pdf-ebookys Chapter 72 Did she voluntarily marry this gay man?
Chapter 72 Did she voluntarily marry this gay man?
"What are you doing? Taking you to enjoy some good life!"
As Niu Guihua scurried into the house, she rummaged through drawers and cupboards. "That Zhang the butcher was unlucky; it was just his bad luck! I've found you a good one! This time he's a proper veteran, strong and healthy, a hero who's made meritorious contributions! The key thing is, he doesn't mind that you're a divorcee; he's willing to marry you!"
Li Xianglian's fingernails dug fiercely into the flesh of her palm.
She had expected this to happen, but she didn't expect it to come so quickly.
She lowered her eyes, concealing the emotions within them, and feigned a terrified expression.
"Mother... I just got divorced, my reputation is ruined, who would want me? You're not going to sell me to some old widower again, are you?"
"Bullshit! This time it's a handsome young man!"
Niu Guihua pulled out the household registration booklet from the bottom of the cabinet, not even bothering to wipe it dusty, and stuffed it into her bosom like a precious treasure. Then she turned to grab Li Xianglian, "It's Qin Rushan! That Qin Rushan from Zhao Family Village! He said we're getting the marriage certificate today and having the wedding banquet tonight! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you better hurry up!"
Upon hearing the name "Qin Rushan," Li Xianglian's body stiffened abruptly.
Although she knew all along that this was Qin Rushan's scheme, hearing from the mouth of this woman who only wanted to sell her daughter that she was to marry him still stirred up a bittersweet feeling in her heart.
That fool, in order to marry her, actually portrayed himself as a bachelor desperate for a woman, and even wanted to get a divorced woman for free.
"Qin...Qin Rushan?"
Li Xianglian feigned terror, widening her eyes and desperately shrinking back. "Mother! Are you crazy? That's a ruthless, heartless killer! Didn't you see him chop the millstone with an axe that day? Are you trying to push me into a pit of fire?!"
"Shut up! What 'fire pit'? That's a paradise!"
Niu Guihua was preoccupied with nothing but bringing wealth and good fortune to the house, and wouldn't listen to anything else. "He's fierce only towards outsiders! Once you're inside and you serve him well, he's not going to eat you alive, is he? Besides, he's a tough guy, which is perfect for keeping your jinxed fate in check! Come with me right now!"
"I won't go! I won't wear it! I'll die!" Li Xianglian clung tightly to the door frame, tears streaming down her face, her acting incredibly realistic.
At this moment, Li Dabao, who had been hiding in the house pretending to be dead, heard the noise and poked his head out.
"Sister! Don't be stubborn! Would Mother ever harm you?"
Li Dabao sniffled and ran over to help Niu Guihua pry open Li Xianglian's fingers. "That Qin Rushan may be a bit fierce, but he's rich! I heard his demobilization pay is several hundred! You'll be living a life of luxury if you marry him! Besides, our family doesn't need a dowry. If you can make him happy, he might even give me a little money! Let go of him quickly!"
The mother and son worked together to pull Li Xianglian off the door frame.
"I won't marry... I'd rather die than marry..." Li Xianglian cried as Niu Guihua dragged her out of the courtyard.
Many villagers who were chatting along the village road were so shocked by what they saw that they couldn't close their mouths.
"My goodness, are they going to give their daughter away again?"
"I heard it's a gift for Qin Rushan! That jinx from Zhao Family Village!"
"Oh dear, has Niu Guihua gone mad with greed? Is she marrying off her daughter? She's sending her to her death!"
The gossip flew like knives, but Niu Guihua was determined and ignored it all, dragging Li Xianglian along as they ran to the agreed-upon big locust tree.
Under the shade of a tree, Qin Rushan was leaning against the trunk, smoking.
He changed into a clean old military uniform, his hat brim pulled low, obscuring his expression. Only the flickering sparks at his fingertips revealed a restless energy that made people afraid to approach him.
Seeing Niu Guihua dragging Li Xianglian, who was crying her eyes out, he threw his cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it out with his toe.
"You're here?" His voice was low and impatient.
"Here she comes! This brat is so ungrateful, always causing trouble for me, so I taught her a lesson!"
Niu Guihua, with a fawning expression, pushed Li Xianglian into Qin Rushan's arms. "The person is yours! Once the marriage certificate is issued, whether she lives or dies, she's a member of your Qin family, it has nothing to do with us! But you have to keep your word, about tonight's banquet..."
Li Xianglian stumbled forward, about to fall flat on her face.
A large, calloused hand steadily reached out and grabbed her waist.
In that instant, Qin Rushan's strength was astonishing. His scalding palm pressed against her waist through the thin fabric of her clothes, making Li Xianglian tremble all over.
She looked up in a panic, only to meet those dark, inky eyes.
There was no cruelty or impatience in it, only overflowing tenderness and restrained love.
"rest assured."
Qin Rushan helped Li Xianglian sit up straight and gently tidied her disheveled temples. His movements seemed rough but were actually gentle. "Since you've agreed, you'll have to make the most of this banquet. Let's go to the commune."
After he finished speaking, he didn't wait for Niu Guihua to say anything more, turned around and left, taking big steps but deliberately slowing down his pace so that the people behind him could keep up.
Li Xianglian rubbed her wrist, which had been pinched until it turned purple, and followed after him with her head down.
Niu Guihua followed closely behind, watching the two of them intently like a supervisor, afraid that something might go wrong.
When they arrived at the commune office, the clerk in charge of marriage registration was dozing off at his desk.
"Knock knock knock!"
Qin Rushan bent his fingers and tapped them three times on the table, neither too hard nor too soft.
The clerk groggily looked up, and when he saw Qin Rushan, that fearsome figure, his drowsiness vanished instantly.
"Comrade Qin... Comrade Qin? What's this?"
Qin Rushan was a notorious tough guy in Zhao Family Village; everyone knew him.
"Get the marriage certificate." Qin Rushan said succinctly, slamming the two household registration books onto the table.
The clerk rubbed his sleepy eyes, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the slightly yellowed household registration book and the strange couple in front of him.
When his gaze fell on Li Xianglian's face, he paused for a moment, his brows instantly furrowing into a deep frown.
Isn't this Li Xianglian, who came to get a divorce just yesterday?
He still remembers the scene vividly: that man named Zhao Gang made such a scene, throwing the girl away like a rag.
How come this girl is already getting a marriage certificate again after only one night?
Then look at the man next to him, dressed in a faded old military uniform with his hat pulled low, exuding a cold aura that keeps strangers at bay.
Although he looks energetic, his fierce demeanor makes him seem like someone who's easy to get along with.
Especially those eyes; when they occasionally glance up, they're like wolves from the mountains, sending chills down your spine.
Then look at Niu Guihua following behind, her face full of greed, as if she wanted to sell her daughter by weight, and that hand that was constantly gripping Li Xianglian's elbow tightly...
The clerk immediately understood the situation.
This is probably another case of a greedy mother forcing her recently divorced daughter into a dangerous situation for the sake of a dowry!
These days, such things are not uncommon in the countryside, but to see it so blatantly and in such a hurry is truly a first.
The officer was a young man with a sense of justice. Looking at Li Xianglian's meek and submissive appearance, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
What a lovely girl! How did she end up with such a mother and all these terrible things?
He cleared his throat, deliberately raising his voice to a high pitch, even adopting a somewhat businesslike seriousness: "Comrade, according to regulations, I must conduct a routine inquiry. Marriage is a major life event, a lifelong commitment. I'd like to ask the woman, did you voluntarily marry this man? Were you subjected to any... um, external coercion or undue pressure?"
As he spoke, the clerk glanced meaningfully at Niu Guihua, who was standing behind him.
The meaning couldn't be clearer: Girl, if you have any difficulties, just say so. This is a public place. We live in a new society where arranged marriages are no longer acceptable. If someone forces you, I can stand up for you!
Upon hearing this, Niu Guihua almost felt a surge of anger.
Why is this junior clerk making such a fuss? Just stamping it would be enough.
Asking so many questions, what if this brat suddenly says "no"? Wouldn't that put the iron box in her kang (heated brick bed) in danger?
She dared not act openly, so she could only resort to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.
The hand hidden behind Li Xianglian's back, taking advantage of her body's cover, pinched the soft flesh of Li Xianglian's waist hard, the fingernail almost digging into the flesh.
A sharp pain shot through her, and Li Xianglian gasped in pain, her body jerking violently.
Niu Guihua, however, still wore a forced smile: "Oh dear, comrade, what you're saying! It's like asking a fish if it wants to go into water. Of course it does! My Xianglian is so happy she's practically ecstatic, isn't she, my daughter?"