When they arrived at the Zheng family home that day, nearly the entire family was present—grandparents, uncles, aunts, and elder relatives.
When Yang Mother and Matchmaker Zhang explained why they had come, everyone in the Zheng family was initially pleased.
Who could have imagined that the usually obedient Zheng Yuyin would suddenly run out and declare,
“I’d rather die than marry him!”
Zheng Yuyin’s father was the director of the flour mill, a respected man who cared deeply about his reputation.
A few days earlier, his youngest daughter had mentioned that she didn’t like Yang Wenping. He had assumed it was merely a young girl’s passing whim and that she’d change her mind after a couple of days. He had simply told his wife to talk some sense into her.
Later, when Zheng Yuyin never brought it up again, he assumed the matter had been settled.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to become so bold that she would publicly shout, in front of the entire family,
“I’ll never marry him!”
Director Zheng’s face turned livid.
Yang Mother and Matchmaker Zhang looked equally uncomfortable.
The women of the Zheng family hurriedly apologized for the awkwardness before dragging Zheng Yuyin back into her room to persuade her.
Half the day passed.
Unable to reveal the truth, Zheng Yuyin stubbornly repeated only one sentence:
“If you force me to get married, I’ll hang myself.”
When the women failed to convince her, they changed tactics, criticizing Yang Wenping instead.
The implication was obvious.
“So what if he graduated from junior college?”
“He doesn’t even have a proper job.”
Yang Mother was known for her sharp tongue but soft heart.
Even now, she couldn’t bring herself to expose Zheng Yuyin’s pregnancy.
She wanted to leave the young woman at least a shred of dignity.
She never expected the Zheng family to take advantage of that kindness and instead begin attacking her own son.
Naturally, Yang Mother couldn’t swallow such insults.
She immediately argued back with the Zheng women.
It was exactly the scene Yang Yuan had overheard outside.
Now…
The entire Zheng household had fallen silent.
No one’s expression looked pleasant.
Outside, however, the curious neighbors were thoroughly entertained.
They watched with great interest.
Old Master Zheng, who had been quietly smoking his pipe on the sofa, finally coughed and stood up.
“It’s getting late.”
“And the snow’s falling.”
“Everyone should head home for dinner.”
“Wenping is a good boy.”
“Even if our two families can’t become in-laws, we’re still neighbors.”
“Let’s all disperse.”
Old Master Zheng carried considerable authority in the neighborhood.
After he spoke, the onlookers had no choice but to leave.
They drifted away in twos and threes, chatting as they went.
Once the courtyard gate closed again…
Everyone resumed their seats.
Director Zheng pulled his youngest daughter into the middle of the room.
“I’ve always thought highly of Wenping.”
“Our family has complete faith in the Yang family’s character.”
“As for his lack of a job…”
“That’s only temporary.”
“One day he’ll become a cadre.”
He looked around the room.
“Your grandparents, uncles, and aunts are all here today.”
“Matchmaker Zhang is here.”
“Aunt Yang is here.”
“In front of everyone…”
“If you don’t have a proper reason…”
“You’ll marry him whether you want to or not.”
Yang Yuan stood behind her mother, stunned.
People can really do that?
Isn’t marriage supposed to make people happy?
If two people don’t even want to marry each other, how could they ever have a happy life?
If parents truly love their children… why would they force them like this?
The Yang family hadn’t come looking for trouble.
They simply didn’t want the matter left unresolved.
Zheng Yuyin had been the one in the wrong.
If the Zheng family admitted their mistake, apologized, and returned the bride price…
That would be the end of it.
Otherwise, Yang Father—the head of the household—would have come personally.
Even Yang Mother hadn’t expected things to reach this point.
She couldn’t believe Zheng Yuyin had kept a pregnancy this serious hidden from her own family.
Now the young woman stood in the center of the room, sobbing uncontrollably.
The entire atmosphere was suffocating with pressure and embarrassment.
Yang Mother no longer wanted to stay.
She simply wanted to recover the bride price and leave.
“This is a new society.”
“If the children truly don’t want the marriage…”
“Even if they go through with it, they won’t live happily.”
“Let’s just end the engagement.”
“Wenping.”
Yang Wenping, who had hardly spoken all morning, quietly placed a fountain pen on the table.
It was the engagement gift Zheng Yuyin had once given him.
Matchmaker Zhang sighed.
She had thought this match—one she’d personally arranged—would finally have a happy ending.
Who knew it would end like this?
She had already said everything that needed saying.
If the marriage couldn’t be saved…
There was nothing more she could do.
“I introduced the two of them.”
“Back then, Wenping and Yuyin shared the same revolutionary ideals.”
“If they can no longer walk the same path…”
“Then they simply weren’t meant to be.”
“In the future…”
“They’ll each find another revolutionary companion.”
“And they’ll have nothing more to do with each other.”
“When the engagement was made…”
“The Yang family paid five hundred yuan.”
“Director Zheng…”
“What do you think?”
Director Zheng’s expression grew even uglier.
In those days…
Breaking off an engagement was practically declaring two families enemies.
From now on, whenever the Zhengs met the Yangs in public…
They would have to lower their heads in shame.
And Zheng Yuyin’s chances of marrying into a respectable family would become much slimmer.
“Please…”
“My dear in-laws…”
“It’s only childish anger.”
“She’ll come to her senses.”
“Wenping…”
Zheng Mother still tried to negotiate.
The Zheng daughters-in-law joined in, urging Zheng Yuyin to apologize and soften her attitude.
But no matter what they said…
She continued crying.
She refused to budge.
Yang Yuan was thoroughly annoyed.
Her stomach had growled several times already.
In her opinion…
Why drag things out like this?
Just tell everyone Zheng Yuyin was pregnant.
The Zheng family would be too ashamed to continue arguing.
They’d return the five hundred yuan immediately…
And everyone could simply go home.
Instead…
They’d spent the entire morning pulling back and forth over the same issue.
Finally, Yang Yuan spoke.
“Yuyin.”
The fiery young woman’s voice instantly drew everyone’s attention.
“One time…”
“Fourth Brother and I ran into an old classmate…”
“His name was…”
“Wang Honghe.”
The color drained instantly from Zheng Yuyin’s face.
Her eyes filled first with terror…
Then desperate pleading.
The Zheng family looked completely bewildered.
Yang Yuan opened her mouth…
But couldn’t continue.
Fine.
Something like this really isn’t something you announce in front of everyone.
The rest unfolded quickly.
Zheng Yuyin suddenly dropped to her knees.
“I really can’t marry him.”
Seeing the expression on her face…
The Zheng family immediately realized something was terribly wrong.
Director Zheng’s eyes turned bloodshot.
Suppressing the fury raging inside him, he took out the money, handed it to Matchmaker Zhang, and repeatedly apologized to Yang Mother and Yang Wenping.
The entire Zheng family escorted them to the front gate with expressions full of remorse.
Even Old Master Zheng respectfully cupped his hands toward Yang Mother in apology.
The gesture startled her.
Once the Yang family left…
The Zheng family’s front gate closed behind them.
Whatever awaited Zheng Yuyin inside…
How she would explain the missing five hundred yuan she’d secretly taken from home…
None of it had anything to do with the Yang family anymore.
Outside, Matchmaker Zhang returned not only the money Director Zheng had just given her…
But also the red envelope Yang Mother had previously gifted her.
The two women politely refused each other’s offers for a while.
Meanwhile, the snow fell harder and harder.
Eventually, Yang Mother accepted it.
She stood watching until Matchmaker Zhang disappeared into the snowfall.
The roads were slippery.
Yang Yuan and Yang Wenping each supported one of their mother’s arms as they slowly walked home.
The ground was already covered with a layer of white.
An icy wind carried snowflakes straight down the backs of their collars.
Yang Yuan hunched her shoulders, shivering.
The three of them walked in silence.
Just as they were approaching the entrance to their alley…
They spotted a lone figure standing in the distance.
Yang Yuan narrowed her eyes, unable to make out who it was.
Yang Mother recognized the person immediately and hurried forward.
“Mom, slow down—”
Before Yang Wenping could finish speaking—
“Ah!”
Yang Mother’s foot slipped.
She crashed hard onto the snowy ground, sliding several feet.
“Mom!”
“Mom!”
“Old Chen!”
Only then did Yang Yuan realize…
The figure ahead was Yang Father.
Although he had been farther away, Yang Father reached Yang Mother before either of the siblings.
Clutching her lower back, Yang Mother cried out in pain again and again.
In the end, Yang Wenping carried her home on his back.
By the time lunch finally reached the table…
It was already well into the afternoon.
Yang Father gently rubbed medicated wine onto Yang Mother’s injured back.
Yang Wenping prepared a simple meal of stir-fried shredded potatoes and egg-drop soup.
The family ate in complete silence.
No one spoke.
Yang Yuan looked from one family member to another, only half understanding.
The anger had been vented.
The bride price had been recovered.
Even though buying coal had been difficult, they’d eventually managed to get some.
Objectively speaking…
The day had ended with several victories.
So why…
Did nobody seem happy?