Lu Yikang ran a hand through his hair slicked with gel, his face brimming with confidence.
“I’m here to marry you. Our family can offer 500 yuan in betrothal gifts, along with a bicycle, radio, and sewing machine. We can also help convert your father’s temporary job into a permanent position. Don’t worry, I’ll treat you well. After marrying me, you won’t have to do any work. You can buy whatever you want and eat whatever you like. I’ll give you 20—no, 50 yuan per month as pocket money.”
Lu Yikang was determined to win Yao Yunzhen over and wanted the beauty to see his capabilities, so he directly quoted an astronomical sum for the betrothal gifts.
He wasn’t boasting—his family could indeed afford these things. With his black market business bringing in daily profits, 50 yuan in pocket money was nothing to him.
‘Boom—’
His words exploded like a bomb among the crowd.
In the village nowadays, marrying a bride typically cost only 10 yuan in betrothal gifts. 500 yuan could marry how many brides?
Not to mention the bicycle, radio, and sewing machine, and his parents were leaders to boot!
And she would receive 50 yuan in pocket money after marriage.
That was 50 yuan—50 yuan per month!
They worked hard all year round and only managed to save a little over ten yuan by year’s end.
Why? What did this lazy girl deserve all this?
Everyone was consumed by envy and jealousy, wishing they could push their own daughters forward to take her place.
Yao Yunzhen simply found it baffling. She didn’t even know this person, yet he came right out saying he wanted to marry her.
The conditions he mentioned were indeed good, but that didn’t mean Yao Yunzhen was willing.
First, they didn’t know each other. Second, his approach clearly showed disrespect toward her.
Who goes about proposing marriage like this—without a matchmaker, without any elders accompanying him, just blocking her doorstep?
Since he looked down on her from the bottom of his heart, how dare he talk about marrying her?
The love and care her parents had given Yao Yunzhen filled her with confidence. Although her family’s circumstances weren’t great, she wouldn’t belittle herself because of it, nor would she be dazzled by material wealth.
Little did Lu Yikang know that his impatience—only having time to groom himself before rushing over—had left a bad impression on Yao Yunzhen.
“We’re not familiar, and I’m not planning to consider marriage right now. Please go back.”
“Tsk—”
Someone gasped sharply.
Such excellent conditions, a match you couldn’t find even with a lantern, and she just refused it like that?
A well-meaning person reminded her, “Zhen, why don’t you wait until your mother comes back before deciding?”
Meanwhile, someone else rolled their eyes, slipped out of the crowd, and hurried home.
If the Yao family girl wasn’t willing, her family certainly was!
Wasn’t her daughter much better than this lazy girl?
Capable, filial, and with wide hips—guaranteed to bear sons after marriage.
If anyone else had rejected him so directly, Lu Yikang would have lost his temper long ago. But since this was the love at first sight who had captured his heart, he had endless patience.
“Why? If there’s anything you’re unsatisfied with, you can bring it up. I’ll agree to anything as long as I can manage it.”
To win the beauty, Lu Yikang was willing to pay any price.
He was even allowing her to make demands?!
Was the Yao family girl made of gold?
The onlookers were utterly perplexed.
“Make way, make way! The brigade leader is back.”
Just then, the person who had gone to fetch the brigade leader finally returned with him.
“What are you all crowding around my house for? Make way, let me through.”
Miao Cuilan also pushed her way inside with great effort.
She had returned together with the brigade leader.
When the old man who called for the brigade leader arrived, the brigade leader had been standing on the ridge of the field beside her. She vaguely heard her own daughter’s name mentioned, followed by something about a leader.
Her intuition told her something was wrong, so she hurriedly ran back as well.
Yao Dajun: “What’s going on?”
Wasn’t it said that a leader had come? Why was everyone crowded around Yao Daqiang’s doorstep?
The onlookers immediately began explaining all at once.
Someone who spotted Miao Cuilan remarked sourly: “Sister Miao, your family’s hit the jackpot. Some young city fellow came in a car saying he wants to marry your Zhenzhen.”
“The betrothal gifts he’s offering could reach this amount.” The speaker held up a hand with all fingers extended, then quickly recounted the other conditions Lu Yikang had promised.
Hearing this, Miao Cuilan’s heart sank.
What kind of family would be willing to offer such high betrothal gifts for a country girl?
Miao Cuilan instantly realized that someone must have seen her daughter’s appearance and become covetous.
At this thought, she grew anxious and plunged forward, pushing straight to the front of the crowd.
Yao Yunzhen, sharp-eyed, was the first to spot Miao Cuilan.
“Mom, you’re back?”
Miao Cuilan hurriedly said: “You go inside first. I’ll handle this here.”
This kind of matter wasn’t suitable for her daughter to deal with directly. Moreover, with so many people around, if her daughter’s mask accidentally slipped off and others saw her face, what would they do?
Yao Yunzhen obediently went inside, then peeked out through a crack in the window.
Only then did Miao Cuilan turn her attention to this so-called marriage proposer.
He was dressed decently enough and wasn’t bad-looking, but there was a fierce aura between his eyebrows that suggested he wouldn’t be easy to deal with. Moreover, he had come alone to propose marriage without even a preliminary greeting, which showed his social manners were truly lacking. And his father was from the Revolutionary Committee…
As everyone knew, the Revolutionary Committee Director of Anyuan County was a ruthless man who acted with extreme cruelty.
He had made countless enemies. If anything were to happen…
How could Miao Cuilan feel at ease letting her daughter marry into such a family?
Not to mention that her daughter was already betrothed to someone else.
Lu Yikang watched longingly as the girl entered the house, only turning to look at Miao Cuilan after the door closed.
With Yao Yunzhen no longer present, the smile on Lu Yikang’s face faded considerably, his expression unable to conceal his arrogance.
“You must be Zhenzhen’s mother. I’m Lu Yikang, here to propose marriage to Zhenzhen.”
He repeated his parents’ positions and reiterated the betrothal gifts.
Miao Cuilan forced a stiff smile and said politely:
“You must be joking. Our Zhenzhen actually has a fiancé. This was settled long ago. So I’m afraid we can only decline your kind offer. I hope you can understand.”
The onlookers widened their eyes in surprise.
They had thought Yao Yunzhen didn’t know what was good for her, but now her mother was the same – actually refusing such an offer too.
How could they say no? With such excellent conditions, how could they still be unwilling? Did they really plan to keep that lazy girl at home until she became an old maid?
As for that so-called fiancé who was nowhere to be seen, could he possibly compare to this golden catch right before their eyes?
The spectators had plenty to say, but could only keep it to themselves for now.
Lu Yikang’s previously amiable expression immediately darkened.
He asked coldly, “Zhenzhen has a fiancé? Who is he?”
How would Miao Cuilan know who he was? She could only vaguely reply, “He’s a soldier, currently serving in the army.”
Only then did she suddenly realize how unreliable her daughter’s engagement truly was.