"Okay, okay, let Jing sister come back."
All the women and children in the Tian family crowded into the main hall. Upon hearing that his sister Jing, whom he hadn't seen for days, could return, Tian Lixiang immediately chimed in.
For several days, he had only eaten steamed egg custard twice. Moreover, Sister Jing was very formidable, and before he could brag to his friends, she had been sent off to be someone's wife.
Zhang Mei quickly covered her son's mouth, "Ancestor, you mustn't talk nonsense."
These words brought a flicker of expression to Tian Jing's face. She looked at Tian Lixiang, whose mouth was covered, "Lixiang's suggestion is good. I want to eat steamed egg custard."
Tian Lixiang nodded immediately. Even though his mother covered his mouth, it didn't stop him from nodding.
Li Zhengguo didn't know what secret connection there was between Tiantian and the youngest grandson of the Tian family.
However, the child's conscience had not entirely vanished. "Since you have made your choice..."
"No, no," Old Mrs. Tian repeatedly denied. "How can a child's words count? You must understand, if Li Min cannot be brought back, even if Lifu's engagement is broken, it will be even harder for him to find someone later."
"The eighty yuan you gave was only Tian Jing's bride price. For Lifu's broken engagement, there should be compensation to make it acceptable."
"So, a mutual exchange of marriage is supposed to make me responsible for both sides?" Li Zhengguo's eyes widened, looking somewhat frightening.
"This, isn't this because something happened on your side?" Old Mrs. Tian was somewhat afraid.
"Then why didn't your Tian family exchange directly? Why the delay?"
Li Zhengguo mimicked Tian Jing's crooked logic, "My good sister, because of this time difference of a few days, such a big thing happened. And you still expect me to be responsible for both sides?"
"I haven't even settled the score with you yet. Do you think I'm too polite, making you feel like I'm easy to bully?"
"Let's talk it out properly, let's talk it out properly."
Old Mr. Tian immediately smoothed things over, "Second son, go and close the courtyard gate."
"It's already closed."
When Old Mrs. Tian returned, she saw a crowd of people at the courtyard entrance, some of whom had already pushed their way in. She directly chased them out and bolted the door.
Old Mr. Tian breathed a sigh of relief. The matter of exchanging marriages must not be used as leverage by others anymore.
"How about this, we will consider it first, and also let Lifu go to Kufushan to see Li Min. The two of them can talk it through face-to-face. It was originally their idea to arrange this."
"Alright." Li Zhengguo knew that Old Mr. Tian intended to send Tian Lifu to gather information.
"I thought you would agree to eighty yuan, and I would have handled the household registration transfer and withdrawal certificates. Since you haven't decided, let's put it aside for now. Notify me when the grain is distributed. By the way, has your production team distributed grain yet?"
"It has been distributed."
"It has not been distributed."
Old Mr. Tian and Old Mrs. Tian's synchronized reply made Li Zhengguo laugh. "Whether it has been distributed or not, a lie cannot be concealed. You can find out by asking outside. Keep good track of Tian Jing's grain."
"I don't want too much, just half of her work points. You all know that Kufushan does not plant a second season. Li Min needs medicine and poultices, and this winter will be difficult to get through."
Seeing the Tian family's expression as if they had been robbed, Li Zhengguo glanced at Tian Lifu with disdain. "Let's go. I need to go back now. My mother's health still needs care."
"Me." Tian Lifu looked at his father, Tian Yongyi.
Tian Yongyi stopped Li Zhengguo. "No need to consider. Eighty yuan is eighty yuan. This afternoon, we will arrange Lifu's marriage. This matter cannot be delayed. The longer it drags on, the more people will know, and the further it spreads, the harder it will be for Lifu to get married."
Li Zhengguo even used the household registration transfer to conceal his purpose for coming today. Why was his father still delaying?
If it were fabricated, the Li family wouldn't dare to come. Who doesn't care about their daughter's reputation? Su Dan Novel Network
Seeing that his second son had agreed, Old Mr. Tian had no objections.
Old Mrs. Tian wanted to say something more but was stopped by Tian Yongyi. "Mother, let's settle this quickly. If Lifu goes to see her and it still takes two days to drag on, Jing Yatou's household registration transfer will happen perfectly to cover up today's purpose."
"No one will know which day we are going to pick up Li Min. We'll create a time difference and finalize Lifu's matter. Then, the matter of exchanging marriage will have no loose ends. Moreover, Lifu going there is equivalent to confirming the fact of the marriage exchange."
Old Mr. Tian paused, his hand holding the pipe of his tobacco pouch. It was indeed his second son's mind that worked faster. He was only thinking about investigating the truth of the matter and forgot to quickly tie up loose ends.
"Yes, Lifu's matter will be handled as Yongyi suggested. However, I have a condition."
Li Zhengguo quietly watched Old Mr. Tian, not taking his bait.
Old Mr. Tian was not embarrassed. "Tian Jing's grain is not to be taken away, and I cannot stop her from transferring her household registration."
"However, Tian Jing, we are already two families after all. If you want to borrow our household registration book, you need to show sincerity, right?"
Blackmail?
Seeing Tian Jing's disdainful expression, Old Mr. Tian smiled. "I'm learning from you. Weren't you using leverage to negotiate? Now you are not alone, you have a family waiting for you. Think about your future family before you act."
"Oh~ Not bad, learning and applying immediately."
Tian Jing looked at Old Mr. Tian sarcastically. "Then tell me your condition. If it's excessive, I can do without the household registration. I can wait until I catch your family's handle before I transfer the registration."
"Or, after Tian Lifu gets engaged, I'll go visit the bride's family and tell them about the character of the head of the Tian family."
Old Mr. Tian paused, unable to counter her? After hesitating, he extended his palm. "Fifty yuan."
He wanted to say two hundred yuan, but after Tian Jing said that? He thought for a moment and then named a figure that Tian Jing should be able to accept.
Tian Jing stared at Old Mr. Tian for a long time before nodding. "Alright, money for the household registration book, hand in hand."
"Do you have money?" Tian Yongyi was surprised, regret on his face.
"I have the money."
Tian Jing reached into her pocket and pulled out a messy wad of cash. After counting, she pulled out fifty yuan and said to Old Mr. Tian, "Give me the household registration book."
"Where did you get the money?" Old Mr. Tian and Tian Yongyi asked in unison.
Tian Jing pulled out the red string from her collar. It was just a red string; the golden key on it was gone.
Old Mr. Tian understood. Tian Yongyi did not.
Old Mr. Tian waved to his wife. "Go and get the household registration book."
Tian Yongyi wanted to regret it, but seeing Li Zhengguo's indifferent expression, he looked at Old Mr. Tian. "Dad?"
"This matter concerning Tian Jing has nothing to do with you."
Old Mr. Tian waved his hand. "Your plan is not wrong. Using fifty yuan as a bride price, you will still have thirty left for the wedding banquet."
"But..." Tian Yongyi looked at the more than ten yuan remaining in Tian Jing's hand.
Tian Jing immediately put the money back into her pocket. "This is mine, it has nothing to do with the Li family. If I don't sell things, will the Li family starve me to death? If I starve to death, will you get your wish?"
"No, if I starve to death, the Li family won't have to pay eighty yuan. Li Min is already like that, whether you marry her or not is irrelevant."
"Hurry up," Old Mr. Tian urged his second son. "Aren't you in a hurry anymore?"
Tian Yongyi, holding back his anger, reached out to Li Zhengguo. "Give me the money."
"A written statement." Li Zhengguo looked at Tian Yongyi as if he were an idiot. "Originally, it wasn't necessary, but your regretful look just now has made me vigilant."
"Give me a written statement, specifying that these eighty yuan are Tian Jing's bride price, as well as compensation for Tian Lifu's broken engagement."