Fifteen: The Wang Family Seeks a Bride

Cui Juan’s face flushed with anger again, ready to scold, but her husband spoke first, “Look at you, just woken up and already making a fuss.”

“If you faint from anger again, who’s going to do all the work in the house?”

Wang Luo hurried to comfort her, gently patting her back, “Mom, please don’t be upset. Wan Jun will be here soon. If she sees you like this, she’ll be heartbroken.”

Cui Juan’s chest heaved with rage, and she shoved Wang Luo away. “Get out!”

“So, Chen Wan Jun, is it? Go bring her here right now. I want to see what kind of enchantress she is, to have bewitched my obedient son so that he doesn’t even recognize his own mother.”

The moment Wang Luo heard his mother wanted to see Wan Jun, he was overjoyed, practically floating with happiness. He agreed at once, “Thank you, Mom, I’ll go find her right now. You’re bound to like her.”

Cui Juan was speechless. Was her son a fool?

Wang Luo hopped onto his bicycle and rode off, humming.

After being hungry all morning, Cui Juan, under her husband’s repeated urging, had no choice but to get up and get to work.

In the afternoon, exhausted and unable to straighten her back, Cui Juan sat on the doorstep to rest for a moment. From behind the fence, she spotted a bicycle heading toward her house from afar.

Squinting, she saw that it was her silly son, with a pretty and graceful girl riding on the back seat.

The young woman wore a green velvet dress, her bare calves gleaming, and on her feet were a pair of gleaming, polished leather shoes.

Cui Juan’s just-relaxed brow instantly knitted tight again. She spat fiercely on the ground, “Damn it, another demon he’s brought home!”

The next second, Wang Luo was leading the girl through the door. The girl’s cheeks flushed as she greeted shyly, “Hello, Auntie.”

Cui Juan stood up and brushed the dust from her clothes, replying dryly, “Hm. Hello.”

Without a glance at the girl, she turned and walked into the main room.

Wang Luo quickly took Chen Wan Jun’s hand to comfort her.

As the heroine of an old-fashioned melodrama, Chen Wan Jun was broad-minded and generous; she didn’t take such things to heart. She followed Wang Luo obediently into the main room.

Cui Juan sat on the kang, glancing up at the two of them, her gaze settling on their clasped hands.

The girl’s hand was as fair and smooth as jade, her fingers slender and delicate, nails pink and translucent—beautifully held in her son’s grip. It was a lovely sight.

Involuntarily, Cui Juan glanced down at her own rough, dark hands, dirt embedded under her nails, age spots marring the backs.

Once upon a time, she too had been a young lady from a wealthy family. After marrying Wang Luo’s father and giving birth, her figure had changed, her complexion sallow, and she’d never again held hands as they did.

Meanwhile, the young couple were still wrapped up in each other, but Cui Juan’s eyes seemed to flicker with venom. She slammed her cup onto the table with a sharp “thud.”

“Why are you standing there? Come and sit down.”

Chen Wan Jun obediently hurried to take a seat.

Cui Juan’s gaze roved up and down the girl. “What do your parents do?”

Chen Wan Jun answered sweetly, “Auntie, both my parents are workers. My second brother is a doctor, and my eldest brother is studying abroad!”

Hearing this, the malicious look on Cui Juan’s face softened somewhat.

“By rights, my family isn’t a match for yours. Why would you take a fancy to my Wang Luo?”

Chen Wan Jun’s face turned bashfully pink. “He’s good to me.”

At this, Cui Juan’s newly softened expression clouded over again. She’d hoped to hear Wan Jun praise her son, not boast.

“Oh, so my Wang Luo has no other merits?” Cui Juan’s tone was cold and sharp.

Chen Wan Jun’s cheeks reddened further. “Wang Luo is young, promising, and very handsome.”

Cui Juan was a little mollified. She glanced down at Wan Jun’s exposed calves. “Coming to our house, you’d best wear trousers. Showing your legs like that—is it to attract other men’s eyes?”

Embarrassed, Chen Wan Jun quickly covered her calves with her skirt.

Only then did Cui Juan lift her chin. “Alright, pour me a cup of tea.”

Chen Wan Jun immediately rose and served the tea dutifully.

Cui Juan sipped her tea contentedly, her brow finally smoothing out.

A short while later, Wang’s father returned from work. With just one look at the electronic watch on Chen Wan Jun’s wrist, he beamed with delight at this daughter-in-law.

When he heard that Chen Wan Jun was also a teacher, he praised her even more enthusiastically.

With her gentle and capable nature, Chen Wan Jun cooked a table full of delicious dishes for dinner, finally winning Wang’s father over entirely.

Once Wang Luo had escorted Chen Wan Jun home, Wang’s father immediately decided that they must break the engagement with the Su family and marry Chen Wan Jun.

Cui Juan objected, “You’re just greedy, always wanting to keep every pretty girl you see at home.”

At this, Wang’s father flew into a rage and slapped Cui Juan across the face. “You black-hearted, filthy woman, how can you talk such nonsense?”

“I’m interested in the girl’s character—well-read, sensible, clever, and filial. Isn’t she better than that dull gourd from the Su family?”

“And her family owns three houses! Both brothers are so accomplished—if she marries Wang Luo, won’t her family help him out?”

Cui Juan, who had been dissatisfied, immediately brightened at the mention of help. “Oh dear, I forgot about that.”

“Just look at her clothes—no less than eighty yuan a piece. If she brings such things as a dowry, we could eat well for years!”

At last, the couple reached an agreement.

They began planning to call off the engagement with the Su family the very next day.

The couple were basking in their joy when suddenly someone appeared in the doorway—it was Aunt Wang.

One hand on her hip, she strode in and plopped herself down beside Wang’s father. “What’s got you so happy? What are you two plotting?”

Wang’s father, beaming ear to ear, blurted out the whole story without a second thought.

“So, you’re both planning to call off the engagement with the Su family tomorrow?”

Wang’s father nodded.

“You fool!” Aunt Wang poked his forehead with her finger. “And you, Cui Juan—how can you not see that your husband is slow on the uptake?”

“That city girl, with such a good family background—do you really think her parents will agree to let their precious daughter marry into your household?”

At this, Wang Luo’s parents were stunned.

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Wang’s father asked.

Aunt Wang tapped the table with her finger. “Are you stupid?”

“Don’t mention calling off the engagement just yet!”

“If you can’t snare that city girl, you’ll still have the Su family’s daughter to fall back on, won’t you?”

Suddenly enlightened, Wang Luo’s parents exclaimed, “How did we not think of that!”

Cui Juan nodded repeatedly. “Sister, you’re so thoughtful. But Wang Luo only has eyes for that city girl—do you have any ideas on how to secure her as his wife?”

Aunt Wang raised her brows, putting on a troubled look, as if reluctant to speak.

Cui Juan quickly got up to pour her a cup of tea and fetched the biscuits Wang Luo had brought from the city for her.

Only then did Aunt Wang smile. “Look at you all—aren’t we close relatives? Of course I’ll help if there’s anything I can do.”

She tucked the box of biscuits into her arms. “Just follow my instructions, and everything will be fine.”

Wang Luo’s parents showered her with effusive praise.

Seeing them so obedient, Aunt Wang’s expression grew increasingly smug.

The stone that had weighed upon her heart finally began to lift.

After all, for the sake of that plot of land she coveted, the Su family’s daughter had to marry Wang Luo.