After breakfast, Gu Shiye went out on time to work in the fields and earn work points, while Li Wenxiu took a ride on the village ox cart to head into town for a big shopping trip.
On the way, she saw Acheng personally receiving an old woman, treating her with utmost respect the entire time.
Li Wenxiu immediately guessed that the old woman must be a matchmaker sent by the Lin family.
She decisively decided to follow along and watch the drama unfold.
As expected, Father Gu and Mother Gu had not gone to work either. They were sitting in the main hall warmly entertaining the matchmaker sent by the Lin family.
Because Wang Lihua had left a little late for work that morning, she was caught and ordered by Mother Gu to go to the kitchen to prepare sweet soup for the guests.
When she walked into the courtyard, she happened to see Li Wenxiu sneaking back.
She had been itching to find someone to gossip with, so she immediately waved her over.
“Xiuxiu, come here.”
Li Wenxiu ran over, and the two sisters-in-law slipped into the kitchen together, whispering and gossiping freely, completely out of earshot of the main hall.
When it came to Acheng and Gu Shiyu, the two families of sisters-in-law were always united in their complaints.
After all, those two siblings had once stood on top of their heads and acted like they owned the place.
It turned out that this Matchmaker Zhang was there on behalf of the Lin family. She first inquired whether the Gu family truly had the ability to afford marrying Lin Baozhu, then gave hints on how they should formally go to the commune to propose marriage in order to show sincerity.
As Wang Lihua spoke, she kept rolling her eyes.
Lin Baozhu really knew how to put on airs. Now even the Gu family’s sincerity in marrying her made it look like the three daughters-in-law were nothing more than her servants.
Good thing they had already split the family. Once that gold-edged future fourth sister-in-law married in, they would settle accounts with her later.
However, it seemed the Gu family had not disclosed that they had already split the household because of Acheng’s marriage.
Wang Lihua rolled up her sleeves, already preparing for action. She just had to wait for Lin Baozhu to marry in, and then she would make sure the villagers tore her reputation apart.
Li Wenxiu smiled faintly on the side. With a sister-in-law like Wang Lihua, it might not even be her turn to act.
Suddenly, movement came from the main hall as a group of people walked out.
Wang Lihua nervously said, “Why are they so fast? I haven’t even started making the sweet soup yet. Mother will definitely scold me again when she comes back.”
Li Wenxiu replied, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. If Mother comes looking for trouble, I’ll get Third Brother to distract her and take the pressure off you.”
Wang Lihua glanced at her. “Xiu, you and Third Brother are getting along really well now. If it weren’t for you two reminding us that the bride price was too high, our three branches would’ve been taken advantage of again by those biased in-laws.”
Li Wenxiu smiled and said, “We just suddenly figured a lot of things out.”
“That’s good,” Wang Lihua nodded. “Before, you were even more timid than Second Sister-in-law. In a family like ours, if you’re too soft, you get eaten down to the bone.”
Li Wenxiu suddenly realized that this sister-in-law was actually quite warm-hearted. Then she recalled what happened in the short drama, where the eldest brother lost his job due to improper relationships.
She quietly reminded Wang Lihua, “Sister-in-law, I should also tell you something. Now that we’ve split the family and each household is in charge of itself, we must keep a close eye on our own little savings.”
Wang Lihua nodded. “You’re right. It seems you two really have become clear-minded. You wouldn’t have said something like this before.”
Meanwhile, the Gu family deliberately waited until midday, when everyone was off work, before Acheng led Father Gu and Mother Gu, carrying large and small gifts, to the Lin family in a very grand and high-profile manner to propose marriage.
Along the way, Mother Gu greeted everyone she met with enthusiasm, proudly announcing that they were there to propose marriage to Lin Baozhu. By the time they reached the Lin family gate, her face was practically stiff from smiling.
Just as Acheng raised his hand to knock, they suddenly heard shouting and curses coming from inside.
It turned out Li Jianqiang had heard that the Gu family was coming to propose marriage today, so he deliberately brought a few of his underlings to cause trouble for the Lin family.
He had no other reason, other than being displeased that Lin Baozhu was about to “benefit” some countryside bumpkin.
“Lin Dabao, get out here! When are you going to pay back the gambling debts you owe us brothers?”
Lin Dabao was so frightened he hid inside the house and did not dare come out.
Father Lin also did not want to deal with those hooligans.
Only Mother Lin stepped out. “Oh, Jianqiang, what are you trying to do? Our Dabao has always paid back his debts. There’s no need to come knocking at the door like this. After today, I’ll have him send the rest of the money over, alright?”
Outside the gate, Father Gu and Mother Gu exchanged a glance.
“After today” meant they were planning to use the Gu family’s bride price money to plug the gambling debt hole.
Acheng’s expression darkened as well. He only now realized that Lin Baozhu’s younger brother was a gambler, and that her urgency to marry and demand such a high bride price was to pay off those debts.
At that moment, Li Jianqiang, having finished stirring trouble inside, walked out with three companions and happened to bump into the Gu family.
He grinned mockingly. “Well, well, are these Big Dabao’s honored guests? Since when does their family have countryside bumpkin relatives?”
Father Gu and Mother Gu both felt as if they had been slapped hard across the face.
Mother Gu stepped forward angrily, ready to teach them a lesson, but Acheng quickly stopped her.
Father Gu’s face had already turned as dark as a pot bottom. After the group of hooligans left, he said in a low voice, “As the saying goes, poverty can be endured, but gambling destroys a family beyond recovery.”
Mother Gu also knew this truth, but seeing her youngest son in difficulty, she felt her heart ache. She immediately sided with him and snapped at Old Gu, “Enough, say less. We’ll deal with it after the daughter-in-law is married.”
Just as Acheng raised his hand to knock again, they heard Father Lin inside scolding his son.
“Lin Dabao! Do you know how many times we’ve cleaned up your messes? Have my warnings ever gotten into your ears? Why are you still gambling? Do you really want to ruin my job?”
Mother Lin hurriedly tried to calm him down. “Lower your voice, this isn’t something to be proud of. We still have a marriage arrangement to discuss. We can’t let the in-laws hear this…”