The voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Xu Ningyan frowned, shook the water off her hands, and walked out of the kitchen.
Gu Zhiyuan followed behind.
When I arrived at the courtyard gate, I looked out through the crack in the door, and wow!
Five or six members of the Xu family were standing outside the door.
Miao Cuihua led the way, followed closely by Zhao Guilan from the first wife's family and Wan Chunni from the third wife's family. Xu Erya and Xu Sanya were at the very back, timidly peeking into the courtyard on tiptoe.
Hearing footsteps approaching the door, he hurriedly shouted, "Open the door now!"
Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan exchanged a glance, both knowing that the Xu family wouldn't come without a reason, and that their visit today was definitely not for anything good.
Xu Ningyan gestured for Gu Zhiyuan to take a few steps back; she had to protect her boss.
A shrew like Miao Cuihua is probably too much for a refined man like the boss to handle.
Gu Zhiyuan glanced at Xu Ningyan, silently took a few steps back, and stood under the eaves.
Xu Ningyan then opened the courtyard gate.
The door had barely opened a crack when Miao Cuihua tried to rush inside.
Xu Ningyan blocked his way: "What do you want? What are you doing in my house?"
Miao Cuihua said with a stern face, "What are you doing here? You're getting married without even telling your family? Marriage isn't that simple. Go away, you're a young lady, don't get involved in this. I'm talking to Comrade Gu!"
As he spoke, he tried to pull Xu Ningyan aside.
Xu Ningyan grabbed Miao Cuihua's hand with a half-smile, pushed her back two steps, and then stepped forward: "What business is it of yours what I get when I get married? Do you need to talk to me about it? Have you forgotten the letter of severance you signed in front of the brigade leader and the party secretary a few days ago?"
With the help of her two daughters-in-law, Miao Cuihua took two steps back and regained her balance.
A hint of unease flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure, hands on his hips, and said arrogantly, "I'm not talking to you! You, surnamed Gu, I know you can hear me! Let me tell you, you think you can get a wife for free without spending a single penny? No way!"
“We’ve raised our Siya all these years. When she was little, our family paid for everything to support her. Now that she’s finally at the age where she can earn work points, she’s going to marry you! All the work points and money she earns every year will go to you! Our family has been losing money for over ten years! Even in the city, there’s no such thing as getting a wife for free without contributing anything, right?”
"I don't want more! Eighty-eight yuan as a bride price, plus a bicycle, and a new set of clothes and shoes for everyone in my family, that's enough!"
They were perfectly justified.
Xu Ningyan was almost laughing in anger. Before Gu Zhiyuan could speak, she flatly rejected him: "It's not even dark yet! What kind of dream are you having in broad daylight? Let me tell you, you have no money! You have no life either! Get lost, or I'll chase you away with a big stick!"
"Are you stupid, girl? Since ancient times, which family doesn't offer a bride price? He won't give anything, and you just marry him like this? Do you think he'll respect you? Bullshit! He'll just think you're worthless and he'll have to pay you to marry you! Listen to your aunt's advice, we're doing this for your own good, to save face for you!" Zhao Guilan's eyes darted around, seeing that Xu Ningyan wasn't buying Miao Cuihua's act, she put on a show of considering her feelings.
Wan Chunni quickly chimed in, "That's right! Not to mention any other place, in the surrounding brigades, which family doesn't spend money and give a bride price when getting married? Besides, it's not like the Gu family is short of money. He can build two rooms and furnish them, so he definitely has money to spare! If he doesn't even want to pay a bride price, it's clear he doesn't sincerely want to marry you!"
"Don't be foolish and try to get him before you get married. Otherwise, he won't be worth anything after you're married, you know?"
Xu Ningyan sneered: "If you want to sell your daughters, sell your own! Don't even think about it! Get out of here!"
He pretended to pick up the wooden stick by the door.
The Xu family members flinched, but the lure of money was too great, and they stubbornly refused to leave.
Miao Cuihua simply lay down on the ground and started wailing, "Heavens above! What a disaster! Come and see! These 'black five categories' elements from the city are no good! They've been plotting against us poor peasants for a long time! First, they tricked our girl into eloping and ruining our reputation, and now they refuse to pay the bride price and want to get something for nothing!"
"Help! Everyone come quick! This guy surnamed Gu is wicked and has a rotten heart!"
Zhao Guilan and Wan Chunni, watching Miao Cuihua roll on the ground crying, exchanged a glance and shouted into the yard, "Hey, you surnamed Gu, don't push your luck! If you hand over the bride price today, this matter will be over! Otherwise, we'll go to the Revolutionary Committee and report you for misconduct, for seducing poor and lower-middle peasants, oh dear—"
Before Zhao Guilan could finish speaking, she was hit hard in the face.
Looking up, Xu Ningyan sneered as she rolled up her sleeves: "Looks like I didn't beat you enough before we split up! The wounds haven't even healed yet, and you've already forgotten the pain! Let me remind you! I said that day that if I made you unhappy, I'd make your whole family unhappy! If you dare go to the Revolutionary Committee, fine, go ahead! We'll all go together!"
"I'll sue Xu Zhenzhu for attempted murder. You're protecting a murderer, aren't you? Oh, and I can also sue you for trafficking women! And I'll sue Xu Zhenzhu for having illicit affairs and seducing people from the city—"
"Shut up, shut up!" Upon hearing this, Miao Cuihua scrambled up from the ground to cover Xu Ningyan's mouth.
"If you dare to talk nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Xu Ningyan chuckled: "I'll say the same thing to you. If you dare to spout nonsense again, believe me, I'll break the legs of your whole family."
As he spoke, he lightly bent the wooden stick on his knee, and it snapped in two.
Miao Cuihua's cries and curses were like the wooden stick that broke off at her throat.
The Xu family members recalled the terror of the day they divided the family property and couldn't help but take several steps back.
Xu Ningyan slowly tossed away the wooden stick and warned, "I'll repeat myself, we're no longer related, we have nothing to do with each other! Don't try to scam me! If anyone tries to scam me, I'll smash this porcelain, you believe me?"
“After Comrade Gu married me, he became my only relative and family! Anyone who dares to make things difficult for him is making things difficult for me! I’ve died once before, and now I’m not afraid of anything! I’d rather fight to the death! My life is worth it to exchange for the lives of your whole family! Don’t you agree?”
Miao Cuihua looked at Xu Ningyan in disbelief, as if this was the first time she had truly come to know the previously inconspicuous Siya.
Watching her calmly and slowly utter each word sent a chill down her spine.
She knew that what this brat said was true! If she really angered her, she would fight to the death!
She shivered and came to her senses.
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