10: Chapter 10 Arranged Marriage?
10: Chapter 10 Arranged Marriage?
Zhao Yulan understood that at that point, turning in Luo Gangshun would at most just add one more person to suffer, with no other benefits.
As for leaving Lin Baohe, she had even less of an idea about that; her family and Lin Baohe’s grandmother’s family were neighbors, and the two grew up together like childhood sweethearts.
How could she abandon him at his most difficult ti?
And so, Zhao Yulan married Lin Baohe, and owing to feelings of guilt, Luo Gangshun and his wife always provided considerable support to the couple.
After Zhao Yulan gave birth to Chuxia, Fat Aunt divided iying’s little clothes and diapers, taking half to them, and would help out from ti to ti.
If it weren’t for iying being too young to be left alone, Fat Aunt might actually have gone to serve Zhao Yulan during her postpartum confinent.
“Xia, don’t think that those little clothes and diapers are nothing.
Back then, your dad and I were so poor we rattled when we walked.
If it weren’t for Fat Aunt, you would’ve had to lie naked in your little quilt, relying on so rag to clean up your pee,” Zhao Yulan had said.
When it beca known that Zhao Yulan could no longer have children, Luo Gangshun and Fat Aunt seriously discussed with them, proposing that once Chuxia grew up, she should marry Hongqi.
Chuxia and Hongqi’s first child would bear the surna Lin, and only the ones born after would bear the surna Luo.
Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan firmly rejected this proposition; they felt that the suffering Lin Baohe endured for Luo Gangshun back in the day did not warrant such repaynt.
Though they refused, Fat Aunt never gave up on the idea.
Once, when she brought it up to Zhao Yulan again, it happened to be overheard by Lin Baohai, who had co looking for Lin Baohe.
This was also why Chuchun and Chuqiu were aware of the matter, or perhaps, at this point, it might have already spread throughout the village.
The gist of the matter was such that, in the eyes of future generations, Chuxia would find their troubles to be utterly aningless.
Yet in that era—an era where food was heaven and progeny were fate—what Luo Gangshun and his wife did could be considered having fulfilled their moral duty.
“Dad, did you ever hate Uncle Gangshun?” Chuxia asked Lin Baohe right after Zhao Yulan finished her story.
Lin Baohe shook his head without hesitation, “No, I didn’t hate him.”
“Not…
hate?” Lin Chuxia’s eyes widened with disbelief.
“Your dad is telling the truth,” Zhao Yulan sighed softly, “I was really angry back then, but later on, I thought about it and your dad was right.
If Uncle Gangshun had co forward then, the suffering your dad endured wouldn’t have been any less, and it would have ruined Uncle Gangshun’s future as well.
Then they wouldn’t have been able to support us afterwards, and our family’s suffering would definitely have been even greater.”
Hearing Zhao Yulan’s words, was she not only supposed to not bla them, but also be grateful for their kindness?
Oh her silly parents!
Chuxia had read so books from that era and knew that for Lin Baohe, being caught on the spot ant any explanation was feeble.
People of that era seed to have a fervent passion for public denunciations, so she could only try to understand so of the thoughts of people from that era.
Perhaps, she was still fortunate.
If she had woken up to find herself in the era when Lin Baohe and his peers were young, the only choice she might have had was to find a rope and end herself that way.
“Mom, if you have anything else to say, just say it.
Let’s clear everything up today, okay?” Seeing Zhao Yulan appearing as if she had more to say but hesitated, Chuxia decisively kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the kang bed and sat cross-legged, ready to listen attentively.
Zhao Yulan took a deep breath, “Chuxia, seeing you becoming more and more sensible, knowing how to be considerate of your dad and mom, we are truly happy.
But child, how could you also say that about finding a husband’s family without discussing it with us?
They would have to agree to let your first child take our surna first.”
Glancing at Chuxia, who looked utterly perplexed, Zhao Yulan realized she hadn’t understood the real implication and had to explain further, “Now that you’ve said this, you must marry Hongqi.
But you, child, have never gotten along with him since you were little.
Tell , after taking things this far, will you marry or not?”
“Why…
why must I marry him?” Lin Chuxia felt her brain struggling to keep up.
Even if the requirent she ntioned had been raised by Fat Auntie’s family before, it didn’t an she couldn’t choose soone else if not Luo Hongqi, right?
What kind of logic was that?
Every ti Luo Hongqi saw her, his face would turn red and his neck would thicken like a fighting rooster.
She had always wondered what she had done to offend him.
As it turned out, it was her longstanding feud with him…
then why should she have to accept that blockhead?
“Chuxia, it was Fat Aunt and Uncle Gangshun who first ca up with the idea of the first child taking our surna.
Now that you’ve said the sa, if you don’t marry Hongqi, where would Uncle Gangshun and Fat Aunt put their face?”
Lin Chuxia stared at her mother bewilderedly.
Were other people’s faces more important than her happiness?
Could it be that her parents were willing to tell her about the past, all because of this reason?
“Just marry him.
We know his family’s background; Gangshun’s family will be good to Chuxia and won’t let Hongqi bully you.
That’s settled then.
Next ti Gangshun’s family raises the issue, just agree to it,” Lin Baohe made a definitive decision, slipping on his shoes, “I’m going to visit Gangshun’s family.”
Was he going to tip them off?
Chuxia pulled at his sleeve in panic, “Dad, how can you make this decision without asking ?
This is my life we’re talking about.
I’m your own flesh and blood; you can’t do this to .”
“If you weren’t my own flesh and blood, would I even do this?” Lin Baohe stopped and looked at his daughter seriously, “Chuxia, what you said in front of your uncle’s family today will definitely spread by tomorrow.”
What Lin Baohe ant was, if the Fat Aunt’s family heard the news from sowhere else first, they would feel that Chuxia’s family was not being open with them.
Which husband’s family would like a daughter-in-law who wasn’t on the sa page with them?
“Do you an I can only marry Luo Hongqi?” Lin Chuxia tugged hard at Lin Baohe, preventing him from leaving, “Dad, co back and sit down.
Let’s have a proper talk.”
Zhao Yulan let out a soft sigh, “My silly girl, what else is there to talk about?
Your sister-in-law just went out, and this news won’t need until tomorrow; it’ll spread tonight.
In fact, Hongqi is a good boy.
He’s tall, good-looking, and simple-minded.
If you’re not getting along now, it’s because he’s immature.
Give it a few years, and he’ll surely know how to cherish soone.
Besides, with Fat Aunt and Uncle Gangshun around, how would he dare to mistreat you?
Your relationship with iying is good, so you won’t have to worry about suffering from your sister-in-law’s temper.
All in all, if you really marry into the Luo family, your dad and I would be most at ease.”
“Mom…” Chuxia looked at Zhao Yulan in dismay, “Didn’t you always refuse before?
How co, in the blink of an eye, you’ve changed your mind?”
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