Chapter 28: The Ungrateful Family Appears

Thinking of her eldest aunt's schemes, a flash of resentment crossed Liu Xiaqiu's eyes. "Chuxue, are you just going to let Auntie off like this?"

Upon hearing this, Liu's mother's face was filled with indignation, but since there was no evidence and she couldn't rely solely on her daughter's word, she truly didn't know how to seek justice for her.

Her gaze toward Chuxue was filled with nothing but guilt.

Liu Chuxue simply curled the corners of her mouth. "The reason I haven't brought it up openly is because I don't have time to bicker with her right now. She's trying to harm me; there's no way I'll just let it go."

What she didn't say was that since Ge Xiulan loved playing dirty, she would fight fire with fire and make her suffer in silence.

Next, she would accompany her father to the city for treatment. Even if something happened to the Liu family, it couldn't be blamed on her.

She was a very petty person, not to mention that Ge Xiulan and her niece had cost the original host her life.

As for the Liu family, splitting the household was only the first step; she had plenty of patience.

*

In a private courtyard in Changping County, the elderly Mr. Chen looked at his son entering through the gate. "Jiefang, where is Weiping? I haven't seen him around these past few days."

Chen Jiefang set down his briefcase. "He told me a few days ago that he was going on a business trip to the south. He should be back soon. Dad, do you need him for something?"

As he spoke, he walked over to the washstand against the wall, washing his hands while looking at his father.

The old man set down his teacup. "He turns twenty next month, so it's time to put his marriage on the agenda. While these old bones of mine can still move, I want to accompany him to Liushu Village to settle the wedding date with them."

As soon as he said this, Chen Jiefang's hand movements slowed. He looked troubled. "Dad, free love is the trend nowadays, and Weiping has seen the world. He's very resistant to an arranged marriage. I think we should just drop it."

The old man slammed his hand on the coffee table. "You scoundrel, what kind of talk is that? If Liu Shanliang hadn't risked his life to save me back then, the grass on my grave would be waist-high by now. Why didn't you say anything when the engagement was made? Now that the girl is of marriageable age, you say it's inappropriate?"

Chen Jiefang looked helpless. This wasn't his intention, but his wife looked down on village girls—what could he do?

Besides, his son had explicitly stated before that he didn't recognize this engagement and told him not to interfere, saying he would handle it himself.

Caught in the middle, he couldn't afford to offend anyone. "Dad, let's discuss this when Weiping gets back. He's not here right now, so there's no use in us talking."

What else could he do? His only option was to use the tactic of "stalling."

The conversation between father and son was heard clearly by Mrs. Chen outside the door. After letting out a soft "hmph," she muttered under her breath, "That old man owes someone his life, yet he wants to use my son to repay the debt. He's dreaming."

He failed to consider that Liu Shanliang hadn't just saved Mr. Chen back then.

She turned back to the kitchen. "I wonder if that family has finished the arrangements yet?"

This matter could no longer be delayed. It seemed that before her son returned, she would have to go to the countryside herself.

*

By the time the mother and daughters arrived at the health center, the son-in-law, Qiu Shaofeng, had already completed the formalities and was just waiting for them.

Liu Xiaqiu looked worried. "Mom, Chuxue, let Shaofeng accompany you. It won't do to have no man to look after Dad on the way there."

Liu's mother understood this perfectly, but her eldest daughter and son-in-law hadn't returned home last night. If she let him accompany them to the city as well, she feared the two of them wouldn't be able to explain themselves to their families. She couldn't be that selfish.

(End of Chapter)