“So what if I set an engagement for Wei Min, she is not good at studying, so will she even be admitted into university? It is not too late to act now, but by the time she graduates, all the good ones will be taken. I was only doing it for the family. Our second son took a fancy to their daughter, and they wanted 2,000 yuan as a betrothal gift, so what could I do?” Zhang Jie felt completely wronged.
For the past 20 or so years, she had put all her thoughts on her second son. She had originally thought that he would be able to study hard and pass the university entrance exam. In the end, he was not even admitted to any of the junior high schools. Then she had given him money to go and learn craftsmanship, but within a few days, he had complained of it being too tiring and difficult. Later, while walking around the village with nothing better to do, he saw someone’s daughter and took a liking to her so she had run with it. Due to this, the villagers had often criticised her behind her back. She had only wanted him to marry early so someone would take care of him, instead of him going out and stirring up trouble.
It was all fate. She had not needed to worry about her eldest son in the slightest. He had gone to serve in the army as soon as he had graduated from senior high school and now he had become a captain. She also had not cared much about her youngest daughter who had gone on to senior high school too. Only her favorite second son idled about all day, unable to even find a wife in the village.
“You cannot just sell your daughter for the sake of your son. You know what the eldest son of the Gao family is like, loafing around all day with the second son without a proper job!” Wei You Shan was terrified when he thought of Wei Min almost marrying the Gao Family’s eldest son. He had never thought that Zhang Jie could do such a thing.
“It has already been broken off now, what are you yelling at me for? Was it only my fault that our second child did not study well? As a father, are you just a piece of furniture?”
Wei You Shan was deeply regretful. It was all because he had been weak and did not manage his children and wife well.
“Alright, stop arguing, the engagement has already been broken off. I have returned 2000 yuan to the Gao family. From now on, I will be in charge of Xiao Min’s marriage. Do not even think about using her again. If she is admitted into university, I will pay for her, so you need not worry.” Wei Zhen Hui still did not trust Zhang Jie, so he gave an ultimatum, otherwise someone would end up fooling her by offering her benefits and she would surely sell her daughter off again.
When Zhang Jie heard that the 2000 yuan had been returned, her heart was at ease. However, she felt sorry that Xiao Min could not go and teach in the town.
“Why do you have so much money?” Wei You Shan knew that his son sends part of his monthly allowance to the family. He had also reached the age where he should start a family. “In the future, you should keep your money for yourself. You should also marry a wife.”
Zhang Jie was displeased when she heard this, but Wei You Shan glared at her fiercely so she did not dare to say anything else. She knew that the money Wei You Shan had earned in the past few years and the money that Wei Zhen Hui had sent home had all been wasted by Wei Zhen Ming.
“I took out all of my savings and borrowed a few hundred yuan from my comrades.” Wei Zhen Hui went to the yard when he finished talking.
Wei Min skipped after him, “Eldest Brother, thank you very much, otherwise, I would have had to marry next summer.”
Wei Zhen Hui patted her head. Wei Min was also quite tall and like Su Mian, she reached his shoulder. Thinking of Su Mian, Wei Zhen Hui’s cold demeanor unconsciously changed into a smile, “From now on, tell brother immediately whenever anything happens. Do not let mother intimidate you. She is gullible and makes rash decisions.”
“Mhmm, brother, I understand.” Wei Min nodded obediently. After the engagement had been broken off, her smile was even brighter. She suddenly raised her eyebrow, “Brother, so, about that thing, how was it?
“How was what?” Wei Zhen Hui pretended not to understand, his unfocused gaze falling onto the thick layer of snow accumulating on the dirt wall of the gate.
“When I wrote to you last time, I sent you a small photo of my classmate, Su Mian! Did you not receive it, or was it lost in the mail? I remember I definitely put it inside!” Wei Min grumbled to herself as she stared wide-eyed for a long while.
That photo was already inside Wei Zhen Hui’s wallet. Cough cough, Wei Zen Hui coughed twice, “Oh that, I saw it.”
