Ji Cheng’s Mother declared, “I’ve made up my mind. Qiao Shulin’s biological daughter is truly a fine girl. We’re not breaking off this engagement. Even returning the money won’t do any good.”
Ji Cheng was unwilling to accept it. “Mom, listen to what she has to say first. She doesn’t even know what I look like, so don’t force her into anything.”
She had grown up in the city. Who knew how spoiled and willful she might be? He was a soldier from the countryside, and he still hoped to find a rural girl. They would be better matched that way.
Otherwise, there would be plenty of battles after they married. If trouble started at home, his life outside would definitely suffer.
That evening, Lin An’an entered the east room where Jiang Xiu and Shanzi slept.
“An’an, is something wrong?”
Lin An’an asked, “How much betrothal gift money did Qiao Xiaohong take?”
“Six hundred and sixty yuan. There were also some savings in the little box, so more than seven hundred yuan in total.”
Lin An’an took the money from her pocket. “Here’s five hundred. Borrow a little more, and once we’ve returned the betrothal gift money, we’ll break off the engagement with the Ji family.”
It wasn’t that she was willing to clean up Qiao Xiaohong’s mess. The reality was that Qiao Xiaohong had powerful backing, and they couldn’t fight her right now.
Only after returning the money could she establish a foothold in this family, and only then could the Qiao family maintain its standing in the village.
Jiang Xiu did not want to take Lin An’an’s money. This matter had nothing to do with her.
Lin An’an continued, “I know no family has much money, but we can’t drag out breaking off the engagement. The longer we wait, the more troublesome it’ll become. If there’s no other way, just treat this as a loan from me. You can pay me back later.”
This was the only way. Otherwise, if they relied on scratching a living from those barren fields, who knew how many years it would take to save enough betrothal gift money?
When all was said and done, it was the Qiao family who had acted improperly. If the Ji family made a fuss, they would simply have to endure it.
With the major problem settled, Lin An’an slept especially soundly.
The matchmaker came the next afternoon. She was a rural woman around fifty years old, and she looked furious.
“When you were arranging the marriage, your Xiaohong came begging me to act as the matchmaker with that shameless face of hers. She piled on the sweet talk and flattery. Now that she’s seen Ji Cheng get injured, she’s gone off to climb a higher branch and left this mess behind. Does she think she can just shirk responsibility?”
Jiang Xiu had accepted the family’s betrothal gift money, so she felt weak in the argument. “Sister-in-law, every bit of the blame lies with me. What if I return the betrothal gift money and compensate you another hundred yuan?”
“Does the Ji family lack money? That’s not the point. Ji Cheng is twenty-six. In the countryside, a man that age is already considered a difficult case. If he remains a bachelor, you Qiao family will have delayed his entire life.”
Jiang Xiu pulled the matchmaker aside. “Sister-in-law, let’s go inside and talk.”
The matchmaker was clearly biased, sitting entirely on the Ji family’s side.
She knew perfectly well that Qiao Xiaohong had left, yet returning the betrothal gift money was not enough, and even additional compensation was not enough.
If this wasn’t aimed at Lin An’an, she would never believe it.
Lin An’an beckoned. “Shanzi, come here.”
“What?”
“That woman might bully Mom. Don’t you want to hear what they’re talking about?”
Shanzi was clever too, and immediately understood. “Come with me.”
The siblings went out through the main gate, circled around to the rear window, and stood there. From that spot, they could hear everything being said inside.
“Sister-in-law, there’s no one else here. Just tell me the truth. What exactly does the Ji family intend to do?”
Jiang Xiu was honest, but she was not stupid.
Only then did the matchmaker say, “Ji Cheng’s mother says there’s no need to return the betrothal gift money. They’ve taken a liking to your biological daughter. She’s fair and plump—at a glance, you can tell she’s blessed.”
Sure enough, Lin An’an’s instincts had been right. They wanted her to fill the hole Qiao Xiaohong had left behind. Not a chance.
Lin An’an turned and left.
“Hey, Sis.”
“Go back and tell Mom I’m going to the Ji family.”
Standing outside the Ji family’s home, Lin An’an composed herself before pushing open the door and entering.
Hearing the noise, Ji Cheng’s Mother stuck her head out. The moment she saw Lin An’an, she came hurrying out with a broad smile, took Lin An’an by the hand, and warmly led her inside.
“Come in with Auntie. Look, our two families live so close to each other. Come visit whenever you have time. If you don’t have anything to say to me, you can talk to Ji Nian or Ji Cheng. Ji Cheng may be a soldier, but at least he’s stationed in a big city like He City. You’ll have plenty to talk about.”
He City? The place where she had lived for twenty years—the place where Qiao Xiaohong now lived.
Should she tell the Ji family where Qiao Xiaohong was?
She was getting things backward. She had come to make everything clear with the Ji family.
“Auntie, I have something to say. What are you planning to do about Qiao Xiaohong and Ji Cheng?”
Ji Cheng’s Mother smiled. “Since you’re being so straightforward, I’ll be straightforward too. I’ve taken a liking to you and want you to marry Ji Cheng. That way, our two families can still be related by marriage.”
Just as she expected.
“Thank you for your kindness, Auntie, but I’m not Qiao Xiaohong. Whatever arrangement exists between your two families has nothing to do with me. I won’t get married without knowing what’s going on.”
Ji Cheng’s Mother grew anxious. “Ji Cheng isn’t bad-looking, and he’s an officer in the military. Why don’t you like him?”
“Auntie, this isn’t about whether I like him or not. We have no feelings for each other. How can we become a family?”
Ji Cheng’s Mother smiled. “Child, you’re still too young. Ask your parents’ generation—how many couples had feelings for each other when they married? Didn’t they still have children and live their lives together? The more someone fusses and hems and haws, the less reliable they are. Someone who doesn’t know how to speak sweetly isn’t necessarily untrustworthy.”
Lin An’an agreed. Ren Jie, as well as that thug who later sold her, had both been smooth talkers. That hadn’t stopped them from becoming scumbags.
Having been reborn, Lin An’an still felt lingering fear. She did not dare entrust herself to an unfamiliar man.
“Auntie, I’m not Qiao Xiaohong. I don’t recognize this engagement. Thank you for thinking so highly of me.”
Lin An’an bowed to Ji Cheng’s Mother, then turned to leave.
Ji Cheng’s tall figure blocked her path.
“Can we talk?”
Her son was personally stepping in, so Ji Cheng’s Mother was naturally delighted. “Yes, yes, exactly. The two of you should talk it out face-to-face. Don’t make up your minds too quickly.”
With a tactful air, Ji Cheng’s Mother left the room and handed the battlefield over to her son.
Talking with the man himself was the best option.
This was Lin An’an’s first time seeing Ji Cheng. His face was wheat-colored, but he had an honest, upright appearance.
Ji Cheng said, “I’m twenty-six years old and serve as a company commander in the military. I have no bad habits. May I ask what you’re dissatisfied with?”
“You’re a good man, but I’m not Qiao Xiaohong. I won’t accept the mess she left behind, and I’m not her replacement.”
“No one is treating you as her replacement. I’m asking about you now.”
Lin An’an said, “If you’re not treating me as her replacement, then break off the engagement first. What happens after that will depend on fate.”
In the countryside, the Ji family—and Ji Cheng himself—were considered unmatched. As long as Ji Cheng was willing, he would have no shortage of prospective brides, no matter their figure or appearance.
If a man like that pursued Lin An’an, she would not reject him. She would watch his actions and see whether he could move her heart.
Ji Cheng thought for a moment. “All right.”
Ji Cheng’s Mother had been eavesdropping outside the door. The moment she heard him agree, she grew anxious. “Son, how can you agree? If you break off the engagement, she might not choose you.”
“Mom, stop. We’re not landlords or bullies. Can we force someone to marry us?”
His single sentence left Ji Cheng’s Mother speechless. The daughter-in-law who had nearly been hers had once again fluttered her wings and flown away.
Lin An’an returned home feeling refreshed, like a victorious general.