"My dad managed to find some evidence, but Lin Xiang, I’m sorry I can’t step forward." After a pause, Qiqi added, "But don’t worry, my dad will hand the evidence directly to the police."
"Once the police verify everything clearly, the worst-case scenario for Zhao Chunshui is that he’ll be detained. Once this news gets out, you’ll have an excuse to call off the engagement."
Qiqi’s method was simpler and more direct, much more effective than Chunya taking the evidence to Zhao Chunshui’s house to cause a scene.
"Alright. I’ll wait for your good news then."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiang dashed towards home.
The whole family of the Fifth Uncle was at the Lin Family residence, and the Fifth Aunt was both cooking and sobbing, saying, "I thought that family was decent, so when they showed up with the token, I discussed it with Fifth Uncle and agreed to let Chunya marry over there, thinking their family conditions were not bad, the couple was honest, and my Chunya wouldn’t suffer marrying over. But who would’ve thought..."
Mrs. Lin wasn’t good at comforting people and just dryly said, "Chunya’s lucky too. It’s fortunate she discovered Zhao Chunshui’s true nature before getting married, or else she’d suffer a lot if they were really married."
Chunya countered, "He Chunsheng is now associating with that girl from the family whose conditions are beyond compare with mine. Why would he still be willing to marry me?"
So she couldn’t possibly marry into the Zhao Family.
But Mrs. Lin was right; Chunya indeed had luck on her side, or else if the situation between Zhao Chunshui and Chen Ruqi was solidified, he’d casually find an excuse to break off the engagement with Chunya, and then it would be her reputation affected, greatly impacting her future prospects!
"Chunya, it’s all my fault, I should have investigated thoroughly before agreeing to your marriage."
Lin Xiang returned from outside, only catching part of the conversation, curiously asking, "Fifth Aunt, what token did the Zhao Family bring?"
The Fifth Aunt explained, "Zhao Chunshui’s grandfather and Chunya’s grandfather both participated in the Korean War, they were comrades, and Chunya’s grandfather even saved Zhao Chunshui’s grandfather."
"Last year, Zhao Chunshui’s parents came with his grandfather’s token, saying they’re willing to marry my Chunya into their family, continuing the bond between the two families."
The girls from Chunya’s uncle’s side either were married or engaged, or were too young to be suitable, leaving only Chunya of suitable age.
The Fifth Aunt even went back to her parental home to ask her brother and sister-in-law to investigate, and Zhao Chunshui’s family has always had a good reputation in the village and some family wealth, making it a pretty good marriage partnership.
But thinking about it carefully now, if the Zhao Family was really that good, why hasn’t Zhao Chunshui’s older brother, two years older, found someone yet?
It’s all her fault for considering the old bond without careful inquiry, nearly ruining Chunya’s life!
Thinking about this, the Fifth Aunt gratefully said to Lin Xiang, "Girl, Aunt really needs to thank you."
Lin Xiang looked puzzled, "Thank me for what? I didn’t help the girl today either!"
"If you hadn’t gone to the market to sell sweet potato flour, your Fifth Uncle and Chunya wouldn’t have gone with you, and if Chunya hadn’t gone, she wouldn’t have seen Zhao Chunshui’s true nature for herself; then we’d have to passively accept the broken engagement."
"Anyway, Qiqi called me earlier." Lin Xiang shared what Chen Ruqi had said with the Fifth Aunt’s family, "So we don’t need to do anything, just wait patiently."
The Fifth Aunt exclaimed excitedly, "That’s wonderful! Such a scoundrel like Zhao Chunshui should be sent behind bars!"
"And also, I thought it best not to actively approach the Zhao Family about breaking the engagement."
Lin Xiang asked confusedly, "Why? You’re not planning to let Chunya break the engagement with Zhao Chunshui?"
"Of course not! I wish my girl could stay far away from that family! I just have been thinking that the engagement was merely decided upon by both families sitting together, without a middleman, and without formal betrothals, few people know about it, so it’s like there’s no engagement."
"If we make a big fuss by going to the Zhao Family to break the engagement, it might negatively affect Chunya."
Lin Xiang can understand Fifth Aunt’s concerns, especially since reputation is incredibly important for girls nowadays.
She shrugged, "In any case, it’s up to your family to discuss and decide. If you need my help, just let me know."
The Fifth Aunt helped prepare dinner, and after dinner, Lin Xiang took out fifty cents and handed it to the Fifth Uncle.
"Girl, what’s this for?"
"Wages! You and Chunya helped us sell sweet potato flour for half a day today, it was quite tiring, so of course, we need to give you and Chunya wages."
Wages?
Even if it’s just fifty cents!
The Fifth Uncle couldn’t help but feel moved.
But he still refused.
"We agreed it was just helping out, how is there any reason to earn wages? Girl, you should take the money back!"
"Let’s keep things separate. Though sweet potato flour doesn’t have exactly great profits, it’s not too bad either, and we sold over seventy bowls today, with a net profit over one yuan after subtracting costs. Uncle, you should just accept this money."
Fifty cents, as wages for both Chunya and the Fifth Uncle.
Lin Xiang isn’t someone wasteful with money; today’s sweet potato flour sales were unusually good, she sold all twenty or so pounds prepared.
Especially from eleven-thirty to one-thirty, if Chunya and Fifth Uncle hadn’t helped wash dishes and wipe tables, she and Mrs. Lin alone wouldn’t have managed.
Besides, Fifth Uncle put effort into pulling the cart to the market; it wouldn’t be right to dismiss it under the pretense of just "helping."
After several refusals, Fifth Uncle eventually accepted the money.
"Are we going to the market tomorrow?"
The Fifth Uncle asked carefully, fearing Lin Xiang would think he’s just after money.
"We are." Lin Xiang said, "But if you’re worried about Zhao Chunshui causing trouble, you can stay home to protect Chunya."
"Why should I be afraid of him? He’s the one who did wrong! Besides, if the Chen Family truly called the police, Zhao Chunshui should be in deep trouble now, with no time to come to our house looking for trouble."
"Exactly! If the Zhao Family dares to come, see how I deal with them! Girl, let your Fifth Uncle help you with the cart to the market. But let’s settle this first; no wages for him tomorrow."
Lin Xiang smiled, "The wages aren’t fixed; it depends on my business for the day. If business isn’t good and the balance is off, I won’t have money to pay him."
After dinner, the Fifth Uncle’s family left.
Before leaving, Fifth Aunt and Chunya helped wash the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.
Lin Xiang sat on the bed counting money.
Today she sold seventy-six bowls of spicy flour; deducting the cost for the base ingredients, porridge, and giving Fifth Uncle’s wages, she earned seven yuan and sixty cents, with at least a profit of five yuan and sixty cents.