"In-laws, we’ve brought the two hundred dollars for the betrothal gift," Xu Qinghe said with a beaming smile, as if he hadn’t heard what Zhou’s father had just said. He took out the money and continued, "Now, let’s discuss the wedding date for the two children."
"You dragged your feet last year about marrying, and now you’ve suddenly scraped together two hundred?" Zhou’s father looked at the scattered two hundred dollars. For a moment, he was tempted, but then he remembered Luo’s promise of three hundred dollars and a bicycle, and without thinking, he pushed the money back.
Zhou’s father’s face was stern, and he said with annoyance, "Last year, I suggested they marry early, but you insisted on delaying until this year. Now, I feel that you have no sincerity in marrying my daughter. This marriage arrangement should just be called off!"
"No, our two families had already agreed on this, and I’ve brought the money today, how can you say we won’t get married just like that?"
For the sake of his son’s happiness, Xu Qinghe showed his assertive side. He lowered his stance and spoke kindly, "In-laws, ever since the engagement, we’ve never missed sending our holiday gifts every year. Although last year... we delayed by a year, it was unavoidable. Our Nianji truly wants to..." Zhou He.
Xu Qinghe had not finished speaking when Zhou’s father interrupted, "What true intentions? Last year when we wanted to marry off our daughter, you didn’t take her, and now, we don’t want to marry her to you anymore! Xiaohe also doesn’t want to marry into the Xu family."
"You can leave now; this marriage is no longer valid."
Zhou’s father began ushering them out.
Ji Ying wanted to speak, but Zhou’s father did not give her a chance, and Zhou’s mother sat by silently, as if she were invisible.
"Dad, I want to see Xiaohe."
The silent Xu Nianji suddenly spoke up.
Zhou’s father disagreed. Xu Nianji said, "If I can’t see Xiaohe, I won’t agree to break off the engagement."
When he came here, his younger sister told him, no matter what Zhou’s father says, he must see Zhou He and hear her speak for himself.
Though he didn’t know why his sister said that, now, Xu Nianji understood.
Zhou’s father claimed Xiaohe disagreed, so he had to see Zhou He and hear it from her personally.
"Could there be something going on that we don’t know about?" The more Xu Nianji thought about it, the more something seemed off. On the way here, he kept thinking: they had already gathered the money, why would Zhou’s father still want to break off the engagement?
Zhou’s father answered quickly. Xu Nianji said, "Then why suddenly break off the engagement? Everyone knew about me and Xiaohe’s engagement for the past two years. If it’s suddenly called off, what will happen to Xiaohe’s reputation? How will she ever marry someone else?"
"There are plenty who want to marry my Xiaohe." Zhou’s father thought of Luo, his face proud. He previously felt that having a daughter was a losing deal, but now he felt that raising a daughter could actually be profitable.
"Could there be someone else wanting to marry Xiaohe?"
Xu Nianji was not foolish, he just never assumed the worst in people, but now, Zhou’s father’s behavior forced Xu Nianji to think the worst.
"In-laws, our marriage was not arranged covertly, nor did we force you into agreeing. Now regardless, let’s discuss this matter." Ji Ying couldn’t help speaking out now; she really liked Zhou He. The girl was gentle and diligent. Most importantly, her son liked her as well.
"If there’s something to say, I’ll speak plainly," Zhou’s father, not liking Xu Nianji’s penetrating gaze, felt as if he was being seen through. He sat down and said to his in-laws, "Someone came to propose, willing to pay three hundred dollars and a bicycle for Xiaohe. If you can match that, next month, we’ll let Xiaohe marry into their family."