Zheng Qiulian was actually a knife in Zhao Hongsheng's hand. After hearing Zhao Hongsheng mutter a few words, Zheng Qiulian jumped up and confronted her uncle's family.
If Zhao Hongsheng was truly a filial son, how could he allow Zheng Qiulian to contradict his father and mother? After all, Zheng Qiulian was a bit of a brat, but she was very obedient to Zhao Hongsheng.
Because of this, Zhao Cao was so wary of Zhao Hongsheng. Not only did he not fall for his tricks, but he also immediately shattered Zhao Hongsheng's "fantasy." Zhao Cao believed that it wouldn't be long before Zhao Hongsheng would be convinced by Zheng Qiulian and give up the betrothal gift.
"Gosh, cough cough cough...gosh." Aunt Gu's trembling voice rang out in the side room.
Aunt Gu called out to Zhao Cao only after she heard Zhao Hongsheng and his wife return to their room.
Zhao the bamboo craftsman was not at home. He was sent out by Aunt Gu early in the morning to inquire about the news. Aunt Gu had not slept all night last night and had no strength at the moment. She was leaning on the back of the bed to rest.
Aunt Gu heard everything that happened between Cao and Zhao Hongsheng.
Was Zhao Qingshan's proposal true? Was Zhou Jiasheng rejecting Cao because of the high price Zheng Qiulian asked for? If she had known this, she shouldn't have let Zheng Qiulian act so recklessly and ruin Cao's marriage.
Aunt Gu was a little anxious and felt a little guilty. Her voice was hoarse when she called out for Cao.
"Grandma, I'm back!" Zhao Cao heard Aunt Gu's voice and hurried into Aunt Gu's room.
Aunt Gu wanted to get up, but she found that her head was buzzing in her anxiety, her hands and feet were weak, and she had no strength in her whole body.
"Grandma, please lie down and rest." Seeing that Aunt Gu's face was a little pale, Zhao Cao quickly helped Aunt Gu lie down on the bed.
"Cao, are you... okay?" After lying down, Aunt Gu felt a little more comfortable. Looking at Cao's red and swollen eyes, Aunt Gu's expression was full of anxiety.
Her Cao had never been a crybaby, but this time her eyes were swollen. Was it because she saw that this marriage was hopeless? Did Cao really like the young man from the Zhou family?
"Grandma, I'm fine." Cao shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed as Aunt Gu suggested.
Aunt Gu looked even thinner than when Cao left home. But her hands were just as warm and dry as Cao remembered them. Cao had been raised by Aunt Gu, and those rough hands held only warm memories for Cao.
Cao couldn't help but hold Aunt Gu's hand with blue veins exposed, and rubbed it on his cheek. Aunt Gu's hands were very rough. Every time he held Aunt Gu's hand, Cao would feel a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.
"My child, you've suffered so much." Seeing Cao's clinging appearance, Aunt Gu thought the child had been wronged. Aunt Gu's lips moved, and for a moment she didn't know how to comfort Cao, so she only uttered this sentence.
"Grandma, I'm not suffering!" At first, Cao didn't understand what Aunt Gu meant by suffering. Seeing Aunt Gu staring at her eyes, she realized that her eyelids were so stinging that she had no feeling at all. Zhao Cao couldn't help blinking, and another string of tears flowed down.
"Damn, don't cry. It's all grandma's fault. I shouldn't have asked you to go and tell them something." Aunt Gu's heart was full of self-blame.
"Grandma, I'm not crying. Don't worry, I've already taken care of it. Also, my eyes are from the chili peppers, not from crying. I'm just trying to scare Mom." Cao whispered the last half of the sentence very softly, leaning close to Aunt Gu's ear. He wouldn't get carried away until the matter was settled, and let Zheng Qiulian and her husband notice anything was wrong.
"You're such a clever trickster," Aunt Gu smiled. No wonder Cao Jin, who usually didn't cry, was crying so hard. It turned out that this scheming fellow was plotting against Zheng Qiulian and her husband.
"Grandma, don't worry! Wait for me..." Before Cao could finish his words, he heard the sound of Zhao Hongsheng and Zheng Qiulian opening the door, and swallowed the rest of his words back into his stomach.
Aunt Gu didn't say anything, just patted the back of Cao's hand and breathed a sigh of relief. Cao was fine, so Aunt Gu was relieved.
"Fuck, come out for a moment." Zheng Qiulian stood outside with a sword.
The wing where Aunt Gu lived was filled with junk. Zheng Qiulian never liked to go in there unless it was absolutely necessary. Besides, there were some things that Zheng Qiulian felt she should avoid talking to Aunt Gu about.
"Your mother is calling you!" Aunt Gu gently pushed Zhao Cao's hand, and he stood up.
"Grandma, don't worry, I'm fine." Before leaving, Zhao Cao made an "OK" gesture to Aunt Gu.
This gesture was taught to Cao by Zhou Yuanyuan. Over the years, Cao used it as a secret code with Aunt Gu.
"What took you so long?" Zheng Qiulian's face was long when Zhao Cao walked out of the room.
Zheng Qiulian's heart ached. In just a few minutes, her money was gone.
"Mom, what do you want to call me for?" Zhao Cao walked out of the room and asked.
Zheng Qiulian hesitated to speak.
Zhao Hongsheng stood behind Zheng Qiulian. After waiting for a long time without seeing Zheng Qiulian speak, he couldn't help but kick Zheng Qiulian's leg and urged her softly, "Hurry up!"
Zheng Qiulian's calf ached from Zhao Hongsheng's kick. She knew Zhao Hongsheng's decision, so she couldn't object. She forced a smile and said, "Fuck, your dad and I have decided that the betrothal gift won't be based on the Kyoto City standard, but rather the Sanhe Town standard. It just so happens that your Uncle Tian's family gave a 200-yuan betrothal gift to their new bride a few days ago! We don't want much either, just the same as your Uncle Tian's. However, you have to help your three brothers become city dwellers in the future."
Cao's eyes widened. She had no idea Zheng Qiulian had such audacious ideas. In those days, the gap between urban and rural areas was still huge. Zhao Lei and his brothers had only a few years of education, so how could it be so easy for them to become city dwellers?
"What do you think? If you can get your son-in-law to agree to my terms, your parents will arrange this marriage for you," Zheng Qiulian said eagerly. Unbeknownst to Zhao Cao, Zheng Qiulian had already begun to make her own plans. Her three sons were already city dwellers, and in a few years, they would definitely bring her and Hongsheng to the city to live there in their old age. By then, she, too, would be a city dweller, and her life there would be much better than living on a few thousand yuan.
"Mom, I don't have that ability. Forget it! I'd rather not get married." Cao shook her head.
"Damn, this two hundred yuan betrothal gift is already the minimum standard. You can't possibly not want a penny of it, right? If you do, people will laugh at us for giving away money." Zheng Qiulian was anxious.
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