Qian Jin fell silent for a long time after hearing this, then said, “Well, you’re certainly a clever one.”
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he walked with such a spring in his step that it felt like flowers were blooming all around him. To those who knew, he was carrying a bundle; to those who didn’t, it might have seemed like he was holding some peerless beauty, given how lightly he moved.
In Ma Wuni’s eyes, this man was emotionally unstable. “You seem to be in a good mood,” she remarked.
How could his mood be anything but good when someone was about to bear his child? Qian Jin replied, “I’m just the type who appreciates being remembered, no matter how it’s done. Even if it’s about wanting to harm my child, I’ll just boost my morale first.”
After all, if someone wanted to harm his child, they’d have to give birth to it first.
Ma Wuni wasn’t as quick-witted as Qian Jin and truly hadn’t thought that far ahead. She thought to herself that she’d never seen anyone so cheap. “You’re insane.”
Over there, Qian Jin even started humming a tune, while Ma Wuni’s expression darkened. Was her threat really so insignificant?
If she’d known earlier, she should have bought a few stone weights and made him carry them back, just to see if he’d still be so smug.
As soon as the two entered the village, they were called home by the villagers, who said there was a commotion at Qian Jin’s house, so they headed there.
Qian Laoshi’s wife was in the yard, holding Qian Cheng and crying, “Such misery, such misery! How could this happen?”
Qian Cheng clung to his mother, weeping bitterly. “It’s all because of your eldest son. He’s utterly heartless! He threw me onto the bus and even told the conductor that I couldn’t get off midway. He told the conductor that I have mental issues and should stay wherever I’m dropped off.”
Qian Cheng sobbed, “After hearing that, the driver took me all the way to the station and said someone would come to pick me up later. He told me that as long as I didn’t move, I wouldn’t get lost. He’s so wicked!”
He gritted his teeth and added, “He didn’t even give me any money. Do you know how I got back? I walked! I haven’t eaten for over two days.”
It was truly a pitiful sight, enough to move anyone to tears. Though, if he hadn’t eaten for two days, how did he still have the strength to cry? There was clearly some exaggeration in his story.
Upon hearing that it was her eldest son who had dealt with her younger son, Qian Laoshi’s wife immediately stopped complaining and simply held her younger son, heartbroken, tears streaming down her face. “Mom will make you something to eat. Why didn’t you try to find something to eat?”
Qian Cheng replied, “I don’t want to eat. Let me die instead. He did it on purpose. While I was away, Wuni got engaged. This doesn’t count!”
Did he think this was some child’s game, where things could just be undone? Who would play along with him and start over?
Qian Jin couldn’t even be bothered to respond to him.
At that moment, Qian Jin wasn’t looking at Qian Cheng in the yard but instead stared at Ma Wuni with a mocking expression.
Ma Wuni felt embarrassed and angry under his gaze. She had already said this man was emotionally unstable—just moments ago, he was in high spirits, and now his mood had shifted again. Qian Jin’s eyes seemed to say, “This is the man you insisted on getting engaged to,” implying that Ma Wuni had poor judgment.
Ma Wuni truly understood his meaning and muttered angrily at Qian Jin, “I haven’t even complained about the worthless thing your family raised.”
Both of them were utterly disgusted with Qian Cheng.
Qian Cheng’s mother hugged him and cried, “It’s all my fault for spoiling you. Blame me, blame it all on me.”
Qian Cheng, shameless as ever, said, “Mom, then keep spoiling me. This engagement doesn’t count.” He was clearly preparing to throw a tantrum and act unreasonably.
Qian Cheng’s mother was furious with her son: “Their engagement is already set, do you think you can make the Sun family back out now? You were careless yourself, it’s too late for regrets. What were you doing earlier?”
Qian Cheng: “Sun Yali tricked me, I wasn’t willing, really. I remember now, I had been drinking.”
Qian Cheng’s mother grew even angrier: “Who made you drink? Who forced you?”
Qian Cheng cried, and his mother cried too: “Listen to me, don’t bring this up again. Let me tell you, your brother is just cleaning up your mess. If you cause more trouble for him and he really decides to deal with you, even I won’t be able to speak up for you. We can’t repay kindness with ingratitude.”
Qian Cheng was livid when he heard this. Qian Jin was definitely not helping him clean up any mess: “He’s scheming. He’s been circling around Wuni since we were kids. He has ulterior motives…”
Qian Laoshi slapped him before he could finish, otherwise this family drama would have escalated. Qian Jin wasn’t that kind of child.
They had raised Qian Cheng wrong—how could he say such things?
Qian Cheng’s mother also tried to reason with him: “Qian Cheng, be good. That Sun girl isn’t someone to mess with. Just live your life properly.”
Then she added: “Do you think we don’t know whether your brother likes Wuni or not? The whole village knows these two kids don’t get along. Even if you want to slander your brother, you should at least have some basis.”
To be honest, Ma Wuni felt sorry for Qian Cheng. She wasn’t that oblivious—she could tell Qian Jin had feelings for her.
Especially in the past couple of days, Qian Jin’s behavior had been quite obvious. Looking back on past events with her current understanding, Ma Wuni had to admit she hadn’t thought deeply enough before. She had been somewhat blind.
She glanced at Qian Jin but couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes directly. Her face felt hot.
Qian Jin didn’t want to hear any more. Did he and Ma Wuni really have so much past resentment? How could the whole village testify that they had a bad relationship?
He pushed open the courtyard gate: “What else can we do if not live properly? What does he want?”
Qian Cheng turned to glare at Qian Jin, eyes blazing: “You… don’t think no one knows what you’re thinking?”
Qian Jin: “What am I thinking? ‘Restrain oneself and return to propriety’—haven’t you read the classics? You yourself lack shame, don’t assume everyone is like you.”
Qian Cheng: “Don’t give me that. You, Qian Jin, aren’t that noble.”
Qian Jin scoffed: “You didn’t cherish what you had. You never fully learned propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame.”
Others were confused—what were these two brothers talking about? Sure enough, people from the village spoke in riddles.
But Qian Cheng understood: Qian Jin was saying he had handed the opportunity to someone else himself, so he couldn’t blame anyone.
Qian Cheng: “Despicable, petty. Which of ‘propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame’ do you possess? The girl engaged to me, if you had even…”
Qian Cheng’s mother quickly stopped her younger son: “Qian Jin is back. The Sun family just came to discuss Qian Cheng’s engagement. When do you think would be a good time?”
She pulled Qian Cheng from behind: “Your brother is doing this for you. The family begged him to marry Wuni.”
Qian Cheng was furious. Qian Jin was actually pleased about this, but no one would believe him no matter who he told.
Qian Jin was also frustrated. He was very willing for this marriage, he liked this girl, but no one believed him—not even the girl herself.
Qian Jin: “As soon as possible. I came back in a hurry and can only stay home for a few days.”
Qian Cheng: “Ha, I know exactly what you’re scheming. You’re so anxious about my engagement with the Sun family? My marriage is none of your concern.”
Qian Jin: “Whether you’re engaged to the Sun family or not, my marriage to Ma Wuni won’t change. Do you think you can afford to provoke the Sun family, or do you think Wuni would ever take you back?”
What happens with my marriage has nothing to do with yours.