Back in my hometown, although life was a bit poor, the warmth of human relationships was relatively stronger. At least I didn't have to buy vegetables, and I didn't have to worry about starving.

Listening to the commotion outside, Xiao Li felt calmer. The original owner's major turning point in life was right here.

Not all mothers in this world love their children, but mothers who would kill their own children are rare.

The days seemed to settle down, quiet and peaceful, the small village filled with tranquility, and Xiaoli waited quietly.

Bai Lian seemed to have come back to life. She raised chickens, ducks, geese... She even raised a dog that would follow her around every day.

Xiao Li's arm gradually healed, and every day she carried water, cooked, cleaned the yard, went up the mountain to chop firewood, and did farm work with her friends in the village, just like before.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, there are many happy events in the countryside. Every day, Bailian is either attending a wedding banquet at the Zhang family's house or a birthday banquet at the Li family's house.

Today was the wedding of her distant nephew from her maternal family. At the banquet, she met Li Ergou, an old bachelor from Li Village.

This is the husband the original owner later married.

This Li Ergou is quite a character. He received some education when he was young, and it's said he was rather handsome. He's just too picky; after all that searching and elimination, he still hasn't found anyone good.

As he gets older, it becomes even harder to find someone suitable; the good ones don't even look at him, and he himself is unwilling to settle.

Most importantly, his family was poor, extremely poor.

Li Ergou heard that Bailian was a very kind person who would help anyone in need, so he hatched a plan.

He didn't dare to covet Xiao Li; he just wanted Bai Lian to introduce him to a girlfriend.

He had no other skills, but he was very thick-skinned. Ignoring the ridicule of others, he sat down directly among Bai Lian's table of female relatives.

As soon as he sat down, he started making small talk with Bai Lian to get closer to her.

He described his family's situation with tears in his eyes, which evoked sympathy from the audience.

Bai Lian was stunned. Are there really people in this world who are so miserable? That's so unfortunate.

After hearing Li Ergou's request, Bailian thought for a moment. There were a few girls of marriageable age, but Li Ergou was too old, almost forty.

"Sister Bai, please help me. Look at me, such a promising young man, wasting my life like this, it's such a waste."

Looking at Li Ergou's fawning manner, Bailian couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

That's how respected she was; she absolutely had to help. So from that day on, she began to busy herself.

Every day, she went door-to-door, asking which families had suitable daughters. Then she would go to their homes to act as a matchmaker, but unfortunately, after a while, not a single girl was willing to marry Li Ergou.

She gradually gave up, realizing she couldn't help with this.

Li Ergou was also very concerned about his life's important matters, and would come to the Qian family every few days to inquire about the news.

He was walking hurriedly along the riverbank when he suddenly noticed a piece of clothing floating in the water. At first glance, it looked quite familiar.

Upon closer inspection, wasn't that Bai Lian? Why was she floating in the water? Li Ergou quickly jumped into the river and pulled her out.

"Sister Bai, how did you fall into the river?"

"Cough...cough cough..."

Bai Lian coughed a few times and spat out some water before she recovered.

She had just seen a big fish by the river and tried to catch it, but her foot slipped and she fell into the river.

She was struggling in the river when Li Ergou rescued her.

"Thank you, Er Gou. You're such a good person. If it weren't for you, I would have been in real trouble today."

"Don't mention it. We're like family. With our relationship, I'd do anything for you, even if it meant going through fire and water."

"Let's go home and change our clothes first before we talk. It's terribly cold here, don't catch a cold."

Bai Lian nodded; she also felt quite cold.

Li Ergou took the person home and casually asked how his own important life event was going.

Bai Lian felt ashamed. Someone had just saved her, yet she was thinking of giving up. She had to help them out.

"Ergou, don't worry, I'll take care of your marriage. I'll definitely make it happen for you. Just wait for my good news."

Li Ergou returned home satisfied, happily went to town to buy a jug of wine, and went home.

Two months passed in a flash, and the marriage was still unsettled. Bai Lian was so worried that she couldn't sleep. Watching Xiao Li washing clothes in the yard, her eyes suddenly lit up. Didn't they already have someone ready-made for them?

Xiao Li felt the scrutinizing gaze. Since her arrival, although she hadn't been as accommodating as the original owner, she had always been responsive to Bai Lian's requests and obedient to her every whim. Was she still trying to sell her off now?

"Qian Xiaoli, this is your mother. She is such a selfish person. Wake up and stop having any expectations of her."

Xiaoli silently thought to herself, "The original owner's kindness shouldn't be used here."

After dinner, Bailian told Xiaoli about Li Ergou.

"Xiao Li, Er Gou, although his family isn't well-off, he's a very handsome young man. He's also quite righteous, always ready to help others, and has excellent character. You'll definitely have a good life with him."

Xiaoli felt contempt. She had never seen anyone so cruel to their daughter. And this person called themselves righteous and heroic? All they did was save her once! How could they possibly link that to heroism?

"Mom, I don't want to date right now. So please don't worry about me."

"no……"

Bai Lian looked into her daughter's fixed gaze and felt a little scared. She stopped talking and spoke gently.

“Xiao Li, I won’t hurt you. I’ve met him, and I think he’s a really good person.”

"You've met me, you know me, you like me, so marry me."

Xiao Li said coldly, "Anyway, I'm not getting married. Whoever wants to marry me can marry me."

Upon hearing this, Bai Lian trembled with anger. She was already so old, how could she marry such a young man?

"Mom, aren't you only in your forties? Li Ergou is almost forty. You two aren't that far apart, you'd make a perfect couple."

After saying that, Xiaoli went back to her room to sleep.

Bai Lian made up her mind to make this marriage happen.

The next day she went to Li Village, found Li Ergou, and told him about it. Li Ergou looked surprised and couldn't believe it was true.

"Sister Bai, no, Aunt Bai, are you telling the truth? You're really willing to marry your daughter to me?"

When Bai Lian heard Li Ergou change his mind, she knew he was willing, but she felt inexplicably annoyed.

Calling her Aunt Bai would make her sound old, wouldn't it? But thinking about it, if things really came to fruition, then he should indeed call her Mother-in-law. She felt relieved.

"Of course it's true. My Xiao Li is smart and capable. She will definitely make our lives better together."

"Aunt Bai, no, Mom, when should I go to propose marriage? But the dowry... look at our family's situation..."