Wang Yingxue noticed that after she finished speaking, they fell silent, and judging from their expressions, it was not yet clear what was going on.
So she tentatively asked, "Did I eat too much and scare you?"
"No, how could that be? Hehe."
"No, no, we're not that timid, haha."
"I wasn't scared. Anyone could eat that much."
All three of them were afraid of upsetting Wang Yingxue, so they answered at the same time when she asked.
However, as soon as Huang Jianguo said that, Chen Zhaodi and Huang Eryuan's pupils shrank.
Chen Zhaodi gave him a reproachful look: That's not how you coax a wife! They can't possibly eat that much!
However, the most important thing now is not to condemn Huang Jianguo's remarks, but to first figure out Wang Yingxue's problem.
Chen Zhaodi looked at Wang Yingxue and asked seriously, "Yingxue, let me ask you, did you not eat your fill the past two days?"
Wang Yingxue nodded shyly: "I have a big appetite, and I'm afraid that if we eat all we can, it will scare you."
Chen Zhaodi continued, "So how much do you usually eat? When you're at your uncle's house?"
Wang Yingxue was a little conflicted. She didn't know whether to tell the truth or to exaggerate her appetite.
Huang Jianguo noticed her hesitation, so he took her hand and reassured her, "It's okay, just tell the truth."
Feeling the warmth of Huang Jianguo in her hand, Wang Yingxue intertwined her fingers with his.
After mentally encouraging himself, he said, "I used to eat four or five bowls of rice to feel full, but in the last two years I've only been eating two bowls."
Chen Zhaodi keenly grasped a word—"in the past".
In a flash, Chen Zhaodi felt that everything made sense.
Why is Wang Yingxue so thin even though she and her aunt seem to have a good relationship?
Why did Aunt Wang and the others say that they didn't need to go back to visit them anymore, even though they were clearly reluctant to part with them?
"So, your uncle and the others didn't mistreat you, right?"
Wang Yingxue asked curiously, "Why are you asking if my uncle has mistreated me? My uncle and his family have been very good to me."
Huang Jianguo explained, "Aunt Wang said that she saw you washing a huge pile of clothes all by yourself. And you're the thinnest person in the Wang family."
Wang Yingxue shook her head vigorously and quickly explained to her uncle and the others, "No! That's not how it is!"
"The clothes I washed that time, Aunt Wang saw, were not from my uncle's family. There happened to be a family in the village who had twins and were too busy to keep up with the demand at that time."
“I went to them and helped them with their laundry. In return, they gave us some food.”
"As for why I'm the thinnest in the family, it's because I'm strong and eat a lot. I ate all the food at my uncle's house, and everyone was starving."
"My uncles and aunts only eat one bowl of rice each, but I eat the most. However, I'm still getting thinner and thinner, and it has nothing to do with them!"
“If it were anyone else, they probably would have kicked me out of the house long ago. But after I emptied my savings, my uncles and aunts would rather borrow grain than kick me out.”
"My uncle and aunt are both very good to me, really."
Wang Yingxue became increasingly distressed as she spoke, and by the end, her voice was trembling with tears.
Seeing this, Huang Jianguo gently patted her head with his other hand to comfort her.
Chen Zhaodi and Huang Eryuan, on the other hand, were processing what Wang Yingxue had said.
They found it a bit frightening. Although the villagers might not have much savings, to have their entire fortune wiped out like that was just too outrageous!
After recovering, Chen Zhaodi stiffly comforted him, "It's okay, it's just that you ate a little more, we understand."
"I have another question. Why did your uncle and his family ask you not to visit them anymore?"
Huang Jianguo also looked at her with some curiosity.
When Wang Yingxue heard this question, she felt a little embarrassed and started buttoning her pants.
He admitted with some shame, "I was the one who made my uncles say that."
The other three asked in unison, "Huh? Why?!"
Wang Yingxue, who was already looking down, lowered her head even further: "Because I'm afraid that if they find out I have a big appetite, I'll be sent back."
“Because my uncle’s family was almost starving, I thought I’d find someone from the city and ask for a higher dowry. The dowry wasn’t set by my uncle; I said I wanted that much.”
"But I'm also afraid that if I ask for so many gifts and they find out I have a big appetite, I'll be sent back to my uncle's house."
“I was thinking that if my uncle and his family cut off all contact with me before I got married, maybe they would take advantage of the fact that I had nowhere else to go and not kick me out.”
Huang Eryuan, Chen Zhaodi, and Huang Jianguo: Completely dumbfounded...
Chen Zhaodi suddenly remembered what Huang Qinqin had said when they arrived at Wangjia Village that day.
I couldn't help but think to myself: Her daughter really has a keen eye!
A single sentence revealed the truth: it really was Wang Yingxue who had asked for the bride price!
Chen Zhaodi thought this was truly outrageous; her mother opening the door for someone else was utterly absurd...
Chen Zhaodi could only try her best to comfort herself: It's okay, eating a lot means you're healthy, being able to eat is a blessing, Wang Yingxue is very lucky, haha.
Then she thought again, actually eating more wouldn't affect her. Because this wasn't her daughter-in-law, but Huang Jianguo's daughter-in-law.
It's Huang Jianguo's responsibility to support Wang Yingxue. Since she doesn't have to support her, what does she have to be afraid of?
Huang Eryuan, who had shared a bed with her for decades, clearly had the same idea.
The look in their eyes changed from melancholy to schadenfreude.
Chen Zhaodi said with a smile, "Yingxue is fine. Being able to eat is a blessing, a good thing. Don't deliberately avoid eating in the future, okay?"
"Also, since it's all a misunderstanding with your uncle, then let Jianguo accompany you back to visit them during the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"We can just keep in touch normally. As for the banquet, we can discuss it after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and then our two families can talk about it together."
Huang Eryuan patted Huang Jianguo on the shoulder with a gloating expression and said earnestly, "Boss, you'd better work hard to make money."
"As a man who stands tall and upright, it is your responsibility to support your family."
Then he proudly patted his chest and said, "Look at me, I raised you three siblings to adulthood."
"Alright, it's getting late. Your mom and I are going back to sleep now. You guys should go to sleep early too."
As Huang Jianguo watched them turn and leave, he always felt like they were nagging at him from behind.
Seeing Wang Yingxue looking at him somewhat nervously, he smiled and comforted her, "It's okay, I will work hard to earn money to support you."
"Don't starve yourself from now on. I'll give you an extra five or eight yuan a month for groceries. If it's not enough, just let me know."
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