Director Zhao didn't say a word along the way.
Zhao Xiaojuan cried all the way and her eyes were still full of tears when she got home.
"What's wrong with Xiaojuan? What's going on? Didn't you go to Dahua's house? Why are you back now?"
When the sister-in-law saw them come back and saw Zhao Xiaojuan with tears on her face, she asked questions one after another.
"I don't agree with such a family."
Director Zhao sat down with a gloomy face. Today was supposed to be a happy day. The family got up early and sent a tractor to Hetou Village. He had thought that Dahua's family conditions were not good, but it didn't matter. He was attracted by him because he was a man. The child was honest and had saved the lives of father and daughter.
Besides, the most important thing is that Xiaojuan likes it.
Before I could even talk to them, I saw what happened in the yard.
“Dad…”
Zhao Xiaojuan was sobbing and wanted to say something, but Director Zhao signaled her to stop.
"We don't care whether they are poor or not. You can see that their family tradition is not good."
"Yes, Xiaojuan, you saw what happened today with your own eyes. It's caused such a commotion, so let it go!"
Mom also said so, and Zhao Xiaojuan couldn't hold back her tears.
"But, but Dahua is different, that's his brother!"
The sister-in-law listened silently. Although she was a little confused, she understood that their visit today had led to something disgraceful to the family, and that it concerned Dahua's younger brother. She returned to the house, fetched a thermos, poured a cup of tea for her father-in-law, and poured water for her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, then sat aside without interrupting.
Director Zhao said a lot more afterwards. In general, he did not agree with this marriage. If there was a thief in Dahua's family, then the whole family would be ruined. He could repay his life-saving grace in another way, but engagement was absolutely impossible.
This was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Zhao Xiaojuan.
How many marriage proposals had Zhao Xiaojuan received since she was sixteen? It was impossible to count them all, just too many. The renowned Director Zhao had only one son and one daughter. His son was already married, but this precious jewel was missing. The whole family cared for her, hoping she would find a good family. But she turned her back on everyone except this poor boy.
It would be fine if he was just a poor boy, but he also had a brother with dirty hands at home.
Dahua hadn't visited Zhao Xiaojuan since that day. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he was too embarrassed to go. With something like this happening, the reputation of his entire family had been humiliated, not to mention the fact that Director Zhao was such a prominent family. After all, Dahua was marrying up.
The family hurriedly rushed Erhua to the hospital. His finger was bandaged, but it was disabled. He was afraid that he would never be able to learn the rosewood craft. The whole family was plunged into grief.
The beautiful scene before the incident seemed like a mirage, beautiful but empty.
Erhua hadn't returned to Tangli Village for a few days, so Tang Sannan came to see him in person. He knew what had happened, but he didn't expect that Erhua didn't dislike it at all.
"If your hand is healed and you're still willing to come and learn my craft, come on. I welcome you anytime."
Tang Sannan said this with sincerity in his eyes. Erhua, who was as dead as water, seemed touched, but lay down again in the blink of an eye.
"Master, my hands are broken, so I can't learn from you. Someone with dirty hands and feet like me is not worthy."
Tang San's eyes were a little moist. His senior brother was still so honest and impulsive, and his mind was unable to think flexibly. He chopped off the child's fingers for no reason. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs!
He felt sorry for Erhua from the bottom of his heart, but he could not say anything, let alone make any decisions.
After giving a few instructions, Tang Sannan left the Liang family.
Qiuhua retreated into her room and cried again, for Dahua, for herself, for her family. She resented Erhua, not understanding why he was so unmotivated. Now Dahua's marriage was ruined, and he had become enemies with Xu Guoqing's family. She also felt sorry for Erhua. He had lost his finger and his reputation. How would he live the rest of his life?
Dahua was knocking on the door outside, and Qiuhua wiped her tears and went to open the door.
Everyone had a gloomy face these days, only Dahua looked a little better. He should have been the saddest one, and thinking of this, Qiuhua felt even more upset.
"Why are you crying again?"
"You and Sister Xiaojuan..."
"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's in the past. The real thing is to live a good life."
Dahua seemed to be comforting Qiuhua, but in fact he was trying to convince himself.
Ever since Zhao Xiaojuan left that day, Dahua has been thinking about her every minute and every second. The way she smiled generously, the way she talked freely, the way she frowned slightly when she was thinking. There were so many things that he couldn't finish thinking about them. They kept turning over in his mind.
But he knew that the two of them would eventually go their separate ways.
Zhao Xiaojuan couldn't eat for several days, or only ate a little. This might be her small struggle.
Director Zhao was very angry and just said:
"If she doesn't want to eat, then don't eat. Anyway, it's impossible for her to be with the Liang family. Tell her to give up this idea as soon as possible."
"Xiaojuan, please eat something, eat something." Mom brought the meal to her bedside, but she didn't even look at it, just covered her head with the quilt.
There was a sobbing sound coming from outside the quilt. Zhao Xiaojuan lifted the quilt and saw her mother wiping her tears.
"Why is the little fish so hot-tempered..."
"Mom, Dahua is good..."
Zhao Xiaojuan spoke weakly, and the food in front of the bed had no appeal to her at all.
She was stuck in a dead end, always thinking that Dahua was a good person, and that it was his younger brother who committed the crime, which had nothing to do with him. Why couldn't her father look at it separately and tell her that she liked Dahua.
But she overlooked one point: a family will ultimately prosper and suffer together.
"Xiaojuan, they are a family. If you marry them, you will be part of their family. A bad reputation will implicate you, even your father, and your future children."
"Think about it, if it was your brother who committed the crime today, would you still have a good reputation? It's the same thing!"
Zhao Xiaojuan is so smart, how could she not understand?
She looked thin and dazed, with her eyes wide open and two lines of hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She understood and naturally didn't want to defend him anymore.
"Mom, I understand, but in my heart..."
"I know, I know, sadness is inevitable, my dear child, let's take a big step and get over this hurdle. There are so many people coming to propose marriage, and Dahua is not the only one. Let's find someone with a good family background."
Her mother helped her wipe away her tears and handed the bowl to her, hoping that she would eat a few more bites. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, two big tears rolled into the bowl, and she finished the bowl of rice with tears.
These are the people I missed in my youth. No regret is so deep and painful.
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