Hearing this, Xiao Juan's tears flowed again. She turned to leave, but Zhi Ming grabbed her hand:
"Xiaojuan, don't go! I...I like you, and I want to be with you. As for my mom, I'll talk to her about it."
Xiao Juan froze, tears streaming down her face: "You...you're serious?"
"Of course it's true," Zhiming said, mustering his courage. "I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but... I just didn't dare to say it. I thought you looked down on me."
Seeing this, Ye Xiaoxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The fact that these two young people were able to talk things out is a first step in the right direction.
However, she knew this wasn't over yet. Lu Dagang would definitely cause trouble again, and Zhang Dajiang probably wouldn't let it go easily either.
Adding to the issues with my second aunt, this relationship still has a long way to go.
But at least now they're willing to fight for each other. That's enough.
"Alright, you guys go ahead and get busy," Ye Xiaoxiao said with a smile.
"Your older brother and I will help you figure out the rest."
The next morning, Lu Xiaojuan's mother, Zhang Guilan, and her brother, Lu Jun, arrived at the store.
This time, the tension wasn't as high as yesterday; it seemed like they were trying to reason things out.
"Xiaojuan, you know our family's situation..." Zhang Guilan said, holding her daughter's hand, her eyes reddening.
Your brother is getting married, and the family needs to prepare a dowry.
"If Zhang Dajiang hadn't been willing to give 5,000 yuan as a bride price, your dad wouldn't have been in such a hurry for you to get married."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiaoxiao immediately understood; it was all about money.
In rural areas nowadays, when people get married, the groom's family is expected to give a bride price, which is usually less than 2,000 yuan.
Zhang Dajiang asked for three thousand right off the bat; no wonder Lu Dagang was so eager.
Lu Jun also tried to persuade his sister from the side:
"Girl, think about your family too. I need to give 2,000 yuan as a bride price for my wedding, and I also need to buy all sorts of furniture."
My family simply can't afford that much money. If you could bring in three thousand, things would be much easier for me.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Juan's tears fell again.
"Brother, your wedding costs three thousand, so do I have to get married quickly to raise the money for you?"
"There's nothing we can do about it," Zhang Guilan sighed.
"Your brother is a boy, he'll get married. Besides, you'll get married sooner or later, it doesn't matter who you marry, Zhang Dajiang is even giving such a large dowry."
Ye Xiaoxiao couldn't stand it anymore: "Auntie, that's not right."
Xiao Juan is also your child. How can you push her out to make money just because your brother wants to get married?
Ultimately, it depends on whether Xiaojuan is willing or not.
"This..." Zhang Guilan was somewhat embarrassed, "But his older brother is a boy, so we have to arrange his marriage. Besides, Xiao Juan will get married sooner or later anyway."
"She still has to marry someone she likes. Look at Zhang Dajiang, he's always threatening people. Can someone like that give Xiaojuan a good life? What if he beats her every day after they get married? Then it'll be too late for you to regret it."
Ye Xiaoxiao thought about Zhang Dajiang's appearance. Lu Xiaojuan, being so small, would surely be beaten to death.
"But..." Zhang Guilan wanted to say something more.
Lu Dajun interrupted her: "Little sister, don't be stubborn. If you don't agree, Dad said he won't acknowledge you as his daughter. I don't have a sister like you anymore. You decide for yourself."
Lu Jun was getting impatient. He had heard yesterday that his father had told him that his sister had taken a liking to a man in the shop.
"You!" Ye Xiaoxiao said sharply.
"You, as the older brother, are so focused on getting married that you don't even care about your sister's lifelong happiness?"
Zhiming stood to the side, clenching his fists. He wanted to speak, but was afraid of making things worse.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Lu Jun asked anxiously. "I have to find a way to scrape together the bride price."
Ye Xiaoxiao sneered, "So you're going to let Xiaojuan marry someone she doesn't like, and then use the dowry to get you a wife? You're so selfish."
Zhang Guilan blushed at what she was being told: "This...isn't this all for the good of the children?"
"For whose good?" Ye Xiaoxiao retorted. "For his good, right? What about Xiao Juan? Doesn't her happiness matter?"
"That's none of your business. He can live the same life with anyone. Besides, it's our daughter's place; we can let her marry whomever she wants. What's it to you? Xiaojuan, let's stop working and go home."
Zhang Guilan glared at Ye Xiaoxiao, then looked down on Li Zhiming standing beside her. She was about to pull Xiao Juan home.
"Mom, I don't want to. I don't want to marry Zhang Dajiang. I only want to marry Li Zhiming. I'm not going back."
Lu Juan shook off her mother and hid behind Li Zhiming.
“I started working and earning money when I was sixteen, and I’ve made a lot of money for the family over the years. Can’t you think about me? I’m your daughter too. Why do you only care about your son?”
Lu Xiaojuan cried sadly.
Hearing her daughter's cries, Zhang Guilan's heart softened for a moment, but when she heard her son calling her from the side, her heart hardened again.
"What do you know? We're doing this for your own good."
"Auntie, I understand your difficulties."
Ye Xiaoxiao softened her tone, "But matters of the heart can't be forced. If you truly care about Xiaojuan, you should let her choose for herself."
"What about his brother's bride price?" Zhang Guilan started wiping away tears again.
"I...I'll offer three thousand," Zhiming, who had been silent all along, suddenly said.
"I like Xiaojuan and want to date her. Consider this three thousand yuan as my advance betrothal gift."
The room fell silent. Everyone stared at Zhiming in surprise, never expecting this usually taciturn man to say such a thing.
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