Wei Mingyuan hadn't taken leave to go home recently. His mother was quite happy to see him return to his hometown. When she heard that he was bringing his wife back with him and that she didn't want any dowry, she spread the word about Qiao Shanshan throughout the village.
Wei Mingyuan was quite pleased with himself, praising Qiao Shanshan as a good wife, much better than Zhuo Lin.
Qiao Shanshan's smile was forced, but there was no other way but to go home with Wei Mingyuan and try to make the best of a bad situation so that nothing else would go wrong.
Qiao Shanshan felt uncomfortable that she had ruined her life like this. The smell on the train was terrible. Wei Mingyuan was trying to save money by not buying a sleeper ticket, even though he could have gotten a letter of introduction. He just wanted Qiao Shanshan to sit in a hard seat and bear with it.
The hard-seat carriage was filled with noisy children, arguing women, and a strong smell of urine. Although Qiao Shanshan came from the countryside, she had married Lu Jinwen in her previous life and lived a life of luxury for many years. She hadn't experienced this kind of hardship in many years.
Qiao Shanshan was about to cry. She sniffed and said, "Brother Wei, the smell here is really strong. I feel a little uncomfortable. We have to take the train for two days. When will we get there? I should have bought sleeper berths."
Wei Mingyuan gave her a disapproving look. "Why buy a sleeper berth? It's good for women to suffer a little. Sleeper berths are so expensive, how long will it take to earn that money back? Besides, don't be like those spoiled, arrogant people. If others can sit in hard seats, so can you. Honey, let's save some money so we can live a better life."
Qiao Shanshan frowned, "But you haven't given me any of the money you saved. You haven't given me a single penny to spend, not even money for my wedding clothes. What's the point of you asking me to save money?"
Wei Mingyuan was taken aback, his brows furrowing deeply. "Qiao Shanshan, I'm not trying to criticize you, but we're all family. Helping my family is helping you. Why are you fussing over such a small thing? Besides, I didn't spend money on clothes for you, but for a woman from the countryside like you, being able to stay in the team is a blessing. Why are you asking for so much? What do I, Wei Mingyuan, lack that makes me unworthy of you?"
Qiao Shanshan's face turned pale. She came from the countryside, but even Wei Mingyuan wouldn't dare to be so stingy with Zhuo Linmei.
Just because she wasn't as pretty as Zhuo Linmei, as lively as Zhuo Linmei, or as well-connected as Zhuo Linmei, Wei Mingyuan judged her based on appearances, thinking that she came from the countryside, her brother and parents were dead, and no one in her family could support her, so she was just demeaning herself like this.
Qiao Shanshan was unhappy, snorted coldly, and turned to look out the window.
Seeing her like this, Wei Mingyuan felt a little sorry for her. Although they were married and their relationship was settled, Qiao Shanshan didn't dare to cause too much trouble or break off the engagement. But with Zhuo Linmei's incident as an example, Wei Mingyuan still had to suppress his temper.
Wei Mingyuan bought some oranges for Qiao Shanshan to quench her thirst. Seeing that he was willing to humble himself, Qiao Shanshan wasn't so angry anymore.
After the two reconciled, Qiao Shanshan endured for a long time and lost a lot of weight before finally arriving at Wei Mingyuan's hometown.
Wei Mingyuan's hometown is very remote. Although everyone's life is not easy these days, Beijing is much better than this remote county town.
This place is so backward. There are low mud-brick houses next to the train station. It's far worse than Qiao Shanshan's hometown, let alone Beijing.
Qiao Shanshan only knew that Wei Mingyuan's family was from the countryside, but she thought that these days, who wasn't from a rural family? Everyone came from the countryside, so there wasn't much difference.
But she didn't expect that there are differences between rural areas. Here, yellow sand filled the sky, the houses were low and dilapidated, and you could walk for miles without seeing a single person.
Wei Mingyuan's home is in the countryside. After getting off the bus, it's a five-mile walk to get there.
Qiao Shanshan was exhausted. "Why didn't your family come to pick us up?"
"Why would I need to pick you up for such a short distance?" Wei Mingyuan scoffed. "You're too delicate. You're already this delicate before you're even married. What will you be like after you get married and have kids?"
Qiao Shanshan was unhappy. "I took the train for two days to get here from the county town, and then took a long bus ride. Your family didn't come to pick us up after we got off the bus, and we still have to walk this far. I'm carrying things in my hands! Wei Mingyuan, you're in good physical condition and used to it, but I'm not! I'm going to die from walking any longer!"
Wei Mingyuan thought she was too much trouble; she complained of being tired after only walking five miles.
"Alright, I'll carry your things, give me the package."
Qiao Shanshan rubbed her aching arm, not knowing what to do. If she had known that Wei Mingyuan's family was so poor and in such a remote place, she really wouldn't have married him.
Qiao Shanshan felt she had been completely fooled. The place was deserted, with hardly any houses in sight and very few cars. It was far less deserted than the county town where Qiao Shanshan lived; it was not even in the same league.
How poor this place must be!
No wonder Wei Mingyuan sent money home to build a house and get his younger brother married; what woman would want to marry into such a family?
Wei Mingyuan was a little unhappy, thinking that Qiao Shanshan was spoiled. The Qiao family was from the countryside, yet Qiao Shanshan acted like a city girl.
The two walked for more than an hour, and it was getting dark when they finally reached the village entrance. Wei Mingyuan's mother was a bit dark-skinned and had a fierce look in her eyes. She stared at Qiao Shanshan from afar.
Qiao Shanshan felt that her gaze was unfriendly and that she seemed a bit condescending, so she softened her stance and wanted to leave a good impression.
"Aunt."
Mother Wei chuckled twice. "Shanshan, right? My Mingyuan has mentioned you to us. You're quite lucky, aren't you? Mingyuan just broke off his engagement with Zhuo Linmei, and you snatched her away. You're such a clever girl."
Qiao Shanshan was stunned for a moment, her face showing astonishment. It was their first meeting, and a normal person wouldn't say such a thing.
"I...I didn't steal it, we were just..."
"Alright," Mother Wei said with a smile, taking Qiao Shanshan's hand. "You don't need to hide it from me. My son Mingyuan is an officer in the unit, a very high rank. A fine young man like him is very sought after outside. Countless girls in our village want to marry him. Many people have tried to set me up with potential partners, but I didn't like any of them. I just hoped that Mingyuan could find a decent city girl. Who knew that Mingyuan would be so picky and end up marrying you?"
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