Aunt Ma was furious. She had gone to great lengths to marry her son, but instead of getting a daughter-in-law, she had given all the money her family had borrowed to Yun Ningyan. In her eyes, since Yun Ningyan had accepted their dowry, she was now part of their family.
Moreover, since that little bitch Yun Ningyan has so much money, she should marry her son and serve him and her.
She slapped her thigh, ignoring the wound on her head, and cried out, "Damn it all! You're all bullying us orphans and widows! You're taking advantage of the fact that we don't have a man in our family! God, take me with you! I don't want to live anymore! I don't want to live anymore... These people from the city are bullying us! They took our dowry but don't want to marry my son off..."
She howled so loudly that half the village could hear her. The brigade leader rubbed his forehead; he was very annoyed. This Granny Ma was one of the most troublesome old women in the village!
How did Yun get into trouble with her?
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Aunt Ma kept howling. Yun Ningyan frowned and rubbed her ears, finding it uncomfortable to listen to.
Huo Junshan's eyes were sinister, and his expression was cold. He roared, "Shut up! If you howl again, I'll throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves!"
Aunt Ma dismissed it, thinking, "With so many people here, the Huo boy wouldn't dare!"
Yun Ningyan saw Dahei huddled in the corner and shouted, "Dahei, bite this old hag! Bite her to death!"
Big Black bared its teeth, bared twice, and charged towards Granny Ma.
The captain knew that this big black dog didn't bite and only listened to Huo Junshan, but now Yun Ningyan could also get him to do something.
It's true what they say, "Birds of a feather flock together."
Even her younger siblings might not be able to command Dahei, but Yun Ningyan can. That's really strange!
Before Aunt Ma knew what was happening, she saw the huge, blood-red maw of the giant black dog lunge at her. Terrified, she scrambled to her feet.
Everyone burst into laughter. Liu Zhijun remembered that his pants had been pulled down by this dog on the mountain yesterday, and he glared angrily at Huo Junshan.
The captain said irritably, "Old Ma, stop howling and think about what to do first!"
"What should I do? She accepted my betrothal gifts and has to marry my son, or else she should give me a daughter-in-law instead!"
Song Pandi had been watching the spectacle unfold, but only now dared to speak up, "Yes, I saw Yun Ningyan accept the bride price, but then refuse to marry him. Isn't that cheating her out of money?"
Huo Junshan gave her a cold glance, and Song Pandi suddenly felt a chill down her spine. When her eyes met Huo Junshan's, she instinctively lowered her eyes in a panic.
Yun Ningyan took out the fifty yuan from her pocket, pinched it between two fingers as if it were trash to her. Her eyes flashed with disdain. "You mean this? You still owe me thirty yuan. Have you forgotten?"
She pulled out two ten-yuan bills and threw them next to Aunt Ma. "This is your change. I'm not taking advantage of you. Now, how about we settle your slander against me?"
Aunt Ma's eyes darted around. "What did I accuse you of? Don't try to pin this on me!"
Seeing that his mother had recovered, Ma Lao Er felt more confident and said, "You've already accepted the betrothal gifts, so we're family now. What kind of slander is this?"
Hearing what Huo Junshan said about his family, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Ma Lao Er swallowed hard and quickly hid behind his mother.
Yun Ningyan scoffed, "Aunt Ma ruined my reputation, that's defamation. You've caused me trouble time and time again. Your son proposed to me without my consent, that's hooliganism. I want to see how many heads you have."
"Huo Junshan, go ride your bicycle. I'm going to the county to report them!"
Huo Junshan turned to leave, but the captain immediately grabbed him and advised, "Third brother, Yun girl suffered a loss, we'll help her get it back, no need to call the police, it's too much trouble!"
The brigade leader made the final decision: "Old Ma, did you hear that? You pay Yun, the educated youth, fifty yuan! That's it! If it's not enough, deduct it from your work points!"
He took the twenty yuan from Aunt Ma's hand and handed it to Yun Ningyan, saying, "You still need thirty yuan. We'll deduct it from your family's work points."
Grandma Ma looked unwilling, but she couldn't let her son go to jail, and she couldn't go to jail herself either. The mother and son limped home.
Song Pandi was surprised that Yun Ningyan could escape unscathed even after things had escalated like this. She quietly withdrew from the crowd and headed towards Aunt Ma's house.
Yun Ningyan sneered, "The real show is yet to come!"
Song Pandi wanted to scheme against her, and she was waiting for Song Pandi to walk right into her trap.
Huo Junshan was going back to make mud bricks, and he was worried about leaving Yun Ningyan alone at the educated youth settlement, so he brought her back to the Huo family home.
She took a pound of steamed egg cakes and a bottle of malted milk powder with her when she left, intending to give them to the elderly couple.
Li Xiangyun was overjoyed to see that she was willing to come to her home. Yun Ningyan also liked her as her future mother-in-law very much, and she had just stood up for her.
Li Xiangyun brought her a stool so she could sit down and rest. She handed over the things she had brought, and Li Xiangyun smiled and said, "Don't bring anything next time. You still have to make a living."
Yun Ningyan said, "Auntie, this is for you and Uncle Huo to nourish yourselves. Don't be stingy with your food. After you finish eating, have Huo Junshan go buy more."
She glanced at her third son, and seeing that he didn't react, she accepted all the gifts.
Wang Cuihong scoffed in the kitchen, "You still want the third brother to go buy it? Does the third brother even have money? I don't know what he sees in the third brother."
Huo Junshan went to work with some of his brothers. Xiao Huzi led Daya over, and Daya called out in her childish voice, "Auntie, Auntie, look!"
Yun Ningyan chuckled and held her little hand. She wasn't shy at all and snuggled into Yun Ningyan's arms. Yun Ningyan took out a few White Rabbit candies, giving two to Xiaohuzi and two to Daya.
With her tiny hands, Da Ya carried a candy to the kitchen. Yun Ningyan, worried that she might fall, followed behind her.
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