Cheng Xiaofan was so enthusiastic about saving Du Xiaojuan, not only because Zhao Cheng was his good friend back then, but also because Miao Xiuhua's winery desperately needed a capable assistant.
Du Xiaojuan was not only smart and capable, but also meticulous and responsible in her work.
In Cheng Xiaofan's mind, Du Xiaojuan was the best helper for his mother. In the future, his mother could confidently hand over the winery business to her.
How could Cheng Xiaofan let such a capable woman be ravaged by others!
When Cheng Xiaofan arrived at the Du family's doorstep, the gongs and suonas suddenly sounded, marking the auspicious time for the bride's departure.
"Bride, come out quickly, we're here to pick you up!"
"Haha, don't cling to your parents' home, you'll be someone else's woman sooner or later!"
"It's getting late, bride, if you don't come out soon, we'll have to emulate Wang Laohu snatching the bride!"
"Yeah, Brother Huai, I think snatching the bride is the most fun. How about we go inside and snatch her!"
Several young men with dyed yellow hair, surrounding a burly, dark-skinned man, laughed presumptuously.
The dark-skinned, burly man was clearly Guo Huai, whom Tang Guihua had mentioned.
Guo Huai was dressed head to toe in a red Tang suit, with a large red flower pinned to his chest and wearing a red ceremonial hat, looking every bit the groom himself.
As Cheng Xiaofan narrowed his eyes and saw the fluctuating aura around him, he was stunned.
This guy, just as he had suspected, was using the guise of marrying off his idiotic brother to take Du Xiaojuan for himself.
He already had a wife, so he couldn't openly marry Du Xiaojuan, and had to resort to this clandestine method.
Most importantly, his idiotic brother was impotent. This way, he could take Du Xiaojuan and even have her bear him a child or two.
Furthermore, this Guo fellow had employed a sinister scheme to get his hands on Du Xiaojuan!
Cheng Xiaofan sneered inwardly, thinking, "Kid Guo, you've run into me. Let's see how I deal with you later!"
Just as he thought this, Du Xiaojuan's cries were heard from inside the house: "Dad, Mom, how can you be so heartless! Spare me, I don't want to marry that fool!"
"In Zhuxi Village, I still need to take care of my mother-in-law, I can't abandon her!"
At this moment, Du Xiaojuan, who was weeping uncontrollably, was forcibly dragged out of the house by some people.
"Sister, I'm sorry, I've implicated you!"
A young man knelt down with a thud before Du Xiaojuan, crying, "If it weren't for that dowry of two hundred thousand, you wouldn't have been forced to marry a fool!"
"Sister, don't hate Mom and Dad, if you hate anyone, hate me!"
"I don't know why the other party suddenly asked for this two hundred thousand betrothal gift, they never mentioned it before!"
"Sister, it's all because our family is poor, and your brother isn't out there, that we've come to this!"
"Damn it, what are you guys making all this fuss about?"
Seeing the scene before him, Guo Huai's face darkened, and he roared angrily, "I'm here to pick up the bride on behalf of my brother, not to watch you mourn. Are you trying to bring bad luck to my Zhao family by making this scene?"
"Director Guo, please calm down, please calm down!"
Du Xiaojuan's father, Old Man Du, seeing Guo Huai's anger, hurried over, offered him a cigarette, and said with a smile, "Xiaojuan and her brother are just being foolish. Please don't hold it against them!"
He then turned back to the people around him and said, "Quick, put Xiaojuan into the sedan chair, we mustn't delay the departure time!"
In many rural areas, when a bride leaves her home, someone is asked to determine the auspicious time. If this time is missed, it is said to bring bad luck to the groom's family.
Although this is just superstition, most people in the countryside believe it. It's like choosing an auspicious day for a company's opening.
Just as those people were about to pull Du Xiaojuan, a voice loudly called out: "Slow!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young, unfamiliar man walking slowly towards them.
"Ah, Xiaofan, is that you!"
Du Xiaojuan recognized Cheng Xiaofan at a glance. She broke free from the hands of the crowd and rushed towards him, exclaiming excitedly, "Xiaofan, save me, I want to go back, I want to take care of my mother-in-law, and I want to work in the winery!"
Cheng Xiaofan pulled her behind him and said with a smile, "Xiaojuan, I came to Shawan Village precisely to save you!"
"Xiaojuan, come over here!" At this moment, Bai Yiling and Tang Guihua ran up and shielded Du Xiaojuan.
"Kid, who are you to dare to ruin my Guo family's good deed?"
Seeing this, Guo Huai's face turned grim, and he snarled menacingly at Cheng Xiaofan.
Cheng Xiaofan glanced at him dismissively and said with a cold smile, "Guo Huai, is it? I'm from Zhuxi Village, named Cheng Xiaofan. Du Xiaojuan's husband, Zhao Cheng, was my good friend before he passed away. Although he's gone, I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone bullying his wife!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Huai let out a sinister chuckle and said, "Kid, what do you mean by that?"
"My brother is indeed an idiot, but he knows how to cherish women. Du Xiaojuan marrying my brother is like falling into a nest of fortune. She'll eat and drink well for the rest of her life, which is much better than being a widow and serving a blind mother-in-law every day, isn't it?"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "Guo Huai, as far as I know, your parents are long dead. Your idiotic brother can neither hold a pen nor wield a gun. He lives on basic subsistence allowance. How can Du Xiaojuan have a life of luxury by marrying him?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it's you who has set your sights on Du Xiaojuan and is using the excuse of marrying your brother to secretly claim her for yourself!"
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves!
Cheng Xiaofan's words immediately caused a reaction among many people present.
"I saw through Guo Huai's scheme long ago, but I didn't dare to say anything without evidence!"
"Yeah, Guo Huai's idiotic brother has trouble supporting himself, how can he afford to get married? Isn't that a joke!"
"Where in the world does a brother wear a groom's outfit to pick up a bride for his younger brother?"
"Hmph, in my opinion, the one who will enter the bridal chamber tonight isn't that fool, but this Guo Huai!"
"Now some people, relying on their wealth, will do anything, no matter how shameful!"
"All of you, shut up!" Hearing the sarcastic remarks, Guo Huai's face turned purple with anger.
He then yelled hysterically at Cheng Xiaofan, "Cheng Xiaofan, you're slandering me without any basis. Do you think I, Guo Huai, am easy to bully?"
"You say I'm using the excuse of marrying my brother to secretly take Du Xiaojuan. Show me proof immediately!"
"If you can't produce evidence, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"You dare to insult our boss, you have to show us the evidence."
"If you can't produce evidence, let's see how we deal with you!"
"The early bird gets shot, kid, I think you're asking for a beating!"
"Boss, don't waste your breath with him. Just give the word, and we brothers will surround him and beat him to his knees begging for mercy!"
"Yeah, to deal with this kid, let our fists do the talking!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the few yellow-haired followers around him, with their fists clenched and eager to try, shouted.