Zhao Yunlin's heart was filled with complex emotions at the mention of "Cheng You," leaving him feeling numb.
If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have ended up in a state of ruined reputation.
In comparison, how wonderful it would have been if his original partner had been Cheng Tao.
"Brother Yunlin, don't you want to marry me?" Cheng Tao asked softly.
Zhao Yunlin paused. He couldn't quite say whether he wanted to or not.
But his parents didn't want him to marry Cheng Tao.
This was also why he had remained silent at first.
Cheng Tao smiled bitterly, biting her lip as silent tears fell.
"If you don't want to, I won't force you. My reputation is already ruined anyway, and I probably won't be able to get married in the future. But even if I could, if it's not you, I won't marry anyone else. Once I see you married to someone else, I'll cut my hair and become a nun in some convent."
"Cheng Tao!" Zhao Yunlin exclaimed, his heart aching.
How could this girl be so foolish?
Cheng Tao looked at him, tears in her eyes. "As long as Brother Yunlin remembers that I truly like you, that's enough."
Zhao Yunlin's hesitation vanished as he met her deep gaze.
He had already done something to hurt Cheng Tao yesterday. If he didn't marry her now, where would that leave her?
"Don't worry, I'll tell my mother that I will marry you!"
For the first time, Zhao Yunlin felt a resolute desire to defy his parents for a woman.
He walked forward with determination, approaching Wang Hongxia.
"Mom, I want to marry Cheng Tao!"
Wang Hongxia's mouth immediately drooped. "Say that again!"
Zhao Yunlin faltered, his tone not as firm as before, but he still managed to say it: "I want to marry Cheng Tao! Everyone in the village knows about us, so we have to get married! If we don't, won't I be considered a scoundrel?"
Wang Hongxia suddenly stood up and slapped him.
Zhao Yunlin was her most beloved and proudest son.
She had disagreed with the marriage to Cheng You from the beginning.
If Cheng You hadn't been the captain's biological daughter, she would have called off the engagement long ago.
But now, Zhao Yunlin had lost his own daughter and wanted to marry her stepdaughter? It was utterly foolish.
Zhao Yunlin rubbed his cheek and insisted, "Even if you hit me, I still have to say it. I must marry Cheng Tao! Mom, if I don't marry her, her life will be ruined."
Wang Hongxia sneered, "Ruined? You didn't touch her, did you?"
"But we've done everything we should have, except for the very last step!" Cheng Tao retorted loudly.
Song Yulian could sense Cheng Tianhua's suppressed anger.
It wasn't because of the Zhao family's attitude, but because of Cheng Tao's shamelessness.
Song Yulian gritted her teeth and said, "If this is handled well, we'll be in-laws. If it's not handled well, we'll be enemies. It's all for the sake of the children, Sister Wang, you need to think carefully. For my Cheng Tao, I'm not afraid of falling out with you."
Such blatant threats made Wang Hongxia's eyes widen with fury, her veins bulging.
Zhao Yunlin worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. If this matter caused a stir in the village, and the commune found out, his future would be ruined.
It was precisely because she knew this that Wang Hongxia had some reservations, otherwise, she would have said much harsher words.
"Get married!" Zhao Yongqiang, who had been silent, finally spoke.
Cheng Tianhua's face then broke into a smile. "Brother Yongqiang, our two families have generations of friendship. It would be best if we could become even closer through marriage. What do you think?"
Zhao Yongqiang nodded grimly. His son had done something wrong, after all, and had touched the other man's daughter.
Wang Hongxia still wanted to speak, but a glare from him silenced her.
Song Yulian revealed a smile. "Sister Wang, since they are getting married, shouldn't we discuss the betrothal gifts?"
Wang Hongxia sneered, "With her like this, you still expect us to give a betrothal gift? You're dreaming!"
Song Yulian said, "Since it's a marriage, betrothal gifts must be given, otherwise, it's not according to custom."
"Spare me. Your daughter isn't exactly a rule-follower!"
"Wang Hongxia! I've tolerated you several times. Don't think I'm afraid of you! My daughter isn't unmarriageable. If she didn't like Zhao Yunlin, she wouldn't be determined to marry into your Zhao family! Dating is a matter between two people, why are you only finding fault with my daughter?" Song Yulian could no longer contain herself.
Zhao Yongqiang quickly intervened. "Alright, alright. The children are getting married, so let's not make things so tense. The betrothal gift will be a hundred yuan. We have a sewing machine and a bicycle at home, which we can bring over for show. That's settled!"
Among the "three turns and one sound" (sewing machine, bicycle, radio, wristwatch), having two items was already good.
But giving them to Cheng Tianhua's family was impossible. It was just for appearances.
Cheng Tao endured it repeatedly. As long as she could marry Zhao Yunlin as she wished, nothing else mattered.
The absence of the "three turns and one sound" was fine, and the amount of the betrothal gift was also fine.
As long as Zhao Yunlin was hers.
The matter was thus settled. There was no need for a wedding banquet. A simple ceremony of entering the groom's home and getting a marriage certificate would suffice.
Two days before entering the groom's home, Cheng Tao secretly called Zhao Yunlin out.
"Yunlin, just have your mother give my family twenty yuan."
Zhao Yunlin thought he had misheard. "Twenty yuan? Why?"
Cheng Tao gave a bitter smile. "Because my father promised to give this betrothal gift to Cheng You. I'm not afraid to tell you, I don't want to give the money to her."
Zhao Yunlin's heart ached even more upon hearing this.
"Cheng You is going too far! This is your betrothal gift, why should she have it? I've never heard of such a ridiculous thing as a younger sister taking her elder sister's betrothal gift!"
Cheng Tao appeased him. "My father has already promised her, and he won't change his mind. That's why I want to talk to you. Just give twenty yuan as the betrothal gift, and the remaining eighty yuan privately to me."
Zhao Yunlin readily agreed. "Don't worry, I'll explain it clearly to my mother."
When he returned home, Wang Hongxia was overjoyed to hear that only twenty yuan was needed.
It was as if she had gained a daughter-in-law for free.
As for the remaining eighty yuan, once Cheng Tao was in the house, it would be up to her, the mother-in-law, to decide whether to give it or not.
"Agreed. I'll handle this matter properly. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll happily bring a wife home for you."
And once she was in the house, she would deal with Cheng Tao properly.
When Wang Hongxia arrived at the old Cheng family's home with twenty yuan and explained why there was only twenty yuan, Song Yulian's face turned dark.
She even suspected Cheng Tao was foolish.
After Wang Hongxia and Zhao Yongqiang left, she pulled Cheng Tao aside.
"Twenty yuan? Are you stupid? What if Wang Hongxia doesn't give you the rest of the money?"
Cheng Tao's expression flickered slightly. "She shouldn't, right? Yunlin promised me."
Zhao Yunlin shouldn't possibly pocket that eighty yuan from her.
"Mom, don't worry. If Wang Hongxia doesn't give me the money, I'll make a fuss. I'm not someone who can be easily manipulated."
Song Yulian's expression remained grim. Wang Hongxia was not an easy person to deal with either.
"I hope this marriage isn't the wrong choice."