Ma Jiye felt relieved; his wife’s words were still trustworthy. “I’m just afraid we’ll lose a good son-in-law.”
Wu Chunmei sneered, “Do you really think the Qian family is such a great place? My daughter, Wu Chunmei’s girl, isn’t afraid of being unable to marry.”
Qian Laoshi and his wife weren’t truly honest either; they were just weighing the pros and cons.
Ma Jiye was left speechless. During the day, the way you looked at Qian Jin wasn’t like this. How could this woman be so cunning?
Ma Jiye genuinely liked Qian Jin. Back when they arranged the marriage with the Qian family, he had his sights set on Qian Jin. Unfortunately, his daughter chose Qian Cheng. Ah, forget it—no point dwelling on the past.
When Ma Wuni went outside, Qian Cheng grew excited, thinking to himself, “Wuni still cares about me. She’s willing to listen to my explanation.”
He jumped down from the wall, ran over, and grabbed Wuni’s hand. “Wuni, I knew you wouldn’t ignore me.”
Ma Wuni slapped him, pushing him back at least two meters. “Don’t get too close. My palm doesn’t recognize anyone, but this slap is still a way of acknowledging you.”
Qian Cheng covered his already bruised and swollen face, not daring to retreat. “Wuni, don’t hit me anymore. It’s already unsightly. Even if you acknowledge me with a slap, it’s better than ignoring me.”
He moved closer. “Wuni, let’s elope. Wuni Jie.”
Who gave him the courage to say such outrageous words? Ma Wuni’s fist, ready to strike again, froze. “What did you say?”
She doubted her own hearing. What kind of person was she, Ma Wuni, to do something so disgraceful for a guy? Did Qian Cheng really understand her?
Qian Cheng pleaded, “Let’s elope. I don’t like that Sun Yali, really. She’s the one who kept pestering me, threatening me. Let’s just go.”
Ma Wuni grew even angrier. Was this something a man should say? He’d gotten involved with someone he didn’t even like, and now he wanted to drag another into it?
Why should she, a perfectly respectable girl, live a shameful life with him? Did he think she was stupid?
Qian Cheng watched Ma Wuni remain silent for a long time and thought she was considering it. “Let’s go, Wuni Jie. I’ve brought money with me.”
Ma Wuni’s focus shifted. “You stole money from home?” She had a rough idea of how much money this guy had.
Qian Cheng patted his chest confidently. “I won’t let you suffer with me. Wuni Jie, I’ve thought it all through. If we elope, this money will be enough for my studies over the next few years. Once I start working, I’ll take care of you.”
Ma Wuni sneered, “So you stole the money your brother saved for your parents’ retirement, planning to elope with your almost-sister-in-law?”
It was a pity that the sky was clear, with a bright moon and no dark clouds to brew a thunderstorm and strike this scoundrel dead.
Qian Cheng didn’t want to talk about that. “You’re not his wife; you’re my wife. We were engaged long ago, and both families agreed to it.”
Ma Wuni retorted, “Did both families also agree for you to sleep with Sun Yali?” You’ve already done things your parents didn’t approve of. What’s the point of bringing this up now?
Qian Cheng admitted, “I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. I was just fooled by her, truly.”
Of course, he was fooled by Sun Yali. But as a man, how could he lack such resolve and refuse to take responsibility for the consequences? Ma Wuni spat out, “How could you be such a worthless person?”
She then kicked Qian Cheng, muttering under her breath, “I must have been blind and foolish back then to have fallen for a scoundrel like you.”
Qian Cheng, beaten until it hurt, hunched over: “If you hit me again, I’ll get angry. You can’t hit me anymore, or I won’t be able to run later.”
The two had played together since childhood. Whenever they had conflicts, they would laugh and bicker, and it would pass in no time. Wuni had never failed to forgive Qian Cheng, so he was confident she would still be with him.
Ma Wuni looked at Qian Cheng like this and couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. “Keep dreaming.”
Ma Wuni then reached out her hand. “Where’s the money?”
Qian Cheng wasn’t entirely without cunning. “I don’t have it on me. If you come with me, I’ll tell you where it is.”
Ma Wuni threatened him. “Are you asking for another beating?”
Qian Cheng scrambled to his feet, looking disheveled. “Wuni, I’ll take you to get the money.” Once they left this place, he would coax her back like he always did.
Ma Wuni didn’t want to let this scoundrel Qian Cheng off easy. “Fine, lead the way.”
If she didn’t take the money, it would just end up benefiting that dog Sun Yali.
From a distance, Qian Jin could only see the two interacting, faintly hearing their voices but having to guess the content. Just watching them made him so angry his nose felt crooked.
He cursed Ma Wuni inwardly for being someone who never learned her lesson. After such a big incident, a few hits and it was over? She was really following Qian Cheng, unable to resist his sweet talk.
Brainless! Furious, he kicked the tree beside him, then winced in pain, taking a sharp breath.
Still unwilling to give up, he followed the two at a distance, his face so dark it could drip water.
He didn’t even know why he was following them. What was he hoping for? To make himself give up? Or to see them off one last time?
Ma Wuni followed Qian Cheng almost all the way to the bus station. If she still didn’t understand what this guy was up to, something was wrong. Qian Jin, trailing behind, also realized—these two were planning to elope.
He cursed Ma Wuni again in his mind. What a hopeless fool, so easily swayed. Women in love really had no brains.
Qian Jin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, thinking, “Fine, let these two dogs have their way. From now on, I’ll just focus on moving forward.”
Meanwhile, Ma Wuni kicked Qian Cheng directly. Trying to trick her? She glared at him. “Believe it or not, even if we get on the bus, I can still kick you off.”
Qian Cheng grimaced as he got up, grabbing Wuni’s arm. “We’ve come this far, just come with me. I left a note at home saying you left with me. If you go back now, you’ll lose your marriage prospects and your reputation. No one will believe you.”
Ma Wuni had always known Qian Cheng could be sly and cunning at times, but she never imagined he’d use those tricks on her. “All these years I’ve protected you, and this is what I get—a heartless, ungrateful wolf. How dare you set me up?”
Qian Cheng shamelessly persisted. “Go ahead, hit me. I knew you’d hit me. If you don’t beat me to death, you’re coming with me. Anyway, Qian Jin won’t believe we’re innocent.”
Startled by the commotion ahead, Qian Jin opened his eyes to see the two at odds again!
He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but just watching their actions made him furious. These two were still tangled up, unable to break free.
Ma Wuni was so angered by Qian Cheng’s shamelessness that she laughed coldly. She grabbed him, flipped him over, and pinned him head down, searching him thoroughly.
Qian Cheng howled in protest, his hands on the ground. “Let me go! Let me go!” But it was useless—Ma Wuni was too strong, and he couldn’t break free no matter how hard he struggled.
Qian Cheng’s wallet fell out of his pocket. Ma Wuni pushed people aside, checked the wallet, pulled out the train ticket and threw it back to Qian Cheng, taking everything else. “I told you, I’ll beat you up every time I see you. From now on, stay away from me.”
Ma Wuni regretted not acting sooner. If she had done this earlier, she wouldn’t have had to run all the way out here in the middle of the night. Absolute strength really was useful.
Qian Jin, watching from a distance, was a bit confused. Was that considered a hug? Headfirst?