Chapter 89 For the sake of betrothal gifts

  "Girls, there are many people like this, and the world is full of greed..." Shen Sisi said helplessly. People like He Axiu and Zhong Gensheng who only focus on their own affairs are truly hard to come by.

  So she felt lucky, although sometimes she would get angry with them for not arguing, but it was also because of their lack of argument that they treated her like one of their own.

  Otherwise, when she was sold by her family back then, and her silver ticket accessories were taken away, what could she do? Although coming to this kind of poor household is a bit miserable, it's better than being in that kind of brothel.

  So, it's already a blessing from heaven that she occasionally thinks of it, and besides, although she has crossed over, there is still a space in her hand, which is already a great fortune.

  "He sighed and said: 'Just be more careful in the future, these people have a lot of ideas, making money is not easy, Tuni, you're so young and already worrying about this...'"

  "What are you talking about, Mom? We're a family. You and Dad worked hard to raise me, there's no need to say such things... Mom, I know you care about me, but I also care about you and Dad. You two have been working so hard, and I'm just using my brain a bit, not suffering... Shen Sisi pulled her hand and said: "Mom, don't be afraid, whoever wants to bully our family, I won't agree..."

  "Good child..." He Axiu was moved to hug Shen Sisi, saying: "Tuniu is really mother's thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket, mother is lucky to have you..."

  Shen Sisi also hugged her and said: "Mother, with you I am very fortunate too."

  Because she was He Ah Xiu, she didn't freeze to death or starve to death, nor was she sold into that unbearable place. Her birth mother couldn't compare to her adoptive parents, and she truly felt grateful to this couple, even more so with a deep affection.

  The braised meat was done, the stir-fried vegetables were eaten, and dinner was finished. Niu Laogen took advantage of the night to come over. As soon as he entered, the Zhong family let out a soft sigh, knowing that things would turn out this way. They just didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

  Niu Laogen was also very embarrassed, he originally came when Tian Guihua also had to follow, and was scolded by him, the old wife only stopped, fearing that she would come and things would become more embarrassing and complicated.

  "Uncle Niu, sit down..." Da Bao had already hidden away and was staying in the kitchen, refusing to come out. Shen Si Si had to go forward to greet him. Er Bao and San Bao were originally practicing writing in the room, but now they perked up their ears to listen from behind the wall, without coming out.

  He Qiu Xiu was even more depressed and went into the house. Besides, Niu Laogen was there, so she wasn't convenient either, after all it was late at night.

  Zhong Gensheng sat with Niu Laogen in the main room, both of them silent for a while. Shen Sisi also didn't speak, standing to one side. Although Niu Laogen was extremely embarrassed, he still forced himself to say: "I know this matter is our family's fault towards Dabao, but... for my daughter's life, Gensheng... I..."

  Niú Lǎo Gēn's words moved him to emotion, and tears began to flow. He wiped away his tears and said: "Can't you see that we're from the same village? Can't you give my daughter a chance to live?"

  Zhong Gensheng also felt deeply moved, but he didn't know what to say either. He could only silently sigh and after a long while, said: "Old Gen, we've been friends for decades, I won't mention anything else. We're also very distressed about Xiaohua, Xiaohua's character is extremely good too, but we can't just blindly acknowledge this without clarity. With Tian Dajie making such a fuss, our Dabao will... how can he live with himself in the future? He originally only wanted to save someone, who would have thought that saving him would lead to such trouble?"

  Niulao Gen was even more heartbroken after hearing this, and for a moment, his old face had nowhere to hide.

  "He didn't regret saving a life, after all... it was a human life..." Zhong Gen Sheng said helplessly: "It's not that our family's eldest son doesn't want to marry Xiao Hua, but we can't just marry like this without any explanation. In the future... how will Da Bao be able to hold his head up in the village? And Xiao Hua is also a good girl... no matter what, Tian Da Shu has really gone too far this time..." Zhong Gen Sheng spoke the truth.

  Niú Lǎo Gēn listened and gritted his teeth: "It's all because of this good-for-nothing wife..."

  He looked at Zhong Gensheng and said, "Gensheng, I know I owe you an apology, but no matter what, it's a life, isn't it? For the sake of human life, let's just consider it a good deed. I don't have anything to compensate for, we won't take any betrothal gifts, and when Xiaohua marries over, our family will even give her a dowry, how about that?"

  Zhong Gensheng just frowned and furrowed his brow without saying a word.

  "Alas, if Big Treasure doesn't marry her, what will become of our Little Flower?! Who else would want her? The whole village would know about it, and wouldn't she be forced to go to the mountains to become a nun?! You're making this father's heart ache..."

  Deep in thought and speechless, it's all because Tian Guihua is too good at causing trouble, with a heart that only focuses on money, not even caring about her daughter's reputation.

  Zhong Gensheng sighed and said: "Xiaohua's character is more than enough to match our family's Dabao, it's just that this matter... is really difficult."

  Marrying is acknowledging that there's something between them. Not marrying... Xiaohua can't live like this, no matter what she does, she's not at peace, and it's hard to move forward or backward.

  Shen Sisi looked at Niu Laogen, who was wiping his nose with one hand and tears with the other, and also felt helpless. "Uncle Niu," he said, "I understand your desire to be a father, but we really can't marry Xiaohua now..."

  "That......" Niu Laogen looked at the girl with hope, he knew she was a resolute person, and hastily said: "Tuniu, you and Xiaohua also have a close relationship, you can't just watch her get into trouble..."

  "Uncle Niu..." Shen Sisi couldn't respond with anything, only saying: "It's getting late, Uncle Niu should head back first. This matter still needs to be discussed among our family members. It's a big deal in one's life, Uncle Niu should let us think it over carefully, can't rush us too much..."

  Niu Laogen's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he said: "...... I was wrong, but I was really worried about my daughter's affairs, so I came in a hurry..."

  It's really impossible to come up with a result today, Niu Laogen's face is full of worries, but it's not good to force others, so he can only hunch his back and walk away dejectedly.

  "Tutu......" Zhong Gensheng sighed and said: "It's really a sin."

  The misfortune brought by Tian Guihua made Niu Laogen and Niu Xiaohua bear the consequences. Thinking of treating his own daughter like this, Zhong Gensheng sighed: "Tuniang, even if parents don't let you marry in the future, they will never find a family like Wang Xiucan's. Tian Guihua only has one mind to make money, how can there be such a mother in this world? It's a pity for Xiaohua, and it also dragged down our family's eldest treasure..."

  "Dad, I won't get married in the future, and I'll stay at home to accompany you until old age..." Shen Sisi said with a smile.

  Zhong Gensheng just smiled and didn't refute, this little girl was raised by herself, how could she bear to let her marry out, secretly thinking that letting Er Bao and San Bao match with her would be good too, staying at home, the couple would feel at ease. Da Bao is impossible, after such a thing happened, I'm afraid in the end they'll still have to take her as their daughter-in-law, otherwise, how could the Zhong family stand tall in the village?!

  "Dad, it's late, go to sleep......" Shen Sisi looked at him with a smile, "Tomorrow morning we still have to carry the braised meat to the city..."

  "Hmm..." Zhong Gen Sheng responded with a murmur, but he picked up Shen Si Si and carried her to the inner room. Shen Si Si was small and thin, and in Zhong Gen Sheng's broad arms, she looked like a five or six year old child. She was so thin that it was pitiful. Zhong Gen Sheng couldn't help but feel heartache when he saw her, "From now on, save your own money and eat more meat to nourish yourself, look at how thin you are..."

  "Uh-huh, Dad, let's eat together as a family..." Shen Sisi smiled sweetly and Clock Roots touched her yellow hair before leaving.

  She sat down on the stool with a sullen expression, still thinking about the problem of eating meat. Now she found that she was really too thin, severely malnourished, making her small and dry, with dry and yellow hair...

  Shen Sisi was worried that she wouldn't be able to grow tall, her mother being a queen of the harem and all, but it seemed like her postnatal nutrition hadn't kept up, so maybe she just wouldn't get any taller... No way... no way...

  Shen Sisi shook her head, hastily swallowing the unrealistic idea into her belly. In any case, she had to strengthen her nutrition and resolutely could not be a little runt.

  She clenched her fists, but felt a hollow in her heart. An eight-year-old body, she didn't know if it could make up for it?! Thinking that she wouldn't grow taller in the future, she was on the verge of tears.

  Zhong Gensheng and He Axiu were discussing, He Axiu shook her head and said: "I would rather not have their family's dowry, nor this reputation, what's the use of having it? In the end, the villagers will say even more unpleasant things..."

  "I also mean that... " Zhong Gensheng said helplessly: "It's just that not marrying is not an option, otherwise how can our family stay in the village? With Tian Guilhua's temper... even if she doesn't make a fuss, we can't ignore the life of Niu Xiaohua..."

  He Qiu showed tears and said: "I knew it earlier, let Da Bao get engaged early, now... I'd rather he pay a dowry to marry one, at least the reputation is good, that Tian Guihua is really too much..."

  And not to mention the anxiety of Mr. and Mrs. Zhong, Tian Guilhua was also anxious, thinking back and forth at home, and Old Man didn't bring her together that night, she was so depressed that she couldn't bear it, as soon as Niu Laogen came back, she rushed forward and said: "What did the Zhongs say?!"

  "Niú lǎo gēn saw her and was furious, 'What can be said?! You think you can make a scene like that and others will be happy to take the blame, what more do you want to say?!'"

  "What?! They don't want to marry?! Tian Guilhua, although afraid of his anger, still shouted in rage, "You're dreaming! Not a single penny of the betrothal gift can be reduced. If they don't want to marry, I'll fight them at their doorstep..."

  "Be careful...". Niu Laogen gritted his teeth and dragged her to the chair, angrily saying: "I said no dowry, betrothal gifts, but they didn't budge. Do you think your daughter can still survive if you keep making a fuss?! Forcing marriage is something only you can do. You think just because it's late at night, nobody will watch the commotion..."

  As soon as Niu Laogen really decided not to have a betrothal gift, but instead wanted dowry, Tian Guilhua's heart was like a cat scratching, but she didn't dare to jump up because she was afraid that Niu Laogen would get angry.