Chapter 129 I'd rather not marry him

Thinking about this, Lin Shulan felt a little resentful.

In the village, Damin was not particularly outstanding; he was just strong. He finally found a girl from the city who took a liking to him, and she tried every day to show him care and concern. Little did she know that all her efforts would go to waste.

Unfortunately, Peng Fei was Lu Zheng's sworn brother. He couldn't bring himself to say it to Qianqian, but the resentment in his heart was like a sprouting weed, quietly emerging.

Damin is her own brother. Ever since she returned to the village, he has treated her with all his heart. Why doesn't she help her own family?

Lin Shulan forced a smile, the wrinkles around her eyes revealing stiffness: "Damin's marriage is not in a hurry. When the time is right, it will naturally happen."

Xia Wenwen had been living in the Lin family for over a decade, so how could she not see through her feigned sorrow? Lin Shulan's hair had almost turned white from worrying about Damin's marriage.

She covered her mouth and chuckled, but her tone revealed her understanding: "Aunt Lin is right, fate is predetermined."

She feigned thoughtfulness: "When I return to Xiangyang Village, I'll keep an eye out for suitable girls and make sure to set you up with them."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline for Lin Shulan: "Are there any suitable candidates in Xiangyang Village?"

"Of course!" Xia Wenwen patted her chest and said confidently, "When I get back, I'll help inquire and see if there are any good unmarried girls in any families."

She subtly shifted her tone, sighing meaningfully, "I'm not like my sister, who only thinks of herself and doesn't care about the difficulties of her family."

Lin Shulan was indeed soothed by these words. The unpleasantness she had felt earlier because of the rabbit and cornmeal was actually lessened by this "sensible" promise. Even her gaze towards Xia Wenwen softened: "Then... then thank you very much, Wenwen."

Xia Wenwen smiled even more sweetly, but in her heart she was thinking: Once she got the benefits, who would care about your son's marriage?

Clang!

The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and Xia Damin barged in carrying a hoe. He was covered in sweat and smelled of mud. When he saw Xia Wenwen sitting at the table, his brows furrowed.

"Mom! How could you let this ingrate into the house!" He pointed at Xia Wenwen, furious. "Who was it that cried and shouted that we were 'country bumpkins' and not worthy of your Xia family's daughter? What are you doing here now, licking your boots? Get out! Get out of here!"

He had never been so furious in his life. His sister, whom he had treated with utmost sincerity for over a decade, turned around and spread rumors that the family had abused her. If it weren't for Qianqian's casual remark, his entire family would still be kept in the dark.

Seeing her still sitting in her own house, smiling hypocritically, he was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode. He raised his hoe and pointed it at Madam Xia and her daughter, Xia Wenwen.

Lin Shulan was so frightened that she rushed over to stop him, grabbing her son's shirt tightly and stamping her feet anxiously: "You child! Why are you shouting as soon as you get back! Wenwen finally managed to come all this way..."

"Finally?" Xia Damin abruptly shook off her hand, his chest heaving violently. "She came all this way just to take another piece of our family's flesh!"

Lin Shulan turned to Xia Wenwen: "Wenwen, you go home first. Please keep an eye on what I just said."

Xia Wenwen was so frightened that she shrank back to the table. Seeing Lin Shulan stop Xia Damin, she quickly stood up, picked up the grain, and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Lin, I'll take care of my brother's marriage!"

She glanced quickly at Xia Damin, and seeing that he was still glaring at her, she quickly lowered her head and added in a wronged tone, "I...I just wanted to help with some things at home, unlike my sister..."

Xia Damin dotes on his younger sister Qianqian the most, how could he allow others to speak ill of her like this?

He suddenly raised his foot and kicked towards Xia Wenwen. He originally wanted to kick the table leg to vent his anger, but unexpectedly, his old cloth shoes flew off his feet!

Snap!

The cloth shoe landed squarely on Xia Wenwen's face, leaving a dusty shoe print on her fair skin, covered in the mud and dirt from Xia Damin's feet.

"Ouch!" Xia Wenwen screamed, covering her face and tears streaming down her cheeks, feeling both pain and grievance: "You hit me! Xia Damin, how dare you hit me!"

Lin Shulan was terrified. While patting Xia Wenwen's back to help her catch her breath, she turned around and glared at her son: "Are you crazy!"

She quickly stuffed the half-bag of cornmeal into Mrs. Xia's hand, then grabbed the rabbit from the cutting board and shoved it into her arms. "Quick! You two should leave now! Don't bother with this brat!"

Fearing that Xia Damin might strike again, Madam Xia grabbed Xia Wenwen and ran outside, calling out before leaving, "Shulan, we'll help keep an eye out for the marriage!"

Xia Damin watched helplessly as they carried away the half-bag of cornmeal and the wild rabbit, his chest heaving with anger.

"Mom! You're just going to let them take these things? This is enough for us to eat for half a month!"

"Keep your voice down!" Lin Shulan grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the kitchen, advising, "Wenwen isn't an outsider; she said she'd help you find someone."

"Introduce me to someone?" Xia Damin thought he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Even if I, Xia Damin, remain a bachelor for the rest of my life, I don't need her to introduce me to anyone!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Lin Shulan angrily grabbed his ear. "If you don't get married, who will serve you tea and water when you're old? Who will break the pot and send you off in your final moments?"

She glared at her son, her tone filled with disappointment and resentment, "No matter what, go and see if someone recommends you! What if you click with them?"

"It's rare that Wenwen is willing to pay attention... In theory, Qianqian should be keeping an eye out for you. If she had just said a word, Li Aiqin wouldn't have ended up with Peng Fei."

This was the first time she had spoken aloud about her inner turmoil. Upon hearing this, Xia Damin was no longer angry. He squatted down, picked up the stool leg from the ground, and asked in a low voice, "Mom, if you had a daughter, and the matchmaker was talking about both Peng Fei and me, which one would you let your daughter choose?"

Lin Shulan opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

The answer is obvious.

Peng Fei, a young man from the city, looks shrewd and capable. What about her own son? He toils in the fields year-round, his hands are covered in calluses, and he speaks in a rough voice. If she were Li Aiqin, she would choose Peng Fei too.

Lin Shulan sat back down in front of the stove, fiddling with the firewood in the firebox. Sparks crackled and popped out, reflecting off her ashen face.

"Mom, I know you're anxious." Xia Damin put the repaired stool back in place, his voice softening a bit. "But this isn't Qianqian's fault, nor is it Xiao Li's. We never agreed on anything; you're just overthinking it."

He scratched his head, chuckled, and revealed a bit of his simple-mindedness. "Besides, with my qualifications, I just need to find someone who doesn't mind that I'm from a peasant background. What's the rush?"

Looking at the smile on her son's dark face, Lin Shulan's resentment suddenly dissipated, leaving only bitterness. Her silly son was always so sensible, so sensible that it broke her heart.

"Okay, Mom won't say anymore, but you have to promise Mom that if Wenwen really introduces someone to you, you have to go see them."