Xu Yong’an was turning his grief and anger into appetite.
He had to eat his fill first—only then would he have the strength to welcome back the lucky star Wen Anning.
As for his wedding, Su Xiaoqi was also quite happy.
The female protagonist from the original story was about to enter this household. She was very curious what kind of wonderful sparks would fly when the “lucky star” Wen Anning met the “robbery system” Sang Biao.
She was looking forward to it.
Even more curious was what exactly was inside Wen Anning’s ten-square-meter space.
Could Sang Biao “black-eat-black” it?
The next morning, the Xu family got up early.
The house inside and out had been cleaned spotless. Red “double happiness” characters were pasted on the windows and courtyard gate.
Even Yang Huaihua didn’t curse for once.
Instead, she wore a rare smile.
Only Zhou Ye couldn’t smile.
He felt he had wronged Su Xiaoqi.
When they got married, not a single person in the family had smiled—even the groom himself.
He took Su Xiaoqi’s hand, hesitated several times, and finally said,
“Xiaoqi… I’m sorry. We didn’t give you a proper wedding that day.”
Su Xiaoqi thought about it.
The bride price had been large enough to make the whole family grind their teeth in frustration.
It had even caused a sensation throughout the commune.
“It’s fine. Money matters more than anything.”
She only loved money.
The Xu family’s smiles were worthless anyway.
Zhou Ye let out a breath of relief.
“Don’t worry. Once I get to the army, I’ll work hard and earn merits. I’ll get promoted sooner so you can receive more allowance.”
Su Xiaoqi shook her head.
“Your safety matters more than anything.”
She didn’t want him to end up seriously injured and forced into early retirement.
Zhou Ye was deeply moved.
This was the woman he had married.
So good to him.
He even wanted to go to the army and brag about his wife.
The two of them were still lingering in their room when excited children’s voices came from outside.
“The bride is here!”
Xu Tianzhen and Xu Tiansheng had already run out.
Even little Xu Xiaocui followed behind the group of children, happily watching Xu Yong’an ride his bicycle back with Wen Anning.
Wen Anning wore a Lenin-style outfit with a small red flower pinned to her chest.
She looked especially beautiful.
The village children were excited.
At weddings, they could grab candy.
Yang Huaihua had people scatter sweets.
Relatives from the Xu family had all arrived. Even her maternal family came.
Xu Youtian invited the brigade secretary, team leader, accountant, scorekeeper, and women’s director to the banquet.
Yang Huaihua’s older brother, Uncle Yang, came with two nephews from the neighboring production team, twenty li away.
As soon as he entered and saw the food, he frowned.
Yang Huaihua felt nervous the moment she saw him.
She quickly stuffed a handful of candy into his pocket.
“Brother, take this back for your family.”
Uncle Yang looked displeased.
“Where’s Zhou Ye? Why isn’t he putting money into this wedding? Look at this table—where’s the meat?”
His tone was full of dissatisfaction.
“I’m not talking about him,” Yang Huaihua said deliberately, wiping her eyes.
“He married a wife and forgot his mother.”
“I really suffer…”
A few words instantly made Uncle Yang even more unhappy.
He snorted.
“My nephew is about to get engaged and we’re short on money. How much can you give me?”
The tone made it clear—it was not a loan.
It was a demand.
Yang Huaihua hesitated and lowered her voice.
“Only five yuan.”
“Hmph. Huaihua, you call Zhou Ye ungrateful, but I think you’re the same. Do you even remember your surname?”
He continued coldly,
“Keep acting like this, and when you die, no one will even be able to nail your coffin properly.”
“Brother… I’ll give another five yuan. It’s just that Zhou Ye’s wedding…”
Seeing her almost crying, Uncle Yang softened slightly.
“Alright, I was just joking. Actually, I’ve got a good match for you.”
“What match?”
“My sister-in-law’s nephew is very capable. His first wife passed away. They want your daughter Zhou Cao to marry into his family—it’s a good match.”
He explained briefly.
The man was hard-working, good at earning work points, strong, and responsible.
He already had two sons and a daughter from his first marriage.
Yang Huaihua was unwilling.
She hesitated.
“I need to ask Zhou Cao. That girl is stubborn, she might not agree.”
Uncle Yang saw through her.
“He said he once saw her and liked her—said she’s a hardworking, dutiful woman.”
“He’s willing to pay sixty yuan in bride price, plus a sewing machine left by the previous wife.”
Yang Huaihua’s lips tightened.
Her ideal price was one hundred yuan.
As long as she could marry off Zhou Cao, she didn’t care where.
“And the sewing machine doesn’t come to me?”
“If you want it, that’s just a matter of words.”
She was tempted.
“Fine. Let him come over in a few days. Do a proper formal meeting.”
“Of course. His name is Wang Xiaobing, my sister-in-law’s nephew. He’s family.”
After this exchange, Uncle Yang was invited inside.
Meanwhile, Xu Yongguo’s maternal uncle had also arrived.
The two uncles immediately began competing with each other.
Neither would yield.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi and Zhou Ye never went out. They stayed in the room and watched everything through the window.
“Zhou Ye, what are your mother and the others doing? It looks shady.”
Zhou Ye didn’t want to bother with them.
But Su Xiaoqi loved gossip and insisted on observing together.
After reading their lip movements, Zhou Ye’s face darkened.
“Not human.”
“What?” Su Xiaoqi blinked.
Zhou Ye told her what he had heard.
“Sixty yuan plus a sewing machine… and they’re marrying off their own daughter to be a stepmother?”
“Mm.”
His temperature dropped sharply with anger.
He also told her about his idea of bringing Zhou Cao and Zhou Zheng back to the Zhou family village.
“Fine. It’s better than being dependent here,” Su Xiaoqi agreed.
“Then can I borrow a few yuan for gifts? I only have two yuan.”
“No problem. We’ll go together,” she said.
“You’re going too?”
“Mm. Zhou Zheng is too honest. We should go and take a look.”
“Alright.”
Only at mealtime did the two of them come out.
They naturally sat at Xu Yonghua’s table, making him uncomfortable.
He lowered his voice.
“You two should go eat in the kitchen—we saved good dishes for you.”
Su Xiaoqi immediately frowned.
“What do you mean? The bride and groom are getting married and you want us to eat leftovers in the kitchen?”
“Why don’t you go eat leftovers instead?”
“I think you’re the stingiest and most vicious one here, deliberately ruining Wen Anning’s image in our minds.”
Xu Yonghua almost rolled his eyes.
He didn’t believe Wen Anning had any image in her mind to begin with.
If anything, Su Xiaoqi was the one scheming against the “lucky star.”
Uncle Yang slammed the table.
“You’re a woman—what are you interrupting for? Which woman sits at the table to eat?”
Su Xiaoqi shot back immediately.
“We’re talking. What does an old man like you have to say? Which uncle is as vicious as you?”