Old Chen and his two sons carried firewood to the front gate.
Chen Zhanshan heard everything Old Lady Chen said clearly, and felt uneasy.
For so many years, I've worked tirelessly like an ox, never neglecting any of the farm work.
In his spare time, he would also do manual labor in Qingshui Town. He never spent a penny of the money he earned; he used it all to support his third brother's education.
In his mother's eyes, he was just a peasant, and his daughter should be lowly. A bitter feeling spread through his heart.
He put down the firewood on his shoulder, frowned, and walked closer.
"Mother, Ruolan is your granddaughter, and so is Qing'er. How can you say such things about her?"
Chen Qingqing looked in the direction of the sound and saw that her father, Chen Zhanshan, was thin and tall with a dark complexion, clearly someone who worked under the sun all year round. Although he was only forty years old, he looked much older than his actual age.
Old Mrs. Chen choked up, then gave an awkward laugh, "Eldest son, you've come back just in time. Your good daughter is about to rebel."
I finally got Matchmaker Zhao to find her a good marriage, but she chased Matchmaker Zhao away and kept saying she wouldn't marry him. Can't you believe it?
Chen Qingqing's eyes reddened, and she slowly raised her head. She saw love in Chen Zhanshan's eyes. She didn't want to cry, but this was the original owner's blood-related emotion with her father, and her heartfelt dependence on him.
She wiped away her tears. "Father, Grandma wants to marry me off to Butcher Li in Qingshui Town. I'm scared."
"Don't be afraid, your father won't let you marry Butcher Li."
When Chen Zhanshan saw his daughter with blood on her face, tears in her eyes, and her body trembling uncontrollably, his heart broke.
He never dared to disobey his mother, but this matter concerned his daughter's lifelong happiness, so he had to firmly refuse.
"Mother, Qing'er doesn't want to, so let's call off the marriage!"
Old Mrs. Chen immediately bristled, raising her voice, "Forget it? You make it sound so easy! If she doesn't get married, what will our whole family eat and drink?"
Old Man Chen followed closely behind and came in. Seeing Old Woman Chen's gloomy face, he hurriedly asked, "Old woman, what's going on? Why are you shouting in broad daylight?"
Grandma Chen slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Old man, you're finally back! Matchmaker Zhao just came and found a good family for Qingqing."
But this good-for-nothing, I've said countless kind words, I've worn my lips out, but she's just too stubborn, she absolutely refuses to marry me. I've already accepted the bride price, what am I supposed to do now?
Chen Zhanshan said, "Since they haven't gotten married or had a wedding ceremony, why not just return the betrothal gifts?"
Old Mrs. Chen glared at her eldest son, annoyed. "Return it? You make it sound so easy. We're in a famine year, with so many mouths to feed. Your third brother is also preparing for the imperial examinations. If we return the betrothal gifts, how will we survive?"
Old Chen shook his head and sighed, "Zhanshan, your mother is right. Your third brother needs money, and the family is waiting for rice to cook. You can't just watch our family suffer!"
Seeing that Old Man Chen also agreed to the marriage, the third brother, Chen Zhancai, felt somewhat relieved. What if his eldest brother disagreed? Wouldn't that be terrible? How could he participate in the imperial examination? If he didn't pass and become a scholar, he couldn't possibly end up as a peasant!
He shamelessly said, "Brother, we finally found a family for Qingya, how can we just back out like that?"
Besides, Qingya is not a child anymore.
As the saying goes, a daughter should not be kept at home once she grows up; keeping her will only lead to enmity. Whether she marries early or late, she will eventually have to get married.
I think this marriage is great; Qing'er will be living a life of luxury after marrying into it.
Liu Fengjiao chimed in sarcastically, "Who says otherwise? Our mother was worried that Qing'er would suffer, so she specially asked Matchmaker Zhao to choose a good family for her. The matter is already settled, how can we go back on our word?"
Chen Qingqing was sweating bullets. She was afraid that Chen Zhanshan was blindly filial. If he agreed to the marriage, she would have nowhere to go. Even if she didn't want to marry, she probably wouldn't be able to escape the clutches of the Chen family.
She stared blankly at Chen Zhanshan. If he agreed, she would have to make other plans. Even if she married Li the Butcher, she would have a million ways to escape.
After all, he was a medical student, and crippling someone would be a piece of cake for him.
At this moment, Chen Zhanshan's heart sank deeper and deeper. He had heard of Butcher Li before. Everyone in Qingshui Town knew that he was a violent man who had beaten several wives to death.
At this point, his closest relatives were thinking of marrying their own daughter to such a person, which was obviously pushing their daughter into a fire pit!
He said coldly, "Third brother, since you and your wife both say this marriage is good, and Qing'er doesn't want to marry him, then let Ruolan marry him!"
Mrs. Lin breathed a sigh of relief. With her husband's opposition, she was sure her daughter's marriage could be called off.
Her expression was cold, and her tone was somewhat dissatisfied. "Third brother, I think your eldest brother is right. Mother accepted the bride price to support your education. Even if a daughter is to be married off, it shouldn't be my Qing girl's turn. Ruolan is your biological daughter, and it is only right that she contributes to your future."
Chen Zhancai was speechless for a moment, his face turning as red as a liver color.
Madam Liu was so angry that she gritted her teeth. She had thought that as long as the old lady spoke up, the matter would definitely be settled.
She had a hard time persuading Matchmaker Zhao to arrange this marriage, so that not only would her husband have money to take the imperial examination, but the family would no longer have to eat coarse food every day.
But no one expected that the honest and simple-minded Chen Zhanshan would be so protective of his daughter.
Chen Qingqing was deeply moved by her father's words. It was so good to have parents who loved her. As long as her parents supported her, she was not afraid. She believed that she could definitely lead them to a good life.
"Dad, Mom, thank you."
Chen Zhanshan gently patted her shoulder, his gaze firm, "Qing girl, don't be afraid. If your father doesn't agree, no one will dare to marry you off."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen nearly vomited blood in anger, and immediately began wailing and pounding her chest.
"You unfilial brat, are you trying to drive your old mother to her death? How dare you disobey me! I've raised you in vain, you're driving me to my death!"
Chen Zhanshan's legs went weak instantly, and he knelt straight on the ground. "Mother, calm down. It's all my fault. I'll apologize to you."
Old Chen's face was ashen, his eyes filled with anger. "Zhanshan, your mother had no choice. If Qing'er doesn't marry, what will we eat and drink? How will we afford to send your third brother to the academy? How will he participate in the academy examination? Your third brother's future will be ruined!"
Chen Zhanshan hung his head. "Father, Butcher Li is no good man. Marrying Qing'er off to him would be the death of her! I only have this one daughter. I can't just watch her jump into a fire pit!"
Old Chen knew his eldest son's temperament; once he made up his mind, nothing could stop him. If he didn't agree to the marriage, the whole family would probably starve to death these days.
If I had known that education would cost money, I shouldn't have let my third son go to school in the first place. The money and food I've saved over the years could have helped me through a famine.
But now they have nothing left and can only pin their hopes on their third son.
If he can pass the imperial examination to become a scholar this year, not only will his family be exempted from taxes and corvée labor, but they will also receive silver, which will allow them to survive this famine.
......
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