CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 057 THE NATURE OF NOT HAVING A MOTHER

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"What crow’s mouth, how can you say that someone can’t have children..." Lin Zhaodi began to waver upon hearing this, but her mouth instinctively retorted with a murmured voice, which everyone around clearly heard.

The onlookers all had an expression like they were looking at someone who had eaten ’shit’ as they stared at Lin Zhaodi: Just how messed up is this old woman’s imagination!

"Tsks, Sister-in-law of the main hall, if there wasn’t something ’flawed’, who would willingly marry a perfectly good girl to him? Is it you, or you?" Having stood like a post for the entire morning, Zhang Zhiming’s wife, Chen Zhenjie, asked with a slanted eye and a smiling face to Lin Zhaodi.

Her rough fingers pointed one by one at the sisters Zhang Yunni and Zhang Baonni, scaring both into shaking their heads quickly with a ghost-sighting expression.

Lin Zhaodi looked surprised at her seemingly kind cousin’s wife, as if stunned by her words, and seeing her pointing at her own daughters, she quickly retorted dissatisfiedly: "Hey, Zhiming’s wife, what are you randomly pointing at. You are an elder; don’t ruin my daughters’ reputations!"

"Look, as their mother, I simply ask a question, and you react defensively as if sheltering a calf—other families’ daughters are also born and raised by parents, who would want their own daughters, whom they have raised, to be belittled by such reckless matching as if to depreciate their own flesh and blood? This is a lifetime matter of marriage!" Chen Zhenjie looked at her cousin-in-law with a ’I-knew-it’ expression.

Those big eyes stared directly at Lin Zhaodi, as if she had seen through her heart, causing Lin Zhaodi to shiver involuntarily and look terrified "...".

Even if Lin Zhaodi was foolish, she understood that Chen Zhenjie was insinuating that she didn’t have the ’motherly’ instinct towards her daughter like she should have. Being openly accused of heartlessness by her, Lin Zhaodi felt somewhat at a loss, her mind in a fog, not knowing how to respond.

Chen Zhenjie furrowed her brows, looking at the pallid disc-like face before her, yet for the first time, she harbored doubts: Was San Ni really birthed by her?

Indeed, Lin Zhaodi’s guilty demeanor made it impossible not to be suspicious. But Lin Zhaodi had never left Shanglin Village since her marriage, and when she was pregnant with a big belly, everyone had seen it with their own eyes; most importantly, when she gave birth to San Ni, it was done in her own house, not at a hospital, so there was no possibility of a mix-up!

What exactly is going on here? Chen Zhenjie had doubts in her heart, but her face did not show it, only hiding it behind her mother-in-law, without any sense of presence.

On this side, the Zhang Family members were all silent; on the other side, Lin Aiguo and his nephew discussed and finally came to a conclusion, but the look on Lin Aiguo’s face wasn’t too good.

In fact, there were quite a few with gloomy faces, not to mention Zhang Zhiming and his son; even Lin Jianmin’s expression wasn’t that great. But after all, he was now an elder, and after receiving Lin Aiguo’s courtesy, he had to step up even if he didn’t want to.

"Uncle Qiangzi, Zhiming brothers, you both know my nephew’s situation very well, he’s not really here to make a scene, it’s just that if the betrothal gifts are too little, he really can’t afford to marry a wife, then his branch of the family will become extinct, am I right..." Lin Jianmin took a couple of steps forward, with clasped hands, rubbing them together, showing an appearance of peacefully consulting with everyone.

Zhang Zhiming narrowed his eyes, interrupting his vague ramblings, and asked directly: "Alright, Jianmin brother, just tell us, how much do you want?"

The matter of the Zhang and Lin families exchanging brides has been the talk of the town these past few days. First, my niece tried to drown herself, then my nephew eloped with a huge sum of money, and now the girl’s family is stirring up trouble. It’s just endless.

He slightly lifted his head and noticed that the weather clearly indicated it was already past three in the afternoon, a time when joyful banquets were usually winding down. Besides, they had rejected San Ni’s invitation yesterday, so it was clear now that they couldn’t possibly attend.

Looking at Dad’s complexion, he understood that the old man’s wish to see San Ni get married was definitely not going to happen.

"Uh, just, just two hundred and thirty bucks," Lin Jianmin said, his voice hardened with resolve. This was the final concession from Lin Aiguo.

The villagers, who had been watching the drama unfold all day, were not surprised by now, quietly suppressing their rising excitement, waiting for what would come next.

"No, not possible, my family really has no money left!" Lin Zhaodi, upon hearing the price, immediately snapped like a switch was flicked on, her fiery temper inflamed, shooting back a retort.

The Zhang sisters also had a bitter look on their faces; they thought that by selling off that wretched girl Zhang Shan Ni, they could rely on their mother’s favor to at least scrape by with some soup to drink. But they never expected to not only miss out on any benefits but also attract a swarm of troubles!

"Uncle, the family..." Zhang Zhiguo’s eyebrows knotted in distress, his face a portrait of misery. If the money were still there, it would be fine, but the fact was there was no money! How could he possibly come up with over two hundred bucks!

"Hmph!" Zhang Hongqiang rapped the wooden stick in his hand on the ground without making a sound, a gesture that intuitively made Zhang Zhiguo flinch, appearing frightened.

"Brother Zhiguo, what do you think?" Zhang Zhiming pulled on Dad’s sleeve, politely looking at Zhang Zhiguo, waiting for his decision.

In that moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Zhang Zhiguo. He felt a storm rapidly approaching, yet this was not his turn to refuse. How could he possibly distance himself from Lin Aiguo’s troubles when his own uncle and aunt were laying their problems in front of him!

Lin Aiguo was considered a contemptible person, and dealing with him these past few days had given Zhang Zhiguo such a headache, he wanted nothing more to do with him. Yet, it was impossible for Zhang Zhiguo not to reckon with him, failing to recall in this moment of anxiety that Zhang Dongliang had already registered his marriage with Lin Aimei. Their two families were bound together; it was impossible to have no relations at all.

"Uncle, if I had money, I would pay it off right away and get rid of this pesky plaster! The problem is, the family’s money, it’s really been stolen, taken away by the unfilial Dongliang! Even if you kill me now, I can’t conjure up the money!" Zhang Zhiguo, with his head in his hands, fell to his knees in front of Zhang Hongqiang, crying in pain.

Mentioning Zhang Dongliang, who showed no concern for the nurturing love of his parents and took all the money from selling Zhang Shan Ni, not to mention half of the last of the family’s savings, his heart felt very heavy. He had never considered that taking all the money, and eloping with Lin Aiguo’s ruffian sister, would bring a persistent troublemaker to the family!

"Ah..." Zhang Hongqiang let out a deep sigh, his darkened, weathered face showing disappointment in his nephew.

Hearing this emotional sigh, Zhang Zhiguo, in anguished kneeling, moved beside his uncle, embracing his thigh, crying out, "Uncle, I’m at fault, I’ve let you down, please save Dongliang, help your nephew."