Almost instinctively, Jiang Hua looked at her mother and asked, "Mom, what did she say... about the bride price?"
Before Jiang's mother could answer, the third person, who had been sitting on the sofa with a smile, covered his mouth and chuckled, "Oh my! What other dowry could there be? Of course, it's the dowry that Fugui gives you!"
"Aunt Wu, really, you didn't even talk to Huahua beforehand?"
Jiang Hua's mother, Wu Lamei, said with a fawning smile, "It's my fault, I forgot."
"Let me introduce you to drawing..."
Jiang Hua understood; her mother had arranged another blind date for her, and this time the dowry had already been agreed upon.
She took a few steps back towards the door, then stubbornly and defiantly yelled at Wu Lamei, "Mom! I've already made it clear to you, I'm not getting married! I'm not getting married! I'm not getting married!!"
Why do you insist on making me get married?!
Liu Chuncao's face changed, revealing a hint of sarcasm: "What do you mean? Not getting married? Aunt Wu, if your Jiang Hua doesn't want to get married, why did you bring the matchmaker here? Aren't you just playing with people's feelings!"
Wu Lamei was taken aback by her daughter's sudden outburst, who had always listened to her. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she instinctively grabbed Jiang Hua, scolding her, "What nonsense are you spouting, you brat! How old are you and still not married! Are you planning to stay single forever?"
"If you don't get married, who will take care of you when you get old? Who will look after you when you're sick?"
"Fugui is such a good man! Not only is he a college graduate from a prestigious university, but his family also owns a company. If you marry him, you'll be destined to live a life of luxury! What more could you possibly want!"
Jiang Hua held back for a while, but couldn't help but stab her: "Since he's as good as you say, then divorce Dad and marry him!"
Wu Lamei was so angry that her mouth twisted in disbelief, and she slapped her hard across the back: "Jiang Hua! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Jiang Hua, holding her breath, shouted at her defiantly for the first time: "Anyway, whoever wants to marry me can marry me! I'm not marrying you!"
After saying that, Jiang Hua rushed straight to her room and slammed the door shut.
Wu Lamei was so angry that her body trembled, while Liu Chuncao frowned, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Hua.
This child has too fiery a temper. If my son marries her, he'll probably be hard to control, and might even be bullied by her. I need to put her temper in check before the wedding.
Thinking this, Liu Chuncao asked Wu Lamei in an annoyed tone, "Aunt Wu, tell me, what's the situation now? Our family has plenty of girls who want to marry, we don't need Jiang Hua from your family."
Wu Lamei smiled ingratiatingly at her: "Of course, our family's painter would be willing to marry her. Sister Liu, you go back first, I'll have a good talk with her."
“Alright.” Liu Chuncao nodded slightly and stood up with Qin Fugui and the matchmaker: “Then I’ll wait for your good news.”
"Okay, sure." Wu Lamei personally saw Liu Chuncao out.
After the guests left, Wu Lamei's smile vanished instantly. Her face darkened as she pounded on Jiang Hua's bedroom door, yelling, "Jiang Hua! Open the door for me!"
"You've really gone too far today! You think you're all grown up now? You're already twenty-five, what are you trying to do by not getting married? Do you expect your dad and me to support you for the rest of your life?"
"Open the door! Open the door now!!" Wu Lamei's voice was shrill and sharp, with a hint of urgency and anger.
Just as she was about to smash a hole in the door, Jiang Hua opened it and asked Wu Lamei wearily, "Mom, do I really have to get married? What kind of divine law have I broken by living alone?"
"You're enjoying being single now! But what will you do when you get old? Isn't all this trouble I'm doing for your own good? If you keep dragging this on, you'll be an old maid! Who will want you then?"
Seeing the weariness on Jiang Hua's face, Wu Lamei's anger paused for a moment. She took Jiang Hua's hand and said earnestly, "Huahua, your parents are getting old and just hope that you can have a companion to lean on in the future. The Qin family's conditions are really good! If you miss this opportunity, you'll regret it later!"
Jiang Hua recalled the man from earlier, with his fleshy face, large belly, and arms as thick as her thighs. She could smell the stench of sweat when he passed by. Her expression was indescribable: "...He looks old enough to be my father. With those conditions, is it good?"
"He is a bit old, but older people tend to be more caring!"
Jiang Hua forcefully pulled her hand away from Wu Lamei's: "Then let him love someone else, I'm not marrying him!"
Despite Wu Lamei's best efforts to persuade Jiang Hua, she remained unmoved. Wu Lamei suddenly exploded: "This won't do, that won't do! Jiang Hua, are you trying to marry an immortal? I don't care! You have to get married! If you don't, I'll kill myself!"
As she spoke, Wu Lamei rushed toward the balcony. By the time Jiang Hua reacted, she had already stepped half her foot over the railing.
Jiang Hua's mind went blank for a moment, and she cried out in alarm. She rushed forward, grabbed Wu Lamei, and hugged her tightly: "Mom! Calm down!"
"My daughter is going to be a nun or a monk for the rest of her life! How can you expect me to stay calm! Let me go! Let me die! I'll die, then you can marry me or not!"
Jiang Hua desperately grabbed the struggling Wu Lamei, tears and snot streaming down her face. She screamed, "I'll get married! I'll get married, okay?!"
She pleaded, "Mom, please don't do this."
A triumphant glint flashed in Wu Lamei's eyes, but her struggles continued: "I don't believe you! Who knows if you're lying to me!"
"I'm not lying to you!" Jiang Hua's anger vanished in fright. She hugged her tightly, afraid that if she let go, she would really jump off the balcony: "I'm not lying to you, I'll get married, I really will."
Hearing her promise, Wu Lamei finally breathed a sigh of relief. She slowed her struggle, sighed heavily, and gently patted Jiang Hua's hand with her calloused hand to comfort her. Her voice choked with emotion: "Hua, don't blame your mother for pressuring you. Your parents will grow old and die eventually. After we're gone, you'll be eating alone and it will be too lonely when you're sick without anyone by your side."
"Mom is doing this for your own good!"
Jiang Hua felt as if her chest was being squeezed tightly, making her feel suffocated. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
After a long while, Wu Lamei sighed as if giving up: "Fine, Mom won't pressure you for now. Think it over carefully."
"Mom's going to cook. Didn't you say you wanted Mom's braised fish? I bought some today. Also, I saw the bag you always carry had a hole in it the other day, so I bought you a new one today. Go back to your bedroom and see if you like it."
After Wu Lamei finished her nagging, she wiped her eyes and went to the kitchen as if nothing had happened, leaving Jiang Hua standing helplessly on the balcony.
She stared blankly at Wu Lamei's busy figure in the kitchen, and in a daze realized that her mother had really grown old. The straight back she remembered was now somewhat hunched, her temples were gray, and her face was wrinkled.
Jiang Hua stood silently for a while, then turned and went back to her bedroom.
Only then did she notice a beige bag that she had liked for a long time on the computer chair where she usually sat.
Jiang Hua stared blankly at the beige bag. She had hated Wu Lamei when she was about to jump off the building, but now, seeing this bag and hearing Wu Lamei's caring words, she couldn't bring herself to hate her anymore.
Jiang Hua picked up her bag, hugged it tightly to her chest, and cried out in despair.
What should she do...?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com