The Qin family waited and waited, but long past the agreed time with the matchmaker Aunt Zhou, no one showed up.
Xie Yulan grew anxious.
“Could something have happened on the way?”
Just as she was speaking, Aunt Zhou hurried over.
“Yulan, I’m sorry. The girl must have heard something—she refuses to come for the meeting no matter what.”
“Ah?”
Xie Yulan froze for a moment.
Then she wondered if it was because her son’s reputation was too bad—did the girl hear about it and decide not to come?
After delivering the message in a rush, Aunt Zhou left just as quickly.
Xie Yulan returned inside.
Qin Yanzhou spread his hands, looking unconcerned. “You can’t blame me this time. The girl just didn’t want to come.”
Xie Yulan grabbed a broom and swung it at him.
“It’s all your fault! Who told you to be so useless and always fooling around outside like a street loafer? What decent girl would like you?”
Qin Yanzhou dodged.
“That’s because they have no taste. Girls usually like me.”
“Like you? I think you attract flies!”
The Qin household turned chaotic again.
Mianbao hid behind the door. When Xie Yulan got tired from hitting, she ran over and handed her a mug.
“Grandma, drink some water.”
Xie Yulan felt comforted and patted her head.
“Mianbao is the best. Grandma’s good girl.”
Sigh… with a son like this, when would he ever find a good mother for Mianbao?
Since the matchmaking failed, Qin Yanzhou was sent to work at the factory.
Mianbao had recently grown fond of going to the factory, so Xie Yulan locked the house and brought her along every day.
Today, Qin Yanzhou found a place to nap as soon as he arrived.
The senior workers in the maintenance team were already used to it. As long as this little troublemaker didn’t disturb them, it was fine.
“Qin Yanzhou! Where’s Qin Yanzhou?”
Half-asleep, Qin Yanzhou heard someone calling him.
“What is it?” he said impatiently, sitting up.
“Quick, go to the Tao family—something happened!”
Qin Yanzhou jolted awake.
The Tao household was bustling. Many people gathered inside and outside, noisy with chatter and crying.
“Oh heavens, what is going on!” Li Juhua wailed.
Tao Dazhuang had been knocked to the ground and was being held down.
Tao Xiaohong was confronting Li Minghui.
Li Minghui wore a suit, his slicked-back hair shining, his face full of joy.
“I even brought a sewing machine and rode a bicycle to pick you up. Don’t be ungrateful—come home with me and give me a son.”
He reached out to grab Tao Xiaohong.
She struggled. “No, no…”
“Stop!”
Qin Yanzhou pushed through the crowd, rushed forward, and punched Li Minghui to the ground.
He was about to step forward again when Tao Xiaohong grabbed him.
“Brother Yanzhou, don’t! You can’t hurt him—Uncle and Aunt will blame you.”
Qin Yanzhou was furious. “This bastard still dares to force a marriage? I’ll cripple him today!”
Tao Xiaohong held onto him tightly.
“Don’t, Brother Yanzhou…”
Li Minghui’s men helped him up.
“Pah—” He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and glared viciously at Qin Yanzhou.
If he weren’t acting, he would have crippled Qin Yanzhou today.
“Qin Yanzhou, who do you think you are? Today is my wedding day with Tao Xiaohong. Since I’m in a good mood, I won’t argue with you. Get lost!”
Qin Yanzhou stood in front of Tao Xiaohong.
“Stop talking nonsense. When did Tao Xiaohong agree to marry you?”
Li Minghui sneered. “She’s already given herself to me—and she’s carrying my child.”
The crowd gasped in shock.
Neighbors began whispering.
“I wondered why the Tao girl looked fuller—turns out she’s pregnant.”
“Exactly. I saw her vomiting by the roadside the other day—that only happens to pregnant women.”
“Having a child before marriage—shameless.”
People pointed and whispered.
Tao Xiaohong’s eyes reddened, tears hanging unshed. She swayed as if she might collapse, clutching Qin Yanzhou’s clothes tightly.
“Brother… Brother Yanzhou…” Her voice trembled with pleading. “I can’t marry Li Minghui. If I marry him, I’ll die. He’s a scoundrel. Please save me.”
Qin Yanzhou’s fingers tightened, his knuckles cracking, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Tao Xiaohong’s tears fell as she tugged his clothes.
“Brother Yanzhou… just say it—say the child is yours. Say we’re together, okay?”
“I don’t want to die. My family only has me left. My brother is watching from above. If I die, what will happen to my parents?”
She lowered her head and secretly signaled to Li Juhua.
Immediately, Li Juhua rushed at Li Minghui, wailing.
“You damned Li Minghui, how dare you ruin my daughter’s reputation! I’ll fight you!”
One of Li Minghui’s men grabbed her hand and threw her to the ground.
She fell beside Tao Dazhuang.
“Oh, our lives are so miserable…”
Li Minghui moved to grab Tao Xiaohong again.
“Wife, come home with me.”
“No… I’m not your wife!” Tao Xiaohong hid behind Qin Yanzhou.
Qin Yanzhou grabbed Li Minghui’s wrist.
“Let go!” Li Minghui struggled but couldn’t break free.
Qin Yanzhou shoved him back. Li Minghui staggered and was caught by his men.
“Qin Yanzhou, don’t meddle in this.”
“Yeah, Qin Yanzhou, she’s already pregnant—just let her marry him,” people in the crowd began to persuade.
Panicked, Tao Xiaohong said, “I’m not carrying Li Minghui’s child. I… my child is Qin Yanzhou’s. We’ve been together!”
The crowd gasped again.
“What?!”
Through tears, she said, “Li Minghui is just a thug. He’s lying to force me into marriage. I’ve been with Yanzhou for a long time. He even walked me home recently.”
Someone chimed in, “That’s right, I saw them together.”
Qin Yanzhou frowned deeply. He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated as he saw Tao Xiaohong’s pleading eyes—and thought of Tao Xiaojun, who died for him.
“Bullshit!”
A clear, sharp voice rang out from outside the courtyard.
The crowd parted as Xie Yulan walked in, holding Mianbao’s hand.
One big, one small—both full of momentum.
Xie Yulan glared angrily at Tao Xiaohong.
“My son has never been with you. Don’t you dare pin the child in your belly on him!”
Mianbao nodded firmly, her little voice full of anger. “That’s right!”
Tao Xiaohong’s already pale face turned even whiter. She bit her lower lip, her body trembling.
She had already thrown everything away today.
This was her last chance.
She absolutely, absolutely could not let Xie Yulan and that little brat ruin it!