Xiuxiu's mother took off her shoes and sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed). "No."

Xiuxiu's father frowned: "Then why did you say you'd find Xiuxiu a farmer?"

"I... I went to his house and smelled the medicine everywhere, so I didn't want to marry Xiuxiu to him." Although she loved her son, her daughter was also her own flesh and blood.

"You didn't say?"

"Hmm. Dad, let's find someone for Xiuxiu nearby."

Xiuxiu's father glared at Xiuxiu's mother. "Didn't you know before that he was a sickly man?"

"I...I regret it."

Xiuxiu's father looked at Xiuxiu's mother and asked, "Do you want our son and grandson to be successful?"

"I……"

Xiuxiu's father continued, "The only men willing to marry Xiuxiu now are either old bachelors or widows. Do you want Xiuxiu to marry an old bachelor or become someone's stepmother?"

“If he dies, Xiuxiu will become a widow.”

"He's been sickly ever since he came. It's been years and he's still having trouble breathing?"

"this……"

"I sent you to propose marriage. You came back as soon as you smelled the medicine. What else could you possibly do?"

"I...I'm just worried that Xiuxiu will be a widow. Oh, right, that sickly man has a son." Xiuxiu's parents don't usually interact with Yangyang's grandmothers, so they didn't know that Ouyang Jiahui had a son.

"Then why didn't you go with them?"

"He gave it to his mother when they divorced."

"How could you give it to his mother? That's his son."

"The old lady said she was afraid the children would suffer with them."

"That's true. Go again tomorrow night and see if they're willing to let our Xiuxiu marry into their family."

"Alright. If he does... Xiuxiu will become a widow."

Xiuxiu's father glanced at Xiuxiu's mother. "If he turns his life around, Xiuxiu will become a city dweller. If Xiuxiu becomes a city dweller, our son and grandson will benefit from it. But if Xiuxiu marries an old bachelor or a widow, will our son and grandson benefit from it?"

Xiuxiu's mother was persuaded by Xiuxiu's father again. "Then I'll go again tomorrow night."

"Don't come back without saying anything this time."

"Um."

On the other side, as soon as Xiuxiu's mother left, Yangyang's grandmother patted her chest. "I was so scared. I thought he knew Xiuxiu had given us a wild ginseng and was coming to ask us for it."

Grandpa Yangyang thought so too. "I was startled just now too."

"Old man, what do you think she came here for tonight?"

"Just want to chat about everyday things?"

"Didn't you say that the couple avoids us whenever they see us?"

Grandpa Yangyang thought for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. "Anyway, they definitely didn't come to propose marriage to us."

Grandma Yangyang's eyes lit up. "Maybe she really has come to propose marriage to us."

"impossible."

“Why not? Our son is not only good-looking but also well-educated. Although her daughter is hardworking, she is not good-looking and is too old. Maybe...maybe she really is here to propose marriage to us.”

Grandpa Yang thought about what Xiuxiu's mother had just said. "What she said just now didn't seem to mean that."

"Oh dear, isn't this her first time visiting? How can she imply she wants to marry her daughter into our family on her first visit?"

Grandpa Yangyang thought about it and agreed. "If they really are willing to marry Xiuxiu to our son, then we can die in peace." The thing that Grandpa Yangyang and Grandma Yangyang are most worried about right now is Yangyang's father.

"Um."

"Do you think we should tell our son about this?"

Grandma Yangyang thought for a moment: "Let's not say anything yet. What if... what if I guessed wrong?"

"Then let's wait a little longer."

"Um."

The next evening, Xiuxiu's mother came again quietly.

When Grandma Yangyang saw that Xiuxiu's mother had come again, she knew she had guessed right. "Xiuxiu's mother, please sit down."

After Xiuxiu's mother sat down, Yangyang's grandfather poured her a bowl of water. "We don't have any tea leaves at home, please don't mind."

"No problem, no problem at all. Brother, is the child feeling any better?"

"Much better. Thanks to..."

Before Grandpa Yangyang could finish speaking, Grandma Yangyang quickly interrupted him. "It's a good thing there's been no work in the fields lately. Otherwise, his father and I wouldn't have had time to take care of him."

Xiuxiu's mother felt relieved. "That's good. You must have been exhausted these past few days. You've both lost weight."

Grandma Yangyang sighed. "There's nothing we can do. It's just the two of us old folks around my son. If we don't take care of him, no one else will."

Xiuxiu's mother looked at Yangyang's grandparents. "Have you thought about finding him another one?"

Grandma Yangyang: "I want to. I dream about it all the time. You know, his father and I are so old, what if we were to pass away..." Grandma Yangyang said, holding Xiuxiu's mother's hand. "Sister, I... I can't sleep at night when I think about it."

Xiuxiu's mother grasped Yangyang's grandmother's hand. "Children are all debts. Old sister, to be honest, I also can't sleep at night because of my child."

Grandma Yangyang: "What's wrong? I heard your sons are all very filial."

Xiuxiu's mother was very happy to hear this. "My sons are very filial. Let me tell you..." Xiuxiu's mother praised her sons.

After praising her son, Xiuxiu's mother started talking about her daughter. "Sister, I've only had one daughter in my life. Now that she's grown up, I've been thinking about finding her a good husband. But I haven't found anyone suitable." Xiuxiu's mother looked at Yangyang's grandmother: "Sister, I'm almost worried to death."

Since Xiuxiu's mother had already said all that, Yangyang's grandmother naturally had to chime in. "What's there to worry about? Xiuxiu is such a wonderful girl! She's capable and kind-hearted. If I could have a daughter-in-law like Xiuxiu, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

Xiuxiu's mother looked at Yangyang's grandmother and asked, "Do you really think my Xiuxiu is good?"

"Hmm. If it weren't for... if it weren't for my family's bad class background, I would have gone to your house to propose marriage long ago."

"real?"

"Yes. I was telling his dad a couple of days ago that I wanted to go to your house to propose marriage."

"So... what does your son think?"

“My son also thinks Xiuxiu is great. Sister, would you and Xiuxiu’s father be willing to let Xiuxiu marry my son?”

“I’m willing. But… Sister, Xiuxiu’s father and I don’t care about your family’s social class. But…” Xiuxiu’s mother said, holding Yangyang’s grandmother’s hand. “Sister, besides Xiuxiu, I have three other sons. Xiuxiu’s father and I want Xiuxiu to find a good husband, but we can’t abandon our sons.”

Grandma Yangyang's heart sank.

Xiuxiu's mother continued, "Elder sister, I sincerely want to become in-laws with you. Xiuxiu's father's idea is that after Xiuxiu marries into your family, we'll pretend to sever ties with her. That way, my sons won't be affected. Xiuxiu's father and I can also secretly help you. Elder sister, what do you think?"

"Okay! Okay!" Grandma Yangyang thought it was hopeless. She didn't expect that they just wanted to pretend to distance themselves from Xiuxiu.

Then, Grandma Yangyang and Xiuxiu's mother discussed the specifics.

The next day, Xiuxiu's father kicked her out of the house. He said he wanted to sever all ties with her.

The villagers asked Xiuxiu's father why he kicked Xiuxiu out of the house.

Xiuxiu's father said that Xiuxiu wanted to marry Ouyang Jiahui.

The villagers couldn't immediately recall who Ouyang Jiahui was. After learning who Chu Ouyang Jiahui was, the villagers were both surprised and felt it made perfect sense.

The man's social class is problematic. The woman is tall, strong, and dark-skinned. She's also quite old.

The man was sickly. The woman was more capable than the man at work.

Meanwhile, Han Bin received a call from Chen Chuan as soon as he arrived at work. After hanging up, Han Bin wondered whether he should go or not.