Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 58 Two Choices

Zhang Changyao pulled on the reins, looked at the window of Zhang Kaiju's house, and then at Yang Wuni.

"It's alright, Aunt Xiulan must have something good to tell you. Wait a moment."

Zhang Changyao and Zhai Qingming obediently waited and did not leave.

"Qingming, your aunt said it's not nice for a bride to get married without a veil."

After a while, Zhang Kaiju pushed open the door and handed out a red veil.

Zhai Qingming jogged over and took the red veil, bowing deeply to Zhang Kaiju with emotion.

After removing the veil, the two of them headed towards Maolu Village without further delay.

The chestnut horse was familiar with this road and passed the pass without firing a single shot.

By the time we entered the village, it was already bright daylight. The sun, peeking out from behind the hillside, seemed to be joining in the fun.

Sun Fengying's family lived in the middle of the village, in three mud-brick houses.

The wooden gate at the entrance to the courtyard was open, and several figures were moving around inside the house.

Zhang Changyao and Zhai Qingming entered the courtyard, but no one came out to greet them.

They glanced at each other, then pushed open the door and went inside.

There were seven or eight people in the room, and three women were sitting around the kang (a heated brick bed) watching Liu Fengying.

Several men stood on the ground, their faces tense as they watched Zhai Qingming and Zhang Changyao enter.

Sun Fengying was holding a little boy who was already able to sit up.

The little boy's tiny hands were wiping away Sun Fengying's tears.

"Uncle, Aunt, I've come to pick up Fengying."

Zhai Qingming glanced at Sun Fengying's father standing on the ground and Sun Fengying's mother on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Qingming, please sit down first. Your uncle and aunt have something to say to you." Sun Fengying's father pointed to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with a stern face.

Zhai Qingming nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning among the women, trying to find his aunt.

Since his aunt didn't come, he stopped looking at the women around Sun Fengying.

"Qingming, there was a slight mishap today. I want to explain things to you first before we proceed with the wedding."

Sun Fengying's father sat on the stool opposite Zhai Qingming and Zhang Changyao.

He rested his hands on his knees and looked at the two people with a gentle expression.

"Okay! Uncle, go ahead and say it! I'm listening." Zhai Qingming straightened his back, trying to look proper.

"Qingming, turn around and look at the child that Fengying is holding in her arms."

The child was born to Fengying and is already one year old.

The child had been taken by his grandmother before, so we never mentioned it.

Now that my daughter Fengying is getting married, her grandmother has sent the child back.

Fengying wants to bring her child over to live with you. Do you agree or disagree?

If you agree, we will give Fengying the twenty yuan you gave us without touching it, and we will also give you another thirty yuan.

If you don't agree, our family won't force you, and we'll return your twenty yuan in full.

Anyway, you haven't lost anything yet, so it's not like we cheated or scammed you.

Zhai Qingming only caught the first few sentences of what Sun Fengying's father said.

He didn't know what was said after that; his head was buzzing, and he felt numb, like a paste.

He stared blankly at Sun Fengying's father's mouth, but couldn't hear him make a sound.

"Qingming, your uncle has finished speaking. Now you need to give me an explanation!"

Zhang Changyao saw Sun Fengying's father waiting for Zhai Qingming's reply.

He nudged his ribs with his elbow, forcing him to give someone a reply.

"Changyao, what should we do?" Zhai Qingming's first words after realizing what was happening were to ask Zhang Changyao what to do.

"What? What do we do? Qingming, how would I know?"

When Zhang Changyao was asked this question, his head suddenly went "buzz" and he was completely stunned.

"Qingming, why don't you two go outside and discuss it before giving me an answer?"

Sun Fengying's father was reasonable and knew that forcing these two people to give an answer at that time was a bit too hasty.

"Okay, okay! Uncle, let's discuss it and we'll be right back."

Zhang Changyao pulled Zhai Qingming, whose eyes were glazed over, out of the courtyard.

He squatted down by the wall of a neighbor's house, which was far from Sun Fengying's house.

"Qingming, what should we do?"

Zhang Changyao slapped Zhai Qingming's face with both hands to bring him back to his senses.

"Changyao, they're bullying us, how can they do this?"

Why did they have to say it right when they came to pick up the bride? It's like forcing a mute to speak!

Zhai Qingming covered his head and cried, like a wronged child.

"Qingming, now is not the time to cry. Are you going to admit it or not?"

"If they acknowledge us, they can take the children back with them; if they don't, they can take the money and leave. You have to choose one of these two paths."

Zhang Changyao nudged Zhai Qingming's forehead, making him look up at him.

"Changyao, let's go find my aunt. I need to talk to her."

If I had known she was a woman who had given birth, I wouldn't have come to meet her, would I?

Zhai Qingming stood up, grabbed Zhang Changyao, and was about to go find his aunt to settle accounts.

"Qingming, let's not go. Your aunt didn't come today; she probably doesn't know how to tell you."

If you go to them, you're being ungrateful.

Someone kindly introduced you to a woman, and didn't even eat a single fruit from you, so how dare you criticize them?

You now face a choice between two paths; running away is not the solution.

Zhang Changyao pulled Zhai Qingming back down to squat beside him, preventing him from acting impulsively.

"Changyao, what should I do? I'll listen to you, you help me make a decision."

Zhai Qingming was in a daze; he didn't know what to choose.

"Qingming, since you put it that way, I'll help you analyze it."

I'll explain the pros and cons of these two choices to you, and then you can make the final decision yourself.

Zhang Changyao grabbed a handful of corn husks, placed them under his buttocks, and sat down.

"Hmm! Changyao, you're smarter than me, so tell me what's going on, I'm listening."

Zhai Qingming followed Zhang Changyao's example and grabbed a bag of corn husks to sit on.

"Qingming, let's talk about the first option: we need to get back twenty yuan to catch the bus home."

If people ask when you get home, just say that the woman has given birth and we don't want her anymore.

This way, we save face and don't lose money; it sounds pretty good.

However, whether he will be able to get married in the future is another matter.

As you know, Sun Fengying would have some shortcomings if she hadn't given birth.

It's impossible for her to agree to marry someone who's not only poor but also doesn't even consider her own home.

There are also a bunch of younger brothers and sisters at home who depend on you for food and can't take care of themselves.

The second option is for you to marry her and her child.

Not only did he get his twenty yuan back, but his father-in-law also gave him thirty yuan.

That means you didn't spend a single penny and even made a profit of thirty yuan.

However, when he returned to the village, he would be laughed at by the villagers, young and old.

As time went by, people forgot about it.

Sun Fengying will definitely be grateful that you didn't dislike the child.

That way, she can live a good life with you and simply want to make it a good life.

The child she brought along will become her Achilles' heel.

As long as you treat the child well, this woman will give you her whole heart.

That way, you'll become even better than me.

You gained both people and money; a win-win situation.