The man's identity didn't require Tian Jing's introduction; Old Man Tian knew who he was.
Thinking of the strong, wealthy, and seemingly ageless man Tian Ping had brought home for the three-day visit, Old Man Tian suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
What if the Chen or Xiao families came looking for their daughters and saw the kind of son-in-law they had found for them…
"Elder Tian," Li Zhengguo's voice interrupted Old Man Tian's thoughts, "I'm here today to inform your Tian family of something and to state our demands."
Li Zhengguo's neither subservient nor arrogant demeanor made the sliver of guilt that had just surfaced in Old Man Tian disappear.
The man was a bit old, a bit thin, and walked with a limp, but he wasn't without merit.
At least he had served in the army and conducted himself with propriety. "Speak."
"My sister, Li Min, fell on the mountain yesterday afternoon and fractured her right pelvis and right thigh. She also sustained internal injuries."
"The doctor advised taking her to a large hospital for examination and surgery. It would take two years to recover. If she doesn't have surgery, it's uncertain whether she'll recover after a few years.
"Currently, she's recuperating at home. Even putting aside the internal injuries, the bone fractures alone will take months to heal. We had to inform you of this matter. What's your proposal?"
"What proposal?"
Old Woman Tian rushed in, "A woman who can't have children anymore, what proposal can there be? It's naturally a broken engagement."
"Old Woman Tian," Li Zhengguo said sternly, "The doctor only said it would be difficult, not that my sister absolutely cannot. Are you trying to kill my sister by saying that?"
"Whether she can or not…"
"Shut up," Old Man Tian ordered his wife. That woman always caused trouble. "Go call Second Son and Li Fu back."
Old Woman Tian didn't think there was anything wrong with her husband asking her to fetch people. It was a good opportunity to brief Second Son and Li Fu beforehand. She turned and left the east room.
Old Man Tian looked at Tian Jing, "Jing girl, how have you been lately?"
"How have I been? Can't you see for yourself, Old Man Tian?" Tian Jing pointed at Li Zhengguo. "This is the one you meticulously chose for me."
Hearing Tian Jing call him "Old Man Tian" again, without even the courtesy of "Elder," Old Man Tian knew Tian Jing was displeased.
"This matter, you should know, was initiated by the Li family. We had no such intention, as you are still young."
"Fine. Even if you are innocent, you already knew what kind of person this man and his family were. Stop with your insincere greetings."
Old Man Tian was choked by her words. He glanced at Li Zhengguo, who remained expressionless. He didn't dare ask Tian Jing how she was doing over there, in case they wanted to return her.
If she were returned, aside from the temperament of this ancestor, the Tian family's reputation would also suffer.
Seeing that the arrangement with Li Fu was likely falling apart, did they have to take back the daughter who had already been sent to the Li family? Su Dan Novel Network
What would outsiders think? Even if he believed that given this ancestor's temper, she wouldn't let herself be taken advantage of by this man, outsiders wouldn't believe it.
It was better to resolve the matter with Li Fu properly, and then they wouldn't have to worry about being reported for the marriage exchange.
If the Li family's daughter didn't enter the Tian family, the marriage exchange would be a complete fabrication. "What are your plans?"
"If you insist on having my sister marry into your family, then you'll have to wait until her bone injury heals. Furthermore, you cannot use the matter of having children to pressure her. It's a gamble on a possibility."
"If the engagement is broken, what are your plans for Tian Jing? Will she return? Or will we accept the bride price for her, since she has already been in my Li family's home for a few days?"
"As for the bride price, to be frank, I borrowed money to come here today. There's no need to drag this out. Once we reach an agreement, we'll settle it immediately."
"If you really want her back, then I won't have to go into debt. The work points in Kushan are very low, as everyone knows."
"The basic bride price for marrying a wife outside is fifty yuan. I gritted my teeth and borrowed eighty yuan. Eighty yuan is the highest bride price for marrying a wife in Kushan."
Old Man Tian scrutinized Li Zhengguo's expression, "If you had offered this money earlier, would we have even reached the point of a marriage exchange?"
"I didn't intend to marry. Going into debt to marry, others might be able to repay it, but my family can't. I can't earn high work points, and my mother is on medication year-round."
"The marriage exchange was something my sister did behind my back. She had already settled it with your family before telling me. I knew she wanted to marry out of Kushan, and the matter was settled, so I could only agree."
"Now, it's just that I can't bear to see Tian Jing suffer from a bad reputation. If your family doesn't care about reputation, that would be for the best."
Old Man Tian couldn't discern or analyze the true intentions of this young man from the Li family. He could only wait for Second Son and Li Fu to return.
The two returned quickly, as Tian Li Fu rushed home the moment he heard Li Min was injured.
Tian Yongyi wanted to follow, but his mother stopped him and explained Li Min's condition. "...Second Son, you can't just let Li Fu decide. You must make the decision. She's useless, and marrying her means supporting her."
"I understand." Tian Yongyi was even more anxious. "Mother, you walk slowly, I'll go back first."
The villagers, seeing Tian Yongyi and his father running home, also followed to see what had happened at the Tian family's house, especially since Tian Jing had returned.
Tian Li Fu ran into the east room, breathless. "Grandpa, Grandpa."
Seeing his grandson's anxious state, Old Man Tian felt a pang in his heart. If he and his wife were in trouble, would this grandson run like this, gasping for air?
Li Zhengguo watched Tian Li Fu coldly. He was still as annoying as he was in his previous life.
Old Man Tian threw the problem to Li Zhengguo, asking him to explain Li Min's condition and his proposed terms again.
Li Zhengguo gave Old Man Tian a faint look and repeated Li Min's situation.
"...So, if you agree to continue the marriage, you cannot use the matter of children to pressure her in the future, nor can you refuse to let her recuperate. The doctor only said it was difficult, not impossible."
Tian Li Fu took a step back, nearly stepping on his mother's foot. He turned and looked at his mother, "Mother, what should we do?"
Chen Yun looked at Tian Jing. Seeing that Tian Jing was just listening and watching with a blank expression and no reaction, she wondered if this matter was true or not. "Ask your father."
Tian Yongyi had been standing in the main hall for a while. He had heard Li Zhengguo's words. Seeing his wife and son looking at him, he walked into the east room. "Father, what do you think?"
"This matter depends on Li Fu's wishes. If he doesn't mind, we'll continue. If he feels he cannot meet the Li family's conditions, the Li family agrees to pay Tian Jing's bride price of eighty yuan."
Old Woman Tian, who arrived last, immediately refused upon hearing this. "No way! Without two hundred yuan, this matter isn't over. My Li Fu is breaking off his engagement and finding someone else, and his reputation has been affected."
Old Man Tian and Tian Yongyi both looked at Li Zhengguo.
Li Zhengguo shook his head. "Eighty yuan is the maximum I could borrow in Kushan. If you're unreasonable, we can find someone who will be reasonable."
"Even in the county town, no one pays a bride price of two hundred yuan. Why don't we have Tian Jing come back? She's only been there a few days, and we haven't consummated the marriage."
Even Old Woman Tian dared not respond to this.
Would she dare to have Tian Jing return? If Tian Jing came back, besides the two in the family with bad reputations, they couldn't even be mentioned.
Taking Tian Jing back was like taking in an ancestor. The scenes of her kicking over tables and knocking down Second Son and Li Fu were still fresh in her mind.
And whenever she wanted eggs, she had to be given them.