Over here, Shuzhen clenched her fist, brimming with fighting spirit, while at home, Liu Shouyi and his wife were standing in line listening to a scolding.
It turned out that after Liu Shouren woke up from a nap and didn’t see his younger sister, he casually asked about her. The second brother’s careless couple said indifferently that Shuzhen had gone to Lin Yuanzhi’s home to arrange for some introduction letter?
Damn it, if the sister-in-law wasn’t around, Liu Shouren would have beaten this unlucky brother before discussing anything else.
Don’t they know that Shuzhen just got divorced, and the village is rife with gossip?
Don’t they know that times have changed? Shuzhen is no longer the most promising cadre’s wife in the Dai family, but a victim of feudalism, divorced and discarded as ’anachronism.’ Usually, the Dai Honghua couple, who would shower her with flattery, have long changed their attitude, eager to pounce on her like vicious dogs!
Imagining his own sister, overwhelmed by gossip, bullied by that nonsensical Dai Honghua, or frightened to tears by the Wu family demanding explanations, and unable to find anyone to support her, Liu Shouren couldn’t sit still for a minute. He quickly ran towards the Lin family’s place to find her.
Given such deep analysis by the older brother, Liu Shouyi and his wife couldn’t sit still either. They promptly locked up their house and followed big brother to find Shuzhen! It’s better to be safe than sorry. There are plenty of hypocrites in the village eager to flatter others. Who knows which scoundrel might come up with a bad idea, trying to butter up Dai Weiguo and the shameless Bai Jing by scorning Shuzhen!
With their hearts worried, neither Liu Shouren nor Liu Shouyi and his wife could have predicted: In their urgent search to back up the younger sister, they would find her with no trouble at all. She would be gently persuading Lianshan, even hastily offering money and ration tickets to him?
Regarding this, Liu Shouyi thought: Well, she is indeed one of us from the Liu family, always grateful and loyal! Although the trip to the provincial capital will definitely cost a considerable amount, human life hangs in the balance, doesn’t it? Thanks to Lianshan, the younger sister can be at ease and think things through, as his double rescue within a day deeply touched her and was much appreciated.
Sister’s matter is the matter of the two brothers, without question!
To return a favor means to reciprocate with gratitude and loyalty, and even more so with life-saving kindness. Even if the little sister offers all five hundred plus to Lianshan, Liu Shouren would not find it excessive. With the treasures they brought back last night, the siblings can live comfortably for three generations without running out.
What truly made him frown was: Is the little sister too enthusiastic about Lianshan? Smiling eyes, gentle voice, addressing him as Lianshan brother repeatedly—something didn’t sound quite right!
Compared to the rough men like the two brothers, Su Hongying is much more sensitive and perceptive. Yesterday, when Lianshan escorted the younger sister along the way and refused to leave until the chaos at home was settled, she felt something was amiss. Now, with the little sister softly calling him Lianshan brother and carefully trying not to hurt Lianshan’s pride with her borrowing proposal, she naively discerned the hidden agenda.
These talks of gratitude are just words; the sister clearly lost her heart owing to the twin rescues!
Lianshan is indeed a decent fellow, handsome, kind, and straightforward. Being friends with him, treating him as a brother and sister, that’s a fortune bestowed across eight lifetimes. But to marry someone like him, it’s akin to courting disaster. At least, as per Su Hongying’s cold observations, Lianshan, who could never let go of his siblings, is a bottomless pit that can never be filled.
The little sister just escaped the wolf den of the Dai family; marrying Lianshan would be akin to falling into a tiger’s cave!
As the direct sister-in-law, she cannot watch the little sister suffer another misfortune. Later, she must talk heart-to-heart with her own foolish husband, discussing the pros and cons of this situation, asking him to persuade Shuzhen. Marriage is much like a second life; a single careless choice can ruin the second half of one’s life; therefore, it must be approached with caution! Especially since the little sister didn’t make wise choices the first time around, her second marriage should be extra cautious.
Watching her silly husband pacing anxiously like ants on a hot pan, wholeheartedly offering assistance only to be firmly rejected, Shuzhen, busy figuring out how to lend the money smoothly, didn’t expect her brother and sister-in-law to perceive her intentions clearly. Second sister-in-law, Su Hongying, who saw through her little scheme, pondered on how to dissuade her from impulsively plunging into the Lian family’s quagmire.
Facing a seemingly desperate situation with no borrowing options, Shuzhen’s initiative in offering to help had Lianshan feeling incredibly touched and grateful. The more touched and warm-hearted he felt, the more he couldn’t openly accept her generosity. Fresh from a divorce, she’s pregnant, even dragging her brother into a divorce. Shuzhen’s situation is tough; she should save her money for emergencies. If she lends it to him, who knows when it can be paid back? What if she needs it for something urgent?
"What’s worrying you? My little sister has me and her big brother; she won’t fall to the ground! But you, if you continue to delay, what will happen if you jeopardize Lian Jie’s child?" Although this guy didn’t greedily snatch the money and ration tickets from the younger sister, behaving rather like a man, his apparent distrust in them protecting and taking care of the younger sister irked Liu Shouyi a little.
When the child’s leg was fractured, he didn’t hurry to arrange a hospital visit, but kept chattering—this is maddening! Doesn’t he know saving lives is as urgent as putting out a fire?
"This..." Lianshan hesitated, as the safety of his nephew’s life was significant. As an elder, he couldn’t help but worry. In fact, when Second Brother Liu advised him, his worries about borrowing money from Shuzhen melted away substantially, and he was entirely willing to accept the loan. However, Liu Shouyi, wielding a verbal cannon, gave him no chance to intervene.
"Enough talking, quickly stash the money, saving the child is the priority. It’s temporary borrowing, not that you don’t have to repay it, what’s all this fuss about?" Liu Shouyi raised his eyebrows, sounding irritated. Being hot-tempered, he despised mindless dribbling and chewing. Known for spoiling his sons, seeing Lianshan hesitate annoyed him further.
"Brother Lianshan, my second brother is impulsive and speaks harshly; don’t take it to heart. Saving the child is crucial, hence you should take the money and promptly arrange to take the child to the hospital. Saving lives is as urgent as putting out a fire; every minute and second delay increases the risk for the child..."