Qian Cheng was so angry he clenched his fists and pounded the ground. He couldn’t afford to provoke the Sun family, but he could make Ma Wuni change her mind. Just wait and see. His gaze toward Qian Jin was full of provocation.
Qian Jin looked down on Qian Cheng’s kind of empty bluster. “Since there’s nothing else, I’ll head over to the Ma family’s place. My wife is waiting for me.”
Only then did Qian Cheng notice that Ma Wuni was right outside the courtyard.
Wuni placed the things she had bought for Qian Laoshi and his wife at the entrance. “Uncle, Auntie, these are for you.”
Qian Jin didn’t dwell on Ma Wuni’s form of address. He grabbed Wuni and left, leaving Qian Cheng with the sight of their hand-in-hand backs.
Qian Cheng’s provocation was utterly crushed by Qian Jin’s simple actions, leaving him with no confidence at all.
Ma Wuni and Qian Jin hadn’t gone far when they saw Sun Yali standing about a dozen steps away from the Qian family. Qian Jin, still holding Wuni’s hand, ignored Sun Yali completely.
Qian Laoshi and his wife, who had come out to see Wuni off, were left awkwardly standing there when they spotted Sun Yali.
Inside the courtyard, Qian Cheng was seething with hatred. Facing Sun Yali at the entrance, he felt no awkwardness at all.
What he had witnessed these past few days had shattered his understanding of so many years. It turned out the people around him weren’t who he thought they were.
Without Wuni by his side to protect him, he was nothing. Sun Yali wasn’t a gentle, understanding girl either—she was a snarling demoness.
He didn’t even dare to ask for food when he went out begging. When Wuni was around, when had he ever gone hungry?
When Wuni protected him and he fought with Qian Jin, when had he ever come out worse? Now, everything was gone.
So, he had to take back what was his. He couldn’t lose such a wonderful Wuni.
Sun Yali grabbed Qian Cheng. “Where have you been these past few days? Why are you in such a sorry state? Who hit you? Was it Ma Wuni? I won’t let her get away with this.”
Qian Cheng wiped his face, his eyelids drooping, not even looking up at Sun Yali. “What, does this not look good? Didn’t you insist on being with me? This is what I’m like. Let me tell you, there won’t be any money for my studies anymore. If you want to stay, stay.”
Hearing this, Sun Yali was furious. “Qian Cheng, you jerk! Do you really think I only care about your money?”
Qian Cheng looked at Sun Yali, his eyes icy cold. “Otherwise? Don’t tell me you think I don’t know about you and Wu Xiaoqian from the post office.”
Sun Yali’s face flushed with discomfort at these words, and she hurriedly explained to Qian Cheng, “You can’t listen to Wu Xiaoqian’s nonsense. She’s jealous of me. I’ve liked you since middle school—you always wore a white shirt, clean and neat, different from the other boys. I really do like you. From afar, my eyes were always on you.”
Hearing this, Qian Cheng, touched by some nerve, burst into tears. “But my clothes were all washed by Wuni. So white.”
Why Sun Yali had approached him didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that he would never again wear a white shirt washed by Wuni’s own hands.
Qian Jin, who hadn’t gone far, stomped so hard with his next step it seemed he might leave a hole in the ground. He glared angrily at Ma Wuni. Your father raised you and spoiled you just so you could wash someone else’s clothes?
Ma Wuni felt utterly wronged. Is this my only bit of excellence, and it has to be pointed out? Can this even be considered a merit? So plain and simple.
Sun Yali rushed over and hugged Qian Cheng. “I want to be the one who washes your shirts. I’ll wash them even cleaner.”
The two of them, one crying and the other making a scene, were putting on a show like a grand opera. Even the performances in movies couldn’t compare to theirs.
Qian Laoshi and his wife couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Everyone in the village knew that the team leader’s daughter’s clothes were all washed by her mother.
The key issue was that these two were making such a fuss in the courtyard like a theatrical performance, with neighbors peeking over the walls to watch.
The old couple couldn’t handle it anymore—it was downright embarrassing. Couldn’t they discuss things indoors instead of putting on a show for everyone?
No matter how unwilling Qian Cheng was, no matter how much he still thought of Wuni, he ultimately gave in and agreed to the engagement with the Sun family.
Otherwise, the Sun family’s daughter threatened to go to the school and report him to the authorities, questioning whether Qian Cheng could continue his studies.
Sun Yali’s trump card once again triumphed over Qian Cheng’s love.
Back in the village, forget about a clean white shirt—he couldn’t even wear a dirty one.
Qian Cheng once again yielded to Sun Yali’s threats.
Qian Laoshi’s wife readily agreed, promising that after the engagement, Qian Cheng would settle down and live properly with Sun Yali. They were truly being manipulated by that Sun family girl.
If it weren’t for giving Qian Cheng some time to adjust, why bother with an engagement? Getting married directly would have been better.
Qian Jin took Ma Wuni back home. Although he had bought nice things for her parents, Ma Jiye and Wu Chunmei weren’t the least bit pleased—there wasn’t a single gift for either of the two young people?
How could these two not think of each other? Wasn’t this engagement a bit too hasty?
As parents, they would much rather see their daughter and son-in-law getting along well and caring for each other.
Qian Jin was quick-witted. Noticing Ma Jiye and Wu Chunmei’s expressions, he immediately explained, “Mom, Dad, we’ll buy Wuni’s things later when we go out shopping together. There aren’t many options in our town, and I doubt they have what Wuni likes.”
Wu Chunmei raised an eyebrow. Was her daughter really that picky? Was nothing in town good enough for her?
Then Qian Jin added, “But when the time comes, Mom and Dad, you’ll have to talk to Wuni about allocating some funds for me.”
After saying this, he scratched his head, looking so awkward that Ma Wuni couldn’t help but take a sharp breath. She knew he was just putting on an act.
Especially in front of her parents. Qian Jin was always full of little schemes.
Sure enough, Wu Chunmei immediately smiled. Since her daughter was in charge of the money, whether anything was bought wasn’t important.
Ma Jiye looked at his daughter with concern. “Why didn’t you buy anything for Qian Jin either? Didn’t I give you money?”
Ma Wuni replied, “Look at what he wears. What could I possibly buy for him in town?”
Beside them, Ma Wuyi and Ma Wuju were stunned. Were these two, who had just gotten engaged, about to become immortals? Was the town no longer good enough for them?
Then Ma Wuni continued, “The son-in-law you picked out—buying cheap things would be an insult to your taste. They wouldn’t suit him.” After saying this, she shivered herself.
But Ma Jiye was actually convinced by her words. Qian Jin was a sharp young man and really deserved better clothes. “Then remember this. My son-in-law deserves the best.”
In the end, it was Ma Wuni who took a sharp breath. The old man had clearly been bewitched. Why didn’t her mother take out a big awl to drive the evil spirits out of her father?
Over there, Qian Jin was smiling, his face beaming with pride. “It’s mainly because Uncle taught me well. If Uncle says I deserve it, then I deserve it.”
After saying this, he kept glancing at Ma Wuni.
Ma Wuju thought to herself, I get it. Do you deserve Ma Wuni? We all think so too.
Alright, the things in town no longer held any appeal for these two. Ma Wuyi chimed in quietly from the side, “Old Fifth, you’re getting a bit too full of yourself.”
Ma Wuni thought to herself, that’s still better than being tricked by someone else. How foolish would that be? With just a few words, you don’t have to spend a single penny—where else would you find such a good deal?