Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Zhang's mother was so startled that she jumped up from her stool and rushed towards Lu Yao, her voice filled with frustration. "Lu Yao, when did you and Zhang Yan get your marriage certificate? How come I didn’t know about it?"
For a moment, Lu Yao's mind went blank. What marriage certificate with Zhang Yan?
Seeing his dazed expression, Lu's father sighed and said helplessly, "You two got married last spring."
"Oh, right, right, right! It was last spring!" Lu Yao suddenly realized, puffing out his chest and raising his chin as he looked at Chen Qiang.
Last spring? Zhang's mother replayed the scene in her mind but couldn't quite recall it.
Zhang's eldest daughter-in-law quietly moved a couple of steps closer to Zhang's mother, tugging at her sleeve. Leaning in, she whispered, "Mother, it was when the youngest sister said we could get eggs from the supply and marketing cooperative."
In an instant, Zhang's mother’s memory cleared. Yes, yes, it was last spring.
That day, Zhang Yan had come over with something in her hands. She pulled Zhang's mother aside into the back room and said, "Mother, I know someone at the supply and marketing cooperative. If you bring me the household registration, I can get eggs based on how many people are listed."
Zhang's mother thought it was a great deal and hurriedly handed over the household registration. She added, "If your in-laws get more than they can eat, bring some back for us; our family is too big to go without."
"Don’t worry, Mother!"
Zhang's mother looked at Zhang Yan with pride in her eyes. She felt reassured about her daughter; after all, she had raised this girl herself.
That evening, Zhang Yan indeed came back with a basket of eggs. Zhang's mother didn’t ask any further questions and excitedly ran over to take the eggs.
After recalling that memory, Zhang’s mother’s face turned pale. She pointed at Lu’s father and stammered, "It’s you! It’s you all! Those eggs were bought by your family just to trick us into giving you our household registration!"
"Exactly! So they really did get a marriage certificate," Lu Yao confirmed.
Chen Qiang stood in the yard with a grim expression. He never expected that the Zhang family would be so unclear about things; even they were confused.
He couldn’t just take Zhang Yan away now; it would be unjustifiable. If Lu's family reported him to the police, he would definitely suffer for it.
Furiously pointing at Zhang's mother, he spat on the ground and gritted his teeth. "You Zhang family really are something! You dare to play tricks on me? Just wait!"
"We didn’t know either! We were deceived too!" Zhang's mother replied meekly.
Now Chen Qiang sat on a stool, feeling frustrated as he looked at Lu’s father. "I gave them a piece of money; if you don’t believe me, then fine."
"I’ll give you one condition: you can’t come looking for us again or for my Zhang Yan," he added.
Chen Qiang stared at Lu’s father without moving an inch, a mocking smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "If you have that kind of money, why not use it to marry your son a new bride? What difference does it make if you let go of Zhang Yan?"
He finished speaking and lifted his eyelids to glance at Lu Yao, smiling faintly.
"I forgot, your son is not capable, and no one looks at him, so he can only settle for Zhang Yan, this worthless trash."
Lu Yao's face suddenly flushed red. He glared at Chen Qiang, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, but as he looked at Chen Qiang's sturdy frame, he swallowed his anger.
"Let me think about it again. Your son is useless, yet he insists on Zhang Yan. How do you expect the Lu family to carry on the lineage?"
After saying this, Chen Qiang's gaze swept over Lu Father’s lower half, then mockingly looked back at Lu Yao, the sarcasm on his lips unhidden.
His movements were exaggerated, causing everyone in the courtyard to follow his gestures. At first, they were confused, but those with quick minds soon caught on, while others remained puzzled.
"Old Lu, your son doesn’t resemble you at all! Why does he look more and more like your brother?"
Laughter erupted in the air, and even Lu Father couldn't help but feel his old face flush with embarrassment. He shot a meaningful glance at Chen Qiang.
Ding Cuiying glanced anxiously at Lu Father and then at Lu Yao before fixing a fierce glare on Chen Qiang, gritting her teeth as if she wanted to sew his mouth shut.
"Give me one-fifth; otherwise, there's nothing to discuss."
They were thugs who feared nothing. If Lu Father wanted to ensure a peaceful future, he could refuse and drive them away.
However, Chen Qiang knew that no matter how harshly he spoke or how unreasonable his demands seemed, Lu Father would certainly agree to him.
Lu Yao blocked Lu Father's path. "Dad, we can't give them anything! Their words are so offensive; why should we give in?"
Even Ding Cuiying hesitated as she looked at Lu Father; she didn't want to give in either. One-fifth? What was Zhang Yan worth that much?
The remaining money was essentially for her and her husband’s coffin. If they took that little bit away, what would she and her husband do in the future?
Lu Father looked at Chen Qiang; he wasn't someone without limits. He could give money, but there had to be an apology first, and those filthy words couldn't be spread outside.
"And if not?"
Lu Father smiled lightly. "It's a dead-end situation anyway. I'm old and not afraid of death; you all are young and surely cherish your lives."
Chen Qiang sensed a hint of murderous intent from Lu Father’s smile, especially in the way Lu Father looked at him—it sent chills down his spine and made him shudder involuntarily.
"One-fifth—hurry up!"
Even a cornered rabbit could bite back! Chen Qiang understood this principle well enough. After all, Zhang Yan was just a worthless piece of trash; he had already played with her enough and had gotten his fill of fun.
He managed to sell such trash for fifteen; he’s not losing out, but rather making seventy bucks. Truly, he is a genius.
Chen Qiang couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, and even his gaze towards Lu Yao revealed a hint of sympathy.
Zhang's mother stared blankly at Father Lu. Why didn’t he mention the marriage certificate when they took Zhang Yan away? Why wait until now to bring it up?
Father Lu shot a glance at Ding Cuiying, signaling her to go inside and get the money. Ding Cuiying couldn’t move her feet; she really didn’t want to go.
She couldn’t help but whisper in Father Lu’s ear, “Old man, let it go. Zhang Yan isn’t worth fifteen at all; we could find a new bride for our son.”
“Shut up and hurry up,” he snapped.
Faced with Father Lu’s stern reprimand, Ding Cuiying reluctantly went to get the money, her steps dragging slowly, making it obvious that she was unwilling.
Wen Qian raised an eyebrow as she watched them. They actually had money? Where did the Lu family get so much?
Not only gold bars but also so much cash—it was as if their wealth was inexhaustible. It seemed the Lu family had plenty of hidden treasures; if she searched carefully, perhaps she could uncover some unexpected surprises.
Ding Cuiying walked into the room and saw Zhang Yan huddled in the corner of the bed. Gritting her teeth, she quickly approached and reached out to grab her.
“You worthless wretch! You’ve squandered everything! Fifteen! You’re not worth that much! You’ve caused the loss of my two grandsons; you’re a disaster!”
As she mentioned her grandsons, Ding Cuiying felt a pang in her heart. She had cherished those boys for so many years, and now they were gone just like that.
The money from the sale had been snatched away by others; she had lost everything. It was no different from giving away her grandsons for free.
“Wretched girl! My money! You devil! Why hasn’t lightning struck you dead yet?”
“Old woman, hurry up! Stop dawdling in there and come out with the money. We don’t have time for your nonsense,” Chen Qiang could no longer hold back. If it weren’t for this little bit of money, he would have slapped that old hag’s face to pieces.
Comment 0 Comment Count