As for Feng Xue, she had ruined someone else's family. The matter had blown up so much that her reputation was already in tatters. Zhu Yan directly made her drop out of school and busied herself arranging her wedding.
She only hoped that Feng Xue could be married off soon.
However, good families in Yan City knew what she had done. Who would be willing to take her in?
Her former suitors now kept their distance from her.
Feng Xue looked down on families with poorer conditions.
She was unwilling to marry somewhere outside of Yan City.
Zhu Yan's hair was turning white from worry.
Later, Ruan Tianyang, still injured, came to the door, wanting to marry Feng Xue.
After waiting so many years for the chance to marry Feng Xue, he was incredibly sincere.
He immediately took out his savings passbook, stating that Feng Xue would be in charge from then on and all his earnings would go to her.
He was willing to provide anything to give Feng Xue dignity, be it the "three turns and one sound" or major furniture.
Zhu Yan was reluctant at first, but seeing how much he offered, she agreed.
It wasn't enough for her to agree; Feng Xue had to agree herself.
Zhu Yan spent many days persuading Feng Xue at home before she reluctantly agreed.
However, Feng Xue made one demand: "I want my brother to come back for my wedding banquet."
Zhu Yan hesitated, "Whether your brother comes back or not, that's not up to me."
Even if Feng Yaojun himself asked, it might not be enough to get him back.
Feng Xue snorted, "I don't care about that. If Feng Xianxu doesn't come back, I won't get married!"
"Alright, alright! I'll find a way to get your brother back. You just wait to be my bride!"
Only then did Feng Xue show a satisfied expression.
Cheng You originally had no way of knowing about these matters.
It was only when Zhu Yan came to the military compound to inform Feng Xue's elders of the happy news that she boasted about it.
Seeing her radiant face, utterly unashamed of Feng Xue's actions, the two elders' faces turned ashen with anger.
This was hardly good news; it was worse than a death notice.
The old man kicked a stool by his feet and roared, "Are you done? If you're done, get out!"
Zhu Yan was startled and quickly hid behind Feng Yaojun.
"Dad, I haven't finished yet. Can you contact Xianxu? He's my son, after all. I haven't seen him in years. Feng Xue is getting married; he should at least come back for a celebratory meal."
Song Qinglan scoffed upon hearing her words, "You call this good news? It's better not to let Feng Xianxu come back and be embarrassed with you all."
"What are you saying? Feng Xue is getting married; of course, it's a happy occasion!" Zhu Yan shot her a fierce glance.
She reached out and pulled Feng Xue, proudly boasting, "Tianyang dotes on our Feng Xue so much. He gave a betrothal gift of five hundred yuan alone, plus the 'three turns and one sound'! The savings passbook has already been handed over to Feng Xue. From now on, all his salary will be managed by Feng Xue. Have you ever seen such an obedient man?"
Cheng You said in a low voice, "He doesn't have a salary."
He had been fired by the newspaper agency, so where would he get a salary?
Feng Xue's smile stiffened, and she quickly tried to cover up, "He's just temporarily unemployed; he'll definitely have a job in the future."
Cheng You let out an "oh" and looked at her intently, "Have you really decided to marry him?"
"Tianyang is very good; I like him very much." Feng Xue lifted her chin, as if to mask her lack of confidence.
She didn't want Cheng You to see her reluctance and only wanted to tell others that she was happy.
Cheng You smiled coldly, "You didn't think he was good before, but now that he's getting married, you think he's good? You truly have no sense of shame."
Feng Xue knew right from wrong and knew how disgraceful her actions were.
But she had never intended to marry Ruan Tianyang in the first place.
She only wanted to use him to send Zhenzhen back to Yongcheng.
Later, things spiraled out of control, which was unexpected.
Somehow, she was pushed step by step to this point.
She was already committed, and how could she care about shame?
"Everyone has the right to pursue love. Ruan Tianyang and I are truly in love; why can't we be together?"
Her words filled Cheng You with a deep sense of disgust.
A cup beside her flew out and hit Feng Xue's shoulder with a clang.
The tea splashed onto her clothes, dripping down, making her look disheveled.
The old lady's eyes were bloodshot as she roared, "Get out! All of you, get out!"
Zhu Yan and Feng Xue's actions had angered the old lady to the point of distress, and they dared not stay any longer.
If anything happened to the old lady, the wedding could not proceed as planned.
Feng Yaojun had no choice but to hastily pull them away.
Song Qinglan helped the old lady to sit down and soothed her, "Why get angry with her? She's shameless."
Cheng You's eyes were cold, "Feng Xue will eventually reap what she sows. There's no need to get angry over her affairs."
When she realized that Ruan Tianyang was not as she imagined, it would be too late for regret.
Cheng You returned home and heard Qi Chengyan talk about Zhou Xia.
The offense was serious, and she would likely be sentenced to many years.
Cheng You sighed, "I guessed as much."
After all, Cheng Tao was innocent, but because of Zhou Xia, she lost her reproductive ability.
She leaned on Qi Chengyan's shoulder, her expression somewhat melancholic.
"Impulse is the devil. By doing this, she felt momentary satisfaction, but she also has to pay the price."
Once Feng Xue married into the family, her child would definitely not be treated well.
Qi Chengyan rubbed her head and said gravely, "Don't think about it. Ruan Tianyang will get his comeuppance."
His reputation had spread throughout the industry. He had done his best to pull strings, and most newspaper agencies in Yan City would no longer hire him.
Of course, unless he was willing to leave Yan City.
But since Feng Xue chose to marry him, she would definitely not agree to leave.
The two sat in the courtyard in a daze, the quiet atmosphere unable to dissipate the summer heat.
He Saozi, passing by outside the door, cursed, "Pah! What a disgrace, still daring to make a scene, utterly shameless!"
She walked past, then paused, took a few steps back, and peeked through the crack in the door to see Cheng You.
"Cheng You, you don't know, that Zhu Yan made me so angry! Oh, Chengyan, you're here too..."
Cheng You smiled, "What did she say that made Saozi so angry?"
He Saozi looked disgusted and waved her hand, "She didn't say anything to me, but she was there bragging about Feng Xue getting married! The 'three turns and one sound,' the betrothal gifts, and she even dragged you into it, saying that when you got married, it was in the countryside, and the Qi family didn't give anything... Oh, watch my mouth, Chengyan, I didn't mean anything by it."
Qi Chengyan shook his head, "It's fine."
Cheng You didn't mind at all. Just after they got married, Qi Chengyan gave her his savings passbook.
It had tens of thousands in it, and she wasn't envious of Feng Xue's "three turns and one sound."
Cheng You didn't care whether the Qi family contributed anything, as Qi Chengyan had given her everything he could.
He Saozi complained, "I just can't stand her talking nonsense."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Yan's voice came from behind the door, "Who's talking nonsense? What I said is true. Everyone knows Song Qinglan looked down on Cheng You as a daughter-in-law; she didn't even attend the wedding, so how could she give a betrothal gift? If she can do it, aren't others allowed to talk about it?"