The mont Liu Yunxi finished speaking, the video call connected. A man who looked to be over fifty appeared on the phone. He had a kindly face and was sitting in what looked like a study, flipping through a book.
Seeing the old man, Liu Yunxi's eyes lit up. She quickly said, "Teacher, it's Yun Xi. I have sothing I need to trouble you with today."
The old man nodded, his expression imdiately turning serious. Seeing this, Liu Yunxi knew her teacher was ready for business, so she didn't beat around the bush any longer. She turned her head toward Xiao Rou.
"Xiao Rou, please state your case."
As soon as she spoke, everyone's gaze shifted to Xiao Rou, who nervously shrank back. At that mont, Liu Ergou gently patted her on the back, encouraging her not to be afraid. Bolstered by the encouragent, Xiao Rou took a deep breath before she began to speak.
"My request is very simple. I don't want to marry Er Lv. I was completely unaware of this matter—it was all arranged by my mother on her own! In the whole family, she was the only one who knew! My dad works away from ho and my younger brother is away too. Neither of them knew, and I certainly had no idea!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Cuifen's face went deathly pale. So, she hadn't misjudged the situation at all.
Upon hearing Xiao Rou's words, Er Lv's face darkened. He slamd his hand on the table as he shot to his feet. "No way! You've taken my bride price and now you want to back out? That's completely unreasonable! Besides, your mom has already agreed, so how can you change it? Don't you understand the rules? Don't you know what the 'commands of the parents and the words of the matchmaker' an?"
Hearing this, Liu Ergou raised an eyebrow. Er Lv's words were sothing of a surprise; he hadn't expected soone who hadn't even finished primary school to be quoting classic justifications for arranged marriages. However, Liu Ergou didn't interrupt. This was between Xiao Rou and Er Lv; it wasn't his place to speak.
After Er Lv finished his tirade, everyone's attention shifted to Zhang Cuifen, who was sitting off to the side. Indeed, the rumor that Zhang Cuifen had sold off Xiao Rou for a bride price of 100,000 had already caused a storm of gossip. At that mont, Zhang Cuifen forced a calm deanor.
"It's just that much money. Is it worth causing such a scene? And to bring it to the village committee, no less?" Zhang Cuifen said.
Er Lv couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. "Zhang Cuifen, you've got so nerve. 400,000 is 'just that much money' to you? If you're so rich, then fine. I, Er Lv, am not an unreasonable man. Give the 400,000, and I'll call off the marriage to Xiao Rou right now!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present turned to look at Zhang Cuifen with serious expressions. A bride price of 400,000?! My God! Apart from Liu Jingming and Er Lv, few among them had ever seen so much money in one go.
Liu Ergou saw that the timing was right and deliberately fanned the flas. "Eh? Wasn't the bride price 100,000? How did it suddenly beco 400,000? I have to say, Er Lv, you're not being honest. You're inflating the numbers! If we're playing that ga, then what about the ten cents you stole from as a kid? Should I say you robbed of a hundred yuan?"
Er Lv imdiately beca incensed. "Bah, Liu Ergou! I may not be a saint, but I wouldn't stoop so low as to cheat money out of an old woman! I gave Zhang Cuifen 400,000, all in cash that I withdrew from the bank. I even have the withdrawal slip! The money still had the bank's seal on it when I handed it over! What 100,000!"
As he spoke, the way the villagers looked at Zhang Cuifen began to change. This woman had actually taken 400,000 from him! That was a huge sum, enough to buy a decent house in the county town, let alone in their little town.
Liu Yunxi, who had been sitting quietly, could no longer stay silent. She coughed softly and spoke up. "Ahem, Zhang Cuifen, since you took 400,000 from him and your daughter doesn't want to get married, you should just return the money. Er Lv has already made a concession, so this matter can be put to rest. Don't cling so desperately to that 400,000!"
However, Zhang Cuifen flatly refused. "Impossible! I will never hand over the money! That's my money, and nobody is going to touch it!"
To the others, it just looked like Zhang Cuifen was being greedy, but Liu Ergou knew there was more to it. Three hundred thousand of that money had already been used to pay off her debts.
Thinking of this, Liu Ergou said, "Auntie, you couldn't have already spent the 400,000, could you? Is that why you refuse to give it back?" Fresh chapters posted on novel·fiɾe·net
Hearing this, Zhang Cuifen's heart skipped a beat. This damn Liu Ergou! He's pulling the rug right out from under . Even so, she brazened it out. "How could I possibly spend 400,000?! I haven't touched a cent of it, but I just won't give it to you! What can you do about it?"
Seeing Zhang Cuifen's shaless behavior, Liu Yunxi's expression turned cold. "Aunt Zhang," she said in an icy tone, "you should know that what you're doing is illegal. I'm not exaggerating. This is no longer the era of arranged marriages. As long as Xiao Rou refuses, she isn't marrying him, even if Er Lv offered a bride price of a million today!"
Liu Yunxi's severe and intimidating tone scared Zhang Cuifen into silence; she shrank back, not daring to utter another word. Xiao Rou, anwhile, was so nervous that she clung tightly to Liu Ergou. Seeing this from the side, Er Lv beca infuriated.
"Damn it, you two, watch yourselves! Stop your hugging and cuddling in public! The bride price hasn't been returned to , so she's still my fiancée! If you don't show so respect, you'll regret it!"
Before Er Lv could finish, Liu Yunxi cut him off. "You'll do what?"
Hearing her words, Er Lv imdiately wilted. He wasn't a fool. Offending anyone else was one thing, but crossing this new college graduate could an he wouldn't be able to stay in the village any longer.
Seeing the situation spiraling into chaos, Liu Ergou decided to cut the Gordian knot and resolve things quickly before they got even more complicated. He addressed Liu Yunxi directly, "Director Liu, let's set aside the bride price for a mont and focus on the marriage itself. How should a situation like this be handled, legally speaking?"
As soon as he spoke, everyone's gaze instantly turned to Liu Yunxi.
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