CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 037 SECRETLY CROSSING THE WEI RIVER

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"Mother, it’s not that I don’t want Xiao Mei to marry well, but these are my circumstances laid bare, and our family’s conditions are not that great either. Without Xiao Mei, our branch of the Lin Family might just wither away!"

This was a very realistic problem. If the starting point considered the future of his sister, then the prospects of this old man with mediocre morals to ever get a wife were nil!

Without a wife, where would sons come from?

Sometimes, people not caring for themselves deserved divine punishment! All he wanted was a warm bed to share with a wife and children!

Lin Aiguo, seeing his elderly mother crying incessantly, felt extremely frustrated. After pacing back and forth several times, he finally suppressed the annoyance and hesitation in his heart, and gently and soothingly comforted:

"Mother, after all, that is the wealthiest household in Shanglin Village. Although that man is a bit unclear-headed, he’s not completely foolish, just a bit simple! It wouldn’t be too bad for our little sister to marry over there."

That individual from He Family might be a bit foolish but his family was wealthy. Marrying off his sister there meant she wouldn’t suffer from poverty and she could even help support our family - of course he would choose a rich household.

Of course, the main thing was their daughter, whom he had secretly checked out. Although her looks were not much different from Zhang Shan Ni, she was indeed very timid.

"Wu... mother is useless, do whatever you think is best!" Mrs. Lin really couldn’t think of any better solution. Between her son and daughter, she could only bitterly sacrifice her daughter for a healthy daughter-in-law.

In her heart, her son was much more important than her daughter!

At this moment, the mother and son finally reached an agreement, but they were unaware that Lin Aimei, who was supposed to be cleaning up the kitchen, was staring with hatred at this hypocritical pair!

Lin Aimei too, had once defended her big brother, but reality had slapped her painfully. Even she, being the little sister, ended up being dragged down by her brother, unable to marry even at twenty. Wasn’t she also angered by this selfish mother and son?

Lin Aiguo was the son, but was she, Lin Aimei, not also a daughter? Why should her happiness be sacrificed to fulfill her unscrupulous brother?

Besides, if even his own little sister despised Lin Aiguo, would others be real fools?

Lin Aimei was no fool. After hearing such a major matter, she harbored secret resentment but still furiously washed the dishes and quietly returned to her room as usual. Mrs. Lin saw this but said nothing. After all, it had been discussed in the village all day long, and her daughter, being perceptive, must have understood the situation.

However, since the Zhang Family had not yet come to break off the engagement, Mrs. Lin found it hard to discuss it with her daughter. But the engagement was doomed, and without saying, her daughter understood it too.

Lin Aimei returned to her room, pacing back and forth anxiously.

She could no longer heed the words of her mother and brother; otherwise, she might be sold without even knowing how she died!

She believed she was good-looking and hard-working, so why was fate so harsh on her?

Eventually, Lin Aimei steeled her resolve and started to plan. She put on all her clothes and packed the savings she had secretly collected over the years. Then, taking advantage of the still bright sky, she secretly left Old Lin Village.

Ever since she was engaged to Zhang Dongliang, she avoided her family and secretly communicated with Zhang Dongliang, taking a risky path. Although it was a bit unsafe, it was not dark yet, and Lin Aimei, emboldened, impulsively made her way to the Zhang Family.

The Zhang Family had just finished dinner, and Zhang Dongliang was about to lie on the bed when he heard a cat’s meow outside the backyard intermittently. His heart leapt with joy, immediately knowing that his betrothed had come.

Since he was the only son at home and had his own room, he avoided others and smuggled Lin Aimei into his room, eagerly wanting to have her under him for a passionate encounter.

However, as soon as Lin Aimei saw him, she hugged him and cried, "Brother Liang, you must save me!"

"What happened? Xiao Mei, what’s going on?"

"Brother Liang, I just overheard my elder brother and mom talking, they want to replace your sister’s broken engagement with He Guang’s family! I, I am already yours, how can I just flip flop? Brother Liang, you must think of something, I will marry no one but you!"

Lin Aimei clung tightly to Zhang Dongliang, pressing her chest firmly against his, making him breathe in gasps. But once he clearly heard her words, his mind instantly cleared up, and he hurriedly explained:

"Xiao Mei, could you have misunderstood? My family has no intention of calling off the engagement!"

"Brother Liang, with Zhang Shanni no longer available for the marriage exchange, how could my elder brother possibly let me marry you!" Speaking, Lin Aimei’s eyes welled with tears, her face full of grievance.

"This..."

"Brother Liang, let’s elope! My heart belongs only to you, and now even more so since I’ve given myself to you, I’d rather die than marry someone else!" Seeing Zhang Dongliang’s hesitant look, Lin Aimei’s heart tightened, drawing even closer to his body and murmuring tearfully in secret.

"But..."

"Brother Liang, our country now supports our freedom to love, even if we truly elope, at worst it would just harm our reputation, but we can leave the Qingyun Team, going straight to the county would work too! It’s lucky that there’s a new policy now, we can leave without needing any proof any longer!"

Zhang Dongliang furrowed his brows; he was still a young man, rarely going to Qingyun Town, let alone the county. Hearing Xiao Mei mention the county town, he felt a stirring in his heart, somewhat tempted.

"Brother Liang, once we’re in the county town, we can be the masters of our own home!" Lin Aimei knew that Zhang Dongliang really didn’t like how his parents controlled everything about him, making him feel constrained even when drinking water.

"I..."

"Brother Liang, while the silver from Zhang Shanni’s servitude is still with your mom, we have the silver, where can’t we go? What can’t we do? If we delay any longer, your elder and younger sisters will get wind of it, and there won’t be any silver left for you!" Lin Aimei knew her tough older and younger sister-in-laws were not to be underestimated!

Seeing how her second sister-in-law had gotten married before Zhang Dongliang, it was clear she was cunning!

Lin Aimei, growing up in such a family, was the only astute one, highly understanding of others’ psychology, almost to the point of precision!

For her, she’d rather deal with Zhang Shanni than face Zhang Yunni and Zhang Baonni.

When competitors meet, jealousy abounds.

Zhang Dongliang, upon hearing his little demon’s words, actually agreed, nodding in affirmation. Thinking about how his mother had arranged such splendid marriages for his elder sisters without considering his own marriage at all, he knew his mother was easily swayed by a few sweet words from his sisters, clueless about how the silver was being manipulated!

He had not so easily secured a large sum of silver just for it to benefit them! Compared to the lip service of his elder sisters, he regarded his youngest sister as the most reliable and the best candidate among his siblings!

"Alright, I’ll do as you say. Stay here quietly for a bit, I’ll be right back!" Zhang Dongliang tapped her nose, looking as if he’d spare no effort for her.

"Brother Liang, remember to bring the household register and ID! Let’s, let’s get married first!" She certainly didn’t want to end up empty-handed and disgraced!

"Okay!"

Zhang Dongliang glanced at Lin Aimei’s excessively shy demeanor, feeling a fiery warmth in his heart.