The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 14

Wang Yufen had prepared a vast array of local delicacies. The moment Chen Che’s parents stepped inside, they were stunned; local specialties were not only piled high on the table but also spread across the floor.

Wearing her apron, Wang Yufen explained warmly, “I wasn’t sure what you’d like. Pingcheng doesn’t have much to offer, so please just try these as a novelty. The items on the floor are for you to take home.”

“Sister Yufen, you are being far too kind,” Zhou Fang replied. “When you visited us last time, I didn’t even think to prepare half as much.”

Wang Yufen believed that when two families met to discuss marriage, there was always a bit of a silent competition. Her family might not be as wealthy as the Chens, but she refused to be outdone when it came to sincerity and hospitality.

Before arriving, Old Mrs. Zhou had harbored some reservations. Her grandson, Chen Che, was hardly the type of man who struggled to find a wife; why did he have to find a girl from the Pingcheng countryside? In reality, Pingcheng was a small city, but to the older generation in the provincial capital, everywhere else was considered “the sticks.”

However, seeing the family and the effort they had made, her mood softened. The girl was beautiful, lively, and cheerful—a perfect complement to Chen Che’s steady, taciturn nature. Moreover, entering the Song household, she could feel a wonderful family atmosphere. She remembered that back in the rural areas during her day, many families still favored boys over girls.

This family was clearly different. From the warm reception to the thoughtful gifts, it was obvious they cherished their daughter. Since the bride’s family had shown such sincerity, the Chens could not afford to fall short.

The old lady affectionately took Song Mingyue’s hand. “The last time you visited the provincial capital, Xiaofang and Daoyuan didn’t even tell me. I scolded them for a long time. This is my first time meeting you, so I must give you a meeting gift.”

With that, she slid a jade bracelet off her own wrist and onto Song Mingyue’s. “It’s just a small token of my affection. Take it for now. When you two get married, Grandma will give you an even bigger gift.”

Wang Yufen tried to intervene. “Oh, that’s too much! How can we take your things while you’re a guest in our home?”

Zhou Fang said with a smile, “Just let her give it. Last time she missed seeing Yueyue, she wouldn’t stop nagging us about it.”

The room erupted in laughter.

As soon as Song Mingyue felt the cool, smooth texture of the jade, she knew it was incredibly valuable. Against her slender, pale arm, the bracelet looked delicate and exquisite. The gift was real, and the smiles were genuine. It was a pity, she thought, that this marriage was a sham.

After lunch, Chen Daoyuan was picked up by a friend from the city to discuss some work matters. Fearing that Sun Xiangcui might come by to stir up trouble, Wang Yufen suggested taking the others to a nearby Earth God Temple. It was said that this temple was famous for blessing marriages; everyone in the area visited before a wedding. Furthermore, Song Mingyue’s maternal grandmother lived nearby, and it was a good chance for the elderly woman to see her prospective grandson-in-law.

In truth, Wang Yufen was gambling. She hoped Sun Xiangcui was just all talk. In this town, marriage was a sacred affair. Breaking up a marriage was considered a sin equal to destroying ten temples. Despite how Liu Jiabao and Song Jiajia had bullied Mingyue in the past, Wang Yufen had never dreamed of sabotaging their engagement; she believed such an act would invite divine retribution.

She hadn’t expected that Sun Xiangcui’s malice had completely stripped her of her sense of right and wrong. Just as they reached the bridge at the end of the road, Sun Xiangcui came racing after them on a bicycle.

Earlier that day, Song Jiajia had gone to work, but at noon, she had come running home in tears. She locked herself in her room and refused to eat. When Sun Xiangcui finally got her to open the door, Jiajia sobbed that Liu Jiabao wanted to break off their engagement.

Sun Xiangcui had been stunned. The Liu family was a prestigious connection they had worked hard to climb toward. In a ten-mile radius, no girl had ever been dumped after an engagement. How could she ever marry anyone else?

“Don’t cry yet,” Sun Xiangcui had urged. “Tell Mother what happened.”

“The whole factory is talking about how Song Mingyue is marrying the son of a high-ranking official from the provincial capital,” Jiajia cried. “I just complained a little to Jiabao, and he got angry and said he wanted to call it off!”

Jiajia sobbed, feeling her life was cursed. Even after being given a second chance at life, she was still being overshadowed. She declared desperately, “If Jiabao leaves me, I don’t want to live anymore!”

Panicked, Sun Xiangcui had hopped on her bike to intercept the Song family.

Zhou Fang and the others were confused by the woman cycling furiously toward them. “Sister Yufen, do you know her?”

Wang Yufen felt a surge of embarrassment. She shot a look at her husband, Songaiguo. “She’s a relative. Her family might be having some trouble. Aiguo, go see what she wants. Don’t let her ruin our walk.”

Songaiguo stepped forward to block Sun Xiangcui. He hated dealing with dramatic women, especially his sister-in-law. He said sternly, “We are family. It’s one thing to bicker on normal days, but today is my daughter’s big day. Sun Xiangcui, don’t go too far.”

To his horror, Sun Xiangcui threw herself onto her knees in front of him and wailed, “Mingyue, I beg of you! You’re already marrying a rich man from the city. Please just let my Jiajia go! She isn’t as good as you, but that doesn’t mean you should bully her like this!”

Her voice was so loud it was impossible for the Chens to ignore. Everyone looked at one another in confusion. Song Mingyue, unwilling to let the situation remain murky, said, “This is my Second Aunt. I’ll go talk to her.”

Zhou Fang suggested, “Let’s all go. There must be a misunderstanding.”

Sun Xiangcui’s face was streaked with tears. Seeing Mingyue approach, she wailed even louder.

Wang Yufen pulled her aside, fuming. “Sun Xiangcui, tell everyone—who is bullying whom? When has my Mingyue ever dared to bully your family?”

“Liu Jiabao wants to break off the engagement with Jiajia!”

“And what does that have to do with us?”

“It must be something Mingyue said to him! Not long ago, Mingyue almost died jumping into this very river for him. If she hadn’t been pestering Jiabao, why would he suddenly want to break up with Jiajia?”

The revelation shocked everyone present.

Wang Yufen’s face turned bright red with rage. She wanted to slap Sun Xiangcui then and there, but she forced herself to maintain composure in front of her guests. “What nonsense are you talking? Isn’t Liu Jiabao your son-in-law? My Mingyue is getting married soon; what does he have to do with her?”

“How can it not matter? Didn’t Mingyue throw herself into the river for him right here on this bank just last month? If she hadn’t been saved, she’d be in a grave by now! Everyone on this street knows she’s been framing my Jiajia because of Jiabao. Since she has a new man, why is she still leading Jiabao on?”

“Sun Xiangcui, you’re twisting the truth! I’ll tear your mouth apart! Your daughter was the one who seduced Liu Jiabao, and my Yueyue was almost killed for it. Do you have no conscience?”

As the two women were about to come to blows, Chen Che stepped forward.

He was tall and possessed a powerful, commanding aura. He effortlessly caught Sun Xiangcui’s reaching arm, his gaze sharp and his voice booming with authority: “Song Mingyue is the woman I am going to marry. If you have something to say, say it to me.”

Sun Xiangcui, a village woman who had never even left Pingcheng, was terrified. Her bravado vanished instantly. “I… I just told you what happened.”

“Chen Che, you can’t listen to her lies!” Wang Yufen pleaded. “Mingyue hasn’t seen Liu Jiabao in ages. She would never interfere with them!”

So there really is a Liu Jiabao, Zhou Fang thought, a seed of doubt taking root.

She wanted her daughter-in-law to be beyond reproach. Recalling the incident at her house, she began to wonder. She knew her son’s character; he wasn’t the type to impulsively offend a girl. At the time, she assumed the girl had initiated things, but she hadn’t minded as long as her son finally settled down.

Now, hearing Sun Xiangcui’s accusations, she couldn’t help but wonder if Song Mingyue was “fast” or “easy”—the type of girl who would die for one man and then end up in bed with another shortly after.

The trip to the temple was cancelled.

Wang Yufen could tell that Zhou Fang and the others were unhappy. As a mother, she understood. If she heard that her son’s fiancée had tried to commit suicide over another man, she wouldn’t want the marriage to proceed either. But the more she tried to explain, the messier it became.

Song Mingyue was also frustrated. She feared that if this arrangement fell through, she would be stuck in an endless cycle of blind dates again.

She glanced at Chen Che. He seemed to sense her gaze and looked up. For two seconds, their eyes met before Mingyue looked away. He really was her ideal type—handsome, steady, and willing to agree to a fake marriage. It would be a shame to lose him.

However, she wasn’t the type to cling. It was a fake marriage anyway, only meant to appease her parents. If it ended, so be it.

Song Mingyue stepped forward gracefully to clear the air. “Grandma, Auntie Zhou, I think I should explain. Liu Jiabao and I grew up together. Recently, he started seeing my cousin. I was in pain for a while, but it wasn’t so much about him as it was the betrayal by my own family. Eventually, I realized I shouldn’t punish myself for their mistakes. They are the ones in the wrong. So, I moved on.”

She continued firmly, “That is the whole truth. Furthermore, nothing actually happened between Chen Che and me at your house. I respect your decision. If you wish to call off the engagement, I understand. My father and Uncle Chen are old comrades; there’s no need for our families to be awkward. You are still welcome to visit us anytime.”

“Yueyue, you…” Wang Yufen wanted to stop her, but the words wouldn’t come. Perhaps it was better they knew now. If they found out after the wedding, it would be much harder to resolve.

Zhou Fang hesitated. Mingyue was a lovely girl, but the Chen family could easily find someone else just as good, if not better.

Before she could speak, Chen Che turned to Wang Yufen and gave his word: “We aren’t calling it off. I know about Mingyue’s past. As long as she has no contact with that man now, I don’t care. I believe in her.”

Even though it was a moving sentiment, it came out of his mouth without a hint of romantic flair—yet it sounded incredibly sincere and powerful.