Seventeen, Breaking Off the Engagement

Old Master Su’s gaze was as sharp as a blade as he fixed a cold look on Cui Juan. “What did you just say? Say it again.”
Fury surged through the creases of his face, making his complexion flush a deep crimson.
Cui Juan instinctively fell silent, shrinking back to hide behind Wang Luo in fright.
Wang Luo hurriedly stepped in front of her to shield her. “Grandpa, please don’t be angry. My mother just has a sharp tongue.”
“I’ve already spoken with Su Wan about this, and I promised to repay her double in the future.”
Even Su Wan was startled by the old man’s temper and quickly came forward to placate him. She grasped his hand and whispered gently, “Grandpa, just treat it as a dog barking. There’s no need to be angry with her.”
The old man only cast a heavy, stern glance at Wang Luo and said no more.
The village chief adjusted his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Everyone here knows the kindness Old Master Su has shown your Wang family over the years.”
“This matter of breaking off the engagement may have been brought up by the Su family, but everyone knows Wang Luo has been courting someone from the city.”
“Since Wang Luo has already brought the city girl home and you all welcomed her for dinner, it’s best to be decisive. Call off the engagement with the Su family and don’t try to have it both ways.”
“If you refuse to agree to break off the engagement today, then go register your marriage with Su Wan immediately.”
With these words, the old man struck his cane heavily on the ground, producing a resounding thud that made everyone in the Wang family tremble.
The village chief, having lived so many years, could easily read the Wang family’s intentions—they were simply afraid things wouldn’t work out with the city girl and wanted to keep Su Wan as a backup.
Su Wan was the orphan of a martyr and should not be subjected to such indignity.
“We weren’t that enthusiastic with the city girl, just being polite...”
Wang’s father tried to say more, but the village chief cut him off decisively. “So, you’re saying you don’t think much of the city girl and want to marry Su Wan right away?”
At that, all three members of the Wang family hastily waved their hands in denial.
The village chief snorted. “Since that’s not the case, let’s discuss the matter of breaking off the engagement.”
He took the notebook from Old Master Su’s hand. “Take a close look at these accounts. Do you acknowledge every item listed?”
Wang Luo nodded. “I do.”
He was well aware of the debt his family owed the Su family. Without Su Wan, he might have starved to death back then. The items in the ledger were only a fraction of the kindness they’d received.
The village chief put the ledger away. “Good. Now, look at the gifts in this bundle. Is anything missing from what your family gave back then?”
Wang Luo shook his head. “No, this is exactly as it was.”

The village chief nodded. “At least the young man is straightforward. So, how do you plan to repay these debts?”
Wang Luo was about to answer when Cui Juan, still hiding behind him, pinched his waist hard.
Wang Luo winced in pain, his face reddening.
Seeing Wang Luo silent, the village chief turned to Wang’s father.
Wang’s father looked around guiltily. “We’ll repay what’s written in the ledger.”
The village chief’s gaze darkened. “You can pay what’s in the accounts, but how will you repay all those years of protection? Old Master Su gave up his spot at the city retirement home just to safeguard your family!”
Wang’s father fell silent.
The village chief looked to Wang Luo again. “Wang Luo, as a man, say something. After all, all this was given for your sake.”
Wang Luo was ashamed, but his mother’s relentless pinching kept him from speaking.
Seeing the stalemate, Su Wan couldn’t help but interject, “The other day when Wang Luo promised to repay double, he was referring to the money in the ledger, right?”
“You little brat, why are you interrupting when the adults are talking!” Cui Juan leaped out from behind Wang Luo and scolded her.
Su Wan pursed her lips. “That’s what Wang Luo himself said. Many people heard it that day. Aunt, if you don’t like it, I won’t say more, but I can’t stop others from repeating it.”
Cui Juan was about to scold again when Wang Luo seized the chance to declare, “My word counts. I’ll repay the money as soon as possible.”
“Good lad. The village chief wasn’t wrong about you—you’re a man of honor,” the village chief praised, settling the matter.
Cui Juan was so angry she forgot her dignity and grabbed Wang Luo by the collar, slapping him hard.
Wang’s father, embarrassed, quickly intervened, “Enough! Everyone’s watching. What are you doing?”
Reluctantly, Cui Juan released Wang Luo but couldn’t resist kicking him before she stopped.
Su Wan cared nothing for their family squabbles. She leaned close to the old man’s ear and reminded him in a whisper, “Don’t forget to have them write an IOU.”
The old man gave Su Wan a surprised look; he’d thought she would be too softhearted, but she was more thorough than he was.
He immediately opened the notebook to a new page. “Since it’s settled, write an IOU.”
Wang Luo was briefly stunned, but said nothing. He looked to his father, who hurried to refuse, “There’s no need for an IOU. The village chief is here—do you think we’d renege on the debt?”
The village chief, sensing the tension, tried to smooth things over.
He had already favored the Su family enough today; if he sided with them on this, he’d certainly offend the Wang family.

Old Master Su’s expression was stern. “The IOU must be written.”
Although he’d initially considered it unnecessary, seeing the Wang family’s reluctance made him realize it was essential.
Wang’s father frowned. “Old Master Su, I respect you as an elder, but this is going too far. Do you think we’re scoundrels?”
The old man’s brows knitted, ready to scold, but Su Wan quickly tugged his sleeve, signaling him to stay calm.
“Uncle Wang, how could you say that? My grandfather would never think you’re scoundrels. It’s just a formality. If you’re not going to default, what’s the harm in writing an IOU? It’ll put the old man’s mind at ease.”
With things said so clearly, if the Wang family still refused to write the IOU, it would show they had no intention of repaying the debt and their earlier words were empty.
Wang Luo, silent, stepped forward and wrote the IOU, signed his name, then handed it to the village chief as witness, who signed it and gave it to Old Master Su.
Old Master Su checked it carefully before storing the notebook away and handing it to Su Wan.
With everything settled, both families returned each other’s belongings under the village chief’s witness.
Finally, Su Wan heard the familiar system notification she’d awaited all day: [Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the task of breaking off the engagement. Story completion increased by twenty percent.]
[Next task: Please improve your appearance and return your weight to a healthy standard.]
Even without the system’s prompting, Su Wan was determined—no one longed more than she did to shed her excess weight!
The three of them headed home together. For once, Su Chen didn’t complain, pushing the little cart at breakneck speed. He glanced back at Su Wan, “Honestly, we almost got rid of you, but in the end, you’re still stuck with us. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Su Wan noticed the faint curve of his lips and his almost-skipping step, but magnanimously refrained from scolding him.
Su Chen waited a while and, hearing no retort, turned back again. “Actually, with you being so clumsy, you wouldn’t fare well in marriage—you’d just get bullied.”
Still, Su Wan said nothing.
Su Chen grew restless. “Sis, are you… upset?”
Su Wan remained silent, her gaze fixed in one direction.
Following her line of sight, Su Chen saw a round, compass-like figure hurrying toward them.