Fang Daming was afraid Lin Mingyuan would say something more about his girlfriend, so he immediately spoke first. “Let me speak first. This is very important.”
“I came here today because I want to introduce a potential partner to you.”
After hearing this, Lin Mingyuan turned around to leave.
“Wait, what are you doing? Listen to me first. I know you have a girlfriend, but there’s a reason I’m still introducing someone to you. It’s definitely for your own good!”
Fang Daming spoke with absolute certainty. Lin Mingyuan was stopped by him and just looked at him.
“This girl is from the county seat, and her family situation is excellent.”
“To be specific, she is my cousin. Her father, my uncle, is on the Revolutionary Committee. The family dotes on her. I can guarantee that as long as you two get together, you won’t have to worry about a job in the county at all. My uncle will definitely arrange it for you. You won’t have to do farm work for the rest of your life!”
“Back when we were in school, I knew you only kept studying to avoid farm work. Now that such a good opportunity is here, what are you hesitating for? Besides, we men should marry up. With a father-in-law on the Revolutionary Committee, what would you lack? If I were you, I’d go back with me right now to show your sincerity,” Fang Daming urged.
If it weren’t for the fact that Tingting had mental issues, would this opportunity ever fall on a peasant like Lin Mingyuan? To marry into their family—was he even worthy?
However, the part about finding a job was a lie. After all, the family’s new young aunt was forcing Tingting to get married because she didn’t want to see her. If the uncle dared to bring her back, the aunt would surely go crazy.
But for someone like Lin Mingyuan, a lie was just a lie. If the matter succeeded, Fang Daming didn’t believe the Lin family would dare to challenge his family.
“How about it?” Seeing that Lin Mingyuan remained unmoved, Fang Daming grew angry. If it weren’t for the fact that his family’s conditions were slightly better, would it even be his turn?
Lin Mingyuan replied, “Not interested. I only like my girlfriend. If you came to offer congratulations, you’re welcome. If you’re here to say these things, then you should leave quickly.”
“No, how can you be so ungrateful? This is a chance to soar to the top. Do you even understand?”
“And that girlfriend of yours is just an ordinary educated youth. Her family probably isn’t that capable. Can she help you in the future? Do you really want to spend your whole life digging in the dirt?” Fang Daming couldn’t understand why Lin Mingyuan was acting so proud.
“Besides, you’re looking for an educated youth. If she gets a chance to return to the city in the future, will she take you with her? I heard she’s from Beijing. What will you do then? I’m treating you like a true friend. If you ask me, you simply shouldn’t marry an educated youth.”
“Fang Daming, in my memory, our relationship hasn’t reached the point where you’d introduce your cousin to me, has it?”
“Although I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, I’ll say it one more time: my girlfriend and I are doing very well. Oh, didn’t I say I had good news to tell you? The news is that I’ve already registered my marriage with my girlfriend. So everything you said is useless!” Lin Mingyuan spread his hands and said.
“What did you say?” Fang Daming still had a pile of words left unsaid when he suddenly heard this.
Then he reacted. “Impossible! You’ve only been dating for a few days. How could you get married just like that? You’re lying to me, right?”
Fang Daming didn’t believe it, and Lin Mingyuan didn’t bother wasting words. He directly took out the still-warm marriage certificate. “Take a good look. I’m not lying to you.”
“Lin Mingyuan and Li Baoling voluntarily married… this certificate is hereby issued. You’ve never received one, have you? Look, it’s written clearly,” Lin Mingyuan said smugly.
The appearance of the marriage certificate completely shattered Fang Daming’s fantasy. “How is it possible? If you’ve registered, what will happen to Tingting?” he muttered to himself.
Before coming, he had guaranteed his whole family that this matter would definitely work. After all, a career was the most important thing for a man.
But in this situation, now that Lin Mingyuan had actually registered, what would he say when he got home?
No, Fang Daming couldn’t accept it. He reached out to grab it.
“What are you doing! Are you sick?” Lin Mingyuan’s eyes were sharp, and he instantly stuffed it into his pocket. He knew this guy wouldn’t do anything good.
“How could you register? Do you know how important this matter was to me!” Fang Daming shouted as he lost his composure. As long as he accomplished this, his job would be secured. Now, Lin Mingyuan had registered, and the marriage was ruined.
Given Tingting’s condition, there was no way to find a match in the county. The grandparents wouldn’t agree to other matches with poor conditions. It had been hard to find a suitable candidate like Lin Mingyuan whom everyone was satisfied with, but it had fallen through. Most importantly, Tingting had already told others. He didn’t even dare to imagine what would happen if his family found out.
His uncle certainly wouldn’t give him the promised job. Although the job was originally his, the young aunt had been whispering in his uncle’s ear since she gave birth to a son, wanting the job for her brother. Since he had handled this so poorly, the family would definitely be angry.
Fang Daming was about to explode with rage. If they weren’t here, he would have wanted to grab Lin Mingyuan by the collar and ask why he couldn’t wait—even just one more day, and he would have found a way to stop the marriage.
“What are you doing? Have you gone crazy?” Lin Mingyuan saw that he seemed abnormal and looked like he was going to hit someone.
Heh, this was his territory.
At this moment, the rest of the Lin family was peeking through the cracks in the door.
“Thankfully, we were a step ahead. This bastard really did come.”
“Damn him, I’ll see if I can’t give him a beating later.” Sun Zhaodi wanted to rush out right now. He really had some nerve.
“Alright, keep your voice down,” Lin Guoqing stopped her.
“He’s truly subhuman,” Li Baoling added.
Now Lin Guoqing was too embarrassed to say anything, as she hadn’t officially entered the family yet. However, Sun Zhaodi nodded in agreement. “Exactly!”
But aside from these three, everyone else was confused and didn’t know what was happening.
They only saw someone riding a bike to find the fourth brother. At first, they couldn’t hear what was being said, but they could see that both of them became agitated later. The fourth brother even took out a marriage certificate to show the other person, which made the visitor even angrier.
“Father, maybe I should go out and take a look.” Although the eldest son, Lin Weidong, didn’t know what was going on, he was afraid Lin Mingyuan would be bullied.
Lin Guoqing said, “No need. Let’s watch a bit longer. If a fight really breaks out, it won’t be too late to go out.”
“Father, what exactly is going on?” Lin Weiguo asked in confusion. Was there something in the family he wasn’t allowed to know?
Li Shufen and Wang Hongmei were also curious and a bit angry. After all, looking at the situation, the fourth brother’s bride-to-be definitely knew. Why should she!
“I’ll tell you when it’s time to tell you. Don’t go poking around when you shouldn’t know!” Once Lin Guoqing spoke, they all behaved.
In fact, besides the Lin family, the surrounding neighbors were also peeking. After all, excitement in the Lin family was rare. Usually, it was just Lin Mingyuan getting a beating, but now it was different. The Lin family was getting a new daughter-in-law. On the very first day of the registration, there was drama to watch.
Looking at the situation, it seemed like the two were about to fight.
However, everyone was destined to be disappointed. Fang Daming still had some brains. Picking a fight at Lin Mingyuan’s front door—did he have a death wish? He had heard that Lin Mingyuan had two older brothers who were both strong laborers, and his mother was someone few in the village dared to provoke.
“I was too excited. I just felt that you and my cousin were quite a good match. After all, we were classmates for several years. My cousin is a good girl, and I wouldn’t feel right leaving her to someone else. Since you’re married, it proves you two weren’t meant to be.” You’re not destined to enter the city, either. Of course, Fang Daming didn’t dare to say the last sentence out loud and only cursed in his heart.
Lin Mingyuan didn’t believe a single word of his nonsense.
Looking at Lin Mingyuan’s expression, Fang Daming knew the other party didn’t believe him. Fortunately, he hadn’t mentioned Tingting’s condition beforehand. “Alright, since you’re married, as your brother, I’m certainly happy for you. I’ll come for the wedding wine when there’s a chance. I’m leaving.”
Fang Daming didn’t know what his uncle would arrange later and didn’t dare to break off completely with Lin Mingyuan. He could only make peace on the surface before leaving.
His visit made Lin Mingyuan even more vigilant. He wouldn’t even be afraid if Fang Daming fought him; what he feared was this grandson playing dirty tricks again.
Once Fang Daming left and Lin Mingyuan entered the house, he saw a line of people standing behind the door.
“Alright, he’s gone. Everyone, go inside.”
“By the way, Mom, since we both registered today, let’s stir-fry some meat to eat.”
After Lin Mingyuan finished speaking, Li Baoling also blinked her eyes at Sun Zhaodi.
“We just ate meat yesterday…” But this was indeed a big day. Sun Zhaodi hardened her heart. “We’ll stir-fry another meal!”
The eyes of the others lit up upon hearing they would eat meat. Eating meat two days in a row—what kind of heavenly life was this!
“You’re all benefiting from us. If it weren’t for the two of us, would you be eating meat?”
“So, Big Brother and Second Brother, can you two help me with some work?” Lin Mingyuan said immediately.
“Of course we can. Just say the word, what is it!” The eldest brother was very straightforward. As long as he got to eat meat, he was willing to do anything.
“I’m getting married in a few days, so there will definitely be a lot of work. You two help me out.” Although they would have helped even if he didn’t say it, there was a lot to do. With this verbal agreement on the surface, he could find them for anything.
Things like assembling wardrobes or tidying the room—he could call on his older brothers for any task he could do himself.
Lin Guoqing felt the boy was up to no good, but before he could stop it, the two sons agreed quickly.
“Do you even need to ask?” The eldest and second brothers thought it was nothing. How could any work in the family be done without them?
“Great, with Big Brother and Second Brother’s word, I’m relieved.”
“By the way, Father, tell Big Brother and Second Brother about the situation. Since Baoling and I have already registered, the Fang family shouldn’t be thinking about it anymore. Even if they still don’t give up and use some underhanded tricks, Big Brother and Second Brother will be prepared if they know,” Lin Mingyuan said after some consideration.
“True.” Lin Guoqing nodded and then told the two families of the eldest and second sons about what had happened.
First, the eldest brother slammed the table after hearing it. “What nerve! To dare plot against our family! Father, you should have let me give that bastard a beating just now.”
“Exactly, Father. We’re not afraid of him. If he comes again, I’ll definitely hit him!” The second brother was also angry.
“Alright, the trouble is finally over, and you two are getting worked up. All of you behave. And no one is allowed to speak of this outside. If I hear about this outside, you can get out of this house!” If this got out, the Fang family would lose even more face, and they hadn’t explicitly said anything yet. The reason he was speaking out now was just to give these two families a heads-up.
“Be more careful outside in the future. Don’t believe just anyone and don’t say just anything.” Just in case the Fang family still hadn’t given up.
“Understood,” the four of them said obediently. Who would dare provoke the brigade leader?
On the other side, as soon as Fang Daming returned home, his family rushed up to ask: “How did it go? What did the Lin family say?”