Upon hearing Tian Ping's words, the Chen family members turned to look at Tian Ping and Tian Jing. Wasn't this about elopement? How did theft come into it?
Old Man Tian glared at his second son, having produced such a fool. Not only had she sold the Tian family completely, but she had also thoroughly disgraced them, yet she still rambled on without regret.
"In-laws, don't listen to the ramblings of a child. If she were sensible, she wouldn't have done such a reckless thing."
Old Man Chen felt his in-law had a point and no longer paid attention to his granddaughter kneeling in the courtyard, following them into the Tian family's main hall.
Second Master Tian retreated to the courtyard, his chest aching with anger as he faced his daughter, who was unaware of the impending disaster. He whispered threateningly, "If you dare to spout nonsense again, you can go to Kùshān by yourself."
Tian Ping quickly looked up at her father. Seeing the ferocity in his eyes, she finally nodded fearfully, "I won't speak anymore."
Second Master Tian glanced at Tian Jing, who was standing aside with a faint smile, his chest aching even more. "You be careful too. We're all in the same boat."
Tian Jing pulled at the corners of her mouth and smiled, "I'm not afraid. It's worth it to have the Tian family and everyone in it bury me."
Second Master Tian choked, turned, and entered the main hall.
In the main hall, Lü Jianjun was still being guarded by the Tian family and sat by the table. The Chen family's commotion made him realize what Tian Ping had done.
The Chen family was unaware of the gold incident. Soon, they would join the Tian family in pressuring him to marry Tian Ping. This matter was truly difficult to handle.
However, under these circumstances, with many villagers knowing he had planned to elope with Tian Ping, not marrying her seemed disadvantageous to him.
The Chen family members sized up Lü Jianjun. This weakling, who looked like he couldn't carry anything or lift anything, what did Tian Ping see in him?
Old Madam Chen clamored for an explanation. She knew the Tian family wouldn't truly offer the Chen family any explanation. Now that the elopement partner had been found by the Tian family, they should get married. Once they were properly married, no one else could say anything.
The Chen family members shared Old Madam Chen's thoughts. Chen Laoda's wife was more capable and spoke directly, "The matter has come to this. Hold the wedding as soon as possible and also set off a string of firecrackers at our Chen family's home."
Setting off firecrackers to ward off bad luck was something they dared not say aloud, but everyone understood it.
Old Madam Chen glared fiercely at her eldest daughter-in-law, thinking she wanted to usurp her authority.
Seeing her mother-in-law glare at her, Chen Laoda's wife quickly moved closer to her mother-in-law and persuaded her, "Resolving this matter quickly is the best way to minimize the impact on the Chen family's daughters' reputations. The Tian family has already lost face; what can you achieve by arguing with them? Our Xiù'er is about to get engaged. We can't let it be affected."
Chen Xiu's fiancé was from the town's supply and marketing cooperative. Because he was short and unattractive, he wanted to find a beautiful and tall girl in the countryside to improve the genes of his offspring. This matter falling to Chen Xiu was through a distant relative's matchmaking, and many village girls were envious.
After seeing each other, the man was very satisfied and agreed to give a sewing machine and one hundred yuan as a betrothal gift. The engagement was set to take place in a few days, so this matter absolutely could not fail, nor could it be disrupted by troublemakers.
Old Madam Chen had already boasted in the village about her granddaughter's future husband's family background. If it fell through, it would be a complete loss of face.
Therefore, Old Madam Chen and the Chen family agreed to the conditions, with the only requirement being that it be done as soon as possible, preferably within two days.
The Tian family naturally agreed. After seeing off the Chen family, the Tian family members turned their attention back to pressuring Lü Jianjun.
Expecting to be pressured by both families, Lü Jianjun saw the Chen family retreat and his mind became active again. He adamantly refused the two conditions Old Man Tian had negotiated with him: handing over the jar and marrying Tian Ping.
"Impossible! I've said it countless times, I never saw the jar. If you keep pestering me, I'll call the police."
He deliberately avoided the second condition because he still wanted to coax Tian Ping into helping him escape the Tian family. He couldn't outright refuse the second condition, lest he anger that fool Tian Ping and be accused of hooliganism and theft, which would be enough to get him shot.
After much nagging, Old Man Tian saw that Lü Jianjun was unmoved by either kindness or harshness and hardened his heart. "Fine, then call the police. It will be a lose-lose situation for both sides."
Lü Jianjun, however, was not afraid. "It's just me against your more than ten people in the Tian family. I think I'm the one who gains."
Old Man Tian was so angry he almost rolled his eyes. He was stubborn and unyielding, and he couldn't lay a hand on him. He was like a rolling stone, as troublesome as that girl Jing.
In the courtyard, Tian Jing squatted beside Tian Ping and asked, "Hey, what's going on with you? Didn't you go to your grandmother's house? Why were you planning to elope with that person?"
Tian Ping glared at her fiercely and turned away, ignoring her.
Tian Jing rubbed her little nose. Fine, this fool definitely didn't know or wouldn't believe that Lü Jianjun planned to ditch her. "Did you get a letter of introduction? Don't you need one to leave?"
As soon as this was mentioned, Tian Ping thought of Brother Lü's thoughtfulness. "Brother Lü said he would get one for me."
This foolish woman was a classic example of being sold and still helping to count the money. How was the original owner manipulated by such a fool? "How do you know if he got it or not? Why don't you ask him?"
"No need to ask," Tian Ping had a mysterious trust in Lü Jianjun. "If Brother Lü said he would do it, he definitely will."
Tian Jing stood up and walked into the quiet main hall, asking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Lu Zhiqing, where is the letter of introduction you got for my sister?"
Lu Zhiqing showed a flicker of panic, then stabilized his emotions and remained silent.
Old Man Tian looked at Tian Jing. "What do you mean?"
"My sister said that when Lu Zhiqing promised to take her away, he also promised to get her a letter of introduction."
Lü Jianjun's luggage had already been thoroughly searched by the Tian family. If they had found Tian Ping's letter of introduction, would they have waited until dawn to find out about the elopement? Would it have become common knowledge?
Old Madam Tian slapped the table and wailed. What kind of sin had she committed to raise such a fool?
Old Man Tian's face turned ashen. While their own family was foolish, that was no excuse for being toyed with by others. "Second son, give him a beating."
Second Master Tian had long been holding back. Upon hearing his father's order, he immediately began to strike.
"Ah." Lü Jianjun's stomach was punched hard, and he curled up in pain. Sudan Novel Network
"Don't hit, don't hit, ouch..."
Seeing Lü Jianjun being beaten, Tian Ping anxiously rushed towards the main hall to protect her Brother Lü. However, because she had knelt for too long, she got up too quickly, her knees buckled, and she knelt down again with a thud, nearly breaking her kneecaps. She then slumped to the ground, clutching her knees and crying out in pain.
Tian Ping's actions made the Tian family's faces turn extremely unpleasant.
Lü Jianjun, however, laughed while clutching his abdomen.
Looking at Lü Jianjun, who couldn't stop laughing, Tian Jing suggested, "Grandpa, take his return-to-city certificate, find someone to impersonate him, and handle the work first, then resell it. I heard a job opportunity can be sold for several hundred yuan."
Everyone in the room looked at the doorway in surprise.
Second Master Tian's eyes revealed greed. He asked his adopted daughter, who had suddenly changed so much, "Why sell it? Isn't it better to give it directly to our family?"