Being roasted by his own mother, Shen Zhiyan was fuming inside.
“Listen to what you’re saying how does marrying me mean she has bad eyesight? No matter what, this marriage is happening!”
Xu Guilan’s brows knotted with worry. She could tell now her son had been eyeing Song Yunlan for a long time.
Otherwise, even if he had been set up, how could he have gone so “accurately” straight into Song Yunlan’s house?
What a mess…
Luckily, Song Yunlan and Liang Bo had already broken off their engagement. Otherwise, it would have given her an even bigger headache.
In the end, it was her son who had wronged the girl. As his mother, she could only make up for it in other ways.
Still, being able to have such a beautiful, capable, and well-bred daughter-in-law like Song Yunlan made Xu Guilan quite happy.
“Son, have you thought it through? You really want to marry Song? Then I’ll start preparing. Tomorrow afternoon, your father and I will go propose for you. How about asking Aunt Niu to be the matchmaker?”
Shen Zhiyan nodded. Aunt Niu was Li Lanxiang, the wife of the production team leader everyone in the village gave her some respect.
“It’s perfect to have Aunt Niu as the matchmaker. Mom, I’ll go tell Lanlan so she can be prepared.”
Xu Guilan nodded.
“Alright, go ahead but be careful and avoid being seen. Don’t affect her reputation.
Also, discuss the bride price with her. After all, she’s from a big city. Our family can’t compare to city folks, but I won’t treat her poorly.
You know how it was with your sisters-in-law your eldest brother’s wife asked for fifty, your second brother’s cost sixty.
As for Song, on the surface we’ll give one hundred, and privately your father and I will add another hundred.
Then you can take her to the commune to buy a couple of new outfits. As for furniture we’ve already prepared everything for you, all brand new! What do you think?”
Shen Zhiyan nodded. He knew exactly what his family’s situation was.
As for Song Yunlan, whatever she wanted, he would do his best to provide it didn’t need to rely on his family. He could support his own wife.
“I’ll follow your arrangements. I have no objections. Lanlan is reasonable don’t worry, she won’t have any objections either.”
Hearing this, Xu Guilan smiled in satisfaction.
“Good. Since you agree, I’m relieved. Go tell her now and come back for dinner later!”
Shen Zhiyan blinked and said thoughtfully,
“I won’t be back for dinner. If I’m going there, I might as well get a meal before coming back. Don’t wait for me!”
With that, he turned and walked out.
Before leaving the Shen house, Shen Zhiyan went back to his room.
From a hidden compartment under his wardrobe, he took out a small cloth bundle, then gathered all the things he had stashed away.
When Shen Jianjun returned with Shen Zhizhou and Shen Zhiqian, they just happened to see Shen Zhiyan hurrying off.
“Wife, what’s the third one up to? It’s almost dinner time why’s he running off again? And you’re not stopping him?”
Hearing her husband’s voice, Xu Guilan came out of the house.
“You ran into him?”
Shen Jianjun nodded.
“He was carrying something, rushing off like his pants were on fire!”
Xu Guilan nodded.
“Come inside I have something to tell you.”
Shen Jianjun glanced at her suspiciously. Why did she seem so strange today? Could it be related to their third son?
“What is it? Urgent? Let me wash up first.”
Xu Guilan shook her head.
“Not urgent. Go wash I’ll wait for you inside.”
Meanwhile, Shen Zhiyan took a small path to Song Yunlan’s courtyard, carrying the gifts he had prepared for her before, along with the private money he had earned over the years on the black market.
At this moment, Song Yunlan had just come out of her space. After drinking a large cup of spiritual spring water, she felt her skin had become much fairer.
She was just about to start a fire to cook mushroom soup with the spring water when she suddenly heard movement from the back window.
Earlier, when she entered the space, she had latched all the doors and windows from the inside.
Putting down the firewood, she walked over to check only to find that Shen Zhiyan had returned again.
Frowning, she opened the window.
“Why are you here again!”
The smile on Shen Zhiyan’s face froze, and he rolled his eyes irritably.
“Move back a bit. Let me get in first, then I’ll talk!”
Song Yunlan sighed helplessly and stepped aside to make room.
With a leap, Shen Zhiyan climbed in through the window.
“Can’t you use the door? What kind of decent person climbs through someone else’s window every day?”
Shen Zhiyan placed the things he was carrying onto the bed.
“Who do you think I’m doing this for? I’m avoiding being seen for your reputation!”
Song Yunlan sighed.
“Alright, tell me why did you come back? Didn’t you just leave?”
Hearing this, Shen Zhiyan looked up. His gaze slowly moved from her face to her stomach.
Thinking of the scene he had imagined earlier, his ears turned red again as he started grinning foolishly.
Seeing him like this, Song Yunlan felt speechless.
Before, this man had seemed quite sharp even with Liang Bo and Bai Ruolian having their “protagonist halo,” he had still made things difficult for them.
So why did he suddenly seem a bit foolish around her?
“Say something! Why are you staring at me and smiling like that?”
Snapping back to reality, Shen Zhiyan noticed the trace of disdain in her eyes and immediately bristled.
“You’re looking down on me! Song Yunlan, tell me are you regretting it? You don’t want to marry me anymore, do you? You actually despise me!”
Seeing him suddenly jump up, Song Yunlan grabbed the broom handle from the bed and smacked him.
“Why are you yelling?! Do you want people to hear there’s a man in my house?!”
After being hit, Shen Zhiyan instantly quieted down. He didn’t dare jump or move anymore.
He just sat silently on the edge of the bed, staring straight at Song Yunlan, as if saying: I’m waiting for your explanation.
Song Yunlan rubbed her forehead helplessly. Instead of finding a partner, she felt like she had found a son!
“Who’s despising you? I’m not. I just found it strange that you were grinning like that.”
After speaking, she looked at him again.
“Now tell me there must be something important if you came back.”
Seeing that she didn’t seem to be backing out, Shen Zhiyan finally relaxed. His earlier fuss had just been fear that she might go back on her word.
After all, he had waited so long for this day.
With that thought, he pushed the things he had brought toward her.
“I told my mom about us. Tomorrow afternoon, she’ll come with my dad and Aunt Niu to formally propose.
With Aunt Niu as the matchmaker, no one in the village will dare gossip about us.
As for the bride price you know I have two older brothers, so my parents can’t make it too different on the surface.
My mom said they’ll give you one hundred publicly, and another hundred privately, plus buy you some new clothes.
I know it can’t compare to what you’d get in the capital. These are the gifts I prepared for you before, and this is all the money I’ve saved over the years… it’s all yours.”