Lu Amian quickly retreated.
In just a few days, Father Lu looked even more disheveled.
"I don't have any money on me... Didn't you take all the betrothal gifts?"
Upon hearing this, the crowd's gazes toward Lu's father, who was rolling on the ground, became even more complicated.
Father Lu wouldn't let it go, he was practically sitting on the ground tearing his own hair apart.
Originally, he was just someone who liked to drink a little and often acted recklessly. However, after he gained some money and his daughter got married, the people who used to beat him up changed their tune.
Somehow, I managed to coax him into sitting at the card table.
That night passed with nothing but losses; he was so badly humiliated he almost had to pawn his pants.
"You've only been married for a few days, and you're already disowning your father?!"
Lu Amian took out her handkerchief and showed him that there was indeed only one coin inside.
A burst of laughter immediately followed.
Father Lu rubbed his blurry eyes and took a closer look. Ah Mian was still the same as before, wearing a faded and worn-out cloth dress, and no new jewelry. Naturally, the Meng family treated her badly, let alone gave her money to spend.
Seeing that he couldn't squeeze any money out of Lu's, Father Lu angrily flung Lu Amian's sleeve away and rushed into the restaurant to demand that the gamblers return his money.
Meng Jing had never seen anything like this before and was terrified.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we're going home."
Meng Jing was dazed. "How could parents do this?"
She disliked the way people looked at her sister-in-law, especially the gamblers and thugs; she always felt that their scrutinizing gazes were malicious.
Lu Amian only had one coin left, which wasn't enough to buy anything, so she took Meng Jing out of the city.
On the way, she suddenly remembered something and said, "Don't tell your brother about what just happened."
"Why?"
"He'll be angry if he finds out my dad scared you. I'll buy you candy next time."
Meng Jing snorted and didn't respond.
They waited at the city gate for quite a while before they saw Meng Chijian leave the city.
He was carrying a rather large bundle, and Meng Jing immediately rushed forward to complain: "Brother, we ran into sister-in-law's father! He was abandoned on the street by the restaurant and keeps asking us for money! Also, he took all the betrothal gifts you prepared! He's a piece of trash!"
Lu Amian glared at her angrily, "You, you! You! I'm never buying you candy again!"
Meng Jing, hands on her hips, retorted, "I'm not as gullible as you, easily bribed with a piece of candy!"
"You clearly said you'd come back to buy again next time..."
The two were about to start arguing, and Meng Chijian's forehead veins throbbed. After holding back for a while, he tapped each of them on the head and said, "Shut up."
He put all the goods from the bundle into Adou's basket, and grabbed one of them by the back of his collar with each hand, saying, "I told you to go shopping, where are the things you bought?"
Lu Amian: "..."
Meng Jing: "..."
Meng Chijian had anticipated this outcome, but he hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events. Although he had guessed on their wedding day that Lu Amian's family treated her badly, the fact that it was now confirmed made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Despite how badly Meng Jing treated her, she never spoke ill of her family, probably because she didn't like Meng Jing saying such things.
"Xiao Jing, don't talk badly about your elders behind their backs," Meng Chijian said.
Meng Jing turned her face away, clearly unconvinced.
After scolding his younger sister, Meng Chijian reached out and pinched Lu Amian's cheek, saying, "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
Halfway there, the young women were all a little too tired to walk anymore, and at this rate, they didn't know when they would be able to get home.
Meng Chijian put his younger sister on the donkey, beckoned to Lu Amian with his finger, and half-squatted down in front of her to carry her on his back.
Lu Amian was initially alarmed by the threat of "seizing the blame," but now she was stunned.
"What are you standing there for? Come on up."
Meng Chijian said coldly, "So you want me to carry you all the way back?"
“The villagers will talk…”
Meng Chijian glanced at Lu Amian's slender, board-like figure, and felt that it was already a great favor that he hadn't treated her like a child and let her ride on his shoulders.
"...I'll put you down when we get there. Hurry up, it'll get dark soon, and Mom will be scared if she finds out we're not home."
Lu Amian obediently lay on his back.
To be fair, their speed increased significantly now. A donkey... no, Meng Chijian was more useful than a donkey; he was very stable on his back, without any jolting. Besides, a donkey needs to be led; without a leader, A-Dou would just stand still and not go anywhere.
But Meng Chijian is different; even if he accidentally falls asleep, he can still reach his destination.
When they arrived at her doorstep, Ah Mian, who had almost drooled on the person's back, felt quite guilty.
Meng Chijian was unaware that he had already defeated Adou in terms of mount. As dusk fell, the family members were busy with their own tasks, such as cooking, washing dishes, fetching water, and chopping wood.
When it was time to rest, Lu Amian became nervous again.
Fearing repercussions, she deliberately lingered outside, hoping to wait until Meng Chijian fell asleep before going inside.
"Lu Amian, come here."
Upon hearing this, she went inside dejectedly.
He then scanned the surroundings with his eyes, but saw neither a broom nor a stick, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"I called you here because I have something to say to you." Meng Chijian said helplessly, "I roughly understand what happened with your father today. But there's one thing: on your wedding night, you refused to tell the truth and stubbornly lied, saying that there were no betrothal gifts. That was wrong."
Lu Amian didn't want to hear any of this.
"Stretch out your hand."
She reached out her hand and was slapped three times.
Meng Chijian said, "You are not allowed to lie to me from now on."
Lu Amian immediately felt that he was not good, not at all as honest and obedient as Adou.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
