Chapter 91

Xiaolingdang hurriedly covered her second brother's mouth and whispered, "Brother, don't ask so many questions, everything is fine at home!"

Cheng Jemin saw Xiaolingdang's panicked eyes and immediately concluded that his sister was lying. He thought for a moment and said to his sister, "Xiaolingdang, let's have a chat."

"Mom is calling you to wash your face and eat," Xiaolingdang turned to leave.

Cheng Jemin chuckled, stroked his sister's braid, and said, "Do we have a fixed time for meals at home? Brother wants to have a private chat with you."

Cheng Jemin did not immediately ask about the family matters but started talking about Xiaolingdang's school life. He asked which teacher had the best Mandarin and which teacher often extended class time. In no time, Xiaolingdang forgot her earlier concerns.

"Xiaolingdang, am I your brother?"

"Yes, the classmates in my class all envy me, saying you are capable and can eat in the canteen every day in the city."

Although Xiaolingdang was more mature than her peers, she was still just a child and didn't realize she had fallen into her brother's trap.

"You're right, brother is capable, otherwise, how would the government give me a salary?"

Cheng Jemin smiled proudly and then asked in a low voice, "If our parents encounter difficulties, shouldn't they tell the second brother and find a way to solve them?"

Xiaolingdang thought for a moment and felt it made sense. She whispered, "Dad doesn't want to tell you because he's afraid you'll worry."

"Xiaolingdang is the most sensible. Look, the second brother knows so many people in the city, and there are many ways to solve problems. Don't you think you should tell the second brother?"

Cheng Jemin's patient guidance finally moved the little girl. After some thought, she told her second brother about what happened yesterday. Cheng Jemin instantly understood why his brother had gone outside to smoke.

Cheng Jemin clearly remembered that before Tian Hua went to school, his brother secretly went to see her, watching her get on the bus, tears streaming down his face. Later, he saw his brother's diary: Goodbye, dear Tian Hua, from now on, our fates will be completely different. But we have so many beautiful memories, which I cherish deeply. I must help my father support our broken home.

It seemed that this dear Tian Hua did not forget his brother just because he had a government job while his brother was a poor farmer. At that moment, Cheng Jemin was moved by this pure love.

If his brother hadn't given up the chance to go to university for him, with his grades, he would have definitely been admitted. He and Tian Hua would have naturally been together.

In the impoverished world of the countryside, there was no room for true love. Poor love, compared to a secure life, was like a loud fart—loud and shocking, but ultimately empty, leaving one still hungry. Love could make life happy and full of hope, but life was like an invisible rope, binding one's hands and feet. A shrewd man like Tian Jiaxing would never allow his daughter to marry into the Cheng family.

"Second brother, when Dad asks you, you mustn't say I told you," Xiaolingdang cautiously warned her second brother.

Cheng Jemin: "Xiaolingdang, don't worry, the second brother will never betray you."

"Second brother, yesterday morning, Big Brother drank a lot of wine with Dad. Dad even said he had arranged a marriage for him, but I think... Big Brother still likes Tian Hua. Have you seen that radio? It was a gift from Tian Hua to Big Brother."

Cheng Jemin stroked his sister's head and smiled, "Since Xiaolingdang also thinks Tian Hua is good, let's make her our sister-in-law, okay?"

"Really?" Xiaolingdang looked at Cheng Jemin with surprise.

"Second brother always keeps his word!"

"Xiaolingdang, I called you to eat, what are you doing?" Mother Ren Gaini's voice rang out.

Xiaolingdang responded while quietly saying to her second brother, "See, Mom is waiting. She'll scold me again."

Cheng Jemin laughed and teased, "How can there be a revolution without bloodshed? A few words won't hurt, so what's to be afraid of?"

In the small kitchen, which was only about ten square meters, steam was rising. Ren Gaini was serving the bowls. Seeing the brother and sister walk in, she pointed to the kettle on the coal stove and said, "Erlang, wash your face quickly, there's hot water there."

"Mom, I've already washed," Cheng Jemin said, about to help his mother carry the bowls, but Ren Gaini stopped him, "What's a man doing this for? Tell Xiaolingdang to carry them!"

Cheng Xigui sat on the side, smoking silently, with a faint expression. His wife glared at him, and the old man immediately understood: the New Year was coming, and no matter what, they had to have a harmonious holiday!

"Jemin, what are you planning to do today?" Cheng Jiguo pressed out the cigarette butt and said, "There's a market in town today. I'll buy some mutton and let our mother make us a pot of mutton soup."

Cheng Jemin looked at his seemingly carefree brother and felt like crying. He knew that although his brother looked relaxed, he must be deeply hurt inside.

After a moment's hesitation, Cheng Jemin smiled and said, "Buying meat can wait until tomorrow. I have something to do today, and I need your help, brother."

"Sure, what is it?" Cheng Jiguo asked without suspicion.

"Let's talk after dinner," Cheng Jemin laughed and said loudly.

While Cheng Jemin's family was having a lively meal, in a newly built red brick house less than two hundred meters away, Tian Jiaxing was proudly drinking a rich mutton soup. After drinking half a bowl, he started sweating.

"The soup is well-cooked. Old lady, put it back on the coal stove to simmer. My brother loves the mutton soup from our hometown!" Tian Jiaxing put down his bowl and instructed his wife.

Tian Jiaxing's wife, Li Chunlan, was picking vegetables and said, "Yes, I'll simmer it later. Is your brother's family coming back today?"

"Of course." Tian Jiaxing said proudly, "Brother called yesterday, saying he's coming today. When he gets back, I'll talk to him. I hope to send this girl to the county as soon as spring comes, to keep her far away. Then everything will be settled!"

Li Chunlan put down the vegetables, a bit worried, and said, "Master, last night I heard Hua crying in the middle of the night. She didn't eat. Don't push her too hard!"

"Nothing to worry about, don't meddle!" Tian Jiaxing angrily slammed his chopsticks on the table and said, "Her temper is all your fault. If you had watched her closely, would I have to go through all this trouble?"

Li Chunlan, obedient to her husband, lowered her head and said nothing. Tian Jiaxing, seeing this, became even more agitated, "Alright, don't worry about it. Better to cut the pain short. After this, she'll know her father is good to her."

"I'll call her to eat later," Li Chunlan said, still worried, "Do you think the Cheng family's eldest son will still pursue our Hua in the future?"

"What's the point of pursuing her anymore?" Tian Jiaxing said confidently, "A person needs face, just like a tree needs bark. I, Tian Jiaxing, also need face. I'm not unreasonable. I even called the clan leader and said I agree to the marriage of the two children."

"But, marriage is about clothes and food. My daughter, who has graduated from a teacher's college and now has a government job, marrying into the old Cheng family, I've even prepared the land for building a house. If you can build a house, you can marry her. If you can't, you should know your limits."

Tian Jiaxing waved his hand, "I've done my best. Whether it works out or not is their problem, not ours!"

Li Chunlan nodded. She and the Cheng family lived in the same village, and she didn't want to make things worse. Her husband was clever, and this plan was indeed smart.

But this would completely ruin the relationship between the two families. It was like forcing the Cheng family to speak up, which was as humiliating as barking in public. The Cheng family's face would be lost in the entire area. Thinking about this, the kind Li Chunhua couldn't help but sigh, "Actually, Jiguo is a good boy. He's smart, hardworking, and clever. Maybe after a few years of hard work, he'll have a good future!"

"Jiguo is a good boy!" Tian Jiaxing sighed, but then firmly said, "But he didn't go to university. He's destined to farm in the village all his life. If Xiaohua hadn't passed the teacher's college and gotten a government job, I would have gone to their house to propose."

"As the old saying goes, marriage should be between equals. With such a big gap now, can you blame me for being heartless?" After saying this, Tian Jiaxing turned to Li Chunlan, "Pay attention these next few days. No matter how much Xiaohua fusses, you can't interfere. This isn't the time to be soft-hearted."

Li Chunlan, though uncomfortable, knew it was for her daughter's good and nodded heavily.

Tian Jiaxing stood up from his chair and slowly walked out. Seeing her husband walk out, Li Chunlan called out, "Master, where are you going?"

"I'm going to Uncle's house. Wash a few more cups and call the elders of our village to come over," Tian Jiaxing said without stopping, not even turning back.

Li Chunlan didn't know what her husband was planning, so she hurriedly asked, "What are you going to do with those elders? Are you going to feed them?"

"No, I'm going to call Cheng Xigui and make him say in front of the elders that his family can't marry our Hua." Tian Jiaxing said and walked out of the house.

Standing in the yard, looking at the Cheng family's house not far from his, Tian Jiaxing muttered to himself, "Don't blame me for being too harsh. Only this way can make Hua give up on this idea!"

PS: Thanks to everyone's support, our Quan Xiong has finally been promoted to the Three Rivers! Thank you all!

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