Chapter 10

Old Madam Lu slowly started her lecture, “This is a good thing. Once Sanshui marries into their family, she must respect and care for her in-laws. She can’t keep acting like a pampered young lady who’s waited on hand and foot like she is at home.”

As she spoke, she gave a sheepish smile to the He family father and son. “This child’s been spoiled by her parents. They’ve never let her do any labor since she was little. Now she doesn’t even know the grains from each other and can’t lift a finger for work.”

Hearing this, Qiao Yanxiang was clearly upset. It was one thing to say such things at home, but how could her mother-in-law say such things in front of Sanshui’s future in-laws, making their daughter look bad?

Father He, while eating watermelon to sober up, casually said, “No worries. Our family doesn’t have any fields that need tending anyway.”

Lu Congge couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Everyone turned to look at him—some with reproach, others with confusion.

He said, “Seems like my sister’s just blessed. Born lucky, never meant to toil in the fields.”

The eldest aunt was clearly not pleased—this kind of good fortune should have belonged to her daughter.

With a sour tone, she said, “Sanshui, don’t forget who gave you this opportunity to marry into the He family. If Lulu hadn’t stepped aside, do you think this kind of chance would have come your way?”

Lu Miao didn’t bother digging up the past about how Lu Lu tried to snatch the man first.

She just calmly said, “That’s right. I’ve always said I should thank Sister Lulu.”

Father He, though a bit tipsy, still had good control over his emotions. But hearing the eldest aunt’s comment really ticked him off. Even if Lu Lu hadn’t chosen another young man, their family still wouldn’t have picked someone like her.

As the old saying goes—when picking a pig, look at the pen. If you want to know what kind of girl she is, just look at her mother.

Lu Lu and her mother were practically carved from the same mold. Picking a daughter-in-law like her would bring misfortune to three generations.

He and his wife never really agreed with the old man's idea of repaying kindness by letting his grandson marry the granddaughter of his savior.

But he couldn’t win against the old man’s constant nagging. Plus, the old man always praised the girl, saying how excellent she was. As a son, he felt bad for his father, so he agreed to at least come and take a look. As long as the girl wasn’t too bad, he’d go along with the plan.

That’s what filial piety means—going along with his father’s wishes.

He had strong self-restraint and didn’t expose Lu Lu in front of everyone. These kinds of things are better said in private. No need to make a scene in front of outsiders.

Old Master Lu, who valued his pride, scolded, “That’s enough. Stop talking.”

He turned to glare at his wife and eldest daughter-in-law. “Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?”

After dinner, the conversation turned to the dowry, which couldn’t be discussed with just the two families present. A middleman had to witness it too.

The He family wasn’t lacking money—they’d go with the highest urban standards for everything.

Lu Miao’s parents spoke honestly, “Our family’s poor, but we’re not the kind who’d sell our daughter. The full dowry will go back with our daughter, along with an extra 150 yuan in wedding gifts.”

Even Lu Miao’s eldest uncle, a village cadre with some shady side income, only gave his daughter 200 yuan in dowry cash.

For Lu Miao’s parents to save up 150 yuan, they’d have to go without eating or drinking for five years.

Lu Miao pouted. “Mom, I don’t want a dowry.”

She felt a little ashamed. The family wasn’t wealthy, and she had never thought about going out to earn money to help out. Instead, she had just enjoyed the comforts her parents gave without guilt.

Now, she was about to leave home and get married. How could she feel right about taking away half of her parents’ life savings?

Qiao Yanxiang glared at her. “Silly girl, don’t talk nonsense.”

Lu Congge asked pitifully, “Sis, after you get married, are you not gonna live here anymore?”

Lu Miao rubbed her chin and thought about He Mingchuan’s job. It didn’t seem entirely impossible for her to keep staying at her family’s place…

But since she wasn’t married yet, she couldn’t say such things outright in front of her future in-laws.

Qiao Yanxiang, with her old-school mindset, smacked Lu Congge and scolded, “Don’t say such silly things! Of course your sister won’t live at home after she’s married.”

What kind of person keeps living with their parents after marriage? Either someone who can’t get along with her in-laws, or someone constantly fighting with her husband.

The He family father and son smiled warmly as they watched the Lu family interact. Just watching them, you could feel how harmonious this family was.

A kind mother and filial children, a warm brotherly bond.

This young boy, upon hearing that his sister wouldn’t live at home anymore, secretly wiped away tears like a little softie.

Everyone noticed. His little move to wipe his eyes didn’t escape anyone’s attention.

Lu Lu cursed him in her heart for being such a weakling. Who cries like someone’s died just because their sister’s getting married?

Once the marriage talk was done, the He father and son stood to leave. It was dangerous to stay out too late—bandits and road thugs weren’t unheard of.

Before they left, they made sure to take all of Lu Miao’s documents and materials with them.

As they were leaving, they ran into Li Qinglin, who had come to pick up Lu Lu.

He saw the jeep driving off and the whole Lu family standing at the village entrance—even Lu Miao was there—and instantly understood who had come and why.

His instinct was to look at Lu Miao’s reaction. Realizing it was inappropriate, he quickly turned to look at Lu Lu’s face.

He didn’t know whether Lu Lu, after seeing how well-off the He family was, might start resenting the idea of marrying an ordinary commune worker like him.

But Lu Lu didn’t look envious or jealous at all. Her eyes were full of fierceness.

Hatred?

Why would she? He had never wronged her. There was no bad blood between them. Why would she hate him?

Thinking maybe he had imagined it, he blinked and looked again—Lu Lu was smiling warmly, her face soft and glowing with sunshine.

Must’ve been a trick of the eye.

This was the first time Li Qinglin had come to pick her up on his own—it meant he really cared about her. Her efforts hadn’t been in vain.

Li Qinglin shook his head and tried to look cool. “I was worried about you walking home alone.”

Lu Lu felt all warm and fuzzy inside. For the first time in two lives, she felt what love was like.

She hooked her arm around his. “Then let’s go home.”

Actually, Li Qinglin hadn’t come just to pick her up. He wanted to discuss some future plans with her dad.

In short, he was hoping her dad could help him find a job, but he didn’t want to just barge in and ask—it would seem too deliberate.

Coming to pick up his fiancée gave him the perfect excuse to bring it up casually.

Lu Lu didn’t know what he was thinking. She cheerfully turned and said goodbye to her parents, “Dad, Mom, Qinglin came to pick me up, I’m heading home now.”

As the couple turned to leave, they couldn’t help but glance at where Lu Miao had been standing, only to find the spot empty—the whole Lu family had already gone back home.

The He family father and son made it back home before dark.

Professor He lived in the faculty dorms at North City University, while Father He lived with his wife and daughter in the family quarters of the 303 Hospital.

Knowing what her husband had been up to that day, You Yonglan and their daughter had waited to eat dinner together.

When Father He got home, the first thing he saw were two tight-lipped, cold faces sitting on the couch.

You Yonglan was extremely displeased that her father-in-law had decided on her son’s marriage all on his own—and to a village girl, no less.

There were countless ways to repay kindness. Why did it have to be her son who paid the price?

As the old saying goes: marriage should be between equals.

The gap between their two families was just too big. It wouldn’t just be a matter of fitting in with the in-laws—what would her son and this girl even talk about?

Father He headed straight to the bedroom to change out of his jacket that reeked of alcohol. “You haven’t eaten yet? Good, I haven’t either.”

Waiting to eat didn’t mean she approved of this marriage.

You Yonglan made no effort to hide her displeasure.

Father He went on talking like nothing was wrong, “I met the girl. She’s sensible and reasonable. She studied for a few years but got delayed by some incident. Still, she’s very ambitious. When her brother studies high school material, she studies along with him.”

No matter how he praised the girl, You Yonglan wasn’t going to agree.

“Looks like Mingchuan’s lucky after all. The girl your father originally picked wasn’t very good. She backed out of the engagement just a few days ago.”

“She rejected Mingchuan?” You Yonglan could hardly believe her ears. The word rejected didn’t seem like something that could apply to her son.

A rural girl, turning her nose up at her son?

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