The old village head didn't say a word. The brigade leader was the nephew of his wife. He also heard that Xiao Mandong's grandfather had done a great favor to the Liu family. At that time, out of gratitude, he wanted to help find a good family for her. But after careful selection, they found such a family that did such a despicable thing. Now they still wanted a letter of understanding. What a dream!
"Uncle Changgen, it's not that I'm not helping you. What your family did this time is really not right. I'm really helpless. You'd better find a way to plead with that young lady properly," said Lu Bingshan.
Seeing that the old village head was trying to push him off, Lu Bingshan gritted his teeth, made up his mind and continued, "Uncle Changgen, your son Liangzi should be 42 years old this year, right? Brother Liangzi is very smart, but he was delayed by the illness when he was a child. Not having a wife in his life is also the biggest heartache for you and Auntie. I'm putting it straight today. If this thing can be done, I'm willing to marry Lu Hong to Liangzi. I won't ask for a single cent of betrothal gifts. I'll even give two new cotton quilts as a dowry and let her marry into your family in style. I just beg you to talk to the brigade leader and help me save Jianguo's life."
As soon as he said this, the old village head almost fell off the kang in shock. His tobacco pipe fell on the edge of the kang. His cloudy eyes were full of shock. His youngest son had been smart since childhood, but he never expected that he got such an illness at the age of three. The child was left with a lifelong disability. Over the years, there had been many match - making attempts, but which good - family girl would be willing to marry a disabled person? There was a lame girl who was willing to marry him, but his son flatly refused, saying that if he married a disabled person, who would take care of whom? They would just drag each other down. It would be better for him to live alone. The matchmaker had also introduced several girls to him, but the other side's conditions were harsh, asking for an exorbitant betrothal gift. His family simply couldn't afford it.
As the years went by, it became even more difficult to find a wife. He and his wife were really worried. They were afraid that after they passed away, their son would be left all alone. A few days ago, they discussed with their eldest son about having him adopt a child to take care of their youngest son in his old age, but the eldest daughter - in - law flatly refused. They had been arguing about this for several days.
Although the old village head really wanted to agree to Lu Bingshan's conditions, according to the family hierarchy, Lu Hong should call his youngest son Liangzi "uncle". If this marriage happened, the gossips in the village would drown them. But then he thought that if he didn't agree, his youngest son would probably be alone for the rest of his life. The old village head was really in a dilemma and couldn't make up his mind.
"Bingshan, you go back first. I'll discuss it with your aunt."
Hearing what the old village head said, Lu Bingshan didn't urge him. He got up and left. He believed that the old village head would definitely agree. On the way in the police car just now, he had thought for a long time. Even if Xiao Mandong wrote a letter of understanding, Lu Jianguo would still have to serve a few years in prison. He and his wife couldn't be without someone by their side. If Lu Hong married Zhu Xiaoliang, they would live nearby, which would be convenient for her to take care of them. Moreover, it could save his son's life.
After Lu Bingshan left, the old village head immediately went to find his wife and told her Lu Bingshan's proposal. The old village head's wife almost dropped her jaw in shock. It would certainly be great for her son to marry Lu Hong. Her son just had a problem with his legs; there was nothing wrong with him in other aspects. He could have his own child in the future. But then she thought that their family had already done wrong to Xiao Mandong. Now they were asking her to write a letter of understanding for the sake of their own son. She just felt bad about it in her heart.
Old Mrs. Zhu didn't think too much. She decided to discuss this matter with her nephew. So she walked on her bound feet to the brigade leader's house.
The brigade leader's wife, who was having dinner, almost spat out her food when she heard what her second aunt said. Zhu Xiaoliang was already 42 years old. How old was Lu Hong? It was really like an old cow eating tender grass.
The brigade leader was also extremely entangled. What should he do? One was his cousin, and the other was the daughter of his benefactor. Finally, the brigade leader made a decision: "I'll go to Mandong tomorrow to ask her. If she wants money, we'll try to raise it. If she just wants Lu Jianguo to pay the price, we can't make things difficult for the young lady. Second aunt, don't blame me then."
"Don't worry. You know what kind of people your second uncle and I are. We're not unreasonable people."
Seeing that the brigade leader had agreed, Old Mrs. Zhu said a few more polite words and then rushed back home. As soon as she entered the door, she nodded to her husband. The old village head coughed lightly and told his youngest son about this matter. After hearing this, Zhu Xiaoliang threw the bamboo strip in his hand on the ground with a snap. He suddenly pushed the bamboo basket he was weaving to the side of the kang. His face was as gloomy as the bottom of a pot: "Dad, Mom, you're being stupid! Even if I stay a bachelor for the rest of my life, I can't take advantage of the situation to marry Lu Hong. I'm so old. If I agreed to this, how could I hold my head up in Kaoshan Village in the future?"
He took a deep breath, and his tone was full of unwillingness: "It's my fate that I'm lame in the leg, but I have all my limbs and a sound mind. I can farm the land and earn work - points. I don't need to get married through such a dirty deal. Don't agree to this. I won't allow it."
The old village head had long expected his son's reaction. He knocked the tobacco out of his pipe with a straight face: "Why are you so stubborn? Can holding your head up provide for your old age or serve as food? Can you think about us old folks? Your mother and I are already half - buried in the loess. What we're most worried about is you. If you can't find a wife all the time, how can we close our eyes when we die?"
Old Mrs. Zhu's eyes were red. She reached out and grabbed her son's arm, constantly wiping away her tears: "Son, Mom knows you just want to find someone who is willing to live with you. But you're already forty - two years old. Where can you find a young girl? If you find a woman with a child, you're not willing. This opportunity is really quite rare. If you miss it, you won't have another one. As long as she marries into our family, we'll be even better to her. Let her have a son or daughter for you. Then you'll have someone to rely on in your old age."
"Just think of it as Mom begging you. Stop being so stubborn, okay?"
As she said that, Old Mrs. Zhu was about to kneel on the ground. Zhu Xiaoliang was so panicked that he quickly reached out to support his mother. His eyes were red. He knew that his parents had worried about him so much. Last year, his mother fell ill and thought she was going to die. Before being sent to the hospital, she held his hand and said that all she dreamed about was marrying him off.
Finally, Zhu Xiaoliang nodded with great difficulty.
Seeing his son nodding in agreement, the old village head let out a sigh of relief: "We're just asking for your opinion on this matter. Whether it can happen or not still depends on Xiao Mandong's decision."
Zhu Xiaoliang sighed: "Do whatever you want. I'm tired. I'll go and lie down for a while."
After his son went back to his room, the old village head went straight to Lu Bingshan's house.
At this moment, Lu Bingshan didn't even have the heart to have dinner. He was lying on the kang, sighing. His son's life was in jeopardy, and his daughter might also be involved. There was really a fire of anxiety burning in his heart.
Hearing the voice of the village head, Lu Bingshan sat up straight on the kang all of a sudden. He quickly put on his shoes and got out of bed. He just knew that the village head would agree.
The two of them went outside the courtyard to avoid others. The village head didn't beat around the bush. He lowered his voice and said, "Bingshan, I agree to your conditions. My family will go and talk to Xiao Mandong tomorrow. Whether it will work out or not is up to fate. But let's make it clear that if this thing works out, I want Lu Hong to marry into the Zhu family willingly. This is a new society, and there can be no forced marriages."
Lu Bingshan quickly agreed, saying, "Uncle Changgen, you can rest assured. I guarantee that Lu Hong will marry into the Zhu family of her own free will."
