Chapter 225: Chapter 228 Still Canât Get Engaged Chapter 225: Chapter 228 Still Canât Get Engaged Shen Luhua nodded, âThat point is indeed true.â
âBesides, Iâm not like my father.â He had mostly been raised by Zhao Lanzi, and although he had picked up some bandit-like habits from the Xu family, what he had learned were the knowledge and concepts from the respectable clans.
It troubled him greatly; he had never done anything outrageously evil or offensive his whole life. Why were people from ten miles and eight villages afraid of him?
âYour reputation isnât exactly good!â Shen Luhua had thoroughly inquired about that.
A crack appeared in Xu Qigangâs stoic expression as he took a cigarette out of his pocket and tried to light it. Considering it indecorous to smoke in front of a female comrade, he put it back on the table.
âIâve been feared by everyone since childhood.â Admitting this was somewhat embarrassing, but in order to marry, he was willing to expose his past.
âMainly because of my fatherâs bad reputation.â As a son, speaking ill of his father made him somewhat uncomfortable.
Shen Luhua scoffed, âExactly, if it werenât for our old man insisting on this marriage, I wouldnât have considered your family.â
Anyone who hears of the family of the Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger would keep their distance.
âBut our Ningningâs reputation isnât good either, as I think you might know.â Thinking about Sheng Ningâs reputation made Shen Luhua feel somewhat powerless.
The girl had been too naive and unwilling to heed her advice, which was why Qin Cuifen had been able to fool her so thoroughly.
âOur daughterâs bad reputation is due to othersâ jealousy and slander.â No mother does not believe her daughter is the best. Even though Sheng Ning was her stepdaughter, as long as she called her âmomâ, she had to act the part.
âWhatâs the reason for your bad reputation?â
âItâs because of my father as well.â In fact, Xu Qigangâs bad reputation stemmed partly because he was Xu Xianxiongâs son. Moreover, since childhood, Xu Xianxiong had never been able to outsmart his son.
It was always him who was deceived and tricked, and over time everyone learned that even the feared Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger were afraid of him.
Thus the reputation of Little Yama spread, further fueled by fights at school, where he alone could take down a group. His ill fame grew ever louder.
A son should not speak of his fatherâs faults, Shen Luhua was satisfied with his response. He seemed to be a good man and sufficiently filial.
âAuntie, I cannot live without Sheng Ning,â Xu Qigang said earnestly, his handsome face showing determination as he looked at her to emphasize his sincerity.
âIâm not good at speaking, but I will prove it through actions, and our marriage is protected.â
âBeing married to you will be hard, as being a family of a rescue comrade is not easy.â
âSheng Ning has been in contact with the rescue world quite a bit, and I believe she can understand. Besides, I could have requested family accompaniment long ago.â
âNingning is not yet able to get engaged,â Shen Luhua sighed, her expression relaxing helplessly.
âWhy?â Xu Qigang suddenly stood up, his face darkening like stormy waters. He inherently distrusted Xiao Ningâs stepmother, and now her words seemed almost threatening.
Shen Luhua was startled by his reaction, losing her composure and looking at him with a bit of panic.
âIâm sorry, Iâm sorryâŠâ Xu Qigang quickly apologized, âI donât understand what you mean by that.â
âDonât rush, sit down and listen to me explain.â Young people are just too impulsive.
How could he sit down? If Xiao Ning didnât marry him, he couldnât imagine what he might do.
âIâd rather stand to hear what you have to say.â
Shen Luhua looked at him with disdain, âYouâre nearly six feet three inches tall, standing in front of meâŠâ
âIâm sorry!â Xu Qigang quickly and obediently sat down.
âActually, the reason she cannot marry you is simple; Sheng Ning owes the town mayor five thousand yuan, and if she doesnât pay it within a year, she has to marry the mayorâs foolish son.â
âBang!â Xu Qigang punched the table hard, instantly causing numerous cracks in the jujube wood table.
Shen Luhua was distressed.
In the kitchen, where Lao San was busy making scrambled eggs, he heard the noise and was about to rush out when Sheng An held him back.
âDad, donât rush.â
âWhat happened? They didnât start fighting, did they?â
âDad, he came to ask for her hand in marriage, not to fight. Would he dare?â
âYou have a point,â Lao San laughed happily, relieved, âAnâan, let me tell you, Qigang is a really good boy. In my opinion, thereâs nobody in the county more promising than him.â
âOh please⊠just because heâs impressive!â Sheng An pouted, feeling happy for Sheng Ning yet also a bit reluctant.
Sheng Ning had only just started being nice to her, started giving her clothes, and now she was about to get married. About to be taken away by another man, it somehow felt like a loss.
âDad, can Sheng Ning not get married?â Sheng An spoke whatever was on her mind, and her words were immediately met with a glare from Lao San.
âNonsense! Rain must fall and girls must marry, itâs natural. Is Ningning supposed to stay home and turn into an old maid?â
âThen let her! If she quits the union, Iâll sell bean sprouts to support her.â Although Sheng Ning was lazy, she was a great cook!
She was willing to support her.
âNonsense, girl!â Lao San playfully slapped her, âIâm warning you, donât you dare harbor such absurd thoughts. Sheâs already eighteen, if she doesnât get engaged soon, she wonât get married at all.â
Sheng Ningâs reputation was already poor in the village, and there wasnât a single family willing to marry her. When Xu Qigang and his parents came asking for her hand, he could have laughed himself to sleep.
âYou too, even though you broke off that engagement with the mayorâs family, Iâll still arrange for a matchmaker to find someone suitable for you.â
Being able to marry off both his daughters and see them live well was Lao Sanâs greatest wish in life.
Sheng Ning stuck out her tongue, âDad, stop talking about me, you should worry about Sheng Ning! We wrote her a letter, and she hasnât replied yet. What if you agree and she doesnât?â
âWhat then? We canât keep indulging her. Look at Qigang, heâs a good boy, sheâll have fortunate days ahead with him.â
Initially, Lao San had wanted to agree when Xu Xianxiong and his wife came proposing, had Shen Luhua not insisted on asking Ningningâs opinion. Maybe the engagement would have been settled by then.
After Xu Xianxiong and his wife left, he regretted it.
What if they found out about Sheng Ningâs reputation and refused? So this time when Xu Qigang visited, he examined him thoroughly.
The more he looked, the more satisfied he became, nearly wishing to settle the marriage at once.