RYEY – Chapter 39 Blocked

Cheng Qiao had originally wanted to say that it was Xu Laidi who had set the trap for her, but at this moment, she still couldn’t be sure how much she really mattered in her father’s heart.

If his whole world was filled with her stepmother and stepsister, then saying more would be useless. In her past life, she had lived far too foolishly, too ignorant of human nature.

“I don’t agree. Daughter, listen to your father. You’re only eighteen. You can’t casually entrust your whole life away. You have to wait until I investigate that man’s character first.”

The voice coming through the telephone line was clearly urgent. Cheng Qiao still wanted to say more, but a staff member came over, raised one finger, and gestured that she only had one minute left.

Cheng Qiao quickly cleared her throat and spoke in a rush: “Dad, I only have one minute left. I still want to tell you, this time going to the countryside, I was tricked by Xia Fen and Cheng Qin. Dad, you have to be careful!”

“What? Tricked? Tricked how?”

“Xia Fen said Cheng Qin had a hidden illness and couldn’t go to the countryside. They acted out a pitiful scene in front of me, and stupid me fell for it. Dad, you must be careful.”

“There’s actually such a thing? Why didn’t you say so before? You really are a…”

“I’m sorry, Dad. From now on, I’ll write you letters. But I’ll send them to your factory.”

“Alright, I definitely will… Hello? Hello…”

Hearing the beeping tones in the receiver, Cheng Qiao slumped and put down the phone. The timing really was exact—five minutes meant exactly five minutes. She still had so much she hadn’t said.

After paying, she bought some stationery at the post office, went over to a partitioned wall, and began writing a letter. She decided to put everything she had experienced since going to the countryside onto paper, filling five whole sheets in one go.

Then she wrote the address of the steel factory on the envelope. Worried her letter might be intercepted, she specifically sent it by registered mail. This way, unless it was Cheng Liguo himself, no one could intercept it.

Riding her bicycle to the supply and marketing cooperative, she planned to buy some malted milk extract and tobacco and liquor. Although her own grocery shop also had those things, the quality was completely different from what was available in this era.

“Cheng Qiao, you’re here again. I know, you’re getting married soon, preparing dowry items, right? Let me tell you, we have some slightly flawed bed sheets here. No ration coupons needed. Do you want them?”

“Yes. Oh, and this is for you. My father sent it to me from Huizhou.”

Cheng Qiao took out an oil-paper bundle from her cloth bag, inside were several sesame cakes. These cakes were made with flour, sesame, and sesame oil. They were fragrant, with thin crusts and plenty of sesame—delicious and flavorful.

“So you’re from Huizhou! Mm, it smells wonderful. I’ll take this home to share with my mother.”

Qiu Min hurriedly wrapped the sesame cakes, placed them in the counter drawer, and even locked it. Such treats were rare—if someone happened to steal them, it would be a real loss.

She then led Cheng Qiao through a maze of turns into a warehouse. The warehouse, aside from a few shelves, was almost completely empty. Compared to her own grocery shop’s storage, it was nothing.

Cheng Qiao sighed inwardly. There was no helping it—supplies were scarce at this time. Still, as time went on, life would gradually improve.

“Look, just these few pieces. I wanted them myself, but I don’t dare bring them home. Otherwise my sister-in-law will throw a fit, and in the end, she’ll get her hands on them anyway.”

Cheng Qiao was stunned. She hadn’t expected Qiu Min to share her family troubles with her. Warmth rose in her heart—this meant she was treating her as a true friend.

“You should slowly look for a good family to marry into. If you feel bad for your parents, split the household. Otherwise, the quarrels will only get worse and worse.”

“Mm, I’ve said that before, but my father won’t agree. After all, he only has my elder brother as a son. And my sister-in-law has given the family a chubby grandson. Even if it drains him dry, he’d still be willing.”

“This…”

Of course, Cheng Qiao understood how deeply rooted the preference for sons over daughters was in this era. She simply patted Qiu Min’s shoulder, suggesting she save some private money, and if she came across good items, she could store them with her.

Qiu Min’s eyes lit up. She quickly pulled out a red and blue checkered bedsheet, pointing at the imperfect stitched edge: “I like this one. It’s just that the hemming wasn’t done properly. Just a few stitches by hand and you won’t notice a thing.”

“Alright, leave it with me. When you’re getting married, come here to pick it up.”

The two happily picked out four sheets—three for Cheng Qiao, one for Qiu Min. Then they went elsewhere, bought a few big steamed pork buns, and went home satisfied.

On the way back, when no one was around, Cheng Qiao stowed everything into her space, walking empty-handed toward Xiangyang Village. But halfway there, two people blocked her path.

Looking carefully, she saw it was Chen Chunhua and Miao Qing. She frowned slightly. Everyone was busy rushing the harvest in the fields, so why were they here?

“Cheng Qiao, I want you to immediately return Erlizi’s betrothal gift.”

Chen Chunhua angrily stopped her. She hadn’t expected that pushing Erlizi toward Cheng Qiao would not only saddle her family with debt but also get herself pushed out of her own household.

“Why?”

Cheng Qiao tilted her head, the mocking look in her eyes making Chen Chunhua’s pretty face twist with fury.

“You can’t marry Erlizi.”

“Why?”

“Why? You… If you marry him, you won’t be able to return to the city.”

Chen Chunhua didn’t know how else to explain, so she could only try to scare her with the idea of never returning to the city.

“Chen Chunhua, I originally didn’t have to marry Erlizi at all. Wasn’t it you who pushed me off the ox cart, leaving me no choice but to marry him?”

Chen Chunhua had no words, only stubbornly standing in front of her, clearly showing she wouldn’t let Cheng Qiao go unless she agreed.

“Chen Chunhua, you still owe me an apology. Oh right, didn’t you also take Wang Tuozi’s betrothal gift? What, planning to marry twice?”

“You’re talking nonsense! That was an engagement my parents arranged. I never agreed to it.”

“Whether you agreed or not, what does that have to do with me?”

“How could it not? If you return Erlizi’s betrothal gift, I won’t have to marry Wang Tuozi.”

“Why? And has your family returned Wang Tuozi’s betrothal gift yet?”

Chen Chunhua was left speechless. Wasn’t her plan just to get Cheng Qiao to return Erlizi’s betrothal gift, so she could take it for herself, then return Wang Tuozi’s gift? Otherwise, her family had no money to pay it back.

“I see now. You don’t want me to marry Erlizi, so you want me to break the engagement. Fine, I’ll go tell him right now to break it off.”

Cheng Qiao acted as though she was overjoyed and turned to go find Erlizi. Chen Chunhua felt secretly relieved and was about to step aside—when Miao Qing blocked the way.

Chen Chunhua frowned at her. Hadn’t they agreed to get the betrothal gift back? Why wasn’t she letting her leave now?

“Cheng Qiao, take out the betrothal gift Erlizi gave you. I’ll help you break the engagement.”