Chapter 687: Chapter 592: Liang Panqiu

In the kitchen, Granny Mo instructed Yu Wumei, "The New Year is almost here. During the festival, relatives will be coming and going, paying visits and attending celebratory feasts. Sometimes they’ll get tired or drunk, so they’ll need a place to rest. I originally thought a few more people would be coming back from Beijing. Since Xiao Man’s parents have the twins, which makes travel difficult, I specifically saved the largest room on the first floor for them. I figured they’d be bringing a lot of baby things, so I even kept the two small adjacent rooms reserved. Now that they’re not coming, just tidy up the large room and lock it. Put two bed frames in each of the two smaller rooms and make them up. If any guests need to rest, you can put them there. Tomorrow, have Jiabao get a craftsman to install a main door at the top of the second-floor stairs. That way, uninvited guests won’t have to go upstairs."

With her hands resting on her apron, Yu Wumei listened intently to what Granny Mo said, agreeing to everything like a dutiful young daughter-in-law. Xinghua, who was sitting by the stove, let out a sigh of relief and exchanged a smile with Xiao Man. This was for the best. Otherwise, it would be a repeat of today. She hadn’t locked the door for her younger brother and sister, and seeing Dapeng so aggrieved made her heart ache. She was sure her younger siblings must blame her.

When Liang Yanmei heard Granny Mo about to lead Dapeng, Qiuyan, and Xiao Man into the main building, she quickly grabbed the reluctant Liang Xiaoju. Using all her strength, she dragged her across the living room and out the main entrance. Seeing that no one was paying attention, Liang Yanmei simply hauled her sister out of the courtyard gate and onto the side of the road. She began to scold her, poking her in the forehead:

"Are you illiterate? Did you go to school for all those years for nothing? Were you blind? Didn’t you see the writing in that notebook? That’s his winter break homework from his teacher! How could you just scribble all over it? You dare try that at home with Xiaobing’s or Xiaowen’s notebooks? If they don’t chase you down with a firewood hatchet, I’ll give you my own head to use as a stool!"

Liang Xiaoju wrenched free from her sister’s clutches and took a step back, retorting defiantly, "So what? I couldn’t find any blank paper. What’s the big deal about drawing in his notebook? Didn’t you hear Jiang Junlin just now? He said that since they’re teachers, they can easily get another set for him. It’s fine! I know Grandpa’s family situation better than you. Do you think I’d act so recklessly if I didn’t know what I was doing? In all of Gongdao Village, from our township all the way to the county seat, Grandpa’s family is the richest and most powerful. There’s nothing they can’t do if they set their minds to it! It’s just a notebook, a drop in the bucket. Dapeng is the one not acting like a man, making a mountain out of a molehill!"

"You!" Liang Yanmei looked at her sister, who was acting so smart despite being a complete fool, and was left speechless with anger. It took her a moment to catch her breath.

"You’re incorrigible! You’ll regret this one day! Even if Grandpa dotes on you, he’s not the same lonely old widower he used to be, you get it? He has a huge family now! He barely has enough love for his own sons, grandsons, and granddaughters, so how much do you think is left over for you? Haven’t you noticed? He’s barely paid you any mind these past two years. Whenever you want something, don’t you have to go through our grand-aunt and our aunt? And you’re still so brazenly reckless. Like Xiao Man said, you’re just asking for it! I’m done with you. But let me warn you: do not bring up that business about going back to school today! You’ve already antagonized Dapeng and his siblings. Our grand-aunt and aunt know all about it, and they must be furious. Grandpa definitely won’t agree to help you now. If you start crying and end up ticking him off too, he won’t be pleasant to any of us, and this whole trip will be for nothing. Just you wait on the way home. If they decide to throw you in the river, I’ll just look the other way!"

Having said her piece, Liang Yanmei turned and walked back into the courtyard. Liang Xiaoju stood her ground, pursing her lips and scoffing. She refused to accept it. ’I’m already here,’ she thought. ’There’s no way I’m leaving without asking!’

Back in the living room, the group that had just returned from picking vegetables in the backyard was still arguing nonstop. Granny Mo had wanted to talk to Great-Aunt Mo about Liang Xiaoju defacing Dapeng’s notebook, but the racket was giving her a headache. It was a classic case of three women making a drama—one would start talking before the other had even finished. Even Fifth Auntie, who was usually quite sharp-tongued, couldn’t get a handle on the situation and was growing flustered. Just then, Grandpa and Mo Jiabao returned, followed by Mo Youfu and one of Fifth Auntie’s sons-in-law. The moment they saw Grandpa, Great-Aunt Mo and Ahua stopped their bickering. One put on the airs of a dignified elder sister, while the other feigned meekness. They crowded around Grandpa, fawning over him endlessly.

Granny Mo turned and headed to the kitchen to get hot water for Grandpa to wash his face. On any other day, Xiao Man would have immediately rushed a cup of hot tea into Grandpa’s hands. But at this moment, she was frozen like a statue on the edge of the crowd, her eyes locked on Liang Panqiu. It was as if she hadn’t even seen Grandpa arrive. The surrounding chatter was just a low buzz in her ears; she had no idea what anyone was saying.

Xiao Man had been like this from the moment she first laid eyes on Liang Panqiu.

She knew this woman. In her past life, this woman had shown up at Liu Fengying’s home. Liu Fengying had told her she was a young great-aunt from the Liang Family. This great-aunt had only visited a single time, but on that one occasion, she was the one who convinced Liu Fengying to marry Xiao Man off to Wang Quezi of Little Wang Village.

’What was that Wang Quezi’s real name again?’ Xiao Man’s mind felt numb. She struggled to remember for a long moment before it came to her: Wang Ligao.

In her previous life, Xiao Man’s face had been so horribly disfigured that her self-esteem was nonexistent. She had pretended to be mute and avoided crowds, terrified of being scorned and looked down on. She had absolutely no desire to marry, and in truth, no one had ever come to propose. Liu Fengying and Mo Guoqiang treated her like a slave, so they couldn’t have cared less whether she married or not. Yet it was this Liang Panqiu, with her incredible silver tongue and who-knows-what tricks, who had managed to persuade Liu Fengying to marry Xiao Man away.

The three-hundred-yuan bride price was considered low to average back then. Perhaps Liu Fengying had simply grown sick of looking at Xiao Man and wanted her gone. Any money was better than no money, and besides, the Wang Family had agreed that Liu Fengying wouldn’t have to provide any dowry or pay for a wedding banquet.

Accompanying Liang Panqiu to see Liu Fengying was Wang Quezi’s former mother-in-law, who was also Liang Panqiu’s sister-in-law. Later, it was this same former mother-in-law who came with Wang Quezi to "collect the bride." Without any fanfare, they took Xiao Man away. Three people, one bicycle. The former mother-in-law, still young and strong, pedaled with Wang Quezi on the rack, while Xiao Man was made to carry her bundle of belongings and walk behind. This bizarre "wedding procession" became the talk of the town and a running joke.

No matter how strong she was, the former mother-in-law was still a woman. And though Wang Quezi was thin, he wasn’t short. As a result, they didn’t bike very fast, and Xiao Man could hear their conversation perfectly clearly. Even now, she remembered every word:

It turned out that Liang Panqiu had told her sister-in-law about a disfigured girl in Gongdao Village and played matchmaker for Wang Quezi so he could at least have a family. The former mother-in-law was earnestly lecturing Wang Quezi: "Stop causing trouble, and stop thinking about my daughter. Who in this world doesn’t want to live the high life, with fine food and fancy clothes? You can’t give her that, and if you truly love her, you’ll let her go find her happiness in peace! This Mo Xiaoman you’re marrying... she is very ugly, yes, but my sister-in-law says she is strong, hardworking, and healthy. She can take care of you, warm your bed, and give you children to carry on your family line. Your life will be more comfortable that way. If you still miss my daughter, you can keep missing her. You’ve known each other since you were children; she thinks of you, too. When you get some money, don’t waste it on drinking and smoking. Save up and buy her something nice to give to her. It’ll just make her remember your good qualities all the more..."

And how had Wang Quezi responded? He must have still been thinking of his ex-wife; his expression was melancholic, tinged with a faint longing, and his voice was thick with emotion as he said, "Don’t worry. Have I ever held back anything good from her? I never wanted to marry again. But since you’re all insisting, and this is what she wants, then fine, I’ll marry. Marrying someone so ugly, someone who isn’t even worthy to carry her shoes... it will just prove that she’s the only one in my heart. That it will only ever be her!"

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