Seeing Luo Xudong alone already had many people gossiping, and seeing Beisitian and Luo Xudong walking together made the gossip even more intense. Many said, the young widow has finally made it! Zhang Lianqiao had just stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative when she saw the backs of Luo Xudong and Beisitian leaving together. Seeing that tall figure, she bit her lower lip. This was the man she had once longed for day and night, now alive in front of her, how could she stay calm? But Beisitian’s back was quite an eyesore. Now Zhang Lianqiao hated her so much that her teeth itched; if it weren’t for her, how could her life at home be so difficult? Not mentioning how the two sisters-in-law never showed her a good face and spoke with barbed words, always saying she brought trouble to the family and burdened them. Even her three brothers had no kind expressions toward her, especially the third brother, who not only didn’t smile but often seemed lost in thought when looking at her. That look made Zhang Lianqiao shiver inside, always feeling her third brother was scheming something bad. One time she unintentionally overheard a conversation between her father and the third brother and finally understood his intentions. It turned out the third brother was upset because for three consecutive years, they had to offer food to those big wild dogs, which might prevent him from getting a wife anytime soon; otherwise, how could he resent her! Even worse, he treated her more harshly than the two sisters-in-law, which is why he started to come up with his own plans. Zhang Fulu’s plan was naturally not a good one. He told their father that with her temperament, Zhang Lianqiao would only offend people in the future, so they might as well marry her off to a good family early on. The so-called ’good family’ was naturally one that could afford a dowry! Initially, Zhang Lianqiao didn’t feel too much when she heard this. She was indeed of marrying age and had delayed marriage because Li Fengzhi wanted to find her a man from the city so that, in the future, if life improved, she could also take care of her family. Of course, she too was willing to become a city dweller, but she was ultimately a rural girl; even if she looked somewhat pretty in the village, she wouldn’t stand out outside. Finding someone in the city might not be hard, but finding someone from the city with decent conditions was somewhat difficult. Having delayed this long, Zhang Lianqiao was reluctant to wait any longer, and coupled with her current unhappy situation at home, she thought marrying early would be better. So when her third brother and father discussed it, she didn’t have too much emotion. She was about to leave when the latter part of the conversation startled her. Zhang Fulu said that a few days ago, Huo Laosan from Shuangshui Village inquired about Zhang Lianqiao and was willing to offer a dowry of four hundred yuan! Four hundred yuan was a considerable sum for a small village like theirs. Under usual circumstances, Zhang Lianqiao wouldn’t mind marrying with such a dowry. But the name Huo Laosan made her shiver; that Huo Laosan was a rascal, covered with head lice, always causing trouble, and had been married several times! The Huo Family in Shuangshui Village was indeed wealthy, but Huo Laosan had been up to no good since he was a child. It’s said that when he was twelve, he ruined a girl just because she looked at him, causing a long commotion. That’s when he held his first wedding banquet. A twelve-year-old boy could hardly be controlled, and since this marriage was forced, Huo Laosan was internally unwilling, always insulting or beating the new bride. The bride was also young, only fifteen, and became pregnant after that encounter. But under such abuse by Huo Laosan, how could the child be safe? When Huo Laosan kicked her in the stomach, it caused severe bleeding! Chapters fırst released on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝓷𝓮𝓽 After the miscarriage, compounded by health damage and despair, she died within half a year. The Huo family settled the matter with money. The second wife was also forcefully taken by Huo Laosan himself. Although he favored this wife, she was also stubborn. Unwilling to follow family arrangements, she ran away with someone on the third day after the wedding ceremony. In anger, Huo Laosan demolished her family’s house! The third wife was someone he had to marry due to age. She bore him a son but also couldn’t bear Huo Laosan’s abuse and ran away secretly. Not to mention Huo Laosan had three wedding banquets, but just having a son, Zhang Lianqiao wasn’t willing; would she have to be a stepmother from the start! Moreover, Huo Laosan was so abusive. Could things go well for her marrying him? Zhang Lianqiao dared not voice her objections, knowing her father wouldn’t protect her. If her third brother mentioned it, that meant he was interested, leaving her only her own mother to seek help from. Li Fengzhi was indeed on her side, telling her father this wouldn’t work, saying how Huo Laosan was and that marrying her off would be like pushing her into a pit of fire, but ultimately she couldn’t decide anything in the Old Zhang Family. Spoiling Zhang Lianqiao in daily life only meant letting her do less housework and enjoy better food. In significant matters, she had to listen to the men. Seeing her own mother was useless, Zhang Lianqiao became scared; she truly couldn’t marry there! Coincidentally, during this time, so many things happened in Luo Er’s family, her father, and brothers were busy watching the excitement, and for the time being, no one mentioned this issue. Later, what she hadn’t expected was Luo Xudong’s return, which gave desperate Zhang Lianqiao instant hope. She remembered more clearly than anyone that Luo Xudong never held a wedding banquet with Beisitian! As long as she could get Luo Xudong to agree, she didn’t believe the Old Zhang Family would give up on Luo Xudong and make her marry Huo Laosan! Thinking of Luo Xudong, Zhang Lianqiao’s face blushed. In her youth, she always played together with Luo Xudong, and there was mutual affection. Although his family found Beisitian for him, he probably wasn’t willing. Moreover, she had that item, which was Luo Xudong’s promise to her; she didn’t believe Luo Xudong would deny it! Thinking about Beisitian, Zhang Lianqiao decided not to confront directly, having been at a disadvantage several times with her, it was time to learn a lesson. Luo Xudong was so excellent and now a hero; could Beisitian let go? Of course not, she would cling tightly and probably wished to hold a wedding banquet tomorrow, so she wouldn’t confront directly. She had to guard against Beisitian’s interference; after all, a man like Luo Xudong was hard to find even in the city! Zhang Lianqiao watched their receding figures, her eyes flickering with intentions, wanting Beisitian to enjoy her triumph for a little while longer, and when Luo Xudong was with her, she would see how Beisitian cried! The thought of Beisitian’s incredulous tears seeing Luo Xudong with her brought Zhang Lianqiao immense satisfaction! Zhang Lianqiao turned and walked briskly home, almost like the wind beneath her feet; she had to quickly fetch that item!