"How dare you interrupt when adults are talking!" Zhang Chunhua said, her face falling in displeasure.
"Nothing need be hidden from anyone. Did you ask for my opinion when you discussed my marriage behind closed doors?"
"Ask for what? You silly girl, what do you know? I've decided today, and I'll agree to it. You two will go find the Liu family and finalize this marriage right away."
Chen Liyuan was furious. "On what grounds are you making decisions? Who are you? When did our family's affairs become your business to decide?"
Hearing her words, Chen Mandun frowned and chided, "Liyuan, go back to your room. Children don't interrupt when adults are speaking."
"Now you remember I'm a child? Weren't you just discussing my marriage? Mom, Dad, if you marry me off to someone like Liu Dabao, I'll die to show you."
Grandma Chen pointed at Chen Liyuan and said to Chen Mandun and his wife, "Look, look at how you two have spoiled this child. One Chen Lishu, that little beast, isn't enough, and now another one. Threatening to die at the drop of a hat. You little brat, go ahead and die now, see if we even bat an eye!"
Zhang Chunhua's eyes flickered. She stood up and said gently, "Liyuan, those words deeply hurt your parents. Who are they doing this for? Isn't it for this family? We don't have a son, and now they're getting old. If you take in a son-in-law at this time, he can help support and care for the younger ones, can't he?"
Zhang Chunhua's words resonated with Wu Chunmei. She looked at Chen Liyuan, her eyes reddening, "Your aunt is right. Your father and I are doing this for your own good."
"Men and women are equal now. Women can hold up half the sky. You're still clinging to those old ideas. Anyway, I won't marry into your family. Besides, my tuition is paid by Big Sister. You can find whoever you want!"
"Slap!" Chen Mandun was furious at her words. He finally lost his temper and raised his hand, delivering a slap. "You've gone too far. This is not your place to make decisions in this family."
Chen Liyuan was stunned by the slap. It was the first time Chen Mandun had ever hit her. She covered her face, staring blankly at Chen Mandun for a long time. Holding back tears, she turned and ran back to her room.
Grandma Chen spat, saying unhappily, "This is the child you two have raised. I don't think you should let her continue studying. We must finalize this with the Liu family quickly. I'll have your eldest sister-in-law send them a reply shortly."
Chen Mandun felt a pang of guilt after hitting his daughter. Hearing Grandma Chen's words, he frowned, not entirely in agreement. "Mom, it's the child's lifelong matter, after all. If she's unwilling, I think we should drop it."
"Drop it? This is how you've spoiled her. One by one, they've all turned against us. I've made the decision. If she resents you, let her resent me. I can't just watch you end up without an heir." Grandma Chen glared at Wu Chunmei, whose eyes began to well up with tears again.
...
"A few days ago, Old Wu jokingly said he wanted to arrange a childhood engagement between his son, Wu Yan, and our daughter."
Chen Lishu, who was resting her head on his shoulder and reading, looked up curiously upon hearing his words. "How did you reply?"
"Naturally, I refused," Gu Xingdong said with a cold laugh. "How could my precious daughter be coveted by others?"
Chen Lishu couldn't help but tease him with a smile. "Brother Wu is showing you respect. Besides, you don't even have a daughter yet, yet you're acting like it's a done deal."
Gu Xingdong stared at her for a moment, then suddenly flipped over, propping himself up on his hands above her head. "How can you say there's no daughter? Your Daddy will work harder on it now."
Chen Lishu's cheeks flushed slightly as Gu Xingdong's dark eyes stared at her intently. She averted her gaze and murmured softly, "Can you guarantee it will be a daughter?"
Gu Xingdong leaned down, burying his head in her fair neck. "Where there's sincerity, there's success."
The stubble on his chin tickled Chen Lishu, and she couldn't help but push him away with a laugh. "If that's the case, why do so many people praying for children go to temples? Can't they just meditate at home?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a sharp pain in her neck. Gu Xingdong's muffled voice followed, "Focus."
The sounds of heavy breathing in the room gradually intensified. Chen Lishu's eyes became misty, and the dim light overhead slowly morphed into a kaleidoscope of colorful halos.
The next day, when Chen Lishu woke up, the spot beside her was already empty. Bright sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating her fair skin, where several clear bruises hinted at the intensity of the previous night's passion.
Chen Lishu nearly collapsed back into bed when she tried to get up, her waist aching. Her legs trembled as she got out of bed. She couldn't help but curse Gu Xingdong a few times in her heart before slowly shuffling to the kitchen to start breakfast.
What was meant to be breakfast, she only got to eat past nine o'clock. After tidying up, she left the house nearly at ten.
Chen Lishu didn't rush back to school. Instead, she went to the Wang family's place. By chance, Wang Aixiang wasn't home.
"Our daughter came over. Aixiang said you'd likely come today. She told me everything. She hasn't gone far, sit down for a moment, and I'll go call her for you."
Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law, seeing her arrive, quickly invited her in and then hurried out to find her.
Because of the increased commission, Wang Aixiang had been very motivated lately. Besides her previous friends who sold old clothes, she would also bring a bolt of cloth with her to solicit business. She kept a small notebook to record orders and arrange unified delivery at an agreed-upon location. She mostly loitered in places with high foot traffic, like the supply and marketing cooperatives.
Although the price of the fabric was the same as in the shops, she didn't require coupons. In just a few days, she had sold nearly a bolt of fabric.
"Aixiang, that daughter of the Chen family is here looking for you. Hurry home and see her." Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law searched several places before finally spotting her and hurrying over.
When the mother and daughter-in-law returned home, Chen Lishu was helping Wang Xiaopeng with his homework. It was the first time Wang Aixiang had seen the child studying so diligently, and she dared not even breathe loudly, afraid of disturbing his studies.
After explaining the last step, Chen Lishu looked up and smiled, "Sister Aixiang, how are the fabric sales going?"
Wang Aixiang snapped back to attention and quickly replied, "Five bolts left."
Chen Lishu nodded. "Let's go to the textile factory again later to see about getting more fabric."
"Yes!" Wang Aixiang nodded eagerly.
"Mom, go buy some vegetables later. Let Sister have dinner at home this afternoon before she returns to school," Wang Aixiang said, taking out two yuan and giving it to her mother-in-law.
Chen Lishu quickly waved her hand. "Sister Aixiang, no need to trouble yourself."
"What trouble? Not even allowed to have a meal at my place?" Wang Aixiang didn't listen at all and pulled her out of the room. Chen Lishu had no choice but to follow her.