Chapter 174: Farewell, Wu Min

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“Huahai, listen to yourself. Do you really think I’m the kind of man who would refuse everyone’s hospitality?”

Chen Huaijiang walked over and first handed out cigarettes around the table.

Then, under everyone’s astonished gaze, he slapped a hundred-yuan bill onto the table.

“But I really don’t know how to play pai gow. Besides, my wife and daughter are both here. Surely I can’t sit around playing with a bunch of roughnecks like you, can I? Jiayin would be furious.”

“This round is on me. Everyone, have a good time.”

Chen Huaijiang smiled as he spoke.

“Haha, Huaijiang’s right!”

“Now that’s what I call being a stand-up guy!”

“Come on, come on, let’s keep playing.”

Since Chen Huaijiang had paid, everyone naturally gave him face. After a round of laughter, they let him off.

Chen Huahai glared at his cousin, fuming inwardly. Did having money make him so impressive?

He had originally wanted to embarrass Chen Huaijiang in front of everyone, but he had failed.

Still, he soon felt better. At least he had made Chen Huaijiang spend a hundred yuan, hadn’t he?

That evening, everyone helped tidy up before returning to their own homes.

Aside from the immediate family, practically everyone left.

After all, people had gathered there because of the old woman, not because of their relationships with one another. Everyone still had relatives and friends to visit.

On the second day of the New Year, Chen Huaijiang took Lin Jiayin around to visit some relatives. Fortunately, they all lived in Hedong Village, so they finished the rounds in a single morning.

By the third day, Chen Huaijiang was beginning to feel bored. At that time, the young people in the village were all playing pai gow or mahjong. After all, those were about the only forms of entertainment available in that era.

Without realizing it, Chen Huaijiang found himself at the edge of the village, staring at three earthen houses with a troubled expression.

This was Wu Min’s home. It was deserted and bleak, standing in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere elsewhere in the village.

After hesitating for a while, Chen Huaijiang still did not go up and knock. He decided to wait until the third day had passed and come back tomorrow.

After all, it was the New Year, and he did not want to disturb her.

Just as he turned to leave, a voice came from behind him.

“Huaijiang?”

It was Wu Min. She had happened to open the door and step outside, only to see Chen Huaijiang’s retreating figure.

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“Um… I originally came to see how you were doing, but then I remembered that today is the third day of the New Year. It felt a little awkward, so I planned to come tomorrow.”

The first three days of the New Year were traditionally reserved for visiting relatives, while visits to friends usually began on the fourth day.

“There’s no one at my house anyway. Come in.”

Wu Min smiled and opened the bamboo gate, letting Chen Huaijiang into the courtyard.

The room was rather bare. Two dishes and a clay pot sat on the table; there was probably soup inside. In the middle of the New Year festivities, it looked especially meager.

“There’s nothing good here to serve you. Have an orange.”

After rummaging around for a while, Wu Min could only awkwardly place an orange on the table.

“Don’t trouble yourself. I already ate before coming. I’m still stuffed.”

Chen Huaijiang smiled as he spoke, peeling the orange at the same time.

The two of them then fell silent.

After all, they had not seen each other for many years. If one counted carefully, their relationship had already begun to grow distant after elementary school.

Although they had still been in the same class in middle school, boys played with boys and girls with girls. They no longer spent time together the way they had as children.

“Your cousin told me you’re getting married?”

In the end, Chen Huaijiang was the one who broke the silence. That was also the reason he had come today.

“Yes. Zhao Tiezhu from Hexi Village.”

“My uncles have already accepted the betrothal gifts from his family.”

Wu Min lowered her head as she spoke, her voice barely audible. Both hands clutched the front of her clothes.

After her parents died, matters like this were arranged by relatives in the countryside. She herself could not even explain what she felt. She was like a piece of driftwood, carried wherever the current took her.

“There are some things I probably shouldn’t say, but…”

“We’re friends, after all, so from a friend’s point of view, I think I should tell you this. I don’t have a good feeling about this marriage. Zhao Tiezhu has a violent temper and a tendency toward violence.”

“His parents are domineering as well, and they don’t have a good reputation in Hexi Village. You’re timid by nature. To be honest, once you marry into that family, I don’t know how you’ll get through the years ahead.”

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Huaijiang looked at Wu Min and spoke in a solemn voice.

These were all things that had happened in the future. Chen Huaijiang could not bear to watch her follow the same old path, so he wanted to give her a way out.

Wu Min raised her head and looked at him.

“Did you look into him?”

After a long while, she finally asked in a quiet voice.

Chen Huaijiang could only nod. He certainly could not tell her that he had been reborn and knew what her future held.

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“My second uncle says Zhao Tiezhu is honest and dependable. My eldest uncle says his family has simple, upright values. They say I’ll enjoy a life of comfort after marrying into their family.”

Wu Min lowered her head again and spoke softly.

“Who do you believe?”

Chen Huaijiang’s tone was indifferent. He had no patience for beating around the bush on this matter.

From his position, there was only so much he could say, and some things were impossible to explain.

In other words, they were not family. What right did he have to interfere in someone else’s affairs?

At his words, Wu Min’s shoulders began to tremble slightly. After a long while, she said, “I believe you. But my uncles have already accepted their betrothal gifts.”

“Now… now what can I do? Even if—besides, you’re already married and have a daughter.”

She thought Chen Huaijiang had feelings for her. Otherwise, why would he come to persuade her not to marry Zhao Tiezhu?

Chen Huaijiang rolled his eyes when he heard that. What on earth was she talking about?

“Don’t get the wrong idea, all right? I already said I’m doing this as your friend. Isn’t the meaning of the word ‘friend’ obvious enough?”

“You’re just too softhearted and timid. Your uncles praise Zhao Tiezhu because they’ve accepted his family’s betrothal gifts. If there’s money to be made, of course they’re going to say he’s a good man.”

“As the saying goes, a person who eats another’s food is reluctant to criticize him, and one who takes another’s money is reluctant to oppose him. That’s all there is to it. Never mind—I’ll keep this brief. If you don’t want this marriage, I’ll handle it for you. Whatever the amount of the betrothal gifts, I’ll help you return it to them. I can probably only help you this far for now. But if you want to make your own way, I can help you find a job in the city. It would still be better than staying here.”

Chen Huaijiang hurried to make himself clear, lest she continue imagining all sorts of things.

Wu Min grew even more embarrassed. She did not dare lift her head, her face burning red. She had never imagined that she had simply been reading too much into it.

At the same time, however, she felt a little disappointed. She did not know why such thoughts had arisen in her mind. Perhaps she had feelings for Chen Huaijiang after all.

“Wu Min, I came to see—”

“Damn it! How dare you cheat on me? I’ll kill you both!”

At that moment, a deep, muffled voice sounded from outside. Then it suddenly turned furious, and the door was kicked open.

A tall, broad-shouldered young man with a crew cut and a green military greatcoat charged into the room, his face twisted with rage.

“Tiezhu, no, it isn’t like that!”

“He’s my classmate. He just came to visit during the New Year—ah!”

Wu Min hurriedly rose to meet Zhao Tiezhu and explain, but before she could finish, he grabbed her by the hair and violently flung her aside.

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