After all these years, she actually didn’t even know his appearance or name, nor where he was serving as a soldier.
It was all because she had been blinded by his family background.
The man’s family were high-ranking officials in the capital, while they were just peasants.
Although Miao Cuilan took pride in her daughter’s beauty, deep down she still unconsciously felt inferior. After being rejected once, she hadn’t the courage to ask too many questions.
This couldn’t go on any longer. After sending this person away, she must write a letter as soon as possible to firmly settle the marriage between the two, preferably setting the wedding date too, so Zhenzhen could marry quickly.
Lu Yikang’s expression softened somewhat.
“He’s just a foot soldier. Such a man isn’t worthy of Zhenzhen. Auntie, you should go and call off the engagement. Zhenzhen marrying me would be the best outcome. I’ll have someone deliver the betrothal gifts later.”
He genuinely didn’t think much of country folk. Even if someone joined the army, what of it? At best they’d be a foot soldier, or if they did well, just a junior officer – completely incomparable to his family.
“How can that be? The matter is already settled. The two young people are satisfied with each other, and as a mother, I also hope Zhenzhen can live happily. You’re a reasonable person, surely you can understand my difficult position. So regarding this matter, I must ask for your understanding. I’m truly sorry.”
No matter how nicely she put it, Lu Yikang knew he was being rejected.
He sneered coldly: “And what if I don’t understand?”
Miao Cuilan didn’t expect his expression to change so suddenly: “Well… our Zhenzhen is just a country girl, she’s not worthy of you…”
“Whether she’s worthy or not is for me to decide. If I say she’s worthy, then she’s worthy.”
Lu Yikang had an unruly nature to begin with. He had only been polite to this old woman out of respect for her being Zhenzhen’s mother. Who would have thought she’d dare to reject him.
Since she didn’t know her place when given face, he didn’t need to save her any dignity anymore.
Lu Yikang pushed Miao Cuilan aside and reached to open the door: “I’ll speak with Zhenzhen myself. She’ll understand who would make the better husband for her.”
Miao Cuilan didn’t expect him to suddenly push her. Caught off guard, she nearly fell.
“Mom!”
Yao Yunzhen had been watching through a crack in the window. Seeing this, she could no longer stay put and quickly ran out from the house to help her mother up.
This foolish child, why did she have to come out?
Miao Cuilan grew anxious and immediately tried to push Yao Yunzhen away.
“Zhenzhen, why did you come out? Go back inside quickly.”
Yao Yunzhen stubbornly stood her ground, glaring angrily at Lu Yikang: “How could you push my mother?”
Having been pampered since childhood, her temper wasn’t exactly mild either.
Lu Yikang’s behavior truly angered her.
If not for consideration of his family background, Yao Yunzhen would have wanted to grab a shoulder pole and start beating him right then.
Even though Yao Yunzhen had herself completely covered up, through her eyes alone, Lu Yikang caught a glimpse of extraordinary beauty.
Under the gaze of those eyes, Lu Yikang completely lost his earlier arrogance, instead growing nervous, his breathing becoming rapid.
“S-sorry.”
Heaven knows, as the local bully of Anyuan County, he had never apologized to anyone before, yet this time he willingly lowered his head for a woman.
“I didn’t mean to, I apologize, I’m willing to compensate.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large handful of big unity notes.
“This is my compensation for Auntie. Auntie, you’ll forgive me, won’t you?”
He shoved the money into Miao Cuilan’s hand, his eyes carrying a warning.
Miao Cuilan didn’t want to accept it. This man’s temperament was too unpredictable; she didn’t want the slightest connection with him.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. No compensation needed. I’m okay.”
Yao Yunzhen found his manner utterly repulsive. What kind of apology was this?
“Just leave quickly. We don’t need your apology, and I won’t marry you.”
At these words, Lu Yikang’s expression instantly changed, the veins on his forehead faintly bulging.
Being rejected by the mother of the one he loved felt different from being directly rejected by the one he loved himself.
At this moment, Lu Yikang felt as if his heart were splitting apart, a tearing, heart-wrenching pain.
Though they had only met once before, Yao Yunzhen’s figure had long been imprinted on his heart, etched deep into his soul, completely inseparable.
The muscles in Lu Yikang’s cheeks trembled slightly, his lips pulling downward into a stiff curve.
“Zhenzhen, you can say anything else, but not this. As long as I’m here, don’t even think about marrying anyone else. As for your fiancé, I’ll make him give up.”
“Perfect timing, since you’re here now, let’s discuss our wedding date. How about three days from now? No, tomorrow is better. Come home with me today, and we’ll hold the wedding banquet at my place tomorrow.”
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out to grab Yao Yunzhen’s arm.
His only thought now was to act first and deal with the consequences later—once the rice was cooked, it couldn’t be uncooked.
That way, Zhenzhen would be his. His alone.
Miao Cuilan reacted swiftly, pulling Yao Yunzhen behind her.
“What do you think you’re doing? Stay back!”
Seeing this, Yao Dajun quickly shouted, “Hey, what are you doing? If proposing marriage doesn’t work, are you trying to force it? Stop him right now!”
He had initially thought this was a private matter and hadn’t intervened, but who would have thought this young man would resort to kidnapping?
This was unacceptable! He was the brigade leader. If Zhenzhen were kidnapped right in front of him, his position as brigade leader would be over.
The onlookers finally snapped out of their daze and hurriedly restrained Lu Yikang.
As more and more people inserted themselves between him and Yao Yunzhen, Lu Yikang grew furious and roared, “Let me go! My father is the Revolutionary Committee Director. How dare you stop me?”
At these words, many couldn’t help but loosen their grip.
The Revolutionary Committee Director—to the villagers, this was the highest authority, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.
Freed from their restraint, Lu Yikang charged toward Yao Yunzhen again.
At the critical moment, Yao Dajun bellowed, “Even if your father is the Revolutionary Committee Director, he can’t condone you forcing a marriage! Hold him back! I’ll personally report this to the leadership later.”
However, his words had little effect. Only a handful were willing to step in.
Yao Dajun was just an ordinary brigade leader. His superiors were merely the commune officials, who were nothing compared to the Revolutionary Committee Director.
If they attracted the attention of the Revolutionary Committee, ruin wouldn’t be far off for their families.
Yao Yunzhen was both furious and terrified. She never expected the other party to be such a scoundrel, resorting to force when his marriage proposal was rejected.
Having grown up in the village, she had never encountered someone like this—someone who seemed to have “lawlessness” carved on his forehead.
Yao Yunzhen panicked and stepped backward, wanting to run back home, but the crowd of onlookers was too large. Amid the jostling, she was pushed further and further away, while the other person drew closer and closer to her!
Yao Yunzhen: “!!!”