CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 472: STILL A BIT TIRED

Song Qian watched as Song Yuanming drove away before she had just stepped into the accounting department of her company. She was promptly pulled aside by her office colleague, Zhao Li, who bombarded her with gossipy questions, "How did it go? How did it go? Qianqian, how are his family members treating you?" Zhao Li’s eyes were filled with expectation and curiosity.

"Pretty well," Song Qian replied, somewhat distractingly, as she was preoccupied with how to break the news to her own parents. She gave a nonchalant response to Zhao Li’s solicitous questioning, brushing it off.

"Oh!" Zhao Li, sensing Song Qian’s attitude, instantly felt a secret thrill, thinking the introduction must have gone poorly. She always knew it! Song Qian’s suitor appeared anything but ordinary; families with conditions like that are usually picky when choosing a daughter-in-law. Song Qian’s looks were quite average, and her family wasn’t well-off either. She had to cover the living expenses of a whole bunch of people at home. Her salary was gone the moment she received it. Even if the guy was reasonably well-off, surely, he wouldn’t want to burden himself with the responsibility of supporting his father-in-law’s family after marriage!

Though Zhao Li secretly reveled in her thoughts, her face betrayed none of her malicious glee, the perfect "green tea bitch" persona: "Qianqian, you look a bit unhappy. Did his family give you a hard time?" she said with feigned sympathy.

"It’s not that," Song Qian shook her head, turning to look at Zhao Li with a hint of a headache, and asked for her opinion, "You’re aware of my family’s situation. Do you think he won’t mind? Also, I don’t even know how to tell my parents. Lili, what should I do?" What she feared most was her parents’ reaction; she was afraid they would disappoint her. She was at a loss.

"Do you want to hear the truth or a comforting lie?" Zhao Li teased deliberately, not giving Song Qian the chance to choose before she presumptuously said, "The truth is, of course, he’d care! Think about it, the traditional wedding gifts from your hometown aren’t cheap. If he complies with those customs, he’d still have to support your family after the marriage. Who wouldn’t harbor some resentment about inheriting such a burden, even if they don’t voice it? But could you really harden your heart and abandon your parents and siblings? They are your own flesh and blood after all!" Zhao Li instilled these negative thoughts with some ill intent.

Today, she had caught a glimpse of Song Qian’s beau, and she saw him as the ideal candidate she had been seeking herself. Although she realized he might not be interested in someone like her, this didn’t prevent her from feeling envious and resenting the prospect of Song Qian landing a stroke of luck and marrying such a guy. Both women were in similar situations, struggling to support their families financially. Why should Song Qian be the one to come across a man who didn’t mind these issues and treated her well?

"I think so too," Song Qian echoed Zhao Li’s words, albeit without confidence.

But she wasn’t overly self-pitying; she was planning to call her family back in her hometown at the end of the workday to hear their thoughts before making any decisions. After all, she was their child, and they should be happy for her, right?

Zhao Li, seeing that her words seemed to have reached Song Qian, perked up and hurried back to her desk to start on her afternoon’s busy workload.

Song Qian, with her complicated thoughts, finished her work for the afternoon. In the evening, she went to a nearby place where she could make a phone call and dialed home. Soon enough, Mr. Song answered.

"Da Niu, everything going well in Imperial City? How’s your job going?" Mr. Song was genuinely proud of his eldest daughter; she was the first college graduate from their village and now worked in Imperial City. Everyone in the village envied him, and those who used to laugh at his poor family now seethed with jealousy. Furthermore, Song Qian sent money home every month, and their livelihood depended entirely on her salary, so naturally, Mr. Song was concerned about his daughter’s well-being.

"Dad, I’m doing fine, and work is going smoothly," Song Qian answered, her voice quivering slightly with emotion as she started to explain the reason for her call, "Dad, I have a boyfriend, and I thought maybe I could bring him to meet you and mom during the New Year or a holiday?"

"You’ve got a boyfriend?" Mr. Song was momentarily stunned.

"Uh-huh!" Song Qian held her breath with nervous anticipation on the other end of the phone.

"Da Niu, when did you get a boyfriend, and why didn’t you tell us? And you’re still so young, what’s the rush?" Mr. Song probed cautiously.

"Dad, I’m already twenty-four. In the village, girls like Chunhua, who are the same age as me, already have children old enough to go to school," Song Qian argued with a straightforward local example.

"Da Niu, I understand all of that," Mr. Song’s voice carried a hint of distress: "I’m not opposed to you finding a partner. If you’ve found someone suitable, I’m happy for you. But, Da Niu, as your father, I’m not able to offer much. My greatest pride has been raising you children to be successful, but my health won’t cooperate. I struggle with severe rheumatism, especially when it rains, and I can’t do heavy labor. Plus, your younger siblings are still small, and Xiao Ya is about to start school. She’s a good student. Can you really bear the thought of them having to drop out? I know we owe you, and these past few years have been hard on you, but Da Niu, I want to ask you, can you put off marriage for a few more years? Or at least, could we delay until Xiao Ya has graduated from college and found a job?"

Mr. Song’s voice was troubled with the difficulty of his plea. He was acutely aware that his request would greatly impact his eldest daughter’s life. It’s not easy for a woman to find the right person, but the family’s livelihood and the education fees for all three children were reliant on his eldest daughter. If she married, the younger ones might be forced to leave school. As a father, though both his hands were precious to him, he couldn’t bear the thought of affecting his other children.

"Dad, by the time Xiao Ya graduates from college, I’ll be an old maid. How will I be able to get married?" Song Qian asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

She knew the situation at home and had anticipated this outcome, but hearing her father’s words still made her heartache. As a woman forced to be strong, she also had her moments of vulnerability. True, she couldn’t leave her family behind and selfishly marry without regard for their welfare. But she was still tired.