Seeing Su Qian’an turn back for that one glance, Liu Hong Mei silently cursed her as a vixen.
That skin had been worn down under her hands for over a decade, yet it was still so fair. Especially that face—it was even more outstanding than that wretched woman’s mother, delicate and soft-looking.
Back then, Su Lao Er (the second son of the Su family) had also been famously handsome in the surrounding villages. When he was young, many girls liked him. However, he wasn’t favored by Old Madam Su at home and was constantly ordered around, which made him quiet and reserved. That woman, Xie Qingqing, only needed to wave at him casually, and he fell head over heels for her—so deeply that he even lost his life.
Su Qian’an’s looks were a combination of both parents’ advantages. No wonder she could turn all the men in the brigade upside down.
Just thinking of that face made Liu Hong Mei so angry she wanted to rush over and scratch it.
“No sense at all. When elders come, you don’t even invite them in for a cup of water,” she said sharply, her words full of sarcasm.
But Su Qian’an ignored her and simply called out, “Aunt.”
Liu Hong Mei sneered and walked straight into the house, getting directly to the point.
“You got your marriage certificate with Huo Zheng and didn’t tell the family? If it weren’t for Jiao Jiao mentioning it, we still wouldn’t know.”
“I forgot,” Su Qian’an replied flatly.
Liu Hong Mei suddenly raised her voice.
“Forgot? How can you forget something like that?!”
Then she asked, “Did Huo Zheng say how much bride price he’s giving you?”
Understanding immediately flashed in Su Qian’an’s mind.
So that was her real intention.
“He didn’t say.”
Huo Zheng had spent most of his savings treating her illness. She hadn’t asked him about bride price at all.
Liu Hong Mei’s face darkened.
“What does he mean? Trying to take a wife without paying anything? There’s no such good deal in the world!”
“You must ask him about the bride price today. If you don’t, I will ask myself.”
She had raised her for so long—how could she let her be taken away for free? Before, even Old Wang the widower had offered a hundred yuan. How could Huo Zheng give nothing at all?
Just then, Liu Hong Mei’s eyes suddenly lit up as she noticed something in the room.
It was the items that Song Huai Sheng had brought yesterday.
She walked over without permission and began rummaging through them.
When she saw what was inside, her eyes widened.
White rabbit candies, fruit candies, pastries…
All good stuff!
Giving these to that little wretch was a total waste.
Without asking, she grabbed them all.
Seeing this, Su Qian’an frowned. “Aunt, these were brought by Huo Zheng’s friend. You can’t take them all.”
Liu Hong Mei glared at her.
“You used my food and my money growing up. So what’s wrong with me taking a little of your food?”
“Your grandparents are old—you should be filial. And your elder brother and younger siblings work so hard every day; they need nourishment too!”
She shamelessly justified herself instead.
Su Qian’an’s expression darkened. She snatched the items back, but Liu Hong Mei clutched them tightly.
“What are you doing? Are you trying to steal from me?!”
Even Liu Hong Mei herself hadn’t expected that the once timid and obedient Su Qian’an would dare to snatch things from her.
Seeing her shameless behavior, Su Qian’an actually laughed in anger.
“Your things? When did the things in my house become yours? Since when did I know about that?”
Liu Hong Mei stubbornly refused to let go.
“Yours is mine! You should be honoring us!”
Originally, Su Qian’an had planned to give her a portion to take back, but hearing this entitlement, she immediately changed her mind.
“I refuse.”
She had noticed that Su Jiao Jiao’s attitude toward her yesterday wasn’t like ordinary cousins—it was more like hostility. It seemed her life in the Su family had not been good.
Of course, this was only her guess, since she could not remember anything from the past.
Liu Hong Mei finally processed her words.
Her face instantly turned red with rage.
“You ungrateful brat! If I had known earlier, I should’ve let you die together with that dead father of yours!”
Back then, after Su Lao Er died, young Su Qian’an nearly followed him. They had even prepared a straw mat to wrap her up and throw her into the mountains. But she survived.
She also grew up beautiful, so they originally planned to raise her to earn a good bride price.
But now—no bride price, and she wouldn’t even let them take food.
When Su Qian’an heard her mention her father, an unknown anger surged inside her.
“Don’t mention my father!”
Liu Hong Mei was startled for a moment, then sneered.
“Why are you yelling? I’ll mention him if I want to. He deserved to die! A poor village boy dreaming of plucking the moon from the sky—did he even deserve it?”
So many village girls rejected, yet he fell for a city girl. It was nothing but foolish dreaming.
That Xie Qingqing was also not a good woman—she deceived him completely. Once another man came along, she abandoned her husband and child without hesitation.
Truly heartless.
Su Qian’an stared at her with red eyes, saying nothing.
Liu Hong Mei wasn’t afraid at all. She had controlled Su Qian’an for over ten years and knew her personality well—weak, timid, and enduring everything in silence.
Because no one ever cared about her feelings.
Originally, she had come to ask about the bride price, but instead she got nothing but frustration.
“Old Wang the widower offered one hundred yuan. Huo Zheng’s must not be less. And since you already gave him a son, it should be doubled.”
Doubled—that would be two hundred yuan.
In the countryside, marrying a wife usually cost twenty to thirty yuan, maybe forty or fifty at most. Two hundred yuan was an astronomical price.
Very few families could afford that much.
Not to mention Huo Zheng had already spent most of his savings treating Su Qian’an’s illness.
Tears still in her eyes, Su Qian’an said seriously, “I don’t want a bride price!”
“You what? Say that again!” Liu Hong Mei shrieked.
Taking a deep breath, Su Qian’an repeated herself.
“And even if there is a bride price, it should follow normal standards. Whatever is appropriate is enough. Not a single cent more.”
Liu Hong Mei’s face twisted.
“I decide your bride price. You don’t get a say! If Huo Zheng can’t afford that money, then divorce him and marry Old Wang instead!”
At that moment—
A cold voice suddenly came from outside the door.
“Did you just instigate her to divorce me?”