Liang Hui opened the bag, counted out 2,800 yuan, and tossed it in front of Hao Lizhi.
“We agreed on eight hundred extra—that’s the price. You dare raise it again in Hukeng Village? Looking for trouble?”
This immediately stirred the village’s fierce spirit.
“Dare cheat us Hukeng men? You’ve got a death wish!”
The villagers turned their hostility toward Hao Lizhi.
Terrified, he grabbed the money and limped away as fast as he could.
Zhang Yuejin shouted angrily, “I made the deal first!”
“Liang Laosi, you bandit!”
“Hey, come back—I can pay more!”
But Hao Lizhi ran like a rabbit and soon disappeared.
Liang Hui swept his gaze over the crowd and snorted.
“Anyone else got a problem? Want to fight?”
No one dared.
He was infamous for being ruthless in a fight.
“Since no one objects,” he said, “I’m taking her.”
Yu Yao was dragged along by the man as they wandered through streets and alleys together.
From time to time, villagers would stop and ask curiously,
“Liang Laoxi, whose girl are you holding onto?”
Liang Hui answered loudly, “My wife!”
“Huh? When did you get married?”
“Just now!”
“How much was the bride price?”
“Two thousand eight hundred!”
And so they walked the whole way while the villagers questioned them the whole way.
Gradually, Yu Yao realized what was going on.
This guy was doing it on purpose!
The Liang family and Old Zhang’s house were separated by only one alley, yet he deliberately took a huge detour.
He was intentionally parading her through the village just to show everyone off: the wife he had just married had cost him 2,800 yuan!
Since he’d spent money, he had to make sure everyone knew about it—otherwise people might think he had snatched himself a wife for free.
As expected of a villain—crafty indeed!
The only one suffering was Yu Yao.
In the scorching heat, she was about to faint from the sun.
Back in modern society, she had never endured this kind of hardship or suffering.
“Hey, enough acting already, okay?”
“It’s blazing hot out here. Are you trying to give me heatstroke?”
Seeing the man ignore her protest as though he hadn’t heard a thing, she struck directly at his weak point with her next sentence:
“Two thousand eight hundred! If I die from the heat, you won’t have a wife anymore. That’ll be a complete waste of your 2,800.”
Perhaps the words hit exactly where it hurt, because he finally stopped taking the long way around and brought her home.
Second Aunt Zhao Chunhua heard the commotion and came out smiling broadly.
“Laoxi’s back? Did you get the bride price money for your third brother—”
Before she could finish, she noticed the young woman beside Liang Hui.
“Huh? Who’s this?”
Liang Hui introduced calmly, “My wife.”
Zhao Chunhua was so shocked that her voice rose sharply.
“When did you get a wife? Th-This isn’t Yu Yao? Since when did she become your wife?”
“We just settled it. Came back to let the family know,” Liang Hui replied casually.
Yu Yao cooperatively wrapped her arms around his waist, proving how affectionate the two of them were.
Yet Liang Hui barely spared her a proper glance the whole time, as if she were nothing more than an accessory hanging off him.
Zhao Chunhua immediately sensed trouble. Steadying herself, she cut straight to the important point:
“Then… then what about the bride price money prepared for your third brother?”
Liang Hui answered matter-of-factly, “Of course I used it to pay the bride price for my own wife.”
“What?!” Zhao Chunhua cried out in disbelief. “You spent all the money?!”
Liang Hui glanced at the noticeably thinner money bag and said, “There’s still a little left. Need to buy my wife some clothes and arrange a few banquet tables and all that.”
Zhao Chunhua’s face darkened instantly, and harsh words poured out.
“Your third brother isn’t even married yet, and you’re already busy arranging things for yourself!”
“How can there be someone as selfish as you in this world? You only ever think about yourself!”
“You grew up without parents—who was it that raised you all these years?”
“If I hadn’t taken care of your meals, patched your clothes, washed and cleaned for you, could you have grown this big?”
“We already agreed! First take out the money to help your third brother get married, then it would be your turn afterward.”
“You’re in such a hurry—afraid you’ll be a lifelong bachelor or what?”
“Yes.”
Liang Hui suddenly interrupted Zhao Chunhua’s endless complaints and admitted it outright.
“I don’t have parents looking out for me. If I don’t arrange things for myself, I might really end up a bachelor for life.”
Zhao Chunhua choked on his words so badly that her eyes practically rolled back. For a moment, she couldn’t refute him at all.
Yu Yao couldn’t hold back her laughter and burst out chuckling.
Liang Hui had proven one simple truth through his actions:
You can’t morally blackmail someone who has no morals.
Hearing the laughter, Zhao Chunhua’s gaze landed once more on Yu Yao’s face and body. All her anger and dissatisfaction instantly found a target.
“With that seductive little face, I knew long ago you weren’t decent!”
“Just a few days ago you were clinging to our third son, and now you’ve already hooked up with Laoxi? Really changing men as easily as changing clothes!”
“Tell me honestly—how much bride price did your family take from him?”
“What? Two thousand eight hundred?! That’s outright robbery!”
“Oh heavens, how are we supposed to live like this?!”
“Tch, look at how clingy you two are. You’ve probably already slept together, haven’t you? Then there’s no need for a wedding banquet. Just move straight into his room!”
Since the situation was already beyond saving, all she could do now was minimize the losses.
Yu Yao blinked her watery eyes innocently.
“I just entered the family, so I’m afraid household matters aren’t really my place to manage. As for spending money, you should discuss that with my man.”
She knew the plot and instantly recognized Zhao Chunhua’s identity and personality the moment she saw her.
But she pretended to know nothing.
After all, she was merely a delicate young woman—a shy new bride who had just married into the family. Naturally, she wouldn’t involve herself in major household decisions.
Look how gentle and virtuous she was.
The great villain should be very satisfied with her performance, right?
Yu Yao glanced toward Liang Hui, her watery eyes shimmering with tender affection.
Liang Hui looked at her for a moment and asked,
“You keep blinking. Are your eyes uncomfortable?”