CHAPTER 450: CHAPTER 450: HE WAS TERRIBLY HARMED BY THIS FAMILY

Mrs. Zhang watched Li Dongmei ride her bicycle away until she was out of sight, then slowly her smile faded.

Turning to look at her son’s coffin-like face, she spoke softly to persuade him, "Look how good this girl is? Not only is she filial and sensible, but her family also sells vegetables. Once you’re married to her, we won’t even need to buy our own veggies."

Zhang Wenbin still felt somewhat dissatisfied and retorted immediately, "Qin Juan’s family are vegetable farmers too. Remember when she first married into the family? The Qin Family also provided us with grain and vegetables. Have you forgotten what you said then?"

His mother disdained Qin Juan for being from an agricultural household, thinking it was only right for the Qin Family to give them grain and vegetables.

Mrs. Zhang’s face stiffened, obviously recalling the circumstances at that time, and said with a displeased expression, "Are you still hung up on that little wretch? We can discuss this when the time comes. If it wasn’t for that little wretch, would our family be in this state?"

She looked at her son covered in injuries and spoke with heartfelt concern, "Wenbin, it’s time to wake up. She’s a heartless and ungrateful woman. She caused you to lose your job, and now she’s living a good life. If she had even a shred of affection for you, she wouldn’t have let you be beaten to this state. I think you’re right, that woman probably had an affair long ago. We’ve been utterly deceived by the Qin Family."

"Dongmei is a good girl, would Mom harm you? Look how carefully she’s taken care of you these past days. Listen to Mom and marry Dongmei soon, maybe by next year I’ll be able to hold a grandchild."

...

Li Dongmei hurried back to the night market and parked her bicycle in front of Li Guangyuan’s vegetable stall. She grabbed a handful of chives and after thinking for a moment, picked up a few cucumbers as well.

Li Guangyuan was selling vegetables next to her. He caught sight of her actions from the corner of his eye and frowned, "What are you taking vegetables for again?" And you’re taking chives and cucumbers; do you know how much they cost per pound right now?

"I need them for something, brother, just have dinner by yourself later, don’t worry about me."

Li Dongmei placed the vegetables in her basket and turned to leave.

Li Guangyuan grabbed her bike, "Explain to me clearly, where are you going? Li Dongmei, I’m telling you, if you want to find a partner, let your sister-in-law set you up with a matchmaker. Stop messing around outside."

Once Lin Jiayi was mentioned, Li Dongmei let out a cold laugh, "Have my sister-in-law act as a matchmaker? Didn’t she already push my elder sister into the fire pit? Do you want her to push me in there too?"

"Well, how about Mom then, will you rest easy if Mom screens the guy for you?"

Li Dongmei held her chin up slightly, "Mom already knows about this bit of business I’m dealing with. You don’t believe me? Go home and ask her. She even approves of me dating him."

Hearing that Old Mrs. Li was aware, Li Guangyuan’s brows furrowed even deeper, "Even so, you can’t just keep running off to that man’s place, it’s unseemly. If mom agrees, bring the guy home to meet us. If it’s time to get engaged, get engaged. If it’s time to get married, get married. What does it look like, a young lady like you constantly visiting a man’s home?"

"I get it, I get it, you’re so naggy," Li Dongmei brushed Li Guangyuan’s hand away impatiently and left without looking back.

After she left, Li Guangyuan slapped his thigh.

He got so caught up talking about Li Dongmei’s matters that he forgot to make her leave the vegetables behind.

He used to turn a blind eye when she took some cabbage or potatoes, but these chives and cucumbers were expensive greenhouse vegetables he had acquired from Qin Family Village with difficulty.

...

Li Dongmei originally thought it was impossible for Zhang Wenbin to come to the Li Family for a visit, but after she revealed her heart to Mrs. Zhang, she actually helped make it happen.

Li Dongmei’s gratitude toward Mrs. Zhang deepened, feeling that her efforts to please her lately had not been in vain.

Zhang Wenbin’s arm was still not fully healed, but in order to visit the Li Family, he removed the hanging bandage that day, only his arm movement was still inconvenient.

Li Dongmei, feeling sorry for Zhang Wenbin, showed her thoughtfulness as she personally rode a bike to pick him up from the Zhang Family.

Even when buying gifts at the supply and marketing co-op, it was Li Dongmei who paid for them.

Of course, Li Dongmei didn’t have much money in her hands either, and what’s more, in the end, these things would enter her mouth anyway, so she casually bought two packs of snacks before heading to Xiaoqingshan Village.

Zhang Wenbin only knew that Li Dongmei was from the countryside, but he didn’t know which village she lived in.

When passing through Qin Family Village, the numerous greenhouses surrounding the village were particularly conspicuous.

At the entrance of Qin Family Village, on one side was the Xiyang Food Factory, and on the other side was the Qin Family Village agricultural supplies store.

Next to the store were villagers, lining up with carts and baskets, transporting vegetables there.

While riding her bicycle, Li Dongmei introduced the place, "That’s the Qin Family Village vegetable station. The Qin Family Village has set up these vegetable greenhouses, harvesting much of the produce early. Most of the vegetables my brothers sell come from that station, but those vegetables are quite pricey. I heard that setting up each of these greenhouses costs several hundred yuan. The whole village has built so many; Qin Family Village truly deserves to be called a model village."

Last year, when the county was evaluating for model status, Qin Family Village was recognized as a model village.

With so many greenhouses this year, Qin Family Village will probably remain the model village.

Li Dongmei looked over there with some envy; there were still people in Xiaoqingshan Village struggling with basic food and clothing, while everyone in Qin Family Village was striving for a better life.

However, after thinking about it, she would soon marry Zhang Wenbin and become a city dweller, and no matter how wealthy Qin Family Village was, it would still be composed of old peasants.

Yet Zhang Wenbin’s gaze fell on the agricultural supplies store next door.

There stood an elderly person, warmly greeting villagers.

That villager had just come from the vegetable station and handed a wad of cash to the elderly person.

He had previously inquired about the agricultural supplies store in Qin Family Village, which belonged to Qin Juan’s family, and the elderly person at the store entrance was Qin Juan’s mother, his former mother-in-law.

Zhang Wenbin’s eyes darkened considerably.

He had been badly cheated by that family.

Suddenly, the elderly person raised her head and glanced off into the distance, startling Zhang Wenbin into hurriedly turning away.

Because of his abrupt motion, Li Dongmei, who was riding the bicycle, suddenly lost her balance.

The road from the county town had long since turned into a dirt path.

Previously, Li Dongmei, not wanting to jostle Zhang Wenbin too much, had always sought out the smoothest parts of the road, which were usually on the very sides.

In losing her balance, the handlebars twisted several times before the bike plunged directly into the ditch beside the road.

"Uh-uh-uh... Ah..."

Li Dongmei grunted for a while but eventually let out a cry and fell into the roadside ditch.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wenbin, who had been continuously avoiding the direction of Qin Family Village, tumbled down awkwardly, sprawling in all directions.

One of his arms was already injured, and with this fall, he landed on it again, his pain so intense that he gasped for air without any regard for his image.

Hearing the noise, Li Dongmei quickly climbed up and asked with concern, "How are you, Brother Bin? Did you fall on your arm again? Is it really hurt? Do you need me to take you to the clinic to have a look?"