CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: THE FATE OF MARRYING A FEMALE EDUCATED YOUTH

He Yuzhen was eating silently, her chopsticks casting brief shadows.

Just as she reached for the meat for the third time, Zhou Guiying’s chopsticks blocked hers, glaring at her fiercely. After releasing her chopsticks, she took a piece of meat for her grandson and granddaughter, then clamped two pieces for Jiang Xingye.

"Eat meat; that’s why you’re here—to eat meat."

Jiang Xingye ate one piece and divided the remaining two among his nephew and niece, swallowed the last bite of corn bun, placed his bowl aside, and leaned against the bed piano, "I’m done eating!"

"I told you to eat two more pieces!" Zhou Guiying was annoyed but couldn’t do anything about it.

Throughout the entire meal, Jiang Xingye hardly took any vegetables.

Since He Yuzhen gave birth to their second child, she became more assertive. Gradually discontented with this cousin, Jiang Xingye rarely came back for meals. Later, when He Yuzhen clamored at home, demanding independent rooms for her two growing sons, he moved out.

As everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks, He Yuzhen was about to wipe her mouth and head back to her room when Zhou Guiying slammed the table, "What, still want the old woman to wash dishes?"

He Yuzhen reluctantly eyed Tian Jinhua, "Isn’t there still the eldest sister-in-law!"

Zhou Guiying was about to speak when Jiang Xingyong spoke up, "Mom, let her go back to the room!"

Just as He Yuzhen felt elated, Jiang Xingyong added, "Pack your things; I’ll take you back to your parental home!"

He Yuzhen was shocked, her face suddenly turning pale, "You’re sending me back home? On what grounds?"

"On what grounds? You find fault with everyone in this house, lazy around all day, refuse to do housework, push it all onto the eldest sister-in-law. Why should I keep you at home?"

Jiang Xingyong became increasingly agitated as he spoke, striking his forehead, "Oh, right, if there’s something good, save some money, and you take it back to your mom. Since you can’t live without your parental home, just go back."

He Yuzhen was foolishly devoted to her brother, but she didn’t realize it. She felt that her parental home treated her so well, her mother always praised her, especially when she brought money and food back home, her mother would say raising her wasn’t a loss, and such-like.

And she could never hear such nice things at her in-laws.

If she didn’t show goodwill to her parental home, should she be good to her in-laws instead?

The in-laws only cared for Jiang Xingye; even her two eldest grandsons had to stand aside, let alone her, an outsider.

"I’m not going back. I gave your Jiang family two big grandsons. Without me, your Jiang family would die out; you’re not grateful and still want to drive me away, dream on!" He Yuzhen was truly resentful.

Especially resenting Jiang Xingyong, her husband, who never sided with her; every time she secretly took some money and food home or hid her mother-in-law’s food meant for her son to take back, he’d look like he wanted to devour her.

Her mother and brother treat her so well; why shouldn’t she support her parental home?

Jiang Xingyong snorted coldly, "Did I ask you to give birth for me? How they were born, you should know?"

He Yuzhen was thunderstruck, her body swaying, shame and anger turned into intense hatred, "Jiang Xingyong, you’re not a person!"

With that, she ran into the room, and wailing cries emerged.

Jiang Xingyong’s eyebrows furrowed deeply, Zhou Guiying slapped him on the back, "What nonsense are you talking? Xiangnan and Xiangbei are here!"

Jiang Xiangnan and Jiang Xiangbei were Jiang Xingyong’s two sons, both born with tricks employed by He Yuzhen.

Jiang Xingyong detested He Yuzhen to death, yet he deeply cared for the two sons, patting their heads, "Go play, but stay away from the river."

Tian Jinhua quietly tidied up the bowls and chopsticks; Da Ya and Er Ya voluntarily helped.

Zhou Guizhi called Jiang Xingye to her room, "You come, I have something to say."

Jiang Xingyong shouted toward his room, "What’s all this crying? Go cry at your parental home!"

The crying abruptly stopped.

Jiang Xingbing gave Jiang Xingyong a pat and the two brothers followed inside, Zhou Guizhi glanced at them, "Why are you following?"

Jiang Xingbing, with a cheeky grin, shut the door and asked Jiang Xingye, "Xiao Wu, tell me, you really fancy that female educated youth?"

Jiang Xingyong was equally curious, showing no sign of the quarrel with his wife. Acting as if nothing’s wrong, he threw an arm around Jiang Xingye’s shoulder, delighted for his brother, "Really? You’re something, at first glance you picked the best one! I support you!"

Xu Qinghuan looks like a fairy, who wouldn’t be moved seeing her!

Zhou Guiying slammed the table again, startling the three Jiang brothers, "What’s so good about it? She’s from the city, isn’t she going back there someday?"

Jiang Baohua also came in, followed by his two younger sons Jiang Xingjun and Jiang Xingwei, holding a tobacco pipe, "Slamming away, aren’t your hands hurting?"

Jiang Xingwei swiftly shut the door, laughing, "What’s the talk about, so mysterious!"

Zhou Guiying spoke irritably, "If I don’t slam, you ask him, what’s he thinking? Is this a thought that should be entertained?"

All morning, rumors about Jiang Xingye and Xu Qinghuan had spread across the Shangjiang Team, even Jiang Baohua was teased by the village head, making him glower at the time.

Even if Jiang Xingye hadn’t come back to eat today, he intended to inquire.

"Do you truly have such feelings?" Jiang Baohua was deeply worried; as much as he cherished his nephew, he had to admit his nephew was unfit for the female educated youth.

Jiang Xingye said nothing, but his defiant expression revealed his stance.

The atmosphere in the room grew somewhat heavy.

Zhou Guiying felt terribly pained, "Xiao Wu, does your aunt not want you to marry the best? If Xu Qinghuan were willing, without needing your words, your aunt would scrape together money for the betrothal gifts and help you propose. But this has to be mutual.

She’s a city-girl educated youth, coming from a big city like Shen City, planning to return. Besides, didn’t you see your brother Yinhua’s outcome?"

A clan brother of theirs, not too distant in relation, was the village’s first to marry a female educated youth. Last year, suddenly his wife managed somehow to return to the city. Their son was three, yet without any hesitation, she divorced Jiang Yinhua.

Abandoning husband and child, so decisive!

Consequently, those families in the village who married educated youth kept a close watch on their wives.

Nowadays, even families that struggle to find brides don’t wish to marry educated youth. Young men might want to wed, but their elders would oppose it.

Zhou Guiying was opposing it in her heart, too.

Jiang Xingye bowed his head; after a pause, he said, "If she’s willing, we won’t have children. So if she wants to leave, I won’t stop her."

When he said this, his heart was torn in two, bleeding—a pain that wrenches the soul, only those who have felt it understand.

Knowing full well it’s impossible; how could he bear to ruin her future for his own selfish desires!

Even women who have dated once struggle to find good men.

She is a moon destined to accompany the stars.

Zhou Guiying had never seen her nephew this downtrodden; who was Jiang Xingye? Even when released after a murder sentence, he remained defiant, as if nothing in the world could make him yield.

She cried out of heartache, pushed Jiang Xingye, "What nonsense are you speaking, how are you inferior?"

Inferior in what?

Jiang Xingye thought, inferior in heaven to earth, inferior from sun and moon to dust!

He forced a bitter smile, "Aunt, these are just baseless matters."

Could she truly fancy him?

Jiang Xingye had always been arrogant, but he couldn’t disregard reality when it came to Xu Qinghuan.