"But what if he isn't as bad as the rumors say?"
"That's impossible. Even if he's not as bad as they say, as a mere country bumpkin, he's not worthy of being with Qingqing. Qingqing deserves better, someone like Hong Baobao."
"..."
"Liu Nian isn't that kind of person. Don't slander him. He's truly good to me."
Jiang Qingqing, seeing her parents had already decided that Zhang Liu Nian was a bad person, was anxious to refute them. But as soon as she spoke, her elder brother dragged her away and locked her in her room, preventing her from leaving.
After the two of them left, Li Xiaoxiu went to the textile factory to find Hong Baobao, while the others waited, exchanging glances, anticipating Hong Baobao's arrival for the courtship.
In fact, they knew that with Jiang Qingqing's even more stunning beauty, Hong Baobao would surely be pleased. Their next step would be to decide on the betrothal gifts they would demand.
"Dad, on the way back, third sister mentioned that man was good to her. Perhaps we misunderstood him." Jiang Qing Tian, having heard some things on the road, had a slight flicker of hope regarding the person named Zhang Liu Nian.
But Jiang's father was convinced that Zhang Liu Nian was not a good man and not worth Jiang Qingqing entrusting her life to.
"What do you know? Hong Baobao lives in the next residential area. If your third sister marries him, her life won't be too bad." Jiang Kai Guo had no intention of selling his daughter, he merely wanted to leverage his daughter's marriage for some benefits for his family.
For example, receiving some money so they could buy another house, allowing the two sons to live separately, and making it convenient for the second son to marry.
If not, they could also ask for a good job, which would improve their family's livelihood.
"Sigh!" Jiang Qing Tian, seeing that his father wouldn't listen to anything, didn't want to stay there any longer. He turned and went back to his room, preferring not to see it.
As soon as he left, Jiang Xiao Qing sat beside Jiang's father and sowed discord. "Dad, your good intentions, third sister might not accept them. In her eyes, that terrifying man is perfect. If we really make her marry into the Hong family, she'll surely hate all of us."
"Hmph, if she doesn't accept it, so be it. I will never let her be with that country person." Jiang Kai Guo became angry as soon as he heard this. He was doing it for his daughter's own good, and yet she was ungrateful and treated them like enemies. This daughter was truly raised in vain.
Seeing this, a glint flashed in Jiang Xiao Qing's eyes. No one knew that she had been jealous of her beautiful third sister since childhood. Now that she was falling out with her family over a country person, she was more than happy to see it.
Just then, father and daughter heard Li Xiaoxiu's cheerful voice from outside the door, "Xiao Qing, quickly go bring out the pastries and tea. Director Hong is here."
"Coming!" Jiang Xiao Qing responded and went to get the items.
Hong Baobao was a black, stout man in his forties. In terms of appearance, he might bear some relation to a wild boar. From a distance, one might mistake him for a wild boar spirit come to life, but he had connections and was well-off, giving him some advantage in the marriage market.
"Director Hong is here, please sit, please sit." Jiang Kai Guo walked to the door to welcome him in, then cordially entertained him.
Hong Baobao, carrying a black briefcase, slicked back his oily hair and crossed his legs, saying, "I heard Qingqing is back? Why don't I see her?"
Jiang Qingqing was once a renowned beauty in the area. Even at a young age, she had blossomed into unparalleled beauty. When Hong Baobao's first wife died, he had harbored the idea of marrying Jiang Qingqing.
However, the Jiang family sent Jiang Qingqing to the countryside to become a sent-down youth for their sons. This delay lasted seven years.
As fate would have it, his second wife also left him, and he was once again in need of a wife.
And when Li Xiaoxiu had come to call him earlier, she had hinted at the idea of having Jiang Qingqing get married. His interest was immediately piqued.
"Qingshan, quickly go bring your third sister out." Jiang Kai Guo, being a man, naturally saw that Hong Baobao still had considerable interest in his daughter.
And this interest intensified when he saw Jiang Qingqing's increasingly stunning face. He even started to drool. "Qingqing, it's been a long time. You've become even more beautiful."
Her figure had also become more voluptuous than before, truly like a ripe peach, alluring.
"I have a man and a child. You should find someone else!" Jiang Qingqing looked at Hong Baobao with disgust and directly revealed her married status.
"What? You're married?" Hong Baobao was quite taken aback by her words. If she was already married, why was she looking for him? Wasn't this toying with him? Hong Baobao looked angrily at Jiang's father and mother, with a demeanor that suggested he would demand their lives if they didn't give him an explanation. This scared Jiang's father and mother into hurriedly explaining.
"Director Hong, don't listen to her nonsense. When she was a sent-down youth in the countryside, she was indeed deceived by a country bumpkin. She just gave birth to a child, but they don't have a marriage certificate or any proof. They are just living together. We only wanted to find her a good home to marry into this time since returning, so she wouldn't be deceived by that man again. Therefore, strictly speaking, she isn't married." Jiang's father argued eloquently.
As Hong Baobao listened, his small eyes kept scanning Jiang Qingqing. The more he looked, the more he liked her. It had truly been years, and she was even more alluring.
"So, it's that bastard's fault. Qingqing, don't be afraid. Now that you're back in the city, with me here, you won't be harmed again." Hong Baobao leered at Jiang Qingqing, reaching out to hold her hand.
Jiang Qingqing quickly dodged aside, her face stern. "Who said we aren't married? When we got together, the village members were witnesses, and we held a wedding banquet in the village. Don't listen to my father and them. They are trying to trick you. I will never marry anyone else."
"You ungrateful daughter, would you die if you kept quiet?" Jiang's father was so angry that smoke seemed to be rising from his head. He wished he could throw this wild child out, but considering the benefits he was about to gain, he suppressed it.
"I'm telling the truth, so Hong Baobao, please don't be fooled."
"..."
On the other side, Zhang Liu Nian's car finally arrived at the Jiang family's residential area. Zhang Liu Nian, with a car full of gifts, walked towards the memory of the house number.
"Stay away from me. My man can only be Zhang Liu Nian, no one else. Give up on this idea!"
"Qingqing, I will treat you well. As long as you marry me, you can live a rich wife's life and say goodbye to digging in the dirt in the countryside."
"..."
Zhang Liu Nian, standing outside the door and hearing the voices from inside, his smiling handsome face instantly turned dark. His hands at his sides were clenched into fists.
Very good, some man was trying to poach his wife. He wanted to steal his wife. It seemed this man was asking for a beating.
"Brother Liu Nian, someone's got their eye on sister-in-law. Shall we storm in now and beat him until his teeth are scattered on the ground?" Du Zi Teng, who was carrying a pile of items beside him, also heard this and gritted his teeth in anger.