Chapter 19 A Village Girl in the 1970s
Lu Yikang raised his hand and ran it through his hair, which was coated with hairspray, with a confident expression.
"I'm here to marry you. My family can give 500 yuan as a bride price, as well as bicycles, radios, sewing machines, and your father's temporary job, which we can help him get converted to a permanent position."
Don't worry, I'll treat you well. After you marry me, you won't have to do any housework. You can buy whatever you want, eat whatever you want. I'll give you 20, no, 50 yuan a month for spending money."
Lu Yikang was determined to win Yao Yunzhen's heart and wanted to show her his power, so he directly quoted an exorbitant dowry.
He wasn't exaggerating; his family could indeed afford these things.
With his lucrative business on the black market, 50 yuan was nothing to him.
'boom--'
These words were like a bombshell dropped on the crowd.
Nowadays in the village, the bride price for a man to marry a wife is only 10 yuan. If you give 500 yuan, how many wives would you have to marry?
Not to mention he also had a bicycle, a radio, and a sewing machine, and his parents were even bosses!
Moreover, she would receive 50 yuan as pocket money after marrying into the family.
That's 50 yuan, 50 yuan a month!
They work hard all year round, but at the end of the year they can only save about ten yuan.
Why should she? What makes this lazy girl so special?
Everyone was both jealous and envious, wishing they could push their own daughters forward and take her place.
Yao Yunzhen felt completely bewildered. She didn't even know this person, yet he came up to her and said he wanted to marry her.
The conditions he described were indeed good, but that didn't mean Yao Yunzhen was willing.
First, they don't know each other; second, his actions clearly show disrespect for her.
Who comes to propose marriage like this? No matchmaker is invited, and no other elders accompany them; they just block the doorway.
Since he looks down on her from the bottom of his heart, how dare he say he wants to marry her?
The love and care her parents gave Yao Yunzhen gave her confidence. Although her family's financial situation wasn't great, she wouldn't look down on herself because of it, nor would she be blinded by money.
Little did Lu Yikang know that, in his haste, he rushed over after only managing to tidy himself up, leaving Yao Yunzhen with a bad impression.
"We're not close, and I'm not planning on getting married right now. You should go back."
"hiss--"
Someone gasped.
Such a perfect match, one you couldn't find even with a lantern, and you just turned it down like that?
Someone kindly suggested, "Zhen, why don't you wait until your mother comes back before saying anything?"
Some people rolled their eyes, withdrew from the crowd, and ran home as fast as they could.
The girl from the Yao family is unwilling, but her family is.
Isn't her daughter much better than this lazy girl?
She's capable and filial, and has a big bottom; I guarantee she'll give birth to a son after she marries into the family.
If anyone else had rejected him so directly, Lu Yikang would have gotten angry long ago, but this was the person he fell in love with at first sight, so he had endless patience.
"Why? If you have any complaints, you can tell me. I'll agree to anything I can do."
Lu Yikang was willing to pay any price to win the heart of his beloved.
You can still mention it?!
Is this Yao family's daughter made of gold?
The onlookers were completely baffled.
"Make way, make way, the captain is back."
At this moment, the person who had gone to call the captain finally brought him back.
"What are you all doing crowding around my house? Make way and let me in."
Miao Cuilan also tried her best to squeeze in.
She returned with the battalion commander.
When she called for the old man, the brigade leader, to come over, he was standing on the ridge next to her. She vaguely heard her daughter's name, and then something about leaders.
She sensed something was wrong and quickly ran back.
Yao Dajun: "What happened?"
Didn't they say the leaders were coming? Why are they all crowding in front of Yao Daqiang's house?
The onlookers quickly offered their explanations.
Some people saw Miao Cuilan and said sourly, "Sister-in-law Miao, your family is lucky. A young man from the city drove up in a car and said he wants to marry your daughter, Jiazhen."
“They can give this much as a bride price.” The person speaking held up a hand and quickly listed the other conditions that Lu Yikang had promised.
Miao Cuilan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
What kind of family would be willing to pay such a high bride price for a country girl?
Miao Cuilan immediately realized that her daughter's appearance had probably been seen by someone, which had attracted covetousness.
Thinking of this, she became anxious and rushed forward, directly to the front of the crowd.
Yao Yunzhen, with her sharp eyes, spotted Miao Cuilan immediately.
"Mom, you're back?"
Miao Cuilan quickly said, "You go inside first, I'll handle things here."
It's inconvenient for my daughter to be there in person, and there are too many people around. What if her mask falls off and someone else sees it?
Yao Yunzhen obediently went inside, then secretly peeked out through the window crack.
Miao Cuilan then looked at the person who had supposedly come to propose marriage.
He was dressed quite respectably, and not bad-looking, but there was a fierce look in his eyes, making him difficult to get along with. Furthermore, he came to propose marriage alone without even a greeting, which shows he's not very good at interpersonal relationships. And his father is in the Revolutionary Committee…
As everyone knows, the director of the Revolutionary Committee of Anyuan County is a ruthless and vicious person.
I've offended so many people, what if something were to happen to me...
How could Miao Cuilan feel at ease letting her daughter marry into such a family?
Not to mention, his own daughter was already engaged.
Lu Yikang watched the person enter the house with bated breath, and only looked at Miao Cuilan after the door closed.
Without Yao Yunzhen present, Lu Yikang's smile faded considerably, and his arrogance became more apparent.
"You must be Zhenzhen's mother. I am Lu Yikang, and I've come to propose marriage to Zhenzhen."
He mentioned his parents' positions again and brought up the bride price once more.
Miao Cuilan forced a stiff smile and said politely:
"You're joking. My Zhenzhen actually has a fiancé, and it was arranged a long time ago. So, I'm afraid your feelings can only be disappointed. I hope you can understand."
The others stared wide-eyed.
I thought Yao Yunzhen didn't know what was important, but I didn't expect her mother to be the same way and also refuse.
How could they even ask for that? The conditions are so good, and they still won't agree. Do they really want to keep that lazy girl as an old maid?
As for that fiancé who's nowhere to be found, is he any better than this rich and handsome man in front of him?
The onlookers had a lot to say, but they could only keep it to themselves at the moment.
Lu Yikang's previously amiable expression immediately changed.
He asked coldly, "Zhenzhen has a fiancé? Who is he?"
How could Miao Cuilan know who he was? She could only vaguely reply, "He's a soldier, currently in the army."
It was only then that she realized that her daughter's engagement was not secure at all.
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