CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 160: HUMAN LIFE IS WORTHLESS

After leaving Liu Lan’s house, Yi Chichi headed straight to the brigade’s clinic with her embroidery frame.

She was just about to speak when she saw Mu Da diagnosing someone.

The person was a middle-aged woman she didn’t recognize. Upon seeing Yi Chichi come in, her eyes lit up. "This must be Yi Zhqing, right?! She looks really pretty."

Yi Chichi smiled, "Hello, auntie."

"Ah, hello, hello."

Seeing this, Yi Chichi wanted to enter the room, but the unknown woman boldly said, "Yi Zhqing, I’m here to propose a match for you."

What the heck?

Propose a match for her?

"May I ask, who are you? And who are you matchmaking for?"

"Oh, I’m Huang from the neighboring brigade, and the person I’m proposing is the youngest from our brigade leader’s family. He’s taken a liking to you."

Then, Huang started a long speech, praising how excellent the youngest from the brigade leader’s family was.

Yi Chichi scratched her ear, thinking if he was truly tall and mighty, he probably wasn’t even 1.7 meters tall.

If he had good looks, then perhaps he was presentable.

To say he was handsome, well, that was definitely not true.

A harmonious, loving family with proper family values—anyone who believes that is a fool.

"I have a boyfriend."

To deal with people like this, saying she’s temporarily not looking for a relationship wouldn’t work, so she had to boast grandly to end any ideas.

"It’s not anyone else, it’s our own brigade’s Wen Shi."

She said it casually, not expecting that Wen’s mother, who was feeling a bit unwell and came to get some medicine, happened to overhear her words just before entering the door, and instantly beamed with joy.

Goodness, these two kids hid it well, they’re actually dating.

The prospect of having grandchildren!

Thinking of this, she entered with a broad smile to support Yi Chichi.

"Chichi’s right, she’s dating my son."

Huang swallowed, in disbelief as she sought confirmation, "Are they really dating?"

"As you said, I wouldn’t say such a thing if it wasn’t true, as it would ruin the girl’s reputation."

Yi Chichi felt hopeless, wanting to die. How did she coincidentally run into this?

How would she explain this to Aunt Wen?

Mu Da glanced at Wen’s mother, who was happily chatting with Huang, then at Yi Chichi, a smile spreading in her eyes.

In truth, the two kids were well-matched, and it would be great if they could end up together.

With the thought of going along with the flow, she calmly said while under Huang’s nervous gaze, "It’s not serious. I’ll prepare two sets of medicine for you to take home, and you’ll be fine."

"Really?"

Huang looked delighted. She thought it was serious, but it turned out not to be; just two sets of medicine could cure it.

If she’d known it was this simple, she wouldn’t have put it off until now.

"Really."

Mu Da nodded, while reminding her as she prepared the medicine, "When you go back, remember to maintain hygiene and change into clean clothes daily."

"Okay."

Regarding her own health, Huang had no choice but to pay attention.

After paying, she prepared to leave with the medicine, still unwillingly asking, "Yi Zhqing, are you really dating that Wen family boy?"

Why was she still unwilling to let it go?

Feeling Wen’s mother’s intense gaze and Mu Da’s amusement, Yi Chichi replied expressionlessly, "Really dating. A ’good’ man like Mr. Zeng isn’t suitable for me."

Can’t afford to enjoy that.

Huang walked away disappointed, upset at losing two matchmaker’s fees.

But there was nothing she could do. She dared not provoke Wen Shi, that little wolf cub.

If she truly ruined his marriage prospects, she feared the kid would come back and tear her house down.

Yi Chichi was unaware of Wen Shi’s achievements; she was busy dealing with Wen’s mother’s inquiries.

"Do you know that Zeng family boy?"

"I don’t know him."

Yi Chichi looked innocent, "I don’t even know where this notion that he likes me came from."

She’s only been to the Red Flag Brigade once, and after a conflict with a local rogue, she never went back. Uncle Yaozi carried his medicine box instead for free consultations.

Wen’s mother looked displeased, "You’ve caught Zeng Xiaowu’s attention."

Yi Chichi didn’t realize the gravity of the situation, responding dismissively, "It’s okay, I can defend myself."

Wen’s mother looked exasperated, "As Huang said, the Zeng family is rich. Zeng Xiaowu was married before, but he accidentally beat his wife to death."

Yi Chichi swallowed. Good lord, beating someone to death is too violent.

"Didn’t his wife’s parents confront him?" If she were the parents, she’d fight tooth and nail.

"I said, money is involved."

Wen’s mother looked exasperated, "They say the day he accidentally killed her, Zeng Xiaowu’s parents used money to silence the in-laws."

"Preference for male heirs over females."

A family that doesn’t favor sons wouldn’t do such things. Parents who truly love their child would first alert the authorities and demand an autopsy if their daughter died under strange circumstances.

It’s fine if no issues surface; otherwise, they’d rationally send the person to jail or, even better, execute them on the gallows.

Those with extreme tendencies might exact revenge, ending in an eye for an eye.

Yet Zeng Xiaowu’s in-laws accepted the cruel truth of their daughter’s death with money stuffed in their mouths.

Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "How much money did they pay?"

"One hundred."

"How much?"

Yi Chichi and Mu Da shared looks of shock. Goodness, is a daughter’s life in such a family worth so little?

Just one hundred yuan to settle entire affair.

Absolutely ridiculous.

"Poor, otherwise they wouldn’t agree to marry into the Zeng family."

Poor people often lack self-respect; maybe it’s not about not loving their children but being too exhausted and weary to even care.

That’s true as well.

Mu Da began to worry, "So what should Chichi do?"

"For now, don’t leave the village." After a pause, she added, "I’ll have Wen Shi come back once."

Your own partner is the best protection; you can’t rely on others.

Zeng Xiaowu’s unruly nature requires someone tougher to handle him.

Yi Chichi hurried to refuse, "No need, he’s busy with work, and he hasn’t been on the island long. Returning now is easy to say but hard to listen to, and it might affect how the leadership perceives him."

She worked hard to persuade Wen’s mother to give up the idea of bringing Wen Shi back. But the more she talked, the brighter Wen’s mother’s smile became, her gaze increasingly tender.

Yi Chichi couldn’t continue, and Wen’s mother asked her cheerfully, "Finished talking?"

"Yes."

"Auntie wants to ask you something, is that alright?"

Yi Chichi felt a bad premonition, thinking it was best not to ask, yet Wen’s mother didn’t give her the chance to speak, "Chichi, when did you start dating our Xiaoshi?"

"I’m not, I just lied to brush off Huang."

She explained anxiously as Mu Da, listening in, held in laughter, her stomach hurting. She’s demonstrated what it means by making things worse.

If she hadn’t said those words, they might have had a chance to explain fully. Now...

All she could do was watch the show.

Unsurprisingly, Wen’s mother gave a knowing look, "Okay, okay, you said it just to fend her off. Auntie believes you."

Yi Chichi wasn’t foolish. Hearing that, she knew it sounded like coaxing a child, filled with helplessness and indulgence.

"Auntie, I’m really not dating Wen Shi; the few times we communicated, it was all business matters."