Chapter 565: Chapter 587: The Eighth Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month
Sheng Laosan saw her attitude soften and immediately struck while the iron was hot, “Since you know, I’ll have the matchmaker come over tomorrow to set the wedding date.”
“I think the eighth day of next month is quite good!” Shen Luhua said immediately. In fact, the date had been selected a while ago; it just hadn’t been finalized as they were waiting for the two to return. The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, twenty-two days away from the New Year, is the best day for weddings in the countryside.
Every year, many people get married on that day.
Taking a wife home for the New Year showed the groom’s sincerity and financial strength, which was a good sign.
The Sheng family decided to seek out a matchmaker tomorrow, but Xu Qigang couldn’t wait any longer today. Xu Xianxiong and Zhao Lanzi had always been anxious, afraid the ‘cooked duck’ would fly away. Although Xu Qigang appeared to reassure them calmly, his inner turmoil was more intense than anyone’s.
Therefore, he approached his future sister-in-law. He asked her to invite the little wife out—if it wasn’t for fear of being impolite, he was ready to abduct her in the middle of the night.
“Sister, help me deliver these buns to the village chief’s house.”
“Okay!” Sheng Ning replied without much thought, taking the items and getting ready to run the errand. She was just thinking about how to mend her relationship with An’an! Now that she had the chance to show goodwill, of course, she was happy to do so.
An’an and Qi Mei’s son got along well, and every time there was something tasty, she didn’t forget to share some with them.
The days were short in winter, and as it was quickly getting dark, Sheng Ning, holding the plate, hurried out only to be forcefully pulled aside just as she rounded the back of the house. Frightened, she struggled fiercely. There were many idle loafers in the village, and not a few who harbored no good intentions.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, she had always stayed indoors, seldom going out to play without a reason.
“Mmm mmm mmm…” A large hand with calluses covered her mouth, and just as Sheng Ning was about to bite down, a familiar scent filled her nostrils and she calmed down.
Seeing that she had stopped struggling, Xu Qigang’s hold relaxed a bit. “Why won’t you see me? Are you trying to torture me to death?”
Xu Qigang embraced her even tighter, “Are you angry just because of five thousand yuan? Not talking to me?” The reason for Sheng Ning’s anger had not been hidden from him—Shen Luhua had told him long ago.
“Hmm!” Sheng Ning nodded decisively, “You hurt my pride.”
“Hehe…” Hearing this, Xu Qigang let out a muffled laugh, startling Sheng Ning, “Shh… keep your voice down, what if someone hears?”
“So, are you thinking of playing the scoundrel and calling off the marriage?”
“No, I’m merely expressing my dissatisfaction.”
Xu Qigang sighed, “You’re not just expressing dissatisfaction, you’re torturing me.” This girl had him completely at her mercy.
“You were the one who was wrong in the first place. My debt is my business, you should not have paid it off for me. And after paying it off, you shouldn’t have kept it from me on purpose, not telling me.”
“You blame me for your own actions?” Xu Qigang’s face darkened with a touch of grimness when he heard this, “Who told you to make a bet with yourself? Who told you to degrade yourself like that? What if you couldn’t pay back the five thousand yuan? Did you really plan on marrying into the town chief’s family?”
“You blame me for your own actions?” Xu Qigang’s face darkened with a touch of grimness when he heard this, “Who told you to make a bet with yourself? Who told you to degrade yourself like that? What if you couldn’t pay back the five thousand yuan? Did you really plan on marrying into the town chief’s family?”
“Yes! When I, Sheng Ning, give my word, it’s as good as gold.”
“You…you’re too stubborn.” Xu Qigang released her, his thick eyebrows furrowed, “I want you to promise never to wager on yourself again, to never do something so foolish again.”
“How is that foolish?” In that situation, if she wanted to prevent An’an from getting married, she could only do so. At least she had gained a year’s time for herself. “I believed I could pay back the money I owed, and that was enough.”