RYEY – Chapter 17 Li Huan ’s Mother

“You woman, listen carefully. I have a name. My name is Li Huan. Don’t you dare call me ‘rascal’ anymore, or I’ll get angry.”

Li Huan furrowed his brows deeply. This educated youth woman, calling him a rascal right to his face over and over—really tactless. No wonder she’d been in Xiangyang Village for five years and still hadn’t married.

“Oh, rasc—no, Li Huan. Sorry, I truly didn’t know your name.”

Han Chunmei quickly corrected herself. “rascal” wasn’t a nice word. Saying it behind someone’s back was one thing, but saying it to their face really was too much.

“Li Huan, what on earth happened?”

Qian Longkun looked seriously at Li Huan and asked.

Li Huan explained the whole story. Everyone looked at the bandage on Cheng Qiao’s head and didn’t know what to say. Who could have thought one could get into such a mess just by riding in an ox cart? This Cheng Qiao was really too unlucky.

“Li Huan, come outside with me. I have something to tell you.”

Li Huan hesitated but still followed Qian Longkun. They walked far, almost to the stairway, before stopping.

“What’s so mysterious?”

“Li Huan, I think Chen Chunhua hurt Cheng Qiao because she likes you. You’d better be careful not to fall into her trap.”

“No way…”

“It should be true. Do you still remember that night when Xu Laidi set Cheng Qiao up with you? I saw it with my own eyes. The way Chen Chunhua looked at you—it was full of admiration. But when she looked at Xu Laidi, it was as if she wanted to eat her alive.”

“Thanks. And today, your sister even stood up to speak for us. Remind her to be careful. If Accountant Chen plays dirty, your sister might not be able to handle it.”

“I know. He wouldn’t dare. But I think you should take this chance seriously. The only question is—would Cheng Qiao be willing to marry you?”

“Don’t worry. Just wait to drink my wedding wine.”

“Mm. Be good to her. She’s a pitiful one.”

“That goes without saying. I really like her.”

Secretly following behind, Jiang Guangrong overheard their conversation. He covered his mouth in shock. With such a bad reputation, how could the “rascal” be close to Qian Longkun? And it seemed their relationship was even quite good.

But Jiang Guangrong was clever. He knew there were some matters he could meddle in and some he had to stay far away from. So he quietly backed away and quickly returned to the ward.

When Qian Longkun came back, the educated youths said they were heading home. Their luck had been poor today. Other than Xiaoqin grabbing a few sponge cakes, they hadn’t managed to buy anything else and had to return empty-handed.

Cheng Qiao’s space had almost everything, but she couldn’t just pull things out casually. Her eyes flickered, and she suggested they leave the meat ration coupons with her. Once her wounds healed, she’d go try her luck at the meat supply store.

Zhang Yuefang quickly handed over her money and coupons. For Cheng Qiao, who was in the county hospital, it would be much easier to buy meat than for them. If she succeeded, it would indeed improve their meals.

Xiaofang, Xiaoping, and Xiaoqin also contributed their money and coupons. Even if they couldn’t get pork, just bringing back some bones would be good. Of course, meat-filled steamed buns would be even better.

Looking at the money and coupons in her hands, Cheng Qiao beamed inside. Finally, she could openly take meat out of her space. Mm, but she couldn’t take too much—just match the weight of the coupons.

Qian Longkun also handed his money and coupons to Cheng Qiao. He understood well that Cheng Qiao herself wouldn’t be able to buy meat, but Li Huan definitely could. Otherwise, where had all those good things he’d had before come from?

Once the others left, Li Huan looked at Cheng Qiao with a grin and said, “Cheng Qiao, eat this apple first. I’m stepping out for a bit.”

“Where did you get an apple?”

“I saw a nurse holding some and bought it from her.”

“Thank you. If you have something to do, just go. Don’t worry about me.”

Li Huan smiled, nodded, and left. He had just learned that Chen Chunhua secretly liked him. That was absolutely unacceptable. He wouldn’t allow Chen Chunhua to ruin his marriage with Cheng Qiao.

So the best way was to marry Chen Chunhua off.

If that could be done, then her family would pay compensation, she’d be married off, and he’d let her go. Otherwise, he wouldn’t show mercy.

The ward suddenly quieted down. Cheng Qiao’s headache was severe, but fortunately, the doctor had prescribed painkillers. She quickly took one and lay down.

Unknowingly, she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already midday. Suddenly, she saw a woman sitting at her bedside. Rubbing her eyes, she realized—it was Li Huan’s mother.

“Girl, you’re awake. Does your head still hurt?”

“Auntie, why are you here?”

Seeing Li  Huan’s mother, Cheng Qiao’s eyes instantly reddened. It was she, the one who, when Cheng Qiao had been at her wit’s end, had handed over all her life savings and smuggled her out of the village in the dark, telling her never to return.

Later, after she strangled Xu Laidi and, before jumping off the cliff, she had wished to see her one last time. But the woman had already turned to ash, buried behind the mountain. Cheng Qiao had only kowtowed a few times on the cliffside, then leapt down.

“Girl, you’ve suffered. Don’t worry about marrying in. I’ll make it up to you with the dowry.”

“Auntie, I…”

Cheng Qiao didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t agreeing to marry for the sake of a dowry.

“Girl, listen to me. My Li Huan isn’t as bad as the villagers say. He’s actually a good person. And here, take this. Don’t dislike it.”

Li  Huan’s mother glanced around, saw only Cheng Qiao in the ward, then pulled something wrapped in red cloth from her inner pocket and pressed it into her hand.

Cheng Qiao didn’t even need to look—she knew what it was. A gold bracelet. It had been Li  Huan’s mother’s wedding dowry, originally meant for her daughter. Yet now she was giving it to her.

“Girl, don’t open it. This thing can’t be shown now. But I know it’s worth something. If you like it, hide it well. Think of it as… a betrothal token.”

“Auntie, I really can’t accept this.”

“Take it. Believe me, my Li Huan really isn’t a bad person. In time, you’ll see for yourself.”

“Auntie, I understand. Today, Li Huan saved me. A life-saving grace can’t be repaid. I can only promise myself to him.”

“Girl, you…”

Li  Huan’s mother’s eyes suddenly lit up. She knew well how much her son liked Cheng Qiao, but Cheng Qiao had never looked at him properly.

Now her son finally had a chance. That’s why she brought out the family’s only valuable possession—the gold bracelet. As long as Cheng Qiao accepted it, this marriage was already half done.

“Girl, let me tell you about our family. My eldest son joined the army and sends a bit of money back each month. I also have a younger daughter, thirteen this year, who can manage herself. Li Huan may not farm the land, but he has ways to earn a living. You won’t suffer if you marry him.”