"Nianhua, all women eventually have to marry, and although he’s a bit older than you, isn’t an older man more caring?"
Xu Qinghu tried hard to persuade her, saying, "Once you marry him, you’ll be a city dweller. You’ll have a house in the city, and your elder brother’s marriage expenses will be covered. Plus, you can continue to care for your parents. Look how good life will be for you afterward?"
"Who knows, maybe by next year you’ll start building a new house."
With an appearance of concern for Xu Nianhua, Xu Qinghu just made Nianhua feel utterly disgusted. Subtly, she took a step back.
"Even if I remain a bachelor my whole life, I won’t allow my little sister to be ruined!" Xu Nianji, leaning on a stick, limped out and shouted at Xu Qinghu.
"Nianji, I’m your aunt. I’m only thinking of your best interests. Why are you raising your voice at me?" Xu Qinghu spoke discontentedly.
"If you truly were my aunt, you’d never do such a thing!"
Xu Nianji was beyond furious. Their family had always treated the little sister like a treasure, holding her in the palm of their hands. Yet what about Xu Qinghu?
She might as well have weighed Xu Nianhua and sold her by the kilo!
"Xu Qinghu, whether Xu Nianji marries or can afford to build a new house, it’s none of your concern. And as for this marriage proposal, we do not agree." Xu Qinghe stated as he came back carrying a bundle of firewood, and the onlooking villagers spontaneously cleared a path for him.
"If you think the Yue Family is so great, go marry off your daughter Tingting!" Xu Qinghe said as he put down the firewood and began shooing people away.
The moment his own daughter Fu Ting was mentioned, Xu Qinghu reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, screaming, "Big brother, what are you talking about? Tingting is only sixteen."
"Wait two more years, and she will be old enough to marry, won’t she?" Xu Qinghe said while pushing people out.
Nowadays, girls could get married at eighteen.
"Big Brother, the one they want is Nianhua."
"What if they wanted Tingting? Would you marry her off then?"
Xu Qinghe’s words instantly choked all the responses Xu Qinghu had out of her throat.
Xu Qinghe’s expression darkened as he said, "You can’t even bear to marry off your own daughter, yet you want to marry off my Nianhua. Let me tell you, Xu Qinghu, I have no sister like you. My home does not welcome you!"
Xu Qinghe, who was always easygoing and regarded as the good guy, for the first time expressed his disdain and disgust so undisguisedly!
Being the eldest, with a sister several years his junior, bluntly said, he practically raised his little sister by hand. When Xu Qinghu got married, all the furniture and cabinets were made by him alone, without ever charging a penny. Xu Qinghe thought, they were all family and never counted these things too carefully.
But now, Xu Qinghe felt he had been wrong. Some people, no matter how well you treat them, only care about money.
"Big Brother." Xu Qinghu, having been pushed out, then realized the gravity of the situation.
"Big Brother, please just hear me out. Everyone already knows about this, and if Nianhua doesn’t marry into the Yue Family, who else could she marry?" Xu Qinghu attempted one last effort.
Xu Qinghe’s furious voice came through, "And whose fault is that if not for what you, her own aunt, have done? If Nianhua can’t marry off, I’ll support her for the rest of her life!"
"Aunt, please. If because of this Nian’an and I cannot find wives, I’d rather be a bachelor all my life." Xu Nian’an stood at the entrance of the yard, akin to a Door God, guarding strictly, refusing to let Xu Qinghu set foot in the yard again.
"Exactly," Xu Nianji affirmed in agreement, looking at Xu Nianhua with guilt and remorse, and said, "Little sister, I’m sorry."