The scorching sun overhead and the incessant chirping of cicadas pulled Shen Xiuzhen’s thoughts back to reality.
Hadn’t she died? How could she still hear the cicadas and feel the blazing sun?
“Grandpa, Grandma, Meili said her family doesn’t want a bride price.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“See, city folks are just better—so much more respectable.”
“Our Weimin is truly blessed. Not only did he find a city girl, but her father is also a factory director.”
“…”
Amid the flattering remarks from everyone, Shen Xiuzhen secretly pinched her own thigh.
The sharp pain made her realize she had been reborn.
Reborn thirty years ago, on the day her third nephew told the family that his girlfriend wanted an arranged marriage exchange.
If she remembered correctly, today should be August 23, 1983. Her eldest daughter’s tragic life officially began from this day.
Glancing at the Song family members sitting under the locust tree to cool off, she clenched her fists tightly, her emotions fluctuating between sorrow and joy, overwhelmingly complex.
“Third sister-in-law, what are you thinking about so intently?” Second sister-in-law Liu Zhaodi teased her with a playful look.
“Nothing much,” Shen Xiuzhen replied dismissively.
Liu Zhaodi curled her lips. Did she think she didn’t know? The third sister-in-law was just jealous!
Jealous that the children of the eldest and second branches were all doing better than hers.
“Third sister-in-law, if you ask me, Dajiang isn’t young anymore. You and Third Brother shouldn’t be so picky. If you meet a decent girl, just settle it for the child.”
Shen Xiuzhen smiled self-deprecatingly. It wasn’t that they were picky—it was just that the family was too poor, and no one was willing to marry their daughter into their household.
But now wasn’t the time to talk about this because, without a doubt, the third nephew was about to bring up the arranged marriage exchange.
Sure enough, the next moment, Third Nephew Song Weimin cleared his throat and continued:
“Grandma, Dad, Mom, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, I haven’t finished what I was saying earlier.”
Everyone turned to look at him, waiting for him to continue.
“It’s like this: Meili has an older brother, five years older than her, who hasn’t found a wife yet. Her family’s idea is to strengthen our ties by marrying into each other’s families.”
“Weimin, tell Second Aunt in detail, what does Meili’s brother do? How much does he earn a month?” Liu Zhaodi was clearly intrigued.
She had two daughters: the elder, Song Hongxia, was eighteen this year, and the younger, Song Xiaoxia, was sixteen.
Whichever one married into the city would make her laugh in her dreams.
“Weimin, tell Grandma honestly, does Meili’s brother have some kind of problem?”
Old Mrs. Wang was sharp and immediately sensed something fishy.
“It’s nothing major,” Song Weimin’s eyes flickered.
“He’s just like my dad—his legs aren’t too good. But he’s decent-looking and works as a third-grade fitter at the machinery factory, earning fifty yuan a month.”
Fifty yuan?
Old Mrs. Wang’s eyes lit up. That was quite a lot.
Their whole family worked the fields year-round and couldn’t even earn thirty yuan a month.
“Second daughter-in-law, how about matching Hongxia with Meili’s brother?”
“Mother, my family just introduced Hongxia to someone. The two are getting along well.”
Liu Zhaodi firmly refused. Her Hongxia was pretty—there was no reason to marry a cripple.
Even if he was a rich cripple, it still wouldn’t do.
“Then match Xiaoxia,” Old Mrs. Wang persisted. After all, that was fifty yuan walking around.
“Xiaoxia is still young, no need to rush.” Liu Zhaodi knew her mother-in-law wouldn’t give up until she got her way, so she redirected the trouble elsewhere. “How about we arrange it for the eldest daughter of the third brother’s family?”
“The eldest daughter is also still young, no need to rush.” Shen Xiuzhen calmly refused.
Her eldest daughter was a year younger than Song Xiaoxia, only fifteen this year, not yet of marriageable age.
In her past life, to fulfill her third nephew’s wishes, she had forced her eldest daughter’s age up by three years and pressured her into marrying Wu Meili’s brother—Wu Dawei.
Who would have thought that Wu Dawei was no human being, but a devil.
Because of his lame leg, he endured endless ridicule outside, and the moment he returned home, he took his anger out on her eldest daughter.
It was almost a small beating every day, and a severe beating every three days.
From the day she married him, there wasn’t a single patch of unbruised skin on her eldest daughter’s body.
Later, when her eldest daughter became pregnant, she was beaten so badly by a drunken Wu Dawei that she miscarried on the spot.
After that, her eldest daughter lost the ability to bear children.
Using this as an excuse, Wu Dawei intensified his abuse, tormenting her eldest daughter for three whole years until he accidentally beat her to death.
The Wu family, worried that they would find out the truth and cause trouble, hastily buried her eldest daughter and told everyone she had died of a serious illness.
She and her husband believed it and were even grateful to the Wu family for being willing to spend money on their daughter’s treatment.
If it hadn’t been for overhearing her third nephew’s wife and the nephew himself discussing it years later, she would never have known how tragically her eldest daughter had died.
“I don’t care, I’ve already promised Meili. Our Song family must have a girl marry her brother. Otherwise, my relationship with Meili will fall apart too.”
Seeing that both aunts disagreed, Song Weimin lost his temper.
“If things fall apart with Meili, then don’t even think about transferring to the city. None of my siblings should expect to benefit from me or escape their rural roots in the future.”
Song Weimin had passed the technical secondary school entrance exam a few years ago and, upon graduation, was hired as a math teacher at a primary school in the county.
It could be said that he was the most accomplished and educated young man in the old Song family, even in the entire Luohe Village.
Old Mrs. Wang was counting on her most accomplished grandson to take her to the city to enjoy a life of comfort, so she immediately tried to mediate:
“Weimin, don’t be angry. Let’s talk this through properly.”
“Grandma, Meili said that no matter which sister marries her brother, her family will arrange a formal job for her. Just think about it—that’s an iron rice bowl!”
Song Weimin concealed the fact that Wu Dawei had been married before, thinking that by mixing threats with incentives, he had to make this marriage happen no matter what.
After all, the incident of Wu Dawei beating his ex-wife to death had already spread throughout the city.
Families in the city refused to marry their daughters to him, so the Wu family had no choice but to turn their attention to the countryside.
Hearing about the iron rice bowl, Old Mrs. Wang was even more tempted. “Second son, third son, what do you two think?”
The eldest branch had no daughters, so asking them was pointless.
The second and third branches each had two daughters. Whichever one married, she would agree.
“Ahem—”
Second brother Song Erlin coughed a few times before speaking unhurriedly, “Mother, such a good opportunity should be given to third brother. He has more children and no one with an iron rice bowl in his family. Ahem…”
Liu Zhaodi’s eyes shifted. “Yes, let the eldest daughter marry over. With a formal job and income, the third brother and his wife will have an easier life.”
“I disagree!”
Before Song Shulin could speak, Shen Xiuzhen stepped forward and spoke first.
“Third brother’s wife, when the men are talking, what right does a woman have to interrupt?” Eldest brother Song Dalin’s face darkened.
Sister-in-law Zhao Guifang added, “Yes, third sister-in-law, Song Weimin’s marriage is a matter between Mother and the men. We women shouldn’t interfere.”
“Hah!” Shen Xiuzhen laughed in anger. “You want to trade my daughter for a marriage alliance, why shouldn’t I interfere?”
In her past life, she had a gentle temper and would agree to whatever conditions the Song family proposed.
In this life, for the sake of her children, she must stand firm.
As for Song Shulin, this husband she had spent two lifetimes with, she didn’t care what choice he would make.
If he dared to let their children suffer even the slightest grievance, she would divorce him.
The children would stay with her, and he could spend the rest of his life guarding his precious Song family.
Song Dalin narrowed his eyes. “Third brother, control your woman…”