Li Hong glared at her fiercely, "I don't have a single penny here. Look around, how many girls are still studying? What? Do you want to be a rich educated youth? You should first see if you have the fate to do so. If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for ending up in such a family. People your age who are sensible have already gone out to work at a young age."
Li Qingqing moved her lips and explained with a pale face, "Going to school won't interfere with the housework. I'll cut the grass before school ends and do the laundry and cooking after school ends. Mom, please let me go. I'll definitely take good care of you when I get into university."
Li Hong sneered, "Now you're saying all these nice things. A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl. I've supported you through your schooling for years, and before you've even earned enough for the family for two years, you'll be someone else's wife. Isn't that a losing proposition? Do you think your mother is stupid? If you dare to sneak back to school again, I'll tie you to the gate and make sure you can't go anywhere."
Li Qingqing seemed to be frightened, her eyes reddening as she was unable to utter a word.
Li's father puffed on his cigarette beside him, "You're not young anymore, it's time to find someone to marry. Lately, matchmakers have been practically wearing down our doorstep."
Li Hong threw the washed clothes into another basin. The splashing water from the clothes wet Li Qingqing's shoes and also dampened her heart.
“Li Dacheng, I only have one daughter. When the time comes, you should tell the matchmaker to ask for a high dowry. I’ve raised her for so many years and sent her to school for two years. She’s eaten so much of my food, I don’t know how many pounds of it she has. She can’t just eat it for nothing.”
Li Dacheng looked Li Qingqing up and down. "It was agreed long ago that the bride price would be at least thirty yuan."
The couple openly discussed in front of Li Qingqing what kind of person they wanted to marry her off to and how they wanted to sell her for a good price.
At that moment, Li Qingqing felt as if she were an object to be manipulated at will, rather than a person with an independent personality.
In their eyes, Li Qingqing is a girl, and it's useless for her to read so many books. She'll get married sooner or later, and if a girl knows too much, she'll become wild.
Shu Ying didn't know where they got so many fallacies from, but Li Qingqing had no other choice. She dropped out of school early to work, and all the wages she earned went to her younger brother.
Just thinking about those days is suffocating. Shu Ying doesn't know how she escaped that home time and time again. Fortunately, her husband also has a secure job with the government and works in the same unit as Xie Zhiyan, so Li Qingqing's parents have to be a little wary.
Otherwise, in their original plan, Li Qingqing was to marry an old man in exchange for a bride price for her younger brother.
Shu Ying propped her head up with one hand, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Even though her mind was in complete turmoil, she was still trying to sort things out.
"When Xie Zhiyan disappeared, Li Qingqing's husband, Duan Huaichuan, also disappeared. But Shu Yan is a reincarnation, so she's so sure Xie Zhiyan is alright. What about Duan Huaichuan?"
Shu Ying crossed her legs and nestled into the sofa. She slowly opened her eyes and gently tapped her temples with her fingers.
Duan Huaichuan and Xie Zhiyan work in the same unit, so normally their actions should be coordinated. Currently, he only has two possible outcomes.
She could either return with Xie Zhiyan or sacrifice herself on the front lines, but both outcomes would offer Li Qingqing a decent future.
“If Duan Huaichuan were still alive, Qingqing could come with me to the family compound. As long as she's free from this family's control, her future won't be too bad. But if he's dead…”
Shu Ying paused for a moment, then said, "Qingqing is now the widow of a martyr, and she should receive a large sum of compensation. She should hold onto that money tightly and use it to do some business later."
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