Chapter 125

Xiao Yunzhe kept asking, but got no useful information: "He hasn't returned for many years, has he?"

Translation: Xiao Yunzhe asked along the way, but got no useful information: "He hasn't come back for many years, has he?" Need to keep punctuation? We'll output as a single line.

"Yes, Xiao Shan left more than twenty years ago and has never returned since."

Translation: "Yes, Xiao Shan left over twenty years ago and has never returned since."

Xiao Yunzhe questioned nearly everyone in the village, but came up empty-handed; only the family that bought the old Xiao family house obtained some useful information and learned the truth about why his great-uncle sold the house back then.

Translation: Xiao Yunzhe asked around almost the entire village, but in the end got nothing; only the family that bought the old Xiao family house obtained some useful information and also learned the truth about why his great-uncle sold the house back then.

"'Xiao Shan, I bought this house from him,' said the buyer, reminiscing."

Translation: "Xiao Shan, I bought this house from him," said the buyer, recollecting.

"That year, when Xiao Shan heard I wanted to buy a house, he approached me, offered a very favorable price, and hastily sold me the house. Seeing how rushed he was, I couldn't help asking why he was in such a hurry to sell."

Translation: "That year, hearing I wanted to buy a house, Xiao Shan sought me out, gave me a very favorable price, and hastily sold the house to me; seeing how anxious he was, I blurted out a question, asking why he was in such a rush to buy a house."

"He said he had a nephew who had assaulted someone in the county town; the victim demanded 10,000 yuan in compensation, otherwise they would beat his nephew to death. He had no choice, so he hurriedly sold the house to raise money to save his nephew."

Translation: "He said he had a nephew who had beaten someone in the county town; the other party demanded compensation of ten thousand, otherwise they would kill his nephew, so he had no choice and urgently bought the house to rescue his nephew."

"When I heard about his situation, I gave him the money at once. He packed his bags and headed to the county town, and after that, we never heard from him again."

Translation: "When I heard his situation, I gave him the money at once; he packed his luggage and went to the county town, after which there was no further news."

"Xiao Yunzhe and Geng Jing Shu heard this, and both sighed heavily with heavy hearts."

Translation: Xiao Yunzhe and Geng Jing Shu, hearing this, both sighed with heavy hearts.

"Afterwards, the two returned to the car and discussed: 'Honey, I feel like our great-uncle was tricked.'"

Translation: Afterwards the two returned to the car and discussed: "Dear, I feel our great-uncle was tricked."

"After summarizing the information just given by the house buyer, Xiao Yunzhe analyzed: 'When our father was still young, there were basically no communication tools. Moreover, our father said he took the great-uncle's money and went straight to Mengcheng, and perhaps we caused trouble in the county town, so I think the great-uncle was definitely swindled.'"

Translation: After organizing the information just heard from the house buyer, Xiao Yunzhe analyzed: "When our father was still young, there were basically no communication tools; moreover, our father said he took the great-uncle's money and went straight to Meng Cheng, and we might have caused trouble in the county town, so I think the great-uncle was definitely deceived."

"'Having been deceived, he hastily sold the old house left by our grandparents to our father, and after that, we know nothing of what happened.'"

Translation: "Having been deceived, he hastily sold the old house left by our grandparents to our father, and what happened afterward is unknown."

"'If my judgment is correct, then our father has actually misunderstood the great-uncle all these years.'"

Translation: "If my judgment is correct, then our father has actually misunderstood the great-uncle all these years."

"Xiao Yunzhe sighed helplessly: 'What the truth really is, we'll know once we find the great-uncle.'"

Translation: Xiao Yunzhe sighed helplessly: "What the truth is, we'll know once we find the great-uncle."

"'Yeah, I think the same; we should hurry and find the great-uncle.' Geng Jing Shu also nodded in agreement."

Translation: "Mm, I think the same; we should hurry to find the great-uncle." Geng Jing Shu also nodded in agreement.

"'I used to have a coworker whose family is from Yun City; he might be able to help us, though not necessarily.'"

Translation: "I once had a coworker whose family is from Yun Cheng; he might be able to help us, though not necessarily."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). Keep as is.

"At that moment, on the other side of Yun City, there is a remote suburb of the town."

Translation: At this moment, on the other side of Yun Cheng, a remote suburb of the town.

"In a rundown courtyard house, Xiao Shan sits on a rocking chair in the yard, holding an old pipe, puffing away one cigarette after another, his brows furrowed, sighing continuously."

Translation: In a shabby courtyard, Xiao Shan sat on a rocking chair in the yard, holding an old pipe, puffing on cigarette after cigarette, brows furrowed, sighing one after another.

"At this time, he is fifty-eight years old; his dark face is full of the marks of having weathered many hardships."

Translation: At this time he is fifty-eight years old; his dark face is fully marked by the traces of weathering.

"Opposite him sits a young man who keeps his head down, the scene looking quite sorrowful."

Translation: Opposite him sat a young man who kept his head down, the scene looking rather sorrowful.

"After a while, Xiao Shan slowly spoke: 'Grandson, if you can marry the girl you like, I would be truly happy from the bottom of my heart. Our whole family has gone to great lengths to scrape together the bride-price money, and now we're just about to hold the wedding banquet; relatives and friends have all been notified. Why is the bride's family suddenly demanding an extra 200,000 yuan in bride-price at this moment?'"

Translation: After a while, Xiao Shan spoke slowly: "Grandson, being able to marry the girl you like makes me happy from the bottom of my heart; our whole family spent great effort to gather the betrothal money, and now we are about to hold the wedding banquet, relatives and friends have all been notified—why does the bride's family suddenly demand an extra twenty thousand in betrothal at this moment?"

"'Tell me, Grandpa, what are you really thinking? Do you truly love that girl?' Xiao Shan said, his tone rather helpless."

Translation: "Tell Grandpa what you really think—do you truly like that girl?" Xiao Shan said in a rather helpless tone.

"The young man sitting opposite Xiao Shan is named Xiao Junrong, Xiao Shan's only grandson."

Translation: The young man sitting opposite Xiao Shan is called Xiao Junrong, his sole grandson.

"This year, Xiao Junfeng is already twenty-three; he and his girlfriend met in university, and their relationship has always been good. Their long‑running romance is about to bear fruit, but unexpectedly they have encountered various obstacles from the girlfriend's parents."

Translation: This year, Xiao Junfeng is already twenty-three; he and his girlfriend met in university, their feelings have always been good, and this long-distance love was about to bear fruit, yet unexpectedly they encountered various difficulties from the girlfriend's parents.

"The Xiao family's financial situation is not good."

Translation: The Xiao family's financial situation is not good.

"Xiao Shan used to be a farmer, later worked on construction sites in the city, earning some money; with it he established a household here, and the remaining funds went to his son. Xiao Junfeng's father opened a supermarket in this area, where things are cheap, business is not good, and earnings barely cover the family's expenses."

Translation: Xiao Shan used to be a farmer, later worked on construction sites in the city, earning some money; he established a household here, the remaining funds went to his son, Xiao Junfeng's father opened a supermarket; in this place things are cheap, business is not good, earnings just cover the family's expenses.

"They managed to save a little money with difficulty, barely enough for Xiao Junfeng's wedding."

Translation: They barely saved enough, just sufficient for Xiao Junfeng's wedding expenses.

"At present, Xiao Junfeng works at a large company, but not in a high position, earning only about six or seven thousand yuan per month."

Translation: At present Xiao Junfeng works at a large company, but not in a high position, earning only about six or seven thousand per month.

"His wedding had been all arranged; they were just waiting three days to hold the banquet."

Translation: His wedding had been all arranged, awaiting the banquet in three days.

"Unexpectedly, the bride's parents suddenly said they wanted double the bride-price; they had already given 200,000 yuan, meaning the bride's side now demands another 200,000."

Translation: Unexpectedly, the woman's parents suddenly said they wanted double the betrothal; they had already given twenty thousand before, meaning the bride's side now demands another twenty thousand.

"'Otherwise, they would not allow the wedding procession to proceed.'"

Translation: Otherwise they would not allow the wedding procession.

"They say that nowadays other families' bride-price is at least six or seven hundred thousand; they only ask for four hundred thousand, which is already quite generous to the Xiao family. If even this demand cannot be met, it would be as if the Xiao family wanted to slap the girl's side in front of relatives and friends."

Translation: They say, nowadays other families' betrothals are at least six or seven hundred thousand; they only ask for four hundred thousand, which is already giving the Xiao family considerable face—if they cannot meet this demand, it's as if they want to slap the bride's family in front of relatives and friends.

"At this point, the Xiao family has already spent almost all its money on the wedding; not even 200,000, even 20,000 yuan is beyond Xiao Junfeng's reach."

Translation: At this point the Xiao family, for the wedding, has already spent almost all its money; not to mention twenty thousand, even two thousand Xiao Junfeng cannot produce.

"After he told his family the bride's demand, everyone in the household fell into distress."

Translation: After he told the family the bride's demand, the household also fell into distress.

"Seeing his grandson's troubled expression, Xiao Shan felt uneasy: 'Junfeng, as long as you are sure you truly love this girl and would marry no one else, Grandpa will find a way to get the money for you, no matter what.'"

Translation: Seeing his grandson's troubled look, Xiao Shan felt uneasy: "Junfeng, as long as you are sure you truly like this girl and will marry no one else, Grandpa will find a way to get the money for you, no matter what."

"Xiao Junfeng glanced at his grandfather, wanting to speak but holding back; at this moment he is caught in a dilemma."

Translation: Xiao Junfeng glanced at his grandfather, wanting to speak but holding back; at this moment he was caught in a dilemma.

"He was so distressed, having heard that drinking can settle feuds, he grabbed his grandfather's nearby bottle of liquor, took a big gulp, and immediately tears welled up from the sting."

Translation: He was so distressed, hearing that drinking could settle feuds, he grabbed his grandfather's nearby liquor bottle and gulped a mouthful, immediately bringing tears to his eyes.

"Afterwards, he helplessly shed tears."

Translation: Afterwards, he helplessly shed tears.

"As they say, a man does not shed tears lightly; he is truly driven to desperation with no recourse."

Translation: As they say, men do not shed tears lightly; he was truly driven to having no recourse.

"He knows the family's situation; his relatives have already given him all they can, and he really can't bear to make them worry any further about his affairs."

Translation: He knows the family's situation; relatives have already given all they could, and he truly cannot bear to let them worry over his affairs any further.

"Especially his grandfather, who has doted on him since childhood; now the grandfather is nearly sixty, it should be his turn to repay the grandfather, yet instead he is making the old man worry over him."

Translation: Especially his grandfather, who has doted on him since childhood; now the grandfather is nearly sixty, it should be his turn to repay the grandfather, yet he lets the grandfather, at such an age, still worry over him.

"Since he confided in his grandfather about the matter, he has constantly heard his grandfather's sighs."

Translation: Since he told his grandfather about the matter, he has constantly heard his grandfather's sighs.

"His grandfather has always been a strong person; he has never seen him like this, indicating that this matter has truly overwhelmed his grandfather."

Translation: His grandfather has always been strong; he has never seen him like this, indicating that this matter has truly stumped the grandfather.

"Yet he also cannot bear to disappoint the girl who has always loved him deeply."

Translation: Yet he cannot bear to disappoint the girl who has always loved him deeply.

"At this moment, she is also torn."

Translation: At this moment she, too, is torn.

"He really wants to tell his grandfather."

Translation: He very much wants to tell his grandfather.

"'I don't want to get married.'"

Translation: "I won't get married."

"'But he can't do that, because of this situation, his girlfriend Song Huihui has shed many tears.'"

Translation: But he cannot do it, because in this matter his girlfriend Song Huihui has shed many tears.

"'This Song Huihui is also a pitiful girl; her parents died when she was very young, and since then she has lived with her aunt's family.'"

Translation: This Song Huihui is also a pitiful girl; her parents died when she was very young, and since then she has lived with her aunt's family.

"'Her aunt, when they said they wanted to marry, demanded an extra 200,000 yuan in bride-price; Xiao Junrong gritted his teeth and agreed, not expecting that later Song Huihui's aunt would become even more demanding, actually asking for another 200,000 on top.'"

Translation: Her aunt, when they said they wanted to marry, demanded twenty thousand betrothal; Xiao Junrong gritted his teeth and agreed, not expecting that later Song Huihui's aunt would become even more demanding, actually asking for another twenty thousand.