“If you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut your trap!”
Old Mrs. Wang glared fiercely at Song Dajiang. Anyone who dared to ruin her precious grandson’s marriage would have their head twisted off and kicked like a ball.
“Dajiang, you really are something. Your grandmother is still alive, yet you’re already trying to make decisions for your second uncle and aunt.”
Zhao Guifang had been holding it in for a long time and finally found an outlet to vent a little.
Earlier that day, she and Song Dalin had gone to her parents’ home, wearing their lips thin before they managed to borrow one hundred and eighty yuan.
Already frustrated to death because they hadn’t scraped together enough money, they came home only to run into Song Hongxia refusing to marry.
Song Dajiang flushed red with embarrassment. “I wasn’t trying to make decisions for Second Uncle and Aunt. I was doing it for Hongxia’s own good.”
“For my own good, so I should marry a country bumpkin?” Song Hongxia was very dissatisfied with Song Dajiang’s earlier remark, ‘Every pot has its lid.’
So what if she was from the countryside?
Who said country folk couldn’t marry city people?
“That’s not what I meant. If that Wu Dawei is really so great, why doesn’t he find a wife in the city?”
Song Dajiang was both anxious and angry. He truly had Song Hongxia’s best interests at heart.
Shen Xiuzhen was utterly speechless. This eldest son of hers really couldn’t hold two ounces of oil in his belly.
“Why? Of course it’s because Song Weimin is a good man with a promising future. The Wu Family values him and wants to strengthen ties between our families.
Big Brother, just listen to Grandma, shut your trap, and go back to your room to rest.
Grandma, Second Uncle, and Second Aunt are all alive and well. Hongxia’s marriage is hardly something for a mere cousin like you to decide.”
Song Sihai, discerning his parents’ intentions, naturally stood on their side.
After speaking, he shot Song Wuhu a meaningful look.
“Wuhu, Big Brother is tired. Help him back to his room to rest.”
Better that than him running his mouth and later being chased around the yard by Grandma wielding a broom handle.
Song Wuhu was also quite sharp. He immediately grabbed Song Dajiang’s arm and half-dragged, half-pulled him back to the room, pointing at Song Erhe in the corner:
“Big Brother, see that? That’s what happens to those who don’t listen!”
Seeing Song Erhe tied up with ropes, Song Dajiang’s face instantly darkened.
“Wuhu, what are you all doing? How could you tie up your second brother like this?”
As he spoke, he stepped forward to untie Song Erhe.
Song Wuhu didn’t stop him. After all, now that their parents were back, Second Brother was no longer his and Fourth Brother’s responsibility.
“Mom and Dad told him not to work, to rest properly at home. He wouldn’t listen and insisted on going to the fields.”
Song Erhe rolled his eyes wildly. “I was just saying it.”
“I don’t care. Don’t tell me. I only listen to Mom and Dad.” With that, Song Wuhu left the room and went to the yard to watch the show.
The house had been so lively these past two days that he couldn’t focus on studying.
Fortunately, today’s drama wasn’t about his parents being on the verge of death, but about his cousin Song Hongxia.
He didn’t have a good impression of this eldest cousin. Not only was she incredibly lazy, but she was also adept at playing the victim.
She was constantly asking his parents for money to buy pretty clothes and shoes.
His parents’ own clothes were patched over and over, yet whenever his eldest cousin opened her mouth, they would borrow money if they had to, just to get her the funds.
The Wu Family had money, and his eldest cousin loved to spend it. He thought this marriage arrangement was quite good.
Once she married into the Wu Family, his parents could breathe a little easier.
“Hongxia, just listen to your mother. Wu Dawei’s father is the director of the machinery factory. Compared to the temporary worker at the food factory that your uncle introduced, his family’s conditions are far better—not just a little bit better.”
Liu Zhaodi was still earnestly trying to persuade her.
Song Hongxia’s heart was also in turmoil, torn by intense inner conflict.
During this period, she had been introduced to several potential matches.
Apart from the temporary worker at the food factory, the rest were all country bumpkins.
Without comparison, there would be no sense of loss.
Those country bumpkins would invite her out, either to watch the sunset in the fields or to catch fish by the river.
But the temporary worker at the food factory took her to state-run restaurants for meals and to the cinema to watch movies.
If even a small temporary worker had so much money, how wealthy must the director of a machinery factory be?
If she married into their family, wouldn’t she be able to eat meat at every meal and buy new clothes every day?
Song Hongxia was tempted, yet she couldn’t bring herself to accept it.
After all, the man was a cripple, just like her uncle.
If she married him, she would inevitably end up like her aunt, constantly being gossiped about and pointed at by others.
“Enough! It’s settled. The eldest son’s family will give the one thousand yuan bride price directly to Hongxia. Additionally, the second son’s family will prepare another hundred yuan as dowry money for Hongxia.”
Old Mrs. Wang once again ignored everyone’s opinions and made the final decision.
“Mother, how do we have that much money? Besides, isn’t the bride price supposed to be given to the parents? Why should it go to a daughter who’s about to get married?”
Liu Zhaodi’s voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.
“Because you’ll still be relying on Hongxia’s in-laws to help Dabao in the future!” Old Mrs. Wang rolled her eyes.
Such a short-sighted fool, unable to distinguish what’s important from what’s not. How did she even grow up like this?
Song Hongxia didn’t respond, silently accepting the marriage arrangement.
Thinking about the hardships Song Hongxia was about to face, Shen Xiuzhen couldn’t help but want to laugh.
And this was only the beginning.
In this lifetime, every single member of the Song family, without exception, should expect nothing but misery!
“Third daughter-in-law, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and make dinner. Do you want to starve us to death?”
Old Mrs. Wang shouted at Shen Xiuzhen, but Shen Xiuzhen ignored her completely and turned to go back to her room.
“Mother, Xiuzhen’s hands hurt. She can’t cook.” Song Shulin said this and followed his wife into the room.
“Lazy wretch, I hope the pain kills you!” Old Mrs. Wang cursed, then turned her gaze to Zhao Guifang. “Eldest daughter-in-law, you go make dinner.”
Zhao Guifang pouted. “Mother, I’m feeling dizzy. Let the second daughter-in-law do it.”
Liu Zhaodi clutched her stomach. “Mother, my stomach hurts. I need to go to the outhouse first.”
Seeing this, Old Mrs. Wang’s anger flared up again.
“What a curse! How did I end up with three such lazy daughters-in-law…”
After cursing, she also returned to her room.
As for dinner, whoever wanted to make it could do it. There was no way she, as the mother-in-law, was going to serve her daughters-in-law instead.
Anyway, she still had some sesame cakes in her room to tide her over. She wouldn’t go hungry.
…
Dinner was made by Liu Zhaodi.
Because Song Dabao couldn’t bear the hunger any longer and cried and screamed for food.
As soon as Liu Zhaodi finished cooking, Song Sihai was sent by Shen Xiuzhen to the kitchen, where he filled a large enamel basin with stewed noodles for their own family.
As for whether the rest of the Song family had enough to eat, that was none of their concern.
“Song Sihai, you damned fool! You took so much food—what are the rest of us supposed to eat?” Liu Zhaodi cursed loudly.
Song Sihai held the enamel basin, giggling foolishly.
“Second Aunt, since you cooked the meal, if there isn’t enough, that’s your problem. Who told you to make so little? What does that have to do with me?
Hehe, I’m taking food to my parents. See you later, Second Aunt!”
With that, he carried the enamel basin and trotted all the way to Song Shulin and Shen Xiuzhen’s room.
Furious, Liu Zhaodi could only go to Old Mrs. Wang’s room to demand justice.
“Mother, are you going to do something about Song Sihai or not? He scooped up more than half the pot of noodles by himself. How can the little that’s left be enough for the rest of us?”