Chapter 114: 112. Idle Chatter (Seeking first subscriptions, seeking monthly tickets!)

"Thank you for raising a daughter like Xiao Lu, Brother and Sister-in-law. It is Sicheng's good fortune to be able to marry Xiao Lu. I would like to propose a toast to you both." Zhang Ran appeared very enthusiastic, just like any parent of a groom meeting the parents of a bride.

Even Xiao Chunhua could not find any fault in Zhang Ran's behavior.

Seeing Zhang Ran like this, Zhang Sicheng subconsciously gripped Liu Lu's hand. For some reason, Liu Lu looked at him and smiled slightly; Liu Lu could understand her husband's intentions.

Zhang Ran was very talkative at the dinner table, and his conversation was humorous; he could chat about anything from all corners of the world.

Liu Mao had also traveled far and wide over these years, though his "traveling far and wide" was just going everywhere to work odd jobs.

But he discovered that no matter what place he mentioned, Zhang Ran could keep up with the conversation, and when talking about things from the seventies and eighties, Zhang Ran also responded fluently.

At this moment, Liu Mao finally believed that Zhang Ran was truly over fifty.

It was just that Zhang Ran's appearance was too young, unreasonably young!

Zhang Ran's ability to persuade others to drink was also very good; at the very least, Liu Mao could not resist at all, and very quickly he became somewhat muddled.

Coupled with the fact that Zhang Ran could guide the topics, making the conversation between the two sides very pleasant, they unknowingly drank until three o'clock, and Liu Mao was drunk under the table.

"Please drink some hot water. Would you like to rest for a while? I will tidy up a room for you," Liu Lu said as she brought over a bowl of hot water.

This was the first time since she married Zhang Sicheng that she had eaten a meal at home for so long, and the atmosphere was so harmonious.

She could feel that Zhang Ran was deliberately saying nice things, and could even be said to be deliberately currying favor with her parents.

Although Liu Lu did not know the specific details of Zhang Ran's past, she was not a fool. From many of Ning Qing's attitudes, she could tell that Zhang Ran should not be as simple as just a person whose home was demolished; otherwise, Ning Qing would not have that attitude toward her.

But even so, Zhang Ran still made such gestures, taking the initiative to curry favor with a rural man—how could Liu Lu not feel it?

Zhang Ran took the hot water, took a small sip, and said, "It's fine, no need to sleep. By the way, where is Dayong? Why haven't I seen him?"

Only then did Zhang Ran remember He Yong; because he had been drinking with his in-laws, he had forgotten for a moment.

"He Shu is over by the car. I brought the food over to him, but he didn't come over when I asked him to," Liu Lu said.

Zhang Ran knew He Yong's personality and said, "I know. I'll go find him and take a stroll to sober up while I'm at it."

"Why don't I go with you?" Liu Lu was afraid Zhang Ran was drunk, so she said quickly.

"No need. You stay here and keep your parents company. I'll just have Dayong accompany me," Zhang Ran said.

Zhang Ran found He Yong and went out for a walk with him.

Just as Zhang Ran left, Xiao Chunhua had also settled Liu Mao down. Looking at her daughter, who had changed quite a bit, she didn't know how to start a conversation for a moment.

Only then did she realize that over these many years, because of what happened back then, she had rarely spoken properly with her daughter. For a moment, Xiao Chunhua felt a bit dazed.

"Second Aunt, this is your son-in-law's car, right? Not bad. You really spent a fortune this year," someone shouted from outside the door.

Xiao Chunhua was stunned when she heard this, then walked out to take a look, only to discover two cars parked at her door.

"Second Aunt, did your son-in-law strike it rich?" Seeing Xiao Chunhua come out, someone said with a laugh.

Yet, there was not a hint of envy or congratulations in their tone; rather, it was mostly mocking.

Xiao Chunhua naturally heard it too, but before she could retort, she was gently pulled by her son, Liu Kai, and then heard her son whisper, "These two cars were driven back by Brother-in-law and Sister."

Once these words were out, Xiao Chunhua immediately fell silent. She thought the same as these people, subconsciously assuming that the cars must have been rented by Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu for the sake of appearances.

This made Xiao Chunhua's face turn ugly in an instant. In the eyes of many rural people, spending such wasted money for the sake of face was being a complete fool.

Two years ago, there was a young man in their village who worked away from home and rented a car to come back for the sake of face. At the time, everyone didn't know, and they were indeed very envious.

But later, the car was crashed by the young man, and it was crashed quite badly, almost ruined. Fortunately, the young man was fine, but the car had to be compensated for.

The young man had no money and could only reach out to his family for it, and that was how the matter spread.

Even now, this person was still the object of everyone's jokes. Just like Liu Lu, for so many years, many parents in the village would use Liu Lu as an example when educating their daughters who were about to get married.

Saying how Liu Lu wouldn't listen to her family's advice back then, and look at the life she was living now.

So Xiao Chunhua's expression was naturally ugly. Their family had already become a joke, and now another thing had been added; how could her mood be good?

"None of your business? Our family is willing. If you're so capable, let your son rent one for me to see," Xiao Chunhua seemed to be angry from embarrassment and started cursing loudly.

"Heh heh, Second Aunt, don't be angry. My boy doesn't have such 'grandeur.' If he dared to do that, I would definitely break his legs."

Xiao Chunhua's face became even uglier from being needled, and she returned to the house in a huff. Seeing Liu Lu tidying up things in the courtyard, she no longer had the mood to talk to her as she had before; she just muttered "wasteful thing" as she passed by her and left, leaving Liu Lu feeling baffled and aggrieved.

Zhang Ran and He Yong arrived at the entrance of the village, sat on a large rock to bask in the sun, and chatted aimlessly.

There were already quite a few people standing here chatting. Although they didn't recognize Zhang Ran and the others, some people would greet them from time to time.

It was almost the New Year, and there were many people visiting relatives, so it was normal not to recognize everyone.

However, very quickly, Zhang Ran's expression became somewhat unpleasant; he heard things about their family.

"Have you heard? That silly girl from Da Mao's family actually rented two luxury cars for the sake of face. She really spent a fortune; I heard it's at least a few thousand yuan a day."

"Who's to say it isn't? I guess it's because she's mentally unbalanced. After all, she didn't listen to her family's advice back then and stubbornly followed her husband away, not even asking for a single cent of the bride price. I heard her mother even threatened to die back then, but it didn't make her come back."

"Heh, if I had raised a daughter like that, I'd be so angry I'd die. You tell me, can we parents harm them? Fighting against us day in and day out."

"Anyway, I won't let my daughter be like that. Whoever wants to marry my daughter, don't even think about it without an 180,000 yuan bride price. If he doesn't even want to pay the bride price, he expects to be good to my daughter? Keep dreaming."

"Right, right, right. Look at that girl from Da Mao's family, isn't that her? She only cared about the person, but what was the result? She got nothing. I heard they are living very poorly in Shanghai, and the couple's life is very tight."

"Vanity leads to suffering. But you have to say, that husband she married has a really thick skin. It's been so many years, and even after she gave birth to a child for him, he hasn't paid a single cent of the bride price to this day."

"That's why they say how else could he marry a wife without spending a cent? If his skin wasn't thick enough, how could he trick a young girl?"

"Haha, that's true."