Chapter 36: Mute From Poison

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Song Xiuyan stopped Wang Hongxia and looked at her coldly. He had also guessed Wang Hongxia’s motive. “If Ding Yao doesn’t want to go with you, you can forget about taking her away.”

Seeing Song Xiuyan’s fierce look, Second Uncle Ding took a step forward as he looked at Song Xiuyan fiercely. “Why are you being so unreasonable? Let me ask you, did you ask Ding Yao’s father for permission to take her home? Did you give her a betrothal gift?”

At this moment, there were a few villagers who were watching the show at the entrance. Second Uncle Ding thought he had a point, so his voice became louder. “There was no betrothal gift, right? Come, come, come. Everyone, come to judge. Without the parents’permission, without giving her a betrothal gift, and without choosing a date, he casually brought her home. Does this count?! We must bring Ding Yao home today!”

Ding Yao looked coldly at Second Uncle Ding. In the original host’s memory, this uncle was different from Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle. He treated the original host very badly. He would always scold the original host and even beat her up.

Ding Yao carefully recalled all the details and realized that Second Uncle Ding began to hate the original host after the original host’s grandfather died. The reason was that she saw Second Uncle Ding and Wang Hongxia hiding in the woodshed doing something that day. The original host didn’t know what they were doing. She even went in to call Wang Hongxia, but was slapped by Second Uncle Ding when he came out! At that time, the original host was still young and didn’t know much. She didn’t know why she was being beaten. However, Ding Yao was a mature woman in her previous life. With a man and a woman hiding in the woodshed in the middle of the night, what else could they do?! There had to be an affair!

Later that night, when the original host was sleeping, Wang Hongxia uncharacteristically gave the original host a glass of water. Then, the original host lost her voice the next morning. Everyone said that the original host had cried until her voice was hoarse because of her grandfather’s death, but who would have thought that her voice actually became hoarse from Wan Hongxia’s poison!

Song Xiuyan’s expression was cold. “How much betrothal gifts do you want?” It was indeed his fault for bringing Ding Yao home without giving her betrothal gifts. He was willing to give it.

Wang Hongxia immediately demanded, “At least 50,000 yuan!”

The surrounding villagers discussed animatedly. The countryside was backward to begin with and there were few opportunities to earn money. A person’s monthly salary was only a few tens of yuan. 500 yuan was enough to support a whole family for an entire year. 50,000 yuan wasn’t a small fortune!

Song Xiuyan was speechless. Ding Yao looked at Wang Hongxia, as if she was looking at an idiot. It was impressive for her to say it out loud.

Wang Hongxia raised her voice, “Don’t think that 50,000 yuan is a lot of money. Ever since Ding Yao’s grandfather passed away, she has been suffering from some kind of disease. Every three days, she gets sick. Her grandfather saved so much money when he was alive, and we spent it all on Ding Yao. It’s not too much for us to come over to ask for it, right?”

One of the women couldn’t stand it anymore and interrupted, “If you want Song Xiuyan to take out 50,000 yuan, you have to see if he can afford it.” A mute girl wanted 50,000 yuan as a betrothal gift. It was really hilarious.

The other villagers also chimed in. Wang Hongxia had no choice but to explain, “I don’t really want that much money from him. It’s fine if he can’t take it out. If worst comes to worst, our two families will break off the engagement. I can even return the 200 yuan that the Song family gave us for the engagement.”

A kind-hearted elder woman then whispered to Song Xiuyan, “This can be done. You have to agree.”

Song Xiuyan didn’t reply. He wouldn’t agree to it, but the situation in front of him was giving him a headache. Wang Hongxia and Second Uncle Ding were from Ding Yao’s maiden family. It wasn’t easy for him to deal with them, but if they continued to cause trouble, he wouldn’t be able to resolve the situation. Song Xiuyan sighed as he tried his best to remain calm and say to them, “I will listen to Ding Yao’s opinion on whether to leave or not. If she agrees to break off the engagement, I don’t want a single cent. But if she doesn’t want to go with you, you can forget about taking her away!”

“I’ll take Ding Yao away now. I’ll see what you can do!” After saying that, Second Uncle Ding came over rudely and wanted to pull Ding Yao away.

Ding Yao cried out a few times and avoided Second Uncle Ding’s hand.

Song Xiuyan understood what Ding Yao meant. He was stunned for a moment and said, “Ding Yao said just now that she won’t go back with you. If you continue to make a scene, don’t blame her for saying something and making things difficult for you.”

With that, Wang Hongxia’s expression changed, and so did Second Uncle Ding’s. Seeing their expressions, Ding Yao guessed that the two of them were indeed having an affair!

Meeting Ding Yao’s mirthful eyes, Wang Hongxia was a bit nervous. If the matter between her and Second Uncle Ding was exposed, she would be condemned by the people in the village, and she would also be beaten to death by Second Uncle Ding’s wife.