Zhou Xiang sat on the swing chair in the pavilion and watched his mother see off the guests.

Mother Zhou turned and went into the pavilion and sat next to her daughter. "What should I do? He's obviously attracted to me. I just said something polite, but he just took advantage of me."

"He tried several business ventures in his life, and although he lost money every time, I think he at least tried to prove that he was not a freeloader.

But looking at his performance today, it is obvious that he has ambitions. Because we know this, we can see it very clearly this time.

And now, given our family's conditions, he may be even more determined.

After all, if he wants to escape from the countryside, marrying a city girl is the fastest way. My second sister is now good at dressing up, making money, and has a good job. He won't give up easily."

"Do you really agree?"

"How is that possible? No matter how bad my second sister is, she is still my sister. I can't forget the way she walked by feeling the wall and listened to the TV with her ear tilted to the side. It's okay if she was born blind, but she has obviously seen this colorful world.

"Besides, Zhang Li'an's family is a burden. He has helped the family too much. My second sister is not helping the poor, and she doesn't owe him anything. He should go find someone else to climb up the social ladder."

"Zhang Jiazhong came to propose marriage, how could I refuse? I owe him a favor."

Zhou Xiang looked at his mother disappointedly.

"Mom! Why are you using my second sister's lifetime to repay the favor you owe me? Did you agree to this in your previous life just because you owed me a favor?"

Mother Zhou shook her head. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I just felt it was hard to refuse."

"Why wouldn't you refuse? Just tell me that my second sister said she wants to find someone with good conditions in the city, or she won't marry at all. She can earn money and have a job, so there are plenty of options."

Mother Zhou nodded and said, "Okay, let's spread the word, so that no one or two people will send their children to me as if they were treasures."

"Anyone else?"

"Yes, there are three or four of your father and my classmates in the village near Liu Town! They all saw that our family was getting involved, so they had their eyes on us. I just played dumb and didn't point it out."

"Let's put aside the second sister's marriage for the next few years. She's only just turned eighteen. She's just getting used to the family, so let her be at ease for a few more years."

Once a woman gets married, she has no home. When she goes back to her parents' home, she visits relatives, and she cannot integrate into her husband's family. She always feels like an outsider. Her heart is wandering for half her life. Only when the old people around her pass away, her husband and children are hers, and this home belongs to her completely.

"Okay, unless your second sister is willing, I won't rush her into marriage, and the same goes for you. Even if you don't get married and stay at home and enjoy the freedom of being a girl, Mom is willing."

Zhou Xiang leaned on his mother's arm. It was enough for his mother to say this: marriage was not within his consideration in this life.

Zhang Lian returned to the village and first returned the bicycle to the uncle's house. Then he gave 20 yuan to his father when he got home.

"Dad, I've fallen for Zhou Yu, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family. Besides, the Zhou family isn't as poor as you say. Even the things that are exposed are worth thousands of dollars."

Zhang Jiazhong looked at his eldest son seriously, "Li'an, are you attracted to someone or someone else?"

Zhang Lian replied without hesitation, "Both. Zhou Yuren is not bad looking, and she has a formal job. She also occasionally sets up a stall at the market to buy clothes. She has money and a job. I can't go to school. Only by doing so can I leave the countryside and escape a life of working in the fields."

Zhang Jiazhong looked at his eldest son, who made him proud. He had always been an above-average student, but he failed in the college entrance examination, with his scores falling short by a few points both times.

His family had no money or means to find him a job, and the primary requirement for recruitment was a city hukou. It was really unfair to him as he was just a high school graduate and had to farm at home.

Now he said in person that he had set his eyes on the eldest daughter of the Zhou family. Although he had other motives, if the marriage succeeded, his grandchildren would have urban household registration.

I no longer have to deal with the land all my life like I did, barely making a living and having to borrow money everywhere when something happens at home.

"Ryan, I can try to propose. If it doesn't work out, don't blame me. If it does, you must treat her well in the future and treat her with all your heart for the rest of her life."

Zhang Lian nodded, "I will. No matter what happens, I will treat her well."

Zhou Xiang, however, was giving her second sister a heads-up. "Second sister, the man who came today is from Zhangzhuang in Liu Town. He has three brothers and one sister, and he's the eldest. He failed the college entrance exam twice. I think he's interested in you."

Zhou Yu's crooked eyes immediately straightened up. "What? What do you mean by fancying me? I'm not fancying him. It's like a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

Zhou Yu is now obsessed with making money and saving it. He will be able to pay back his sister's money next month, and his own money will be enough to serve as capital.

Zhou Xiang chuckled upon hearing this, "Yes, my sister is a swan. However, you should also be careful. I think she is quite ambitious. She thinks she is a high school graduate and has a very high attitude."

"Tall ass, a country boy, no job, no money, and a bunch of young and old people behind him, who gave him the face? Isn't it because of our family's current conditions?"

"Second sister, it's good that you can understand. Also, although our father has changed a lot, what if he gets drunk and fooled by someone..."

"No, no, I have to talk to Dad first. Come on, you stay with me. Dad is still quite afraid of you right now. If I can't make my point, you can speak up. Don't let him sell me out."

As soon as Mr. Zhou woke up from his nap, he was pulled aside by his two daughters for a negotiation.

In the end, Zhou's father walked away, leaving only one sentence, "I promised your mother that I would not interfere in the marriages of any of our four children. Go negotiate with your mother."

Zhou Yu patted his chest and thought, fortunately, fortunately, the biggest threat is gone.

"Let's go find our mother."

Zhou Yu took his sister to the supply and marketing cooperative to find his mother, feeling very uncomfortable as if a huge stone was pressing on his heart.

Zhou Xiang was being pulled by his second sister. In order to resist the strength of his second sister, he leaned his body backward at a 45-degree angle and pushed his feet hard on the ground.

"Second sister, Mom already knows. She said she needs your consent and won't agree to anything easily."

"real?"

"real."

Zhou Yu felt relieved and let go.

"Bang" Zhou Xiang was caught off guard and fell on his back.

"Second sister!" Zhou Xiang was furious.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I let go too quickly."

Zhou Xiang could tell that his second sister's apology was halfhearted, "You did it on purpose!"

Zhou Yu nodded. "Yes, I did it on purpose. You must have whispered it to mom before telling me. Humph! I'm not the first one to know about this matter. That's too much."

Huh? My second sister has become smarter. It seems that doing business can make people think more.