There are solutions, of course.
In fact, there are many more.
But Erdanzi's persistent and clingy nature is the only one that won't listen; what good person would like a scoundrel?
"I'm asking you, since you've taken a liking to that girl, have you ever formally gone to her house to propose marriage?"
"Huh?" Erdanzi looked embarrassed when he heard her ask this. He lowered his head and helplessly scratched his patched clothes. His lowered eyebrows also revealed a faint sense of inferiority. "No... Qianqian's family is well-off. Her father is a construction worker, and her brother can drive a small truck. As for my family, you know my situation. I don't know how to talk to them."
His awareness is not bad.
Ye Yun: "Then why don't you improve yourself first?"
"Sister-in-law, what you said is exactly what Brother Zheng said." Erdanzi smiled sheepishly, rubbing his nose, and said, "I also thought about making money first. I wanted to learn how to drive a car from Qianqian's brother, so I could make money and get closer to him. But he wouldn't take me and even told me to get lost. You see, I'm uneducated, have no skills, and am not well-liked. How can I improve myself?"
He was very thin, with sunken cheeks and slightly protruding cheekbones; he was frighteningly thin.
But when he smiles, his eyes light up, and all his usual swagger disappears, leaving only the youthful vigor and naivety of a young man.
"Then how dare you pursue that young girl?"
"Huh?" Erdanzi scratched the back of his head, blushing as he laughed, "If you like her, just go for it..."
"So you think you're good enough for her?"
Ye Yun didn't hold back this time either, hitting the nail on the head and striking right at Erdanzi's heart.
Erdanzi was startled, and his face gradually turned ashen.
"Brother, don't blame your sister-in-law for being harsh. These days, marrying off a daughter isn't like our parents' generation. When daughters grew up, they couldn't wait to get rid of them. Now, everyone considers the other party's character and conditions. Nobody wants their daughter to suffer after marrying into a wealthy family, right? Besides, the girl's family is well-off. She can't just give up a good life to marry you and suffer, can she?"
"you do not say."
Qin Zheng was much more blunt in response to Ye Yun's tactful words, giving Erdanzi a cold glance and saying, "I think you're a toad trying to eat swan meat. Look at your current situation, you're not looking for a wife, you want to drag someone into a fire pit so you can serve your parents for free, right?"
It wasn't that Qin Zheng looked down on Erdanzi, he just didn't like beating around the bush with his brothers.
These words struck a nerve with Erdanzi.
Erdanzi opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say a word.
He was only interested in fooling around with Qianqian, running to Maolou every day, climbing walls, blocking doors, and not giving up even when he got beaten up, just trying to keep the little girl by his side.
But he didn't seem to have considered how to treat people after he'd taken them in.
Does he expect Qianqian, a delicate young woman, to continue eating pickled vegetables and drinking cold water with him?
His family was poor. He was born late in life, and his parents were old. His father had fallen and injured himself while climbing the mountain a few years ago and had to stay in bed. He had to spend money to brew a few doses of traditional Chinese medicine from time to time. His mother, an old woman, not only had to work in the fields, but also had to take care of his father who was paralyzed in bed.
Besides his parents, he also had a little girl abandoned by his heartless older sister.
Years ago, his sister had a difficult childbirth. She cried out in pain for a whole day and night at the health center before finally giving birth. The little girl cried weakly like a kitten after holding it in for so long. His sister never woke up again. His sister's in-laws disliked that the child was a girl, so they abandoned both the little girl and his sister at the health center. It was he and his mother who pulled a handcart to bring his sister home.
He still remembers that it was snowing heavily that day, and the snow falling on them was as cold as his sister's body.
The little girl is only five years old this year and still needs to be taken care of by adults. It is precisely because of the heavy burden on the family that he cannot go far away at will. He can only live with his mother and guard the crops. Otherwise, his mother, an old woman, would not be able to take care of this dilapidated home.
Yes, how could he forget?
How could he forget all those hardships and pursue a girl who grew up in luxury?
Isn't he trying to drag people into a fire pit?
Erdanzi raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. The stinging pain brought him back to his senses, making him realize that he had almost ruined a perfectly good girl's life.
Damn, he's such a jerk.
The slap was loud and forceful, and Erdanzi's face quickly turned red, leaving a high slap mark, which made Qin Zheng click his tongue.
Qin Zheng sighed, "I was just saying a few words to you, and now you're hitting yourself?"
Erdanzi was unusually silent, staring down at the toes of his old cloth shoes, his eyes vacant, seemingly lost in thought.
"Let's go visit that girl's family."
Three large unison bills were handed to Erdanzi.
When Erdanzi saw the large set of unity bills, he looked up in surprise, his eyes filled with deep confusion. "Brother Zheng, what do you mean by this?"
Ye Yun smiled faintly, "Silly, I'm asking you to buy some gifts and visit Qianqian's house. Didn't you want to go on a road trip with Qianqian's brother? You need to show some sincerity first."
Qin Zheng also stuffed the money into Erdanzi's hand and instructed him in a calm tone, "What kind of malted milk powder walnut pastry? Also, pick up two bottles of wine for your future father-in-law. See what the girl likes, whether it's clothes or greasy clothes. Buy some and give some away as a gift. Show your sincerity, and see if her brother will still let you get lost?"
Erdanzi stared helplessly at the three ten-yuan bills in his hand, not daring to accept them.
He couldn't save up three ten-yuan bills even after working hard for half a year. Now that he's taken Qin Zheng's money, he feels good, but how is he going to pay it back in the future?
never mind.
Erdanzi stuffed the money back into Qin Zheng's pocket and smiled nonchalantly, "Brother Zheng, no need, I'm not getting married."
Qin Zheng raised an eyebrow, "Not getting married?"
“That’s right.” Erdanzi chuckled. “Look at me, I’m penniless, with elderly parents and young children to support. If I were to marry a wife, she would only bring trouble to her. I have no skills and no education, so it’s better for me to live alone. After the old folks pass away, I can find a husband for my little girl. I’ll be able to eat my fill and not have anyone to worry about. How carefree would that be?”
That way, the girl won't have to suffer with him.
Erdanzi waved his hand, suppressing the stinging in his eyes, and said nothing more before turning to leave.
"Wait a minute."
Qin Zheng called out to him.
When Erdanzi came to his senses, he saw Qin Zheng pull out several ten-yuan bills from his pocket.
"No need, Brother Zheng, don't bother." Erdanzi quickly refused, and the next second, Qin Zheng stuffed three ten-yuan bills into his chest pocket.
As if that wasn't enough, Qin Zheng counted out two more bills from his pocket and stuffed them into his pocket as well.
"Take it."
Qin Zheng said in a deep voice, "It's not wrong for you to want to get married. No one says that if you're not well-off, you should stay single. No one is born a big boss. As long as you're ambitious and can make something of yourself in the future, why worry about not being able to provide a good life for that young lady?"
Erdanzi was speechless with astonishment.
Qin Zheng patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Think it over carefully. Don't refuse too quickly and leave yourself with regrets. You'll regret it when you're old."
Erdanzi lowered his head.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
He clutched the pocket in front of his chest, the five ten-yuan bills burning his heart like a red-hot branding iron.
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