Seeing that Zhou Yu seemed completely serious, Zhao Changdong and his wife’s eyes lit up. Having someone willing to take care of their eldest son was the best possible outcome!
There wasn’t a decent girl for miles around who was willing to marry Zhao Yunzheng. If they missed this chance with Zhou Yu, there might never be another.
“In-laws, what do you think?” they immediately asked.
Zhou Dajun and Li Juying hesitated. If Zhou Yu changed her marriage arrangement too, what would people say about them?
“Dad, Mom, since my sister is willing, you should agree and let her marry into the Zhao family to keep me company,” Zhou Rulan urged eagerly.
Hearing their precious daughter’s opinion, the couple finally nodded.
After all, the reason they had originally agreed to marry Zhou Yu off was so she could do the hard work and spare their beloved daughter from suffering.
As for whom she married, it made no difference to them.
And just like that, Zhou Yu’s new marriage arrangement was settled.
Zhou Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Ziming, however, felt oddly uncomfortable. He wanted to object, but when he looked at Zhou Rulan, he swallowed his words.
Forget it. As long as he could be with Rulan, that was enough.
As for Zhou Yu, she could marry over and work like a servant just as she had in their previous life.
After the matter was settled, the two families went inside to discuss the betrothal gifts and engagement details. Li Juying immediately ordered Zhou Yu to prepare sweet sugar water for the guests.
As Zhou Yu entered the small kitchen, Zhou Rulan’s eyes flickered.
“Ziming, I’m worried my sister might be upset. I’ll go talk to her. You go inside first.”
Zhao Ziming frowned.
“She’s not worth that much concern.”
“She is still my sister,” Zhou Rulan said hypocritically.
The moment Zhao Ziming went inside, she headed straight for the kitchen.
“Sister, I’m really sorry that Ziming only loves me. Looks like you’ll be condemned to widowhood for the rest of your life.”
Standing with her back turned while tending the fire, Zhou Yu nearly laughed.
“If you like that piece of trash called Zhao Ziming, then go ahead. Just don’t drag me into it. I find him bad luck.”
Zhou Rulan froze for a moment.
Why did Zhou Yu seem like a completely different person?
In the past, Zhou Yu would never have dared speak to her like this.
“Sister, you’re still as stubborn as ever.”
Zhou Yu replied calmly,
“Not as shameless as someone who steals her own sister’s fiancé.”
“You!”
Zhou Rulan’s expression darkened.
Too annoyed to continue, Zhou Yu stood up, shoved her out the door, and slammed it shut.
Afraid the people inside might hear, Zhou Rulan didn’t dare raise her voice.
Instead, she hissed quietly,
“Once you’re married to that vegetable, Zhao Yunzheng, and living as a widow, we’ll see how tough you still sound.”
Inside the kitchen, Zhou Yu quickly finished boiling the water and poured it into enamel cups.
Then she grabbed the sugar jar and dumped in over half the contents without the slightest hesitation.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei were already calculating.
Since they had already paid a bride price once for Zhou Rulan, they figured they could skip it this time and save a huge amount of money.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ziming spoke up.
“I won’t shortchange Rulan. The bride price will be one hundred yuan, plus the Three Transistors and One Sound System.”
The two families stared at him in shock.
How much?!
When Zhou Rulan had married Zhao family’s second son, the bride price had only been forty yuan and a sewing machine—and that had already been considered one of the best offers within ten miles.
Zhou Dajun and Li Juying’s eyes sparkled.
“Wonderful! Wonderful! We’ll leave it to you, son-in-law!”
Standing behind them, Zhou Rulan was both delighted and astonished.
“Third Brother!” Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei quickly lowered their voices. “Your second brother’s surgery and emergency treatment at the county hospital drained most of our savings. We still have to buy medicine and pay for your eldest brother’s treatment. Where are we supposed to find that kind of money?”
Zhao Ziming smiled confidently.
“Dad, Mom, I know what I’m doing. You won’t need to pay for it.”
The moment Zhou Yu entered the room, she heard those words and scoffed inwardly.
How could she not know his plan?
He intended to use the compensation money the military would distribute in half a month as the bride price.
But with her around this time, he wouldn’t get a single cent of that compensation.
“Sister, you’re here,” Zhou Rulan said sweetly after spotting Zhou Yu. “I never imagined Brother Ziming would be willing to spend such a generous bride price on me. But don’t be upset. Your bride price should probably be the same as mine, right?”
The room instantly fell silent.
“She doesn’t need a bride price,” Zhao Ziming said, contempt flashing in his eyes. “The fact that she can marry my eldest brother is already reaching above her station. Besides, she and Rulan are sisters. Whoever receives the bride price makes no difference. The Zhao family won’t mistreat her.”
“Exactly, exactly!” Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei quickly echoed. “In-laws, don’t worry. Once Zhou Yu marries into our family, we’ll definitely treat her well.”
Zhou Yu stared at Zhou Dajun and Li Juying.
Without the slightest hesitation, they replied,
“No problem, no problem. We trust you completely.”
Zhou Rulan shot Zhou Yu a smug glance.
Zhou Yu remained expressionless.
As expected.
Neither the Zhao family nor her own family had ever truly cared about her.
But that was fine.
She would find her own way to get what she deserved.
The two families grew thirsty from all the discussion, and Li Juying sternly ordered Zhou Yu to bring over the sugar water.
Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei each took a sip.
The water was so sweet it nearly made them choke.
“In-laws, are you alright?” Zhou Dajun asked with concern.
The couple exchanged surprised glances and assured him they were fine.
The Zhou family was certainly generous—using so much precious white sugar!
Although perhaps a little too much…
Still, it showed sincerity.
Their sour moods over the expensive bride price improved somewhat.
Taking the initiative, they suggested that the end of the month was an auspicious date. Zhou Yu and Zhou Rulan could both marry into the Zhao family on the same day, saving everyone the expense of holding separate ceremonies.
“I won’t wait until the end of the month. I want to register my marriage with Brother Zhao within the next couple of days,” Zhou Yu suddenly interrupted.
Everyone looked stunned.
“Zhou Yu!” Li Juying scolded. “What kind of girl is so desperate to get married? Anyone hearing this would think you’re crazed from lacking a man. If word gets out, you’ll ruin Rulan’s reputation too!”
“Sister, are you still upset because Brother Ziming chose me and you’re acting out of spite?” Zhou Rulan asked innocently.
Hearing that, Zhao Ziming said sternly,
“Stop wasting your effort—”
“I want to marry now because there won’t be a separate bride price or wedding banquet for me anyway. What’s the difference between registering early and registering late?” Zhou Yu cut him off coldly. “Unless you’re saying you’d rather prepare a separate bride price and wedding feast for me?”
As if.
If she didn’t marry Zhao Yunzheng as soon as possible, how could she claim the military compensation as his legal spouse in half a month?
She knew Zhao Yunzheng hadn’t officially left military service yet. Getting married would require a political review, which would take several days at minimum.
Naturally she needed to start the process immediately.
The moment she mentioned a separate bride price and wedding banquet, Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei changed their minds.
However, they couldn’t ignore the Zhou family’s feelings and cautiously looked toward them.
Zhou Rulan’s eyes shifted.
Acting spoiled, she said to her parents,
“Since Sister wants to marry earlier, just agree to it. If we don’t enter the Zhao family on the same day, people will have less reason to gossip. It’ll be better for everyone.”
Only after hearing that reasoning did Zhou Dajun and Li Juying finally nod.
Even so, they still shot Zhou Yu an irritated glare.
Zhou Yu ignored them.
All she cared about was finalizing the marriage registration as quickly as possible so she could legitimately claim the compensation money.
Seeing that the Zhou family wasn’t opposed, Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei immediately agreed.
“The day after tomorrow is auspicious,” they said. “We’ll go to the village production brigade and get the marriage approval paperwork processed then.”