“Yes, Auntie, how many times do we have to say it?” Huo Qilan fanned herself impatiently and rolled her eyes.
“You… you must be the people the drowning man called to propose?!”
Qin Dafen pointed at them and shrieked again.
At this moment Shen Jianzhang came out of the house. Standing beside them, he stared at the two women in disbelief.
Seeing their strange expressions, Li Huifang and Huo Qilan instinctively stepped back.
“Mom, this family feels weird. Let’s leave,” Huo Qilan whispered.
“Mm.” Li Huifang also retreated toward the door.
Meanwhile Qin Dafen nervously grabbed her son’s hand, both regretful and angry. “Son, did you hear? They really came to propose! That damned girl — was she deceiving us all along?”
Shen Jianzhang frowned, his face icy.
He had thought he was tricked by the man, but never expected the one deceiving him was his seemingly gentle sister-in-law.
Amid his anger, a faint smile curled on his lips.
Good. She had successfully angered him.
Interesting.
“Yes, Mom… sister-in-law lied to us,” Shen Jianzhang lowered his head, eyes gleaming coldly. “Since that’s the case, let’s not let her have it easy. Let’s ruin her marriage.”
Qin Dafen was delighted — exactly what she wanted.
Since that woman dared cheat her out of the bride price, she wouldn’t be kind either. If she didn’t sabotage this marriage today, she wouldn’t be surnamed Qin!
“Ahem… since Comrade Miao Miaomiao isn’t here, we’ll come another time,” Li Huifang said nervously, inwardly cursing her son for wanting to marry into such a family.
Before she finished, Qin Dafen rushed forward and grabbed her hand warmly.
“Miss, I know you came for that little slut, but let me sincerely advise you — never marry her as your daughter-in-law.”
“Ah?” Li Huifang pulled away in mild disgust. “Auntie, why would you say that about your daughter?”
“Bah! She’s not my daughter — she married my second son and became a widow.”
Qin Dafen pretended kindness. “You don’t know — relying on her looks, she seduces men everywhere. Her reputation… terrible. Your son promised to marry her one day, and the very next day she hooked up with another man.”
“Really?” Huo Qilan stepped forward angrily and grabbed her arm.
She had never seen such a shameless woman — flirting with her brother then playing with others.
“Really!” Qin Dafen doubled down on her lies. “Even before marrying my son she was juggling several men at once — utterly shameless!”
Huo Qilan turned to Li Huifang. “Mom! How can you let her marry my brother?! I absolutely won’t allow it!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t either.”
Li Huifang already believed the widow was no good — today only confirmed it.
She turned back politely. “Thank you for telling us. We won’t marry her.”
Then she said courteously, “Sorry to disturb you. We’ll leave now.”
“Wait…” Qin Dafen tried to keep them. “Why rush? Stay for a meal.”
She signaled Shen Jianzhang to bring Shen Cuiping out.
“No, we’re not used to countryside food—”
Before Huo Qilan finished, Li Huifang elbowed her and smiled. “Thank you, but it’s a long journey. We must head back.”
She quickly dragged her daughter away.
“Please stay…” Qin Dafen still tried to stop them.
Just then Shen Cuiping came out and called, “Mom.”
Overjoyed, Qin Dafen pulled her forward. “Although that widow is terrible, my daughter is a pure maiden — why not take a look?”
She pushed Shen Cuiping forward, making her blush in embarrassment.
But Huo Qilan snapped, “Stop wasting your effort! My brother would rather marry a city girl than you rustic villagers — don’t even think about it!”
“Lan’er, stop!” Li Huifang hurriedly pulled her away. “Let’s go.”
The two women stood frozen.
“Waa—”
Shen Cuiping burst into tears and ran off. Qin Dafen sighed helplessly.
Inside the house, Shen Jianzhang, who had heard everything, had icy eyes — with a faint trace of killing intent flashing within.