EFB Chapter 7: A Poor Family, A Beautiful Wife
Chapter 7: A Poor Family, A Beautiful Wife
This is such a big thing, I definitely have to tell my parents the truth; I can't hide it from them anymore.
David briefly explained the situation to his parents.
"The car and the house were all paid for by our family, so she can't take them away."
The bride price was not returned.
Dawei didn't mention that his brother-in-law, Xie Xiaojun, had borrowed 30,000 yuan from him; it was his own salary.
The dowry was raised by Dawei's parents, and Dawei felt he should be given an explanation.
Upon hearing this, the mother, Zhang Guifen, angrily said, "Let's buy them a coffin. We don't need the 80,000 yuan dowry."
Actually, David wanted to come back.
After getting married, Dawei was responsible for all the household expenses. He also paid for Xie Liting's clothes and cosmetics.
Xie Liting saves her salary herself.
I did nothing wrong; it was she who wanted a divorce.
Why shouldn't the bride price be returned?
However, being outnumbered and outmatched, Dawei can only endure it for now.
The honest father, Chen Shouren, remained silent for a moment. Having lived half his life, Chen Shouren understood many things.
Her son suffered a terrible ordeal, nearly dying from the torment inflicted by Lin Wangyou, the county discipline inspection secretary, and others. His hair had turned completely white. Xie Liting was about to be promoted, and she was sure she would cut ties with her son.
My son must be facing discrimination and having a hard time at his new workplace. How could he possibly have the ability to fight against Xie Liting and the others?
"Let's just consider it a loss to avoid further trouble. It's already been given away, so don't dwell on it. Just live a good life from now on. Your parents are still capable, so we can save up some more money and help you get married again someday."
Upon hearing her husband's words, Zhang Guifen's eyes lit up, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope for the future.
"Yes, you have a good education, you're good-looking, and you have a secure job. You won't have trouble finding a wife."
Xie Liting was the one who lost out in the divorce.
I think the Lin family girl is quite nice; she's 32 and still unmarried.
I think she's been waiting for you, and it's become a huge problem for her. Why don't you just marry her?
I reckon their family won't even ask for a bride price; they'll just give it away for free.
Dawei shook his head and said, "Oh my god, can you please stop trying to match us up? Qiufeng and I are just ordinary friends."
Lin Qiufeng is the older sister of Lin Yunxing, a childhood friend from the same village.
Qiu Feng is two years older than Da Wei.
David has a very good relationship with the two siblings.
When we were in school, many people joked that Lin Qiufeng had a crush on Chen Dawei.
After Dawei started working and got married, Lin Qiufeng was still single. Some people said that Qiufeng was like this because she loved Dawei so much that she couldn't have room for anyone else in her heart.
It becomes harder for women to get married when they reach this age.
David was still worried about this matter.
Hearing his mother say that only made him more irritable.
He and Lin Yunxing had been brothers for decades, and he always regarded Qiu Feng as his older sister, never thinking of her in that way.
He just hoped that Sister Qiufeng would find a good husband soon, otherwise Dawei would be very anxious.
Father Chen Shouren pursed his lips and scolded in a low voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? No matter how bad Dawei is, he is still a section-level cadre. Qiufeng works in a private factory. How can they be a good match?"
"So what? When choosing a wife, choose a virtuous one. Xie Liting is educated, beautiful, and works at a TV station. And what happened? Qiu Feng is someone we know well, has a big bottom, is fertile, and is hardworking and honest. I don't see anything wrong with her."
The conversation was getting out of hand. Sometimes, chatting with rural aunties can be really frustrating. Dawei quickly stopped her, saying, "Alright, alright, stop talking. I have my own ideas, so you don't need to worry about me."
When talking about her child, Zhang Guifen frowned and said, "Awei, don't be sad."
I knew it all along; you wouldn't last.
If this woman really wanted to be with you, she would have given you a big, healthy son long ago.
"The excuse that she doesn't want to have children right now because of work is just that—an excuse from Hsieh Li-ting."
Chen Shouren also advised, "Yes, son, you are weak but precocious, poor but have a beautiful wife. You have both, so you and she are destined not to go far."
"It's all in the past, let's not talk about her anymore, let's go home."
David picked up his luggage, ready to take his parents home.
My parents haven't even lived in the house in the county for a single day; it should have been like this a long time ago.
Just as Chen Shouren put his luggage in the car and was about to head home, he saw a familiar face.
"Dawei, you have sharp eyes! Isn't that Lin Lao Er?"
Lin Lao Er is Lin Yunxing's nickname; people in the village have called him that since he was a child.
Back then, the simple villagers didn't know that "Second Brother" had so many layers of meaning, and that's how the nickname stuck.
David followed his father's gaze.
In the lobby downstairs of the hospital's inpatient department, four people were going inside. It was Lin Lao Er's family, including his sister Qiu Feng and her parents.
"That's right," David replied.
Chen Shouren sighed deeply: "I guess your Uncle Lin's illness has worsened again."
David closed the trunk: "Dad, Mom, sit here for a while, I'll go check on things."
Upon arriving at the inpatient building, I saw Lin Qiufeng holding 5000 yuan to pay her hospital fees.
Sister Qiufeng is not very tall, less than 1.7 meters.
She definitely has large breasts and a round bottom, and a mature and voluptuous figure.
Her hair was clean and tidy, neither dyed nor permed, simply tied with a rubber band. Her face was round and had a healthy complexion, and she looked like the type with heavy and regular menstrual flow.
Her younger brother, Lin Lao Er, was short and stocky with dark skin, a buzz cut, and faded jeans. He was looking anxiously at the payment window and pulled out more than six hundred yuan.
"Sis, I still have 600 here."
Lin Qiufeng pushed the money back: "It's no use, keep it for yourself, I'll find another way if it's not enough."
"You'll need to deposit 10,000 yuan in advance," the person at the counter said, tossing the form back to you.
Qiu Feng explained with a smile, "I'm sorry, we didn't bring that many. Can we pay the rest tomorrow?"
"No, that's the rule." The toll collector was unfriendly and spoke in a serious tone.
"I'll pay." David handed over his bank card: "I'll pay the rest."
"Viagra?" Lin Lao Er exclaimed in surprise.
Dawei kicked him: "Lin Lao Er, what are you yelling about? Can't you just call me Dawei?"
"Damn it, don't you always call me 'second brother'?"
When Qiu Feng saw Dawei, her face suddenly turned red: "Awei, what are you doing here?"
"Pick up my parents from the hospital..." Dawei entered the password, paid the remaining five thousand, turned to look at Lin Lao Er's father behind him, and politely called out, "Uncle."
"Ah Wei, I'm so sorry."
"Let's not talk about that. Come on, I'll take you upstairs."
David helped carry the luggage.
He knew about Uncle Lin's situation. He used to work at Wansheng Stone Factory in the county. The factory's production line was substandard, the protective measures were inadequate, and there was a lot of dust.
Many young people in Yuanshan County have gone out to work, but older people like Uncle Lin can't find jobs in factories in big cities, so they can only find work in the county.
Although the working conditions at Wansheng Factory were poor, at least I could earn a wage.
The factory doesn't provide social security or medical insurance for its employees. If they get sick, they have to pay for their own medical expenses and they might even be fired. Uncle Lin had been hoping he wouldn't get sick, but he never expected to catch it.
This is why Dawei fully cooperated and supported County Chief Qiao Yong's plan to take action against Wansheng Factory.
These unscrupulous business owners are utterly inhumane.
After settling Uncle Lin in, Dawei went downstairs to go home.
Lin Qiufeng and her brother came out to see Dawei off.
"Second brother, come back and get me some hot water." Uncle Lin called Lin Lao Er back.
Qiu Feng escorted Dawei down to the lobby alone.
Dawei took out all the cash he had on him, about 400 yuan, and stuffed it into Sister Qiufeng's hand.
This family is under a heavy burden, dragged down by illness. We can help as much as we can.
Lin Qiufeng hurriedly stuffed the money back into Dawei's hand.
"No, no, no, David, you've already helped our family enough."
"Take it, I'll figure out something else if it's not enough."
David wasn't well-off either; he kept a canary at home, and in the past, he couldn't save much money.
The two were pushing and shoving each other, and before they knew it, Dawei had accidentally put his hand on the other person's chest, where it felt soft and yielding.
David quickly withdrew his hand.
Lin Qiufeng seemed to be electrocuted, her body trembled, and she clutched the money Dawei handed her, her face turning red to the roots of her neck.
There was shyness, longing, and inferiority in my heart.
Tears immediately streamed down my face.
"Dawei..."
"Here you go. I'll take my parents home first. I have to rush to work this afternoon. Call me if you need anything."
David fled as if he were escaping.
Back in his hometown in the county, Dawei asked his parents to help him pack up and throw away all the things Xie Liting had left behind. Then he drove to his workplace.
I just clocked in and sat down at my workstation.
Director Xiao Lili of the Bureau of Veteran Affairs came over, holding a cup, and tapped on Chen Dawei's desk, saying, "Go to the Logistics Service Center, grab some tools, and go plant trees on Yuancheng Avenue."
Planting trees?
I'm a dignified section-level cadre, and you want me to plant trees?
They dumped a ton of work on me before, and now they're assigning me this kind of heavy, unfinished work?
Is this some kind of bullying?
"Director Xiao, I haven't finished writing the activity plan for the senior cadres' billiards tournament that you asked me to write."
David really didn't want to go.