Chapter 22 Come with me to Zhang Guodong’s house to apologize now!
"That's not necessary. Everything I eat will be delicious when you're married. You can worry more about your own life when you have time."
Dong Mei didn't know how she got into such bad luck. She angrily threw down her chopsticks, turned her head away and stared at the wall with a lawsuit-like look on her face. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Aunt, I will worry about your lifelong affairs. Marriage is not something that can be done in a hurry. I have grown up and I want to make my own choices."
Zhao Xiaojing controlled her tone and tried to communicate in a gentle manner.
"You're worried? If you knew worrying would lead you to do something like this! Zhang Guodong's family is dressed neatly and carrying their things, waiting for you, and you don't even give them face! You said you can't come, so don't come. Who do you think you are? Who gave you the face not to come?"
"If you don't like the one I found for you, you can find one yourself. It's like I'm forcing you to get married! You're already so old and don't care about anything, so why do you expect to make your own choices?"
"You're becoming more and more picky. You look down on everyone. Why don't you think about what you have to choose from? Why would anyone look down on you?!"
Dong Mei finally opened up and said a lot in one breath, and no longer ignored Zhao Xiaojing, but the situation did not get better at all.
"Aunt, you didn't tell me in advance that Zhang Guodong and his family were coming to dinner. If you had told me in advance, I would have told you in advance that I wouldn't be coming. I didn't want to give anyone face. I just wanted to have my own choice."
Zhao Xiaojing suppressed her anger and grievances and tried to explain as calmly as possible.
"I'm not looking down on anyone. Marriage is a big deal. I can't just marry whoever has better conditions. I'm only 24. I really don't have anything. No job, no education, so why should I get married so early? I can only be a housewife."
"So if you don't get married, you can rise to prominence and become a high-ranking official? So many people are married, and others are married because they have jobs and education, and others just want to be housewives?
"If you say that, most people in this country won't be able to get married, so they shouldn't even get married!" Dong Mei retaliated fiercely.
"Third Aunt, that's not what I meant. I didn't say I wouldn't get married, but I at least have to be a good person before I can find a good person."
Having experienced two disastrous marriages in her previous life, Zhao Xiaojing had long since lost all hope for marriage. She believed love existed, but it just wouldn't happen to her. So, she wasn't prepared to enter another marriage and repeat the same life-destroying pattern. But she couldn't bring herself to say that to Dong Mei, as that would make her explode. So, she had to adopt a conciliatory approach.
"Are you saying the one I found for you isn't great? It's fine if you disliked the previous Wang family boss, but his mother was a real troublemaker. But what about Zhang Guodong? He has a stable job, his parents have incomes, and he bought a big house. What's there to dislike about him?"
"But as I said earlier, I have nothing myself. What can I change by marrying her? I can only be a housewife."
"What's wrong with being a housewife? Men work outside and women stay home, it's a national tradition! You have to have everything before you get married, then why does the old saying say to get married first and then build a career? You're just selfish and don't want to get married! If you understood my painstaking efforts and how hard it was for your mother to raise you, you would have gotten married a long time ago. There wouldn't be any need for me to worry so much!"
"Who do you think..."
"Who is like you..."
The topic returned to the starting point, and Dong Mei began to chatter incessantly, her bandit-like logical consistency making it impossible to defeat her.
In the past, there was always compromise, but after two lifetimes, compromise has not solved any problems.
"No matter how stupid you are, wake up today. Zhang Guodong doesn't have to be on duty tonight. Come with me to Zhang Guodong's house right now to apologize. When you get there, shut up and do whatever I tell you to do! If you dare say anything more, I'll punish you!"
"What are you still standing there for? Go comb your hair! It's disheveled. You should have some manners when you go to someone else's house, right?! Your sister's makeup is in the second bedroom, put some on!"
After Dong Mei scolded Zhao Xiaojing profusely, she started making decisions on her own. She turned around and took out a few gift boxes from the inner room, then instructed Zhao Xiaojing to get dressed.
When Zhao Xiaojing saw that Dong Mei was still like this and didn't listen to her at all, she really planned to drag her to apologize and even prepared everything. She no longer cared about suppressing her emotions and speaking properly. Her mind was filled with the idea of refusing at all costs.
"Aunt, am I really selfish? Aren't you selfish? Getting married is my own business, why do you always want to control my life?!"
"You tell me I'm already this old, but you don't allow me to make my own decisions. You haven't given me the slightest right to grow up! No matter how good Zhang Guodong's family is, it was you who chose him, not me! I didn't choose him!"
Zhao Xiaojing took a few steps back in resistance and shouted out loud. The words that she had not dared to say for so many years came out of her mouth so easily.
"What did you say?! Say it again!"
Dong Mei slammed the cabinet door shut and pointed at Zhao Xiaojing with an angry look on her face.
"I said this is not what I want! I won't get married! Even if you put a knife to my neck today and I die, I will not marry him!"
Zhao Xiaojing completely gave up the idea of talking nicely and started to fight to the death.
Bang!
Dong Mei quickly walked up to Zhao Xiaojing and slapped her hard with all her might.
Zhao Xiaojing had been slapped several times in her previous life and was prepared. She stepped back and Dong Mei's hand slammed on the door.
"Don't be so ungrateful! If it weren't for your mother, who would care about you?"
Dong Mei's hands were shaking in frustration.
"Third Aunt, do you really treat me like a human being? I have to do everything according to your wishes. I don't even have the right to choose something as important as marriage. What's the difference between this and raising a cat or a dog?
You always say that if it weren't for my mother, no one would care about me, but my mother has never hit me before. She discusses everything with me and I can have my own opinions!
I know I owe you, and I will never be able to repay your kindness in this lifetime, but Aunt San, life cannot be exchanged! I can't ruin my own life just because of my guilt towards you!
Zhao Xiaojing also shouted at the top of her voice.
"Okay, okay! You've really grown up and become independent! It's up to you! I can't control you anymore. From now on, you can do whatever you want, and don't call me Third Aunt anymore! From now on, we have nothing to do with each other! Get out, get out now!"
Dong Mei yelled quickly and anxiously, pointing at the door and glaring at Zhao Xiaojing angrily.
Zhao Xiaojing immediately opened the door and walked out.
After walking all the way down to the empty staircase, Zhao Xiaojing's forced breath finally collapsed. She squatted on the ground as if she had lost all her strength, buried her head and tried hard to hold back her tears, but instead she choked up violently and loudly.
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