Reality taught Shumei another lesson. Before, her threshold had been nearly crushed by prospective marriage proposals, while the Kang family's entrance was always crowded with people eager to catch a glimpse of Shumei, whose beauty was praised to the skies by the matchmaker. Now, the front door was deserted, not even a soul in sight. Rumors, like an invisible sword, pierced Shumei's wounded heart.
No matter how eloquent Huang Yaoniang was, no decent family was willing to marry Shumei.
For Shumei, this was a blessing in disguise. She didn't believe that her father would let her stay at home for the rest of her life and eat and drink for free. This was undoubtedly God's mercy, allowing her and Jizong to finally get married.
"It's strange. They used to rush to come here, but now they've all been beaten to a pulp."
Kang Yong came back from outside in a rage, sat at the stone table in the yard, and pounded his fists on the table.
"Dad, what's going on? Look at your ugly face. You could be a door god to ward off evil spirits."
"It's all because of your disappointing daughter. I just ran into Huang Yaoniang at the village entrance. She said no one dared to marry her, no matter how hard I tried. This time, I ended up losing more than I gained. Please don't let it affect Fadada and Liu Yue's marriage!"
Shumei hid in the house and secretly listened to the conversation between her parents. After that day, she rarely went out. She was afraid that if she went out, she would be drowned by the villagers' spit.
"You! This is called self-inflicted trouble. You have ruined a good girl. Otherwise, just agree to let her be with that Zhang Jizong."
"You're dreaming! A toad wants to eat swan flesh. But it's not completely impossible. Unless he also gives me 2,000 yuan, I will marry Shumei to him."
"Isn't this just extra stuff from taking off your pants to fart? If he could have it, you wouldn't have separated them."
At this time, a young man with a playful face walked in from outside, holding two hens in his hands. He was wearing a white shirt that didn't fit him well, a pair of blue trousers, and a pair of red rubber slippers on his feet that looked particularly glaring. His eyes were narrowed into a line as if he hadn't woken up yet, and he looked like a natural shifty person.
"Hello, Uncle Kang, hello, Aunt Kang."
"Who are you?"
"My son, Niu Wa, lives on the other side of the river. He lives at the east end of the village."
"Oh! It's you! What are you doing here? My house is bare, there's nothing worth stealing."
Niu Wa put the chicken in his hand on the stone table, with a strange smile on his face, pointing at the two hens on the table, but his body made a gesture as if he was about to run away.
"Uncle Kang, you misunderstood. I'm here to propose to your daughter Kang Shumei on my own behalf. Look, I've brought the betrothal gifts."
Upon hearing this, Kang Yong stared at him with wide eyes, angry but silent. He found a wooden stick in the corner and chased Niu Wa to beat him up.
"You are so bold, you dare to come to my house and ask for marriage? Why don't you take a piss and look in the mirror? Even with your ugly appearance, you are not worthy of my Shumei. I am afraid that this chicken was stolen. I must teach you a lesson today, otherwise I will think that my Kang family has no one left. Even a thief like you dares to come and make trouble."
Kang Yong roared loudly, and Niu Wa dodged his pursuit while making plausible excuses.
"Isn't it that no one wants your Kang Shumei? Besides, I've always liked her!"
"You also said that if the child's mother stopped him, I would cut off his tongue."
When Niu Wa heard this, he quickly broke through Su Kui's blockade and ran out the door. Kang Yong picked up the chicken on the table, chased him out, and threw the chicken at Niu Wa.
"Take your chicken and get out of here. The farther the better."
Kang Yong was so exhausted that he was out of breath. He sat back down at the stone table, leaning on his stick. The heartless Kang Yong suddenly realized that he had gone too far. His beloved daughter had become a mess, and even a scum like Niu Wa dared to step on her.
"Shumei, come out."
Shumei had seen and heard everything that had just happened. Words couldn't describe her current state of mind. Frustration, despair, or heartache were all inadequate. Perhaps humiliation would be a more appropriate description. She walked dejectedly toward Kang Yong, like a bird with broken wings, losing the confidence to look up at the sky.
"Go tell that bastard, 500 yuan. As long as he gives me 500 yuan as a gift, I will let you get married."
This sudden turn of events caught Shumei off guard. While the number was still a bit high, at least Dad had agreed! If money could solve a problem, then it wasn't a problem. She perked up immediately, her brow furrowed just now, now beaming.
"Thank you, Dad. I'll be there right away."
Shumei couldn't wait to tell Jizong the good news. She rushed to the riverbank and, after getting off the boat, headed straight for Tang Boyi's house. Tang Boyi's parents had died young, leaving him and his sister. After his sister married, he was left alone. Zhang Jizong's family had a difficult mother, so Shumei usually didn't dare go directly to his house. She always went to Tang Boyi's house first, and then Tang Boyi would go and call Zhang Jizong out.
Shumei sat in the yard of Tang Boyi's house, anxiously waiting for Zhang Jizong.
"Shumei!"
When they met, they hugged each other excitedly, and Shumei's eyes were filled with tears of excitement. They hadn't seen each other for many days, and naturally missed each other even more. At this moment, silence was better than words.
Tang Boyi, a thousand-watt light bulb, saw the two of them being affectionate and dejectedly retreated, leaning against the wall and smoking a cigarette to soothe his sorrow. He was wearing a clean, white shirt tucked into black trousers. His figure was tall and muscular, and his well-proportioned features made him even more handsome than Zhang Jizong. Unfortunately, Shumei never even glanced at him.
"Are you telling the truth? Did your father really say that as long as I can gather 500 yuan, he will agree to our marriage?"
Zhang Jizong was also a little excited and repeatedly asked Shumei for confirmation. Shumei, with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, nodded vigorously to Zhang Jizong.
He shouted excitedly, jumping around in the yard like a child, patting his body wildly, more excited than if he had found gold.
Tang Boyi was startled by Zhang Jizong's shout. He threw away his unfinished cigarette and pushed the door open.
"What happened?"
Zhang Jizong rushed over and hugged him tightly. He was caught off guard and got goosebumps all over his body.
"It's agreed. Her father agreed. Shumei and I can be together openly and legally. Are you happy? Are you happy?"
Zhang Jizong was so excited that he was a little too excited and his speech was a little incoherent.
"Happy, happy."
Tang Boyi forced an awkward smile, Shumei was also smiling beside him. He said he was happy against his will, but he felt very sad in his heart. Shumei could find her happiness, and he should be happy for her, but the love for Shumei in his heart made him unable to control himself.
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