Li Min had not considered the issue of having a daughter. Now, with Sister-in-law Niu's words, she immediately felt her future was bleak.
In their Kushan village, daughters were somewhat favored. They could marry out, and if they married well, they could support their natal families or even help their brothers find wives through exchange marriage.
Not as valuable as sons, but not as worthless as daughters from outside the mountains. Furthermore, the daughters who married into their village did not live poorly.
This was because everyone worried that under the harsh conditions of the mountains, if women were not treated well, they might run away.
Marrying out made one like a blade of grass; marrying into Kushan made one like a treasure. And they were close to their natal homes. She wouldn't need to be a guest when visiting home; she could just pop in for a look every day, which was quite good.
Zhang Fangcao had caused so much trouble after marrying into Accountant Li's family, yet she was never beaten or scolded.
With a decision made in her heart, she was no longer uneasy. "Sister-in-law Niu is right. I'll ask my mother and my elder sister-in-law when I get back."
"Minmin, I was just speaking off the cuff. Don't take it too seriously."
Sister-in-law Niu became a little scared. Her mouth loved to speak of things that displeased her, but she hoped she hadn't truly messed things up.
If the Tian family caused trouble, not only would it be difficult for the Li family to explain, but if Tian Jing were sent back, it would be a disaster.
"Haha," Li Min gave a dry laugh. "I was just joking with you. Got scared, didn't I?"
Upon hearing that Li Min had no intention of breaking off the engagement, Sister-in-law Niu felt uncomfortable again. She didn't know if she truly wished for Li Min to break off the engagement or not.
Seeing that there were already many kudzu roots, Sister-in-law Niu decided to carry some to the Li family first, and then to her own home. "Li Min, what are your plans?"
Looking at the small mountains of kudzu roots between herself and Sister-in-law Niu, Li Min also felt troubled but could only carry them back slowly.
"Carry them all back. What else can we do? No one wants this stuff anyway. Let's just carry it back slowly."
The two of them made four or five trips before they finished. Tian Jing wanted to help, but Li Min stopped her. "You rest. Sister-in-law Niu said you're only fifteen or sixteen. You look it, too. You should take care of your health."
Since the kudzu roots were already carried back, Sister-in-law Niu looked at the sky and saw it was still early. She carried one load home first and told her two sons to go dig.
Niu Daniu, already ten years old, was at an age where he ate a lot and loved to play. But when his mother said this was the ingredient for the new dish they had for lunch, he happily took his eight-year-old brother, Niu Erniu, to the foot of the mountain to dig.
"Tian Jing," Sister-in-law Niu awkwardly scratched her head. "I... I'm going to take these things home. I probably won't be able to hide it anymore."
She had many visitors, and if she did the washing and cleaning work in the yard, it would surely be seen, so she wouldn't be able to hide it.
"It's okay," Tian Jing said indifferently. "I wasn't planning on hiding it either. Tell whoever you want."
Who doesn't have two or three close girlfriends?
"Thank you, Tian Jing," Sister-in-law Niu said sincerely. "If you ever need anything, just call out. Sister-in-law has plenty of strength."
"Alright," Tian Jing nodded. "I won't be polite with you, Sister-in-law."
Li Min had already gotten busy. She planned to make some pickled water this afternoon, then do more tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, she would go digging again. It didn't matter if many people were digging; they would find some.
Tian Jing picked up the chopping knife and helped peel, while Li Min started to cut and pound until it got dark. Then, they started preparing dinner.
Li Zhengguo had already finished making the wheels and would work on the frame tomorrow.
At the dinner table, Li Zhengguo said, "The morning after tomorrow, we'll go to the county town."
Dinner was again steamed flat noodles. Li Min said she hadn't had enough, but she steamed a few sweet potatoes for her mother.
At this moment, Li Min was slurping the flat noodles. Hearing her elder brother's words, she immediately swallowed the noodles in her mouth and solemnly declared, "Brother, I've decided. I'm breaking off the engagement."
Seeing the three of them staring at her, she lowered her voice and recounted Sister-in-law Niu's words.
"...And it's not that I'm making this decision just after hearing a few words of advice. I've thought about the young wives in our Kushan village. They live quite well. Not many of them are tormented by their mothers-in-law or husbands, unless they're really irresponsible."
"Moreover, in Kushan, girls' lives are not too difficult. I've decided that even if I become an old maid at home, I won't marry into the Tian family, nor will I marry out. I'll stay at home and help my elder sister-in-law with the work. I can eat my fill by following her. Hehehe."
Li Mu looked at Tian Jing. She had said that in this household, everything depended on Tian Jing.
Tian Jing looked at Li Zhengguo, and Li Zhengguo nodded at her.
"Alright then," Tian Jing made the decision. "Break off the engagement."
"Thank you, Sister-in-law," Li Min's not-small eyes were squeezed into a smile.
"However," Tian Jing paused, making Li Min's heart leap. "However, we can't just go to the Tian family and bluntly say we want to break off the engagement. Otherwise, the Tian family will demand one to two hundred yuan in compensation."
Tian Jing was speaking conservatively. Given the price the Tian family had extorted from Lü Jianjun, they could easily demand three hundred yuan.
One to two hundred yuan?
Li Mu and Li Min were shocked. The Li family was richest when Li Zhengguo was in the army.
At that time, Li Zhengguo could send back twenty yuan each month. He had saved three to four hundred yuan for renovating the house, but then Li father was seriously injured, and much of the money was spent, but the person couldn't be saved due to infection and lack of medicine.
After her husband passed away, Li Mu had lost both wealth and her husband. Coupled with her longing for her husband, her health had been fluctuating, and over time, she had spent the last of the money.
Finally, Li Zhengguo was injured and discharged from the army, losing his allowance, and the Li family's life became increasingly difficult.
"Mm," Tian Jing nodded. "We need to think of a way. Li Min has no intention of marrying for the time being, so let's take a risk..."
Upon hearing Tian Jing's plan, the three of them had different expressions. Li Zhengguo was calm; whatever his Tian Tian said was right, and he would fully cooperate.
Li Mu was worried, thinking, "Will my daughter really end up unmarried?"
Li Min, however, was overjoyed. "Great, great! This idea is wonderful. From now on, any man who wants me will be truly sincere."
"If no man wants me, I'll devote myself to serving my mother, helping my elder brother and sister-in-law raise the children, and let my nephew support me in my old age. It's so good, I don't need to be a beast of burden for someone else."
Tian Jing glanced at her. "Aren't you working like a beast of burden at home?"
"That's different," Li Min shook her head, her face full of excitement. "Working like a beast of burden at home, I'm willing. My mother gave birth to me and raised me, and my elder brother dotes on me. I'm doing it willingly."
"Going to someone else's house, giving birth to a child that belongs to someone else, having to serve their elders and youngsters, and having to watch their faces. What do I owe that family?"
Tian Jing looked at Li Mu with a troubled expression. "Mother-in-law, have I scared her too much? She's planning to remain unmarried."
Upon hearing her daughter-in-law's words, Li Mu was no longer worried about her daughter's future.
"It's okay. As long as you don't dislike her, let her help you at home. I think what she said is quite right. After giving birth to children, they belong to someone else, and you have to serve their elders and youngsters. What's the point? Uh,"
Seeing the teasing expression on her daughter-in-law's face, she quickly tried to backtrack, as she had spoken too fluently just now.
"Our family is different. You are the mistress of the house. Li Min can take care of me, the elder, and later the younger ones. You just take care of yourself and Zhengguo."