CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 055 OUTRAGEOUS NONSENSE ON THE QIN

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After the crude shout from Lin Zhaodi, the air seemed to freeze for a moment, and nobody dared to whisper anymore.

At the scene, the Zhang Family of four with Zhang Zhiguo present had their potential words clamped down, and the Zhang sisters, being wise, did not dare to speak carelessly to protect themselves.

Zhang Hongqiang glanced at Lin Zhaodi, suppressing the dissatisfaction in his eyes, and remained silent amidst it all: "..."

Lin Aiguo actually knew that his own ideas were wishful thinking, but isn’t there an old saying ’to jack up the price on the spot’? He also hadn’t refused to allow the Zhang Family to counter-offer; it’s common human nature to want to maximize benefits.

At this moment, whether it was the Lin Family or Zhang Zhiguo’s house, nobody dared to make a sound.

Seeing the Old Village Chief’s face black as ink, not only did Qingfeng Village’s folks dread him, Lin Jianmin from Old Lin Village also had a less than pleasant facial expression. He truly hadn’t anticipated his nephew to have the audacity to demand such a steep price!

If Zhang Shan Ni were here, she would certainly feel delighted, considering that nobody would be happy being priced and sold off like pork! Now seeing the Zhang Family’s Parents experience ’retribution’, if she knew about it she would definitely laugh three times and exclaim: "Hey, retribution indeed, serves them right!"

Lin Aiguo, seeing that everyone had almost accepted it, proposed a new scheme: "Of course, if the Zhang Family can persuade a decent girl to enter the gate of our Lin Family, that would be even better!"

This follow-up statement made it clear that what Lin Aiguo wanted was not money, but a wife. After all, giving him money ultimately aimed at acquiring a wife. With his current family conditions, getting a decent and innocent girl was indeed difficult, and he would be more satisfied if the Zhang Family were willing to sort it out.

Before the matter was fully comprehended, Lin Aiguo’s following remark indeed made Zhang Zhiguo breathe a sigh of relief. But a closer look at Lin Aiguo himself only compounded the bitterness in Zhang Zhiguo’s heart once again.

At this moment, he also understood why his youngest daughter had so desperately chosen to commit suicide by jumping into the water on that day!

The man that is Lin Aiguo truly turns out to be difficult to look up to, representing three words from top to bottom: Shameless Toad!

The everyday farmer is typically dark and strong, yet few are shorter than 1.65 meters. Lin Aiguo, however, was less than 1.6 meters tall, making him seem particularly short in front of the Lin Family members. His shortness is attributed to his extremely hunched waist; the noticeable hump on his back signals severe spinal deformation!

This trait partially comes from a genetic inheritance and partially from acquired compression deformity. Although his father, Lin Mazi, also had a hunched back, it wasn’t as severe as his.

With such challenging physical conditions and his slovenly nature, whether it was his clothes or the grease in his hair, it was apparent that he did not care for hygiene at all. Moreover, his reputation in Old Lin Village was really poor. A man in his thirties, rather than properly saving money for his family, would surely be found gambling and creating a ruckus every afternoon. And the companies he kept were all less than reputable males.

Rumor has it, years ago, he had an indecent relationship with a young widow. In the end, it forced her to remarry in haste, without even daring to take a second glance at her child.

Reflecting on these general considerations caused Zhang Zhiguo to break out in cold sweat, and contrary to lessening, it poured even more profusely in the chill of the early morning, drenching his entire back.

Given Lin Aiguo’s character, even if three hundred more coins were offered, any family with the slightest love for their daughter wouldn’t agree to such a marriage! After all, this would be ruining their daughter’s life – this isn’t arranging a marriage, it’s practically like starting a feud!

At this point, Zhang Zhiguo realized that he had been deceived by his wife and daughter at that time, directly assisting in pushing his youngest daughter into hell!

Actually, he did not think it through back then, and it was only because in these past two days, after his wife had sold off their daughter, he overheard the villages’ whispers behind his back – a ’truth’ that he couldn’t avoid hearing even if he didn’t want to.

Zhang Zhiguo was indeed somewhat of a bully to the weak but feared the strong, yet when it came to his capable youngest daughter, he didn’t actually dislike her. Compared to sisters Yuni and Baoni, who only knew how to behave coyly and lazily, he privately held greater esteem for the filial, obedient, and family-oriented San Ni.

The thought of the agreement he had signed, severing ties with his youngest daughter, made his heart even more troubled.

While Zhang Zhiguo reflected on his actions, Lin Zhaodi and the Zhang sisters were entertaining cunning thoughts upon hearing his words. If sacrificing one girl could pacify Lin Aiguo’s unreasonable harassment, they unanimously felt it was worth it. At the same time, the same person came to mind for all three of them: Zhang Shanni.

Compared to Lin Zhaodi’s unrealistic plans, the Zhang sisters were somewhat more rational, knowing that the matter of Zhang Shanni required careful consideration.

But Lin Zhaodi was much more direct. That worthless girl, although she was driven out of the family and married off to Old Xie Family in Qingfeng Village, it was said she was still rather successful, having married Xie Laoer. But that man was a soldier!

Being a soldier meant that he couldn’t possibly be home every day. Once he was gone—Lin Zhaodi thought, finally resolving on a plan, she viciously bit the rough hand covering her mouth.

"Ouch!" Zhang Zhiguo, feeling a twinge of guilt towards his youngest daughter, was caught off guard when his wife suddenly bit his hand. He cried out in pain and instinctively withdrew his hand.

Taking advantage of this moment, Lin Zhaodi rushed to Lin Aiguo, proclaiming with great resolve, "Fine, you want a wife, don’t you? I’ll get you one, but you must give me some time..."

"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Dahua shouted loudly, glaring at Lin Zhaodi with disgust and contempt.

Zhou Dahua and her daughter-in-law stood at the entrance of the courtyard, facing Lin Zhaodi; thus, she could see right through her scheming. She unapologetically asked, "Whose house from the Zhang Family are you planning on finding a nice girl to present?"

Zhou Dahua had no doubts that this woman, with a heart more poisonous than a stepmother, would scheme against her pitiful grandniece!

Today was Shanni’s wedding day, and even if she couldn’t attend, she couldn’t leave her niece susceptible to dangers that would threaten her future happiness!

As for Xie Jingchen, her grandson-in-law, Zhang Hongqiang and his son, as well as Zhou Dahua herself, were all extremely pleased with him.

"Of course, I was about to..." Lin Zhaodi was about to say Zhang Shanni’s name when she suddenly caught Zhou Dahua’s scornful gaze, which caused her to falter, and her voice vanished.

She bit her lower lip in embarrassment, bowed her head, and calmed herself. Before she could speak, Zhang Hongqiang interrupted.

"This is utterly preposterous and absurd! Who gave you the right to speak?!" Zhang Hongqiang glared with bulging eyes at Lin Zhaodi, and unexpectedly, he slammed a wooden stick against Zhang Zhiguo’s body, hissing with resentment, "Zhiguo, are you just going to stand by and let this shameless wife of yours cause trouble?"

"Uncle..." Zhang Zhiguo was stunned by his uncle’s action.

Also stunned was Lin Aiguo, who felt thrilled by Lin Zhaodi’s words. However, before he could joyfully accept, the reprimands and actions of Zhou Dahua and Zhang Hongqiang coming one after another left him unable to speak up.

At this moment, Lin Jianmin realized that the tandem rebuke by Zhang Hongqiang and his wife had caused his nephew to miss the perfect opportunity to accept the offer.

He glanced at his nephew, who had come to his senses, and then at Zhang Hongqiang, a wise old man and his wife. He anticipated that their group’s ultimate purpose probably wouldn’t be successful.

Alas, they had lost the initiative.

At the same time, he felt that Lin Aimei’s choice of such a family was very unwise. With such a witch like Zhang Zhiguo’s wife causing havoc, he thought that even if his niece were to return to the village, life would not be easy for her...