Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 899: Chapter 899: The Dilemma Before Us

After spending a week in the general ward, he was adamant about not staying any longer.

Every day the medical expenses would add up, and it’s something his poor family couldn’t afford.

Tian Niu’s father was discharged from the hospital, and Tian Niu found a car to take him back home.

Having not seen him for ten days, Tian Niu’s mom burst into tears upon seeing the old folks looking so battered and in such pain.

This ten-day hospital stay had resulted in a substantial debt of medical expenses.

The son was supposed to have money for his wedding, but now that was even less likely.

During dinner, the mood of the Tian Family was very heavy.

The eldest sister and the second sister had been planning to go to school, but that was impossible now. However, they had reached marrying age, and Tian Niu’s mom thought, if all else failed, they might arrange a marriage for the eldest sister in a few days and request a dowry to temporarily get by.

The second sister would stay at home to continue working.

After dinner, Tian Niu’s mom called Gu Shuangshuang over, ”Shuangshuang, my dear, can you clean up the kitchen tonight? I need to have a small meeting with these kids.”

”Sure! Leave that task to me. Don’t worry; I’ll definitely do it well,” Gu Shuangshuang said as she tied on an apron and headed into the kitchen.

Tian Niu’s mom gathered the rest of the children around her, but Tian Niu’s brother was not counted among them.

He worked away all year and didn’t come home, and besides, he was already married, so this matter didn’t greatly concern him.

”I have an idea.” Tian Niu’s mom, with her shoes off and legs crossed on the kang, let out a soft sigh and said to Tian Niu, ”You’ve seen the state our family is in. Even without your father’s illness, five thousand yuan is a huge sum for us, very hard to gather. And now with him like this, we’re in debt again. Sigh... Do you think you could talk to Gu Shuangshuang’s mom and see if the bride price could be lowered?”

”Her mom looks down on me already,” Tian Niu sighed deeply, his head hanging in frustration as he sat on the stool. ”Her mom is so proud! If we can’t come up with the money, I’m afraid the marriage with Gu Shuangshuang might never happen.”

”What’s wrong with my brother that she should look down on him?” The second sister had met Duan Aihua and was fuming at the memory of what she’d said to Gu Shuangshuang that day, ”Not to badmouth your sister-in-law behind her back, but she’s really a decent person, while her mom... she’s really something else.”

”Enough, second sister. How can you judge your elders like that?” The eldest sister, worried that Gu Shuangshuang might hear, quickly silenced the second sister, ”No matter how bad that woman is, she’s your sister-in-law’s mom. Talking like that, if your sister-in-law hears, she’s sure to be upset.”

”Sister-in-law isn’t that petty,” the second sister muttered under her breath.

”Tian Wa, if our family really can’t come up with the bride price, would Shuangshuang’s mom really stop the two of you from being together?” Tian Niu’s mom asked him again for confirmation.

She had set her heart on this daughter-in-law, just as Tian Niu had.

She wanted to bring this daughter-in-law home for her son; if her son was happy, she too would be content.

”She won’t let it happen,” Tian Niu answered his mother with certainty, having seen the resolute manner of Gu Shuangshuang’s mom.

She’d even driven her daughter to the brink of suicide before reluctantly agreeing to let them date.

And what happened next?

It hadn’t been long before she called with another difficult demand.

Clearly, she never intended to let him marry Gu Shuangshuang.

Whether the marriage could be realized was still up in the air.

”So what can we do, son?” Tian Niu’s mom’s eyes reddened and she began to wipe away tears, ”I want you two to be happy, but... but our family’s situation is also constraining. If we really can’t bring the bride here, Tian Wa, you mustn’t blame your mom.”