Chapter 7: Seeking Blessings

Yang Min was already close with the original owner, but she insisted on befriending the original owner's friends as well. The original owner was foolish and shared everything with her, and through this back-and-forth, Yang Min eventually got to know the original owner's fiancé.

Once they met, Yang Min began manufacturing misunderstandings. Whether the original owner knew that the male lead didn't love her, I don't know, but the original owner was frequently misunderstood by her fiancé because of Yang Min. Every time the original owner went to explain things to her fiancé, Yang Min would intercept her, weeping like a flower in the rain, and apologize to the original owner: "I'm sorry, Sister Siwen, it’s all my fault. Is Brother Qi Xuan angry with you because of me?"

Through this back-and-forth, the relationship between the original owner and her fiancé slowly faded, until a few days ago, when they were discussing marriage, Shao Qixuan directly demanded to break off the engagement.

"Exactly, that girl Yang Min is truly thick-skinned. She still dares to come looking for Siwen now," several elders in front of the gate whispered among themselves.

"Siwen, I'm sorry. I didn't want it to be like this, but Brother Qi Xuan and I are in love. Please, I beg you to grant us your blessing," Yang Min’s face flushed with shame and anger at her own words. Seeing the judgmental gazes around her, she still forced herself to say it. This matter had to be settled; if she couldn't marry Brother Qi Xuan, her grandmother would sell her to a cripple in the county town.

She had seen that cripple; not only was he lame, but he was also ugly. He was already in his twenties or thirties and still didn't have a wife because people looked down on his ugliness. She was so beautiful that only Brother Qi Xuan was worthy of her.

Li Siwen sneered upon hearing this. She had never seen such a shameless woman: "Yang Min, who you marry has nothing to do with me. Furthermore, I have no relationship with Shao Qixuan, so you don't need to beg for my blessing. On the contrary, I wish you both well. Goodbye."

"Siwen, if you really wish us well, come with me to find Brother Qi Xuan and clear things up," Yang Min said, quickly calling out to stop her as she saw her turning to leave.

Grandma Li heard this and was so angry she began to curse: "You shameless hussy! We don't care if you want to hook up with Shao Qixuan, but you want my granddaughter to go find him to give you a blessing? How can you be so vicious, girl!"

She knew how much her granddaughter liked Qixuan; this girl was trying to drive her granddaughter to her death again!

"Yang Min, this is where you're wrong. You're already in love with Qixuan, so why are you still bothering Siwen? Are you trying to make her life miserable every single day? You should know how to be grateful!" The old lady from the west courtyard couldn't help but speak up.

"Grandma Yan, I... I just hope Siwen can bless us," Yang Min didn't dare mention that Qixuan wanted to break up with her. If she said that, who knew how these people would mock her? But Li Siwen was refusing to listen to her, which put her in a difficult spot.

"Hmph." Grandma Yan snorted and returned to her courtyard. A blessing? A blessing my foot! This girl was too malicious; she must ensure her own descendants didn't associate with her in the future.

Watching everyone return to their homes, Yang Min stomped her feet in anger, turned around, flicked her braided hair, and headed back in a huff.

Xiao Hong watched the crowd disperse and curled her lips: "Is that it? What do you think that girl Yang Min is after? Showing off to Siwen like that—isn't she afraid Siwen will beat her up?"

Shao Mingzhu’s small eyes lit up, and he waved his hand: "I reckon it's because the boy Qixuan's mother doesn't agree. Marriage is a big deal decided by parents. Since his mother doesn't agree, isn't that why Yang Min came to find Siwen to persuade her?"

Xiao Hong pondered this and figured it was likely the case.

Yang Min walked home feeling depressed, unable to understand how Li Siwen could have changed so much. A few days ago, she would rather have jumped into the river to end her life than fall out with her, but now, she didn't care at all.

Damn Li Siwen, she was such a good actress!

First, she pretended to be heartbroken and unable to let go, then she threatened Qixuan with her life by jumping into the river, and now she had stopped pretending and was going to fight for the man.

The more she thought about it, the angrier Yang Min became, her face twisting in frustration.

"Yang Min, wait a second." Shen Qiang leaned against a large tree and whistled at her. Seeing her stop, he scrambled over.

Yang Min rolled her eyes at him and asked with forced patience: "What is it? What do you want?"

Shen Qiang didn't mind her attitude and carefully pulled an oil-paper parcel from his pocket. A burst of fragrance immediately wafted out.

Yang Min became interested when she saw what he had, her eyes widening as she looked at him curiously: "What is this? Is it meat?"

Shen Qiang looked smug, pulled her into a small grove nearby, and they both crouched down behind a large tree.

Shen Qiang unwrapped the oil paper, revealing a large chicken leg. He carefully held it up to Yang Min’s mouth: "Take a bite."

Yang Min couldn't help but swallow her saliva and took a bite of the chicken leg.

Seeing her eat, Shen Qiang took a bite from the same spot she had bitten, closing his eyes in blissful enjoyment.

When Yang Min saw his expression, she lost her appetite entirely. This man dared to take advantage of her; how shameless.

Shen Qiang opened his eyes to see Yang Min glaring at him and was confused. He gave her a chicken leg, and instead of being grateful, she was throwing a tantrum. This woman really needed to be put in her place.

"Yang Min, why are you glaring at me? Are you going to eat it or not? If not, I'm taking it home. My parents and sister haven't eaten any yet," Shen Qiang said impatiently.

Yang Min looked at the fragrant chicken leg and lost her temper. She hadn't touched meat in over half a year; the last time was during the New Year, and even then, there wasn't much, so she only got a few small pieces. Brother Qixuan had secretly brought her half a bowl of meat back then.

Thinking of Brother Qixuan made her heart ache. How could he have suggested breaking up so easily?

Once they made up, she wouldn't forgive him so easily.

Yang Min didn't believe Shao Qixuan really wanted to break up with her; he must have been forced into it. As long as Brother Qixuan still loved her, she would find a way to marry him; it was only a matter of time.

"I'll eat it. Why are you so stingy?" Yang Min said, acting a bit coquettish toward Shen Qiang.

Shen Qiang had never seen her act so soft toward him, and he felt his resolve melt. He looked at Yang Min with greedy eyes: "It's yours, all yours. But don't forget how good I am to you. And what's going on with you and Shao Qixuan? Are you two getting married?"

Yang Min’s hand holding the chicken leg paused. Her situation with Shao Qixuan had only just blown up recently. If she told him the truth now, he would definitely turn on her and stop giving her good food.

"Shen Qiang, what do you mean by that? You believe I stole Siwen's man, right?" Yang Min looked at him angrily and wrapped the chicken leg back up, refusing to eat it.

Seeing her angry, Shen Qiang panicked: "No, I believe you! It's just... do you want me or Qixuan?"

"I... this is a choice that has to be made. Since you both like me, I have to choose the best one. If you keep pushing me, I'll just choose Brother Qixuan, hmph!" Yang Min turned her head away, ignoring him.

"Oh, my beautiful Minmin, I was wrong. I won't push you anymore. You choose," Shen Qiang whispered. Seeing his chance, he kissed her on the cheek and ran off happily.

Yang Min hadn't even reacted before he was gone. She angrily touched her cheek, wiped it off with disgust, and headed home with the oil-paper parcel.