Chapter 44
44.
A marriage proposal?!
Cheng Lingjun thought he had misheard, until Cheng Xiu asked him again, and then he realized what had happened.
"A marriage? For me?"
Wen Lin laughed, "Otherwise, who else would it be given to?"
Cheng Lingjun tentatively asked, "Doesn't Second Sister need it more?"
"Your second sister, ugh!" Cheng Xiu said with a look of disgust, "She's beyond saving, don't mention her!"
Cheng Lingjun's second sister was a year older than him, which was considered old in the town, but she wasn't in a hurry at all. She said she liked freedom and had nothing of value, so no good man would be interested in her. Of course, that was the case. Better families would be picky, and Cheng Xiu would be picky about the less desirable ones. Being stuck in this limbo, her second sister's youth was wasted for many years.
Cheng Xiu used to urge and remind Cheng Yajun to be more ambitious and hardworking, but the latter completely ignored Cheng Xiu's words, letting them go in one ear and out the other. She would agree on the surface, but in reality, she did nothing. Cheng Xiu and Wen Lin had no choice but to let her do as she pleased.
Cheng Guanjun and Cheng Lingjun are relatively obedient, and the two elders' nagging is directed at them. However, Cheng Guanjun has a husband, Luo Yun, who is difficult to control. Although Cheng Guanjun is caught between her parents and husband, she ultimately has to submit to Luo Yun. And now it seems that the easiest person to command is Cheng Lingjun.
Cheng Lingjun glanced at her second sister, who was walking by silently, seemingly unconcerned, and fell silent.
Cheng Xiu thought he had taken it to heart, so she continued, "That's an old friend of mine, surnamed Yao. You should have met him. They only have one daughter. Although she's a few years older than you, they're a well-off family. They'll leave all their wealth to their daughter. You'll be living a life of luxury if you marry into their family. They even said that Li Guang can also be brought over and treated like their own grandson."
The Yao family?
Cheng Lingjun vaguely resembled someone I had seen before, perhaps before he was ten years old.
He once came to their house to borrow money. His mother gave them some out of consideration for the fact that they had taken the exam together, but they never paid it back. Cheng Xiu even scolded them for several years. Unexpectedly, they gradually got along again and paid back the money, but they lost contact. How come they are friends again now?
Cheng Lingjun also remembered Yao's daughter. She was eight years older than him, and her appearance was... rather unattractive. This was how she looked when Cheng Lingjun saw her before he was ten years old. He couldn't even imagine her now.
Cheng Lingjun remained silent, letting Cheng Xiu praise the Yao family.
It wasn't until Cheng Xiu realized something was wrong that Cheng Lingjun had a problem: when he didn't want something or didn't want to accept something, he would stop talking and wouldn't say a word no matter what they said. In the end, they would either wear him down until he gave up or force him to give it to them.
This is rare, because he is always an obedient and good child who never refuses his parents' requests. But when he gets stubborn, he becomes like this.
Wen Lin also sensed something was amiss. He shook Cheng Lingjun's arm, "Lingjun, say something! What are you thinking?"
Cheng Lingjun raised her eyes and said bluntly, "I don't want to."
"You silly child, didn't you hear what I just said? They also said they wouldn't skimp on the betrothal gifts, but it certainly won't be a proper wedding like the first one, but..."
Cheng Xiu was still talking about those so-called benefits. Cheng Lingjun realized that before he married into the Li family, Cheng Xiu was the same, always talking about the betrothal gifts, the family background, and the benefits, but she never asked him if he liked Li Guifang, or even asked him if he was willing like she did today.
Now that he knows to ask him what he thinks, it shows he respects him.
Cheng Lingjun just found it funny. Was he really the kind of person who cared so much about these material things? If so, why did he leave the Li family? Didn't the Li family give him more? His mother, on the other hand, thought these things were respectable and could move him. Wasn't that ridiculous?
After Cheng Xiu finished speaking, Cheng Lingjun still only said a few words: "I don't want to get married."
The cold rejection made Cheng Xiu's face flush slightly. Cheng Lingjun didn't even ask a question; her attitude was clear, leaving no room for negotiation.
Wen Lin quickly patted Cheng Xiu's back and advised, "Ling Jun is probably not ready yet. We should let the children meet first. Maybe he will change his mind."
Before Cheng Xiu could speak, Cheng Lingjun said directly, "I don't want to get married right now, nor do I want to see anyone. Mother, Father, please politely decline on my behalf."
“Why? There has to be a reason,” Cheng Xiu stared at him, refusing to look away.
"There's no reason. I already have Li Guang, and I don't want to get married again so soon."
"You might not meet such a good family again in the future, so don't miss out and regret it."
Cheng Lingjun laughed: "Then let me regret it."
Cheng Xiu could hardly believe it; how could her son, who used to be so obedient, have turned out like this?
She pointed at Cheng Lingjun's nose and said, "You have someone you've taken a fancy to?"
"……No."
Cheng Lingjun hesitated slightly in her answer, which was noticed by the perceptive Cheng Xiu, who flew into a rage. "Who is it? You didn't want the good ones your parents found for you, so you insisted on going to some shady place to find someone, didn't you? Could it be... that your divorce from Li's wife was because of that person?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Lingjun was first shocked, then furious. "What kind of person do you take me for? Mother, in your heart, am I... the kind of person who would steal someone else's life?!"
Cheng Lingjun suppressed his anger and didn't shout, but his voice was already very loud. Even Cheng Yajun, who was inside the house, came out and looked at them, not understanding why they were arguing.
Wen Lin pulled Cheng Xiu back, trying to calm her down. Cheng Xiu realized she had gone too far. She didn't really think her son was that kind of shameless person, but in her anger, she blurted out whatever came to mind. But the words were already out, and there was no going back. She was unwilling to admit that she had said the wrong thing.
He simply said, "No means no. Is this how you talk to your mother? Where has your manners and filial piety gone?"
The knowledge has gone to waste.
Cheng Lingjun really wanted to say that, but after all, he was a man who had received some education, and he couldn't bring himself to say such vulgar things to his mother. He only knew about it because he had heard others arguing like that. But knowing it was one thing, saying it to his mother would ruin more than twenty years of family affection.
Therefore, Cheng Lingjun could only remain silent until his mother finished venting before saying, "Mother, I really don't have that idea right now. You should just reject them."
Cheng Lingjun refused again and again, so Cheng Xiu asked, "Are you planning to never get married again?"
Some women do not remarry after their wives die, and some even erect memorial arches to commemorate their chastity. However, Cheng Lingjun is still young and could remarry if he wanted to. Moreover, Cheng Xiu does not want him to remain unmarried.
If she doesn't get married, wouldn't she just stay at home and waste the already meager savings? Besides, there's Li Guang. Fortunately, he's a boy. If he grows up and gets married soon, it won't cost much. Ideally, he could remarry with Cheng Lingjun. However, the new family might not be willing to accept a stranger's child. The Yao family is already quite good. They even said they'd be willing to let Li Guang live with them.
Unfortunately, no matter how well Cheng Xiu planned, it was useless. Cheng Lingjun simply wouldn't accept it, which made Cheng Xiu even more suspicious that he was hiding someone he liked. Otherwise, why would he completely ignore them and reject them so thoroughly?
Cheng Lingjun simply said, "I'm not in the mood for that right now, so please don't worry about me, Mother."
Just when everyone thought Cheng Xiu would continue to persuade her, she seemed to have given up on the idea and waved her hand, saying to let him go.
Cheng Lingjun, still somewhat skeptical, stayed at home for a simple meal before returning to the village early.
Until they returned to the village, his mother didn't mention the matter again, and Cheng Lingjun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that his mother still cared about his feelings and let go when she saw that he was unwilling.
Cheng Lingjun's problem was solved, but Guan Yue encountered a new one.
Her "good sister" Jinlan reappeared.
Guan Yue was carrying water and didn't want to pay attention to her, but unexpectedly, she paused for a moment and walked towards her.
Guan Yue cautiously put down the bucket, worried that Jin Lan might do something bad to her water, such as kicking the bucket and spilling all the water she had painstakingly carried. Although this thought was rather silly, like a child's prank, Guan Yue had a bad feeling about her and couldn't help but think the worst.
Jinlan stopped a few steps in front of her, her expression somewhat wary. Guan Yue understood after a moment's thought. Last time they fought, Jinlan was no match for her at all; it took the three sisters to defeat her. Now that she was alone, how could she dare to do anything to her?
Thinking about it this way, Guan Yue felt there was nothing to worry about, so she picked up the water again and walked over to her.
Jinlan saw through her intention and her face turned pale. "Do you completely disregard me?"
Are you deliberately ignoring her?
Jinlan wanted to push Guanyue, but remembering her painful experience last time, she hesitantly withdrew her outstretched hand.
Guan Yue saw it, of course, and felt a little amused. If it were someone who was more talkative, they might have said something provocative or mocking at this moment, but Guan Yue was not like that. If she didn't want to pay attention to Jin Lan, she simply didn't want to, and she wouldn't say anything unnecessary.
So even though she clearly heard Jinlan's words, she acted as if she hadn't heard them at all, and walked past Jinlan without the slightest hesitation.
Jinlan was furious and said, "What are you so high and mighty about? Everyone knows about you and Cheng Lingjun."
Why did Cheng Lingjun come up?
These three words successfully made Guan Yue stop in her tracks and turn around to look at Jin Lan.
Jinlan saw the displeasure in Guan Yue's eyes and her body trembled slightly, but thankfully her foot was still firmly planted, and she didn't embarrass herself by retreating.
Guan Yue asked, "What did you say?"
Jinlan stretched her neck and said, "I said you and Cheng Lingjun are lovers, what? Did I hit the nail on the head? I knew he wasn't a good person all along, if it weren't for..."
Jinlan spoke in a lower and lower voice. Guanyue was no longer just displeased, but clearly angry. But as the saying goes, "Even if you lose the argument, you can't lose the battle," so Jinlan wanted to add fuel to the fire.
"If you weren't interested in him, would you be so angry?" Jinlan thought she had successfully provoked him. Although she was a little scared, Guan Yue was still carrying water, and if she ran away, Guan Yue definitely wouldn't be able to catch her.
Jinlan glanced at the distance between them, quietly stepped back a little, and said, "I say, Guanyue, you have bad taste. Of all people to choose from, you had to pick someone with a child. That Cheng guy is so good-looking, why don't you let me..."
"Smack!"
Guan Yue threw the water bucket on her shoulder to the ground, lifted the carrying pole with the back of her foot, and the pole flew into her hand. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she looked like a spring ready to strike.
"I just have bad eyesight. Listen up, if you dare touch him, I'll make sure you die right here today!"
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