She Lives without Regret in This Life

Chapter 219: Chapter 222: I Want to Get Married Chapter 219: Chapter 222: I Want to Get Married “Son, have you eaten?” Zhao Lanzhi dropped the pleasantries with Xu Xianxiong, “I told your dad to make you some food.”

“No need, I ate on the train.”

The old couple settled into chairs in the main room, eyes fixed attentively on Xu Qigang.

“Son, you’ve lost weight!”

“Son, how have you gotten so tan?”

“The rescue work must have been tough, right?”

Xu Qigang silently pressed his lips together; he was never one for many words. And the rescue grounds weren’t just tough—they demanded life, they spilled blood.

Moreover, it was all over for now, and he didn’t want to bring it up too much.

“Dad, Mom, you all should go to sleep now! We can talk about things tomorrow morning.”

“Okay!” Zhao Lanzhi, stifling a yawn, stood up and urged Xu Xianxiong to boil water, but Xu Qigang refused.

“Dad, you go to sleep too! I can do it myself.”

“That won’t do,” Xu Xianxiong insisted, “Your mother hasn’t been feeling well lately, she’s the one who should boil it.”

“When has mom ever boiled it?”

“Cough cough… What nonsense are you spouting, you little scamp? Watch out, or I’ll hit you!” Coming back and starting to reveal his old man’s secrets, he’s really asking for a beating.

“Dad, have you ever hit me?”

“Cough cough cough…” This is really not a pleasant conversation. After all, he was the hooligan famous throughout the ten miles and eight villages, a rogue and a ruffian. How could he be so utterly dominated by his son and wife?

When he was a child, every time he wanted to hit his son, his wife would protect him. Sometimes, when he wanted to go out and play with his cronies, he had to bribe his son first.

His life was just too hard.

******

The next day, news of Little Yama’s return spread throughout the ten miles and eight villages. At breakfast, Zhao Lanzhi explained the situation to him.

“Son, are you really sure you want to marry Sheng Laosan’s daughter?” Zhao Lanzhi sought confirmation again.

“Yes!” Xu Qigang nodded and put down his rice bowl. “I plan to propose to her in person.”

“Will their family agree?” After all, it was they who broke off the engagement first.

Xu Qigang thought of that kiss, a faint blush coloring his handsome face, unnoticed.

A mother knows her son best. Zhao Lanzhi spotted his change immediately. She was thrilled; her son had finally come around. Yet there was also a hint of loss; he hadn’t even married yet, and he was already preoccupied with his wife-to-be.

Sigh! Like father, like son; who could she blame?

“They will!”

“That’s good!” Hearing her son’s words, Zhao Lanzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Qigang had always been solid in his actions, and his words brought reassurance.

“I’m telling you, that child has had a tough life. Her mom ran off when she was little. She hasn’t suffered less from behind-the-back criticism. When she marries into our family, we can’t let her suffer.”

The chopsticks in Xu Qigang’s hand paused. His deep eyes brimmed with a gathering storm. “Mom, what do you mean by that?”

“It’s just those malicious people, spreading rumors and slandering a young girl behind her back.” Zhao Lanzhi didn’t like to discuss these upsetting village issues with her son. In her eyes, he was meant for greater things.

Usually, Xu Qigang indeed found these matters annoying, but now it involved Sheng Ning, and he was filled with both anger and a need for clarity.

“Mom, make it clear.”

Zhao Lanzhi could see his displeasure and worried that her son might be shunning the girl. That couldn’t be; she herself had been disparaged as the daughter of a landlord family, and she could relate to Sheng Ning’s situation.

She didn’t want her son to misunderstand before the truth of the matter was clear.