“Enough, Ruan Nianzhi.” Wen Yunru slapped her directly across the face. “If you don’t want to marry Little Huo, I’ll go and explain everything to your grandfather. There’s no need to come up with such a vicious scheme to frame your sister.”
“That’s right, Nianzhi. Even if you look down on him because he’s from the countryside and don’t want to marry him, you still can’t slander your sister.”
Everyone who had been watching the commotion had clearly seen what happened. That sturdy young man had squeezed his way in from outside.
“Ruan Nianzhi, the Huo family is our benefactor. If Huo Tingyuan’s grandfather hadn’t saved Grandpa back then, how could our family be living as well as we are now? Even if you don’t want to marry him, you can’t repay kindness with ingratitude by slandering him. If you insist on saying that there is something improper between the two of us, then I’ll admit it. Mom, I’m willing to marry Huo Tingyuan at my sister’s place.”
Ruan Xining deliberately put on a disappointed expression, but inside, she could hardly contain her joy.
In this life, she was not having an illicit affair with Huo Tingyuan. Instead, she was going to be with him openly and honorably.
Seeing her like this, the outsiders felt even more sympathy for her. They thought she was such a sensible, grateful girl who valued family ties.
“Xining, you can’t make such an important decision carelessly. You and Little Su have always had such a good relationship. How can you sacrifice your own marriage just to repay a debt of gratitude?”
“Exactly! This marriage was originally arranged for your sister and him. How can you marry him in her place?”
The people in the compound began discussing among themselves, and the looks they gave Ruan Nianzhi became increasingly disgusted.
They had never seen anyone so malicious. She was her own sister, yet just because of a marriage, she had come up with such a despicable scheme.
Wen Yunru’s eyes reddened. She had only two daughters in this life, and she had cherished them both like treasures ever since they were little. Although Nianzhi had grown increasingly distant from her over the years, she was still her own flesh and blood.
Now, seeing how strongly Nianzhi resisted this marriage, Wen Yunru suddenly felt that her father’s decision might have been a mistake.
Song Huizhi, who had been hiding among the crowd, watched her own daughter being bullied, hatred filling her eyes as she glared at Wen Yunru. Afraid that Nianzhi would do something reckless again, she forced a smile and stepped out of the crowd.
“Cousin-in-law, there are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude. There’s no need to marry one of our daughters into the Huo family.”
The moment Ruan Nianzhi saw her biological mother, her face immediately filled with grievance.
Wen Yunru sighed and looked apologetically at Huo Tingyuan. “Little Huo, I’m sorry…”
Before she could finish, Ruan Xining interrupted her.
“Mom, I’m willing to marry him at my sister’s place.”
She truly was willing. Whether in her previous life or this one, Huo Tingyuan had never taken advantage of her when she was vulnerable. As long as he had given an explanation, he would not have been branded a “hooligan.”
But slandering a military officer was a serious crime, and he had silently endured so much because of her.
Ruan Jianwei had originally had no idea how this situation was going to end. He froze for a moment, but soon realized what she meant, and the delight in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
“Xining, you’d better think this through carefully. This isn’t child’s play. Once you agree, you’ll really have to marry him.”
“Comrade Ruan Xining, there are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude. You don’t need to sacrifice your entire life for this.”
Huo Tingyuan’s expression was solemn.
But when he thought about how he had just taken advantage of the young woman and could not refuse to take responsibility for her, he also wanted to fight for this opportunity.
“If you really are willing to marry me, I, I will treat you well for the rest of my life.”
As he spoke, Huo Tingyuan’s voice gradually became several degrees softer. He could face enemies on the battlefield without even blinking, yet at this moment, he did not have the courage to look directly at her.
“Comrade Huo Tingyuan, look at me.”
Ruan Xining stepped forward.
The instant Huo Tingyuan’s averted gaze met her eyes, he seemed to have been scalded. His eyelashes trembled, and he instinctively wanted to look away again.
But she gave him no chance.
“Do you want to marry me?”
He did not hesitate in the slightest.
“I do, but I’m not worthy of…”
Before he could finish, Ruan Xining looked straight into his handsome eyes.
“Then prepare the betrothal gifts and marry me.”
“Xining!”
Wen Yunru called out anxiously. As her mother, she knew better than anyone how much her daughter liked the Su family’s son.
How could she let her daughter sacrifice her entire life simply to repay a debt of gratitude?
When the marriage had originally been arranged, there had been two reasons. One was to repay a debt of gratitude, while the other was that her maternal family were all capitalists. With the turbulent times they were living through, they had attracted the attention of many people.
Her father had thought that if Xining had a good marriage, while Nianzhi did not have anyone suitable, the Huo family were people who valued loyalty and affection. The elderly Huo couple were kindhearted, and Huo Tingyuan had already become a military officer at such a young age, with a promising future ahead of him. If Nianzhi married into the Huo family, she would surely live a comfortable life.
That way, both daughters would have good futures, and neither would be dragged down by the family.
Ruan Nianzhi was stunned for a moment before becoming excited.
If Ruan Xining married Huo Tingyuan, no one would compete with her for Brother Zhixu anymore.
Su Zhixu’s pupils contracted sharply among the crowd. A trace of anger flashed across his cold and proud face as he clenched his fists.
“Ruan Xining, you’re really something. Trying to play hard to get? Let’s see how long you can keep pretending.”
He turned around and left angrily.
In the past, whenever the two of them argued and he ignored Ruan Xining for a while, she would always come running after him eagerly, trying to make peace. This time, Ruan Xining had actually learned to use another man to make him jealous.
Unfortunately, that trick would not work on him. He wanted to see how long Ruan Xining could hold out this time.
“Mom, I really am willing to marry him. As for Su Zhixu…”
Ruan Xining had naturally noticed that retreating figure among the crowd, but in this life, she only wanted Huo Tingyuan.
“I’ve thought about it carefully these past few days. Actually, I’ve always regarded him as an older brother. I never had romantic feelings for him. That’s why I’m willing to marry Huo Tingyuan. Besides, I think the soldiers who protect our country are remarkable. A person’s excellence can’t be determined by their family background.
“As long as Comrade Huo treats me well and doesn’t mind that I like spending money, enjoy dressing up, and don’t know how to do housework, that’s enough.”
The moment Ruan Xining said this, the atmosphere around them instantly froze, and everyone’s expressions became complicated.
Ruan Jianwei especially frowned deeply. In this era, people believed that a wife should be virtuous, frugal, and hardworking. What Ruan Xining had just said was far too willful and blunt.
“Xining, stop talking nonsense.”
What if Little Huo disliked this girl and refused to marry her after all? Wouldn’t the marriage end up falling back on Nianzhi?
Several older women in the crowd exchanged glances. They had initially pitied Ruan Xining for being so sensible that she was willing to sacrifice her entire life out of gratitude, but now they felt rather sorry for the young man instead.
Who would marry a wife like that? Wouldn’t that be like bringing an ancestor home to serve?
Ruan Nianzhi immediately grew anxious, afraid that Huo Tingyuan would change his mind and refuse to marry Ruan Xining.
“Brother Tingyuan, my sister is only joking with you. What woman marries into her husband’s family and only knows how to spend money? A woman should follow her husband after marriage and naturally honor her mother-in-law while taking good care of her husband. My sister is only trying to test whether you’re sincere about her.”
Ruan Xining really was exactly like her biological mother. Apart from having a better family background, she was simply impossible. What a strange woman.
“Little Huo, my daughter isn’t joking with you. This girl has been spoiled by me since she was little and has never lifted a finger around the house. Aside from spending money, she really doesn’t know how to do much of anything.
“If you truly want to marry her, then you absolutely cannot let her suffer any grievances.”
Wen Yunru’s expression was gentle but serious.
If Huo Tingyuan could truly do that, then she would agree to let her daughter marry him.
“Yunru, why are you adding to the chaos too?”
Ruan Jianwei glared at her, then looked at Huo Tingyuan with some concern, preparing to explain.