The Chen Family of Changping
Yan Qingshuang hurried into the courtyard clutching her bag. Seeing her eldest daughter-in-law, Miao Xiaohe, in the yard, she asked, "Xiaohe, your grandfather hasn't gone out, has he?"
Miao Xiaohe pointed toward the backyard. "No, he's in the back."
Yan Qingshuang walked briskly toward the backyard. She saw the old man working on a seedling pool. "Dad, are you preparing to go to Willow Village in the next few days?"
The old man was busy with his work and didn't even look up. "Yes."
Ignoring the fact that the freshly turned soil might dirty her newly bought leather shoes, Yan Qingshuang walked over in a few strides. "Dad, I just got news. Liu Shanliang injured his leg and went to the city for treatment; he's not home. Those gifts you had people prepare won't be needed anymore."
What she didn't mention was that she had already taken it upon herself to privately tell the supply and marketing cooperative not to hold onto those items.
Upon hearing this, the old man immediately understood how she had found out. "What do you mean they won't be needed? After such a major incident, it's only right and reasonable to make the trip."
Yan Qingshuang grew a bit agitated. "I heard the injury isn't light. Even with treatment at a major hospital in the city, there's no guarantee he can save that leg. Even the Liu family has separated from them."
Hearing this, the old man straightened his back and frowned, about to say something, when his daughter-in-law spoke again. "Dad, I never agreed with this marriage to begin with. If it's true what people are saying and Liu Shanliang's leg can't be healed, the future burden will be immense. A family like that would only drag Weiping down. Besides, you've seen Weiping's attitude. If we truly force them together, I'm afraid their life together won't be good."
How could Old Man Chen not guess his daughter-in-law's intention? "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Yan Qingshuang knew that what she was doing was improper, but for the sake of her son, she would be the villain. "Dad, there are many ways to repay a kindness; it doesn't have to be through marriage. Moreover, Weiping is very resistant to this marriage right now. We can't force him to suffer, can we? After all, this is a lifelong matter."
Old Man Chen took a deep breath. "That girl will be eighteen in a year, and with such a thing happening in her family, if we go there now to call off the engagement, where am I supposed to hide my face?"
Yan Qingshuang felt a sting of embarrassment. "Dad, marriage is meant to unite two families in harmony, but given the current situation, I must consider Weiping's future. Right now is their family's most difficult time. In my opinion, it would be better to send some money over and speak openly. If they are sensible, they should be able to understand our position."
As they were speaking, a cry of alarm came from the front yard: "Weiping, what on earth happened to you?"
Yan Qingshuang abandoned the conversation and turned toward the front yard. "What happened?"
Chen Weiping was just about to head inside to change his clothes when he heard his mother's voice: "Where have you been running wild?"
He hadn't expected his mother to be home at this hour. "I'll change my clothes first and tell you in a moment."
But Yan Qingshuang wouldn't let him enter the house without an explanation. "Speak! What exactly happened to your clothes?"
Chen Weiping felt a sense of mortification so intense he could have died; this was truly damn embarrassing.
He and Hu Liru had finally managed to get off the bus, but because they were in such a rush, he had bumped into someone at the bus station entrance. Because Hu Liru was in a bad mood, she had said a few unpleasant things, and the man wouldn't let it go. To protect her, he had gotten into a fight with the man, but unfortunately, he had underestimated the man's strength, and now he ended up looking like this.
But if he told the truth now, his mother would surely devour Xiao Liru. "Mom, I'll tell you in a bit. Let me change first; I'm filthy."
At that moment, Old Man Chen also walked over and said with a grim face, "Change your clothes and come to the main room. I have questions for you."
(End of Chapter)