On the Ma family’s side, Ma Jiye had five daughters. The eldest, Ma Wuyi, was over ten years older than Ma Wuni and had married within the village.
The second daughter, Ma Wuju, had taken in a son-in-law and stayed at home. The third daughter, Ma Wu Duo, had married into the county town, while the fourth daughter, Ma Wu Kui, was still in school.
The two daughters who lived away couldn’t return, but the ones at home were already lively enough.
Without Ma Jiye having to say a word, the second daughter, Ma Wuju, began speaking to Ma Wuni: “It’s a good swap. That useless Qian Cheng—what does he have compared to Qian Jin? I’ve said since we were kids that your judgment was poor. Don’t keep thinking about that bastard Qian Cheng anymore.”
Ma Wuni ignored her and went back to her room alone. No matter how much one tried to rationalize such matters, it still didn’t feel good deep down.
Fortunately, she had had a few days to recover; otherwise, she might have beaten Qian Cheng half to death today.
Inside the house, Ma Jiye’s two sons-in-law whispered, “This counts as us being bullied by the Sun family, doesn’t it?”
Ma Jiye didn’t speak, but his wife, Wu Chunmei, did: “The Sun family has been getting too arrogant these past few years. Just wait—there will be a time to deal with them.”
The two sons-in-law fell silent. Their father-in-law was ruthless when he acted, and their mother-in-law was sharp-minded—she never spoke without a purpose.
Wu Chunmei snorted lightly: “From now on, don’t mention anything about the Sun family, whether at home or outside. What kind of person Qian Cheng is has nothing to do with our family. Our son-in-law is Qian Jin.”
She emphasized: “On the surface, we should act the same toward the Sun family as we always have.”
The Ma family’s sons-in-law and daughters all nodded in agreement. This was their family’s female strategist, whose mind was sharper than any of theirs.
If her mother could swallow this grievance, she must already have a plan to deal with the Sun family.
Before Wu Chunmei had even finished speaking, Qian Jin arrived with gifts.
Seeing Qian Jin bring gifts, Ma Jiye and Wu Chunmei both breathed a sigh of relief. This marriage was truly taking shape—this was Qian Jin’s attitude.
Wu Chunmei greeted Qian Jin: “Qian Jin, you’re being too formal. Coming to your auntie’s place, why be so polite? When you were little, you were never this courteous.”
Qian Jin’s lips curled upward, unable to suppress his smile: “It’s only proper. I came to have a couple of drinks with Uncle and trouble you, Auntie.”
Wu Chunmei: “You used to come here often enough for food and drinks when you were young. How did you become so polite after being away for a few years?”
Qian Jin smiled modestly. In the past, he had followed Qian Cheng’s lead, just a tag-along. But now it was different—he was the main one. He couldn’t help but grin: “All these years away, I’ve missed your cooking, Auntie.”
Inside the room, Ma Wuni snorted coldly. This guy was smooth-talking and cunning—never a good sort since childhood. He had coaxed so many treats out of her mother.
Back when Ma Jiye was still young, he had desperately wanted a son. Unfortunately, after having Ma Wuyi, Ma Wuju, Ma Wu Duo, and Ma Wu Kui—four daughters in a row—he finally got pregnant again, only to give birth to another girl. He didn’t even put thought into the name, simply calling her “Ma Wuni.”
This alone showed how much the Ma family had longed for a boy.
At that time, Qian Jin was willing to visit their home. He was a mischievous boy, and Ma Jiye doted on him, saving all the best treats for Qian Jin, treating him better than his own daughters.
The Ma family cherished Qian Jin as if he were a son.
Could Ma Wuni, their own flesh and blood, accept this? She treated Qian Jin as a class enemy to be fought against.
Forget about maturity or anything like that—Ma Wuni didn’t have much of that back then. And don’t say “it’s just a bite to eat”—in that era of scarcity, food represented everything. Of course, nowadays it’s still pretty much the same.
Don’t talk about being more cunning than others after living a second life. As a child, she might have been more clever than other kids, but as she grew up, her intelligence was really just average.
To put it bluntly, it was an old fox losing to a child in a battle of wits.
Wu Chunmei was beaming after being sweet-talked by Qian Jin: “You silly child, if you want to eat something in the future, just say so. I’ll send it to you.”
Qian Jin smiled sheepishly, too embarrassed to nod. Mostly because this matter depended on Ma Wuni’s opinion.
Then he looked around but didn’t see the girl who had just gotten engaged.
Ma Jiye patted Qian Jin’s sturdy frame: “Haven’t seen you in years, kid. You’ve gotten more and more solid—good. Have you sorted everything out at home?”
Qian Jin knew the test had arrived: “Yes, Uncle Ma, don’t worry. It’s all settled. I owe my success today to you, Uncle Ma. I learned a lot following you since I was young. Only after going out into the world did I realize that having many skills is never a burden.”
He spoke subtly: since childhood, I’ve observed how you handle things and picked up some of your style.
Ma Jiye: “Don’t say that. What I know are just rustic skills. As long as you don’t cause trouble for the family when you’re out there, that’s enough. Otherwise, I’d feel ashamed facing your father.”
The eldest Ma daughter, Ma Wuyi, couldn’t understand the roundabout talk and had no patience for it. She asked directly: “Would the Sun family compromise so easily?”
Wu Chunmei shot her eldest daughter a glare but didn’t say anything, clearly also wanting to hear how Qian Jin had handled it.
Qian Jin: “I dealt with the Qian family’s affairs. I can only discipline the Qian family’s children. How the Sun family thinks or teaches their children is their own business. Whoever makes a mistake must bear the consequences. Qian Cheng isn’t young anymore. As a man, he should have that much responsibility.”
This was said with great finesse—meaning, whoever’s mess it is, they clean it up. He wasn’t going to cover for others.
Ma Jiye was satisfied. If Qian Cheng had taken responsibility, there wouldn’t have been any trouble with the Sun family.
When Ma Jiye handled this matter, he also settled his own family’s affairs and then withdrew. Qian Jin said he learned a lot from him, and that was absolutely true.
Qian Jin was demonstrating his own sense of responsibility—his responsibility toward the Ma family. Once he agreed, he agreed. He had no obligation to shoulder the Sun family’s unreasonable demands. Let Qian Cheng deal with it himself.
Ma Wuyi frowned as she looked at Qian Jin. This kid was full of tricks, always talking in circles. Ma Wuni didn’t like that about Qian Jin.
Ma Jiye: “Ahem, kid, after being away for a few years, not only have you gotten more solid, but your mind has also sharpened.” Mainly, he had become even more cunning.
Qian Jin didn’t hold back anymore and asked directly about Ma Wuni: “Uncle, this matter has truly wronged Wuni. I don’t know if Wuni is truly happy about it.”
Ma Jiye snorted. This brat kept beating around the bush, and he wasn’t going to play along: “Wronged or not, can the engagement still change?”
Then he added: “But after all, it’s best if both of you are willing. How about this—you two talk it out yourselves?”
Qian Jin had rushed over anxiously, clearly with this intention: “I’ll listen to whatever Wuni says.” Then he added: “I’ll listen to whatever you say, Uncle.”
What does that mean? If Ma Wuni can’t figure it out, it’s not impossible for the parents to take charge. Qian Jin, after all, is someone who knows when to advance and when to retreat.
You have to understand that Qian Jin trusts Ma Jiye’s judgment. Letting Ma Jiye choose a son-in-law—with Qian Jin around, the Ma family definitely wouldn’t take a liking to Qian Cheng.
Wu Chunmei is also sharp; she could tell there was something on this young man’s mind. And he seemed genuinely attentive toward Wuni.
At the end of the day, what truly matters is that the son-in-law cares deeply for their daughter.