"That's right."

The older women behind her didn't stop at all, continuing to say the same things in front of Chu Xiaolan.

Chen Hua was furious and wanted to turn around and argue with them, but Chu Xiaolan stopped him.

"Don't argue with them, you can't win!"

Chu Xiaolan quickly advised, "These aunties and grandmas in the village have foul mouths. It's not good to argue with them, whether you win or lose."

"Are you just going to let them bully you like this?"

Chen Hua was a little angry, not expecting them to be so gossipy.

Now I understand a little why Chu Xiaolan didn't like to talk before. With these people mocking her every day, saying she was mute, who wouldn't feel bad?

"I've been used to it since I was a child."

Chu Xiaolan pursed her lips and lowered her head.

"Xiaolan? Why are you back?"

A voice came from the field by the roadside, and Chu Xiaolan looked up when she heard it.

"dad."

Chu's father came out of the field and saw Chu Xiaolan and Chen Hua behind her.

Who is this?

Father Chu frowned and asked.

"He...he is my boyfriend."

Chu Xiaolan blushed and publicly acknowledged Chen Hua's identity for the first time.

Upon hearing Chu Xiaolan's introduction, Chen Hua grinned.

"Uncle, I'm Chen Hua, Xiao Lan's boyfriend."

"...Let's go home first."

Mr. Chu was not happy that his daughter had suddenly brought a man home.

The daughter they raised is about to be taken away by someone else.

Back home, Chen Hua stared blankly at the dilapidated building in front of him.

The Chu family's house looked like it had been ravaged and was on the verge of collapse, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Chu Xiaolan lowered her head sadly.

Chen Hua looked at this house; it was the house she grew up in.

"It'll be fine to stay here after some repairs!"

Seemingly noticing Chen Hua's confusion, Chu's father glanced at Chen Hua and explained.

"You're back so early today?"

Hearing the noise, a woman came out of her house and saw Chu Xiaolan, Chen Hua, and Chu's father behind them.

"mom."

Chu Xiaolan excitedly hugged her mother.

Hello, Auntie.

Chen Hua nodded to Chu's mother.

"Let's go inside first and talk about it then!"

When Chu's father saw the neighbor peeking in from next door, he pursed his lips.

"Yes, yes, come in quickly."

Chu's mother then snapped out of her joy at seeing her daughter and quickly pulled her daughter to invite Chen Hua into the house.

Chen Hua walked into the house, where four prominent main beams supported the old house and prevented it from collapsing.

However, this also made the house seem cramped.

The house was filled with the belongings of a family of several people, and there was a small passageway.

After finally clearing out an area, when Chu's parents heard that Chen Hua wanted to marry Chu Xiaolan, they pursed their lips.

"Xiaolan, you're all grown up now. You can decide your own marriage!"

Father Chu glanced at Chu Xiaolan; he knew his daughter better than anyone.

The fact that she mustered the courage to bring him home proves that Chen Hua truly cares for her.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to muster the courage for her; it's rare for someone with her gentle nature to take the initiative.

"Do you know what your requirements are for the bride price, Uncle and Aunt? Just tell us!"

Chen Hua smiled at Chu's father.

His father told him that he would grant any request his family made.

"I don't have any special requirements, just that my daughter is good to me!"

Father Chu shook his head.

He never intended to use his daughter to exchange for a bride price.

"That won't do. The bride price must be given! How about 888? The four major items can't be missing either."

Chen Hua said to Chu's father.

"What?"

Chu's father took a sip of water and almost choked on it.

"Xiao Lan, come with me!"

Seeing Chen Hua's composed demeanor, Chu's father realized he wasn't joking and beckoned to Chu Xiaolan.

Chu Xiaolan followed her father into the courtyard.

"Xiao Lan, is Chen Hua's family well-off?"

Eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan, plus four large items—this is clearly not an ordinary family! At the very least, they couldn't afford to reciprocate with such a gift.

Chu's father looked at Chu Xiaolan, and Chu Xiaolan knew what her father meant.

He nodded slightly.

"He... was the factory manager of my old processing plant."

After Chu Xiaolan finished speaking, she saw that her father's brows furrowed even more.

"Xiaoxue, you know our family's circumstances. We're not good enough for someone like that..."

"You two are not a good match."

Father Chu didn't want to hurt his daughter's feelings, but reality is always cruel.

People like them are from a different world than him.

"Dad, I know."

Chu Xiaolan mustered her courage and looked at her father.

"Then why...did you bring him back?"

Father Chu looked at his daughter with puzzlement. Because of nervousness, she could hardly speak in front of people and would often be panting heavily.

He even thought she might not be able to get married.

So when she wanted to learn tailoring, he let her go.

"Dad, I want to try this time."

Chu Xiaolan understood, but since Chen Hua didn't mind her, how could she back down?

“You’re all grown up now, so I can’t really say anything. If you’ve been wronged, just come home.”

Seeing Chu Xiaolan like this, Chu's father sighed.

If she suffers any injustice, he can't stand up for her; after all, their conditions aren't a good match, and she needs to understand that.

"Um."

Chu Xiaolan knew this, which was why she had been so hesitant and unwilling to accept Chen Hua.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!