Chapter 24 A Village Girl in the 1970s
Yang Erni then realized that what she had been doing behind the old couple's back had been exposed.
She shrank her neck and lowered her head: "It's about her marriage to Li Zhiqing."
Tan Guihua frowned: "What marriage arrangement did they have?"
Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Yang Erni resorted to shamelessness, saying, "How could there not be? That educated youth Li hugged and touched Ke Mei, so naturally the two of them are going to get married."
Now the whole family calls her Meimei, except for Yang Erni, who is her biological mother, who stubbornly calls her 'Kemei'.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Li Zhiqing simply saved Meimei. Why would he get married?"
Yang Erni patted her pockets, her courage growing: "They were all soaked after falling into the water, and Ke Mei was carried out by Li Zhiqing. They've been through that, what would it look like if they didn't get married?"
Tan Guihua was furious. "How can a mother act like this?"
"Stop spouting nonsense. This matter ends here, and you're not allowed to mention it again."
Yang Erni didn't want to give up: "But, Li Zhiqing is willing too."
Yao Yunzhen, with her sharp eyes, noticed Yang Erni's subtle actions.
"Second Aunt, did you receive something from Li Zhiqing?"
Living under the same roof, Yao Yunzhen knew her second aunt quite well.
She only dared to argue with Tan Guihua if there were enough benefits to be had.
"No, it's nothing."
A look of panic flashed across Yang Erni's face, and she subconsciously pressed hard on her pocket.
Tan Guihua clearly knew her daughter-in-law well, and her expression immediately changed.
"What did you accept from them? Hand it over right now!"
"We really didn't confiscate anything."
Yang Erni refused to admit it, but her flustered expression had already given her away.
Yao Daqiang tapped his fingers on the table: "Second son's wife, take it out."
Yao Daqiang usually doesn't interfere in affairs, but once he speaks, none of his children dare to disobey.
Yang Erni reluctantly took the contents out of her pocket, her face full of reluctance.
She just got it; she hasn't even had a chance to enjoy it yet.
When they saw what it was, everyone was shocked.
This is actually a small stack of ten-yuan notes!
"Where did you come from?!"
Yao Yunzhen was surprised and a little angry, feeling that she had been too lenient back then.
Li Yunqi actually managed to come up with so much money, but he only gave her a few dollars.
What a huge loss!
Without money in her pocket to bolster her courage, Yang Erni became timid again.
She lowered her head and said guiltily, "It was... the betrothal gift given by Li Zhiqing..."
Tan Guihua was furious. This stupid thing had done something so quietly.
Without a doubt, this money was obtained through shady means.
Tan Guihua felt extremely embarrassed.
People kindly saved their family, but Yang Erni went and threatened them, and directly accepted all the betrothal gifts.
"You ignored what I said before? You even went to find Li Zhiqing. You'd better give me that back right now!"
Yang Erni was reluctant to part with it, as the money belonged to her son.
"Well, Li Zhiqing is willing to marry Ke Mei, so there's no need to return the money, right?"
Yao Yunzhen poured cold water on her: "Second Aunt, even if Li Zhiqing is willing, Yao Meimei probably won't be able to get married, she'll have to go squat for oranges."
Those who were trying to evade the issue were stunned when reminded.
Yang Erni stared at the large ten-yuan bill on the table, and hesitated before saying:
"Isn't Comrade Xie here? She can hold Ke Mei, and then Ke Mei can marry Li Yunqi."
Upon hearing this, Yao Yunzhen didn't know whether she should be angry or not.
This second aunt is really something...
Upon hearing this, Yao Daqiang and Tan Guihua immediately looked at Xie Jingyue, a hint of expectation in their eyes.
Miao Cuilan also looked over quickly, her expression tense.
Xie Jingyue glanced at everyone without showing any emotion, and smiled slightly, but the smile was a little cold.
Have you made up your minds?
Yao Daqiang's lips moved, and his eyes showed struggle.
In the end, he said dejectedly, "No, forget it. Let the police deal with her however they want."
Tan Guihua was a little anxious: "Old man!"
Yao Daqiang waved his hand, looking rather disheartened.
"No need to say more. Meimei brought this upon herself and should bear the consequences. We, the descendants of the Yao family, do not seek great abilities, but we cannot commit crimes. So there is no need to plead for her."
The old man's life was so ordinary, just a typical country old man, but unexpectedly he had such awareness and was surprisingly upright.
Tan Guihua didn't refute anymore, and a forced smile appeared on her face.
"Comrade Xie, you can take that idiot with you later."
The coldness deep in Xie Jingyue's eyes returned somewhat, and the warmth of his smile returned to his face.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure they know what's going on. Try not to let anyone know about Yao Meimei."
The main issue is that if everyone knew that the Yao family had produced a criminal, their situation would inevitably become difficult, and Comrade Zhenzhen would also be affected.
Thinking of Yao Yunzhen, Xie Jingyue's gaze drifted, glancing subtly in her direction again and again.
Yao Yunzhen was somewhat satisfied upon hearing this.
Fortunately, they didn't speak up to protect Yao Meimei, otherwise she would definitely have made a scene.
Yao Daqiang then looked at the large unity symbol on the table.
"Second brother's wife, you can take this money and pay it back."
"Huh? You really are paying me back?"
Yang Erni was so heartbroken that tears were about to fall; she was devastated at the thought of losing this money that didn't belong to her.
"Go now!"
Yang Erni struggled and said, "Well, since we've already taken it, why not just keep it? Consider it compensation from Li Zhiqing for Ke Mei's lewd behavior."
"If you say another word, I'll have your second son's wife send you back to your parents' home."
Tan Guihua glared fiercely at Yang Erni, her eyes so menacing they seemed ready to devour her.
She was already feeling bad, and this woman was still causing trouble. If there weren't outsiders around, Tan Guihua would have torn her apart.
Tan Guihua held a deep-seated authority in Yang Erni's heart. When she was looked at like that, she trembled and dared not say anything more. She grabbed the money on the table and rushed out.
That damned, wretched girl, a money-loser! I should have strangled her at birth. Her money...
Yang Erni cursed under her breath as she ran away.
"Comrade Xie, I'm sorry you had to see this."
Xie Jingyue shook his head and said nothing.
He felt it was no longer appropriate for him to stay, so he stood up.
"Then I'll take Comrade Yao Meimei back first."
"Okay, okay."
Xie Jingyue stood up, nodded to everyone, glanced at Yao Yunzhen, and strode out.
The others also stood up to see the person off.
After leaving the house, the group expected to see Xie Jingyue taking Yao Meimei away, and the old couple's eyes welled up with tears. However, Yao Meimei was not in the yard at all!
The elderly couple suddenly panicked.
"Where's Meimei? Where did Meimei go?"
Yao Yunzhen also became worried: "She must have overheard our conversation and run away to hide."
Please don't let her get away.
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