Liu Aihong kept looking at her daughter and thought to herself that this marriage had to go through, no matter what.

After everyone left, she sighed and said, “What about Qiao Qiao?”

Shen Wenhua had already smoked several cigarettes and replied, “We’re doing this for her own good. You should try to talk to her more.”

Shen Qiao, completely unaware, received the news at home and felt like lightning struck her. It was supposed to be a joyful family reunion on New Year’s Eve, but her eyes were red as a rabbit’s, and she gritted her teeth, saying, “I won’t marry him.”

Liu Aihong sat down with her daughter and spoke earnestly for a long time, but by the time the New Year's dinner was prepared, it was only a makeshift meal. Now, seeing her daughter’s stubbornness, tears fell from Liu Aihong’s eyes as she said, “If you don’t marry him, what will we do? The word’s already out, and now it would look like you’re calling off the engagement. These are our neighbors. How are we supposed to face them? Zhang Shun’s father manages your dad and your second brother’s work. What will we do if they lose face? What if they make things difficult for your dad later? You youngsters don’t understand much, but your mom won’t harm you. Just think about it—Zhang Shun treats you well, and his family…”

This same old speech, Shen Qiao could almost recite it by heart.

She sat lifelessly, as if she had become a hollow shell.

Shen Wenhua continued smoking, striking a match and lighting another cigarette, then said, “Qiao Qiao, you should think of your parents. We’ve never mistreated you all these years. Trust me, we wouldn’t hurt you. Zhang Shun really is a good match for you.”

Shen Qiao finally moved. She looked up and said, “It’s because I trusted you too much that things ended up like this.”

Her voice carried a hint of bitterness. After all, this was her lifelong decision.

Shen Wenhua heard it clearly. He wasn’t the most patient person and, sensing his irritation, he snapped, “Well, it’s already like this. Just wait for the wedding.”

With that, he slammed the door behind him.

Shen Qiao collapsed to the floor, holding her face as she cried.

She was a premature baby, the only daughter in the family, spoiled and pampered since childhood. Even though she had spent years in the countryside, she hadn’t suffered much hardship. She didn’t earn much in terms of labor points, but with her parents' support, she had lived comfortably.

She had seen how things worked over the years. In families in the countryside, those who stayed behind often became a burden. In the beginning, things were fine, but over time, conflicts were inevitable.

While she had been home for only a few days, her sister-in-law had started to show signs of dissatisfaction. When she had heard about the dowry, her second sister-in-law’s expression had changed.

Tears fell in a steady stream as she struggled to breathe between sobs.

Liu Aihong, clutching her chest, said, “Are you planning to kill your father and me before you’ll agree?”

Shen Qiao only felt that her mother’s expression seemed foreign to her. She couldn’t control her words and numbly said, “I don’t want to marry.”

This child—why was she so stubborn?

Liu Aihong’s anger flared. “So, you want me to die before you’ll agree to this?”

She stormed to the window, her posture suggesting that she might jump out at any moment.

The whole family was shocked. Shen Wenhua shouted, “Qiao Qiao, quickly go and talk to your mother!”

But what else could she say? Shen Qiao’s eyes were unfocused, and she gripped the door frame harder. A splinter of wood pierced into her skin, and she felt the sting of blood. It was as if the words were not even hers, but everyone heard her slow reply: “I’ll marry.”

After saying that, she collapsed onto the ground, her expression heart-wrenching.

Shen Dao wanted to help his sister but was stopped by his wife, He Biyu. He didn’t move.

Only Shen Liang looked around, handing his sister some tissue.

Shen Qiao, when she took the tissue, almost automatically said, “Thank you.”

The whole situation felt like a farce, yet no one knew how to continue.

It was Shen Wenhua who finally spoke, saying, “Oldest son, don’t just stand there. Help your mother.”

He Biyu, holding onto her mother-in-law, was thinking about how things had gotten so disruptive during the New Year. It made sense why people didn’t like having an older sister at home; it was better to get them married off early to avoid having to send so many things to the countryside every month.

She exchanged a glance with her sister-in-law, Wu Mei. They were both of one mind.

Wu Mei, who had just joined the family last year, pregnant with a four-month-old child, saw that she wasn’t needed at the moment and gave a sideways glance before saying, “Qiao Qiao, get up. The floor is cold.”

Shen Qiao waved her hand. “It’s fine, second sister-in-law. I’ll sit here for a while.”

She seemed to have returned to her senses, her demeanor no different from usual.

Shen Wenhua stopped pushing her, glanced at the living room clock, and said, “Let’s all get some sleep.”

The next day, on the first day of the New Year, there were a lot of visitors.

Shen Qiao stayed in her room, not wanting to see anyone, but everyone had something to say to her.

Her cousin said, “Your parents have always spoiled you. Just look at this room. Who else gets to live here alone?”

Shen Qiao turned to look. The house had originally been a three-bedroom apartment but had been partitioned into four rooms. She had lived here by herself before she went to the countryside, but now, with both older brothers married, this room had become her younger brother’s.

The few items she had cared about when she came back were nowhere to be found. Once Shen Liang married, this room would be converted into their wedding room, repainted, and there would be no place left for her.

Her aunt said, “Think about your dad too. He’s fifty and still working night shifts just to make sure you don’t suffer in the countryside. You should come home earlier.”

Shen Qiao counted on her fingers. Her dad had originally been a level four worker, earning sixty-five yuan a month, the main breadwinner in the family. Her mom did some handicrafts and earned about seventy a month. Together, they managed to save a couple of hundred a year.

Her oldest brother had come back to the city a few years ago, spending a thousand yuan on his work transfer. Then, he spent another thousand on his wedding. Her second brother had taken her dad’s job, and when he married, the family had to balance things out with a thousand yuan as well. Now, with her youngest brother, everything needed money. It didn’t seem as though her parents had only been working hard for her.

Her uncle’s wife said, “Your mom always tears up whenever she talks about you. You’re so far away. How can we rest easy?”

Shen Qiao remembered that she shouldn’t have gone to Guangming Brigade, but at that time, the family had wanted to transfer her oldest brother back. According to the policies for sent-down youth, she had to go to a tough place to work for the country. It took five days by train, then ox cart, through mountains in all directions. She couldn’t even tell which direction home was, and she cried like the legendary Meng Jiangnu that first year.