“Educated Youth Chen, I know you city people look down on country girls, but our Tao Ya suffered greatly trying to save you. She nearly lost her life. And while you were in the water, the two of you had physical contact. Everyone in the village knows about it. If you don’t marry our Tao Ya, aren’t you forcing her to die a second time?”
Uh…
Before she even reached the doorway, Yang Tao heard her grandmother pressuring someone into marrying her.
This was supposed to be a new era. Did a little pulling and tugging really mean someone had to die if they didn’t get married?
Yang Tao’s lips twitched involuntarily, and she quickened her pace.
“Grandma Yang—”
“Grandma—”
The two voices rang out almost simultaneously.
Yang Tao looked toward the source of the voice, and just as she did, the other person looked over as well.
The moment their eyes met, she froze.
Good heavens.
This man was far too handsome.
He was even more attractive than many of the celebrities she had seen on television in her previous life.
His features were exquisitely refined, his eyes deep and striking, and his bearing exceptional.
Even though he was still recovering from his illness and his complexion was somewhat pale, it did nothing to diminish his good looks.
Among everyone in the room, even while wearing the most ordinary clothes, he immediately drew attention.
His presence simply could not be concealed.
Most importantly…
Every single feature was exactly her type.
Yang Tao stared blankly at him.
Her feet stopped moving before she even realized it.
The words of refusal she had prepared suddenly vanished from her mind.
Inside her heart, a tiny version of herself clenched a fist and shouted at the top of its lungs:
“Grandma, I can do this!”
“Tao Ya, what are you standing there on the threshold for? Hurry up and come in.”
Only when her grandmother’s somewhat displeased voice sounded did Yang Tao snap back to reality.
Embarrassed, she quickly turned her head away.
Seeing everyone looking at her, her face instantly grew hot.
She lowered her head slightly, stepped over the threshold, and continued into the room before finding a seat in a corner.
“Educated Youth Chen, you’re twenty-two this year, aren’t you? Our Tao Ya is eighteen. The two of you are a perfect match age-wise.”
“And look at our Tao Ya. Though she’s a country girl, she’s beautiful. I’m not bragging, but among all the villages within ten miles, her looks are among the very best.”
“She’s even attended junior high school. She’s hardworking too. She can handle both household chores and farm work.”
“If this incident hadn’t happened, the people coming to propose marriage would have worn down the doorstep of our house.”
…
Wait a second.
Was she really talking about Yang Tao?
Well, perhaps her grandmother was praising the original owner.
After all, diligence was probably not a virtue she completely possessed.
As for the rest of the compliments, she happily accepted them all.
She might as well enjoy this rainbow-praise session from her grandmother.
Before the unfortunate victim of the forced marriage—Educated Youth Chen—could respond, her mother took over and launched into another lengthy stream of compliments.
From how she could sweep the floor at three and a half years old, cut pig fodder at eight, wash clothes at ten, and cook at twelve…
On and on she went.
The central message was simple:
Yang Tao was a one-in-ten-thousand good girl, and anyone who married her would be blessed.
After listening, Yang Tao only wanted to give her mother a thumbs-up.
At the same time, she couldn’t help wondering whether this might be just a tiny bit exaggerated.
After her mother finally finished speaking, a series of coughs sounded from Educated Youth Chen.
Perhaps because her mother had been praising her nonstop, he had been holding back his coughs to avoid interrupting her.
After coughing for quite a while, he picked up the cup of water in front of him and took a sip.
Once he had calmed down, he glanced at Yang Tao before speaking.
“Grandma Yang, Auntie Yang, I know Comrade Yang suffered a serious head injury while saving me. There may also be some unpleasant rumors spreading throughout the village.”
“If Comrade Yang doesn’t mind, I am willing to take responsibility.”
As his gentle, clear voice fell, Yang Tao knew that her marriage prospects were probably settled.
For some reason, she even felt a little excited.
Before she could express any opinion, she and all the underage brothers and sisters were promptly driven out by her mother.
The official reason was:
“Adults are discussing important matters. Children shouldn’t interfere.”
Yang Tao guessed they were probably discussing the marriage arrangements and bride price.
Naturally, such topics weren’t convenient for the younger generation to hear.
Not hearing it was fine.
She would find out sooner or later anyway.