"Ah, Bao Xing's wife, I know. Sit down and talk slowly, don't get excited." Li Sanfu truly felt tired, this matter wasn't over yet, if there's no resolution today, it won't be easy.
"But how could you introduce a cripple to Zhaodi? After all, she is your niece." Li Yinfeng sensed she might be wrong but still raised objections, wanting to expose the other's sinister intentions to prove that she wasn't mistaken and her concerns were valid.
"Don't keep calling him a cripple." Zhou Fengjuan looked at her disdainfully, then glanced at Li Sanfu and Li Dalong, who were actually the ones in charge in the Li Family.
"That Yang Zhigang is from Yangliu Village, just returned in April after recovering. He came back with first-class merit, was injured in the leg on the battlefield, and just limps a little."
In this era, people have a sense of awe and admiration for soldiers, so everyone held their breath and continued listening to her narration.
The Yang Family has three brothers, Yang Zhigang is the eldest, and because of his salary over the years, the Yang Family built a house early on, a rare red brick house in the village.
The two younger brothers are already married, and the two old ones of the Yang Family now only hope that he can find a wife and settle down quickly, promising that if successful, the Yang Family will offer a sewing machine and bicycle in addition to the bride price.
"Hiss..." Whispering came from outside the door, someone took a cold gasp, tsk tsk... the conditions are indeed impressive.
Just a little limp, what's the big deal? He's a veteran wounded for the benefit of the masses, that's a military medal, these conditions surely overshadow that flaw.
"But, but he is still disabled. Our Zhaodi is a young, beautiful girl, why can't she find a healthy suitor with good family conditions..." Hearing the discussion outside, Li Yinfeng thought the conditions were good but still stubbornly held her ground.
Zhou Fengjuan laughed bitterly, "Alright then, I'll wait for you to introduce someone better for Zhaodi. Besides the bride price, don't forget the sewing machine and bicycle! Also, I must emphasize again, he just agreed to come and see her, with Zhaodi's behavior that day, ha, she was a rude shrew, do you think he'd be interested? Marrying is about choosing wisely... the family isn't just taking any bride!"
Being countered by Zhou Fengjuan, Li Yinfeng's face turned dark, with such good conditions, what kind of family could match, she found herself in a dilemma.
"Sister-in-law, please don't speak that way..." Li Dalong glared at Li Yinfeng, trying to mediate, "For men and women to become a couple, it's about fate, not family conditions. As the saying goes, 'a big foot fits a big shoe', too big or small won't work, right... Besides, whatever Zhaodi does wrong, we adults can teach and correct, so let's not speak too harshly..."
"Fine, you've said everything, Li Family, what else can I say?" Zhou Fengjuan felt stifled, forced a reluctant smile, "Anyway, in the hearts of you Li Family people, we Wang Family folks are all ill-intentioned, what more is there to say? From now on, we won't get involved in Wang Zhaodi's matters anymore."
After expressing her stance, she stood up, turned to Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing and said, "Yulan, Baoxing, don't bicker with them over this, it's not worth it, we'll continue as we should. Also, don't inform us about Zhaodi's matters anymore." This had a bit of severing ties.
"Sister-in-law, I get it, you sit down, I have a few more words to say, you can witness it for me." Liu Yulan stood up, pulled Zhou Fengjuan to sit down, then looked at the people inside and outside the house, boldly said, "It's said it's hard to be a stepmother, I understood early on. How many in the village said behind my back that I'm ill-intentioned, mistreating my stepdaughter with a black heart. You know who spread these words. No matter how poorly I did, Wang Zhaodi still grew up healthy and strong. Now she's grown wings and someone is supporting and making decisions for her. I leave the affairs from today onwards, good or bad, I won't be involved."
The crowd listened in silence, recalling Liu Yulan married into the village for nearly twenty years, with a consistently poor impression, yet had she truly done anything heinous? The crowd couldn't recall...
It seemed many people lived an entire life just floating along with customs.
"I've provided for her for eighteen years, ensuring her safe growth, now she's old enough to marry, my responsibility as a stepmother is complete. Even sons form a separate household after marrying, let alone daughters, a married daughter's water is spilled, whether she's wealthy or not, she won't come to me."
"But she's not married yet, you must provide her with a dowry." Li Yinfeng unhappily objected.
"Dowry? Ha, I won't even ask for her annual filial piety during the three festivals, so why should I provide a dowry?" Liu Yulan looked at her sarcastically, "You, Li Yinfeng, are capable, aren't you? Propose such a good marriage, if they can provide such a bride price, just convert that into the dowry. Or you can add two more blankets? After all, she's close to you, during the three annual festivals, she won't forget you..."
"You..." Li Yinfeng was furious, turned to Wang Baoxing, "Wang Baoxing, aren't you going to control her? Zhaodi is your daughter."
"You do know she is my daughter, huh?" Wang Baoxing looked at her as if she were a clown. The crowd understood his meaning, being presumptive while her real father was present.
Wang Baoxing looking at everyone, seemingly held countless things in his eyes, "Yulan is my wife, she's the one I brought from a mountain of debt. From the start, she didn't have a single good day with me, it's my fault."
Liu Yulan looked at Wang Baoxing surprised, not expecting him to openly and sincerely say these words.
"She has lived through hardships these years, gave birth to and raised four children for me, I'm clear about her sacrifices, and everyone present isn't blind, you can see, right?" Wang Baoxing surveyed around asking, and didn't expect a reply, "Please refrain from gossiping about her behind her back, consider this my request."
Wang Baoxing's heart was pained and guilty, he hadn't done well these years, continually aggrieved her. He urgently wanted to save money for her to live comfortably, yet found that his effort yielded no results year-round.
He knew she regretted marrying him, lived suppressively these years, so whenever she got angry, he tolerated it, let her vent silently, even when she ordered her eldest daughter around angrily or cursed implicitly, he allowed it but didn't expect her public reputation to be so poor.
But he knew her heart was kind, like she said, despite her flaws, Zhaodi grew up healthy and safely.