Zhang Shiyu disagreed, "That's to save face for him! He was just an educated youth who went to the countryside and didn't pay any dowry. What's a watch compared to that?"
On a winter afternoon, the warm sun lazily shone into the courtyard, adding a touch of warmth to this ordinary farmhouse. A few stubborn rays even pierced through the window and fell on Zhang Shiyu's face, giving her a gentle glow.
But Zhang Shiyu shattered this beautiful moment with her first words. Her face was full of disdain as she raised her voice and said dismissively, "That's to save face for him! He's just an educated youth who married Yue without paying a single dowry. What's a watch to him?"
As she spoke, her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with resentment.
Zhang's mother sat to the side, not angry at all, with a gentle smile on her face, and gently shook her head, "Look at your impatient nature, I haven't finished speaking yet."
Her voice was calm and measured, carrying the composure of an elder. "Yes! He didn't give a bride price, but look, this year your Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu are both wearing new cotton-padded clothes. That's cotton! I won't even go into how difficult it is to get it."
Zhang's mother squinted slightly, recalling the satisfied expressions on the faces of the Yu family elders when they put on their new cotton-padded clothes. "Just thinking about that sentiment, many sons can't compare! Not to mention, Yuehui has changed so much; she's had several new outfits made this year!"
“We can’t judge people based on a single moment; we have to look at the long term. Especially Xie Yan, I think he’s a good kid, better than the other educated youth, not to mention the other young men here.”
"Even your third brother can't compare to Xie Yan!"
Zhang Weiguo was Zhang Shiyu's most admired older brother, so how could she accept her mother saying such a thing? She immediately retorted loudly, "In what way can he compare to my third brother?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Yan's handsome face immediately flashed into her mind, and she immediately felt guilty.
Zhang's mother didn't say anything, but just smiled at her daughter. She saw the girl's eyes start to wander, but then she seemed to remember something, regained her composure, and said righteously, "Then Xie Yan must have spent his own money on all the things he bought!"
"How much money could Xie Yan, a sent-down youth, possibly have?" she said, getting off the kang (a heated brick bed) and standing up with her hands on her hips. "I've heard that his family hardly ever sends him any packages! Look at those families with better financial conditions, don't they all receive packages from home every month?"
Zhang's mother's face darkened slightly, and she lightly slapped Zhang Shiyu with a hint of anger, "You silly girl, why do you always talk back!"
She looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with both helplessness and a hint of reproach, "Xie Yan doesn't send many packages to his family, but he's never sent anything to his family either!"
"It's better than those who can't even feed themselves, yet still save up to send food home, right?"
"Besides, if Yuehui had money before, why haven't I seen her wear any new clothes?"
You! Don't judge a book by its cover! Those clothes were definitely bought for Yuehui by Xie Yan!
At this point, Zhang's mother suddenly leaned closer to Zhang Shiyu, her expression turning serious. "I'm only telling you this! You'll forget it as soon as you hear it!"
She stared intently into Zhang Shiyu's eyes until Zhang Shiyu nodded obediently, then whispered, "Only your aunt told me this. It seems Xie Yan doesn't have a very good relationship with his family!"
Zhang Shiyu: "?"
She tilted her head and looked at her mother. Didn't this further prove that Xie Yan had no money?
Looking at her silly daughter, Zhang's mother said with a mix of disappointment and frustration, "This means that even if you go back to the city, Yuehui won't be able to please her in-laws."
"After all, Xie Yan isn't close to them. If his parents bully Yue Hui, he'll protect his wife!"
Zhang Shiyu nodded, still somewhat uncertain, and asked, "Mother! How did you know that Xie Yan would bring Yue Hui back with him when he returned to the city?"
Her voice trailed off, "What if—I mean, what if he just leaves?"
“What should we do about Yuehui? You don’t know, she’s completely in love. If Xie Yan really leaves without a word, I don’t know what will become of Yuehui.”
Mother Zhang chuckled softly, the winter sun shining on her face, radiating a confident glow. "Don't worry about that. They're married, after all. Where can they go? Even at the ends of the earth, he'll still be the same man as Yuehui. Would he dare to do anything reckless?"
Zhang Shiyu looked at her mother in surprise, her eyes wide open, "Mom, who came up with the idea of getting a marriage certificate?"
"Don't people here not get marriage certificates?"
“When I suggested that my older brother and sister-in-law get their marriage certificate, didn’t you all say I was being nosy?”
Zhang's mother glared at her daughter. "How can they be the same? Your sister-in-law and I know each other inside and out. Do you think I'm afraid she'll run away?"
"Besides, have you ever seen anyone who's actually registered their marriage?"
"But Xie Yan is different; after all, he was an educated youth sent to the countryside."
At this point, Zhang's mother's lips curled up slightly, a mysterious smile on her face. "Your eldest uncle told me about this. He's an official, so he definitely knows much more than we do!"
“He said that what people in the city value most is getting a marriage certificate, and once you get a certificate, you are protected by law. Your aunt told me this secretly.”
"Do you think they'd just stand by and watch Yuehui get scammed?!"
Zhang Shiyu touched her nose sheepishly, but stubbornly said, "That doesn't mean Xie Yan is a good person. Otherwise, why would Uncle make extra plans?"
Zhang's mother was really angry now, and she reached out and flicked her daughter on the forehead, saying, "I think you're just looking for trouble!"
Zhang Shiyu covered her head and said, feeling very aggrieved, "Mother!"
Zhang's mother looked at her daughter and sighed helplessly.
She knew in her heart that this child had been a close friend of Yuehui since childhood and treated Yuehui like family. Her concern had clouded her judgment.
She said earnestly, "Don't overthink it! From what I've known, Xie Yan is indeed a good kid!"
"The most important thing is that you are truly sincere towards Yuehui!"
"Your aunt and I are both quite old; we can tell whether someone is sincere or not."
Zhang Shiyu lay back down on the kang (a heated brick bed), covered her face with the quilt, and murmured, "Then we have to be careful of him. What if he's just a great actor?"
Seeing that her daughter had come to her senses and was just being stubborn, Zhang's mother stopped paying attention to her.
There's still a ton of work waiting for her in the yard.
When their daughter came back this time, she made a new set of clothes for the old couple. The old man wore them out to show off today, and took off a bunch of dirty clothes to wash.
She looked up at the sky; the sun was already beginning to set. She had to hurry and wash her hands while the sun was still out, otherwise the water would get cold and she wouldn't be able to wash them.
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