Su Ruyi continued to ask, "Is the matchmaker who told you about the marriage to someone from far away from your village?"

Zhang Ruyi pursed her lips and shook her head:

"They're not from this village, they're from two villages away, and they specialize in matchmaking."

At first, my parents were also a little suspicious of her.

But she just put down 100 yuan, saying it was a deposit...

Later, my father called the matchmaker from our village. The two knew each other, so the man wasn't a fraud.

Well... I'd say I know him pretty well.

Su Ruyi sighed and took Zhang Ruyi's hand: "Are your parents good to you?"

Zhang Ruyi nodded emphatically:

That would be good, of course.

Unlike other families with many children, my family only has my brother and me.

My parents dote on me.

In families with many sisters, how many families give their daughters their own room?

However, after enjoying 15 years of happiness at my parents' home, it's time for me to make some contributions to the family.

I just hope that the family I'm going to marry into... won't have a disabled person or someone who is mentally challenged.

Even if he has a bad temper and likes to hit people... I'll accept it.

As she spoke, Zhang Ruyi's tears began to flow uncontrollably. She quickly wiped them away, afraid they would fall onto the wedding quilt.

"Our family is too poor, this... is like a pie falling from the sky."

My brother... he's a good person too.

He has a girlfriend in the village, and her family only asks for a bride price of 80 yuan.

But...we don't have any money at home.

They're arranging for me to get married; it's my brother's fiancé's family, they're going to arrange a marriage for her...

My brother panicked, so he knelt down all night, begging our parents...

I gave up my job and agreed to get married voluntarily!

My brother is really good to me, really...

Besides, this house was built when my great-grandfather was still alive.

Over the years, when something broke in the east, we patched it up; when something broke in the west, we repaired it...

Once it rains, it's impossible to see anything; the courtyard becomes like a muddy pond.

The house definitely needs to be renovated.

My brother's fiancée's family also said that they won't let her marry into the family unless the house is renovated.

Hearing these words, Su Ruyi felt extremely sad.

This girl should have been the little princess of the Qi family in Beijing!

However, in this day and age, it is quite strange to have only two children in the family.

Could it be that neither of these two children are biologically related?

Su Ruyi then asked, "Where's your brother? Why isn't he home?"

Zhang Ruyi sighed again and said:

"My brother went to repair the reservoir and is living on the construction site."

The work there pays 12 work points a day.

He wanted to accumulate more work points—getting married required money in every aspect.

Our family still has a lot of debt from these years, but we're keeping it a secret and haven't dared to let my brother's girlfriend know.

Once you're inside, I bet there'll be some noise coming from somewhere!

But by then, I had already gotten married…

Looking at this simple and kind country girl, and her dark, ruddy face, Su Ruyi felt a mix of emotions.

She then asked, "So, were you and your brother both born in this village?"

Zhang Ruyi didn't understand why he asked that, but she still answered truthfully, "Of course. My family has lived in this village for generations."

Do you even know who delivered your baby?

Zhang Ruyi hesitated for a moment: "This... my mom really didn't mention it."

After asking these questions, Su Ruyi had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on: "When is your brother coming back?"

"Tonight! The construction site is closed tonight, so my brother will be back. Officer Su, my brother isn't a bad person. They didn't sell me to get a bride price; I did it willingly!"

Zhang Ruyi was a little anxious, fearing that her brother would be used as a bad example.

Su Ruyi nodded and said, "I was just asking casually, don't worry. I came down here mainly to investigate the situation of educated youth."

Seeing that Zhang Ruyi's expression relaxed, Su Ruyi chatted with her for a while longer.

Before long, the sun rose high and smoke began to rise from the chimneys; Xia Liuer had already prepared lunch.

She even boiled an egg, peeled it, and put it in Su Ruyi's rice bowl, saying with a somewhat ingratiating expression, "Officer Su, we don't really eat meat at home. But don't worry, from now on, I promise to take out the egg from your bowl every day so you won't miss out on nutrition."

Su Ruyi nodded and picked up the bowl of water from the dining table.

Upon tasting it, I noticed that white sugar had been added, making it sweet.

This meal consisted entirely of whole grains and pickled vegetables, but it still tasted pretty good.

At the dining table, Zhang Ruyi ate and picked up food without any hesitation or timidity.

It's clear that her adoptive parents treated her very well.

Su Ruyi decided to talk to her adoptive father first.

So, after the meal, she called Zhang Dehui out, saying she needed him to accompany her for a walk around the village to get a better understanding of the situation.

The two walked several dozen meters and stood on an open ground. Seeing that there were no houses around and no one would be eavesdropping, Su Ruyi asked directly, "Is your daughter adopted?"

As soon as he said that, Zhang Dehui's face turned ashen: "Su... Cadre Su, what did you say?"

Su Ruyi sighed, "I searched for a long time before I finally found your family. Let me put it this way, Uncle Zhang—I didn't come to the countryside to investigate the work of educated youth; I was entrusted by Zhang Ruyi's biological parents to find her!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dehui gasped in shock:

"No, that's impossible!"

Her mother had already agreed that the money and goods would be settled once and for all, and that they would never be asked for again!

Besides, my daughter has already been asked about a potential partner, and they've even accepted a deposit!

She's getting married soon!

What exactly do you mean by coming here at this time?!

"You've raised the child all these years, and now you just want to reap the benefits?!"

As Zhang Dehui spoke, his voice almost roared.

Seeing that he had misunderstood, Su Ruyi took out a stack of ten-yuan bills from her bag: "Uncle Zhang, this is 500 yuan, please take it first."

Upon seeing such a thick stack of ten-yuan notes, Zhang Dehui staggered back several steps as if electrocuted: "What...what do you mean?"

Su Ruyi sighed, "I was entrusted by your daughter's biological parents to come and take her home. You probably don't know who your daughter's biological parents are..."

Zhang Dehui interrupted her, his neck stiff with sarcasm: "No matter who they are, this girl is someone I raised, just like my own daughter!"

"How much did you spend to buy her back then?" Su Ruyi asked directly.

Zhang Dehui was speechless for a moment: "...five...five yuan."

"Back then, you bought this girl with the intention of using her to arrange a marriage for your brother, right?"

Zhang Dehui's face immediately turned red: "This...this isn't something just our family does."

Su Ruyi stuffed another 500 yuan into Zhang Dehui's hand: "Uncle Zhang, take this money first, and listen carefully to what I'm about to say."