Countdown to Awakening

Lunar New Year's eve--

Zheng Haifeng arrived as scheduled, accompanied by his mother Jiang Li.

"I can't believe that you and Pan Di are dating. I guessed it right. I noticed that you two had that tendency before... and sure enough... When are you planning to get married? We are all waiting to have a feast with you." Qi's mother asked.

"Not so soon... We've only been dating for a short time... It's too early to get married. We haven't even graduated yet. We'll talk about it later."

While the few of them were having a great time, the Sun family of three had a difficult New Year's holiday.

"How dare you not go home for the New Year? You're so brave after studying at a university... You won't even come back for the New Year!"

Chen Juan said unhappily.

Sun Degui was so angry that he almost died. It was a disgrace to him that the little girl didn't go home for the New Year! Many people in the village asked about his daughter's situation... He didn't expect that she would just not go home!

So many people wanted to introduce a man to his daughter, and several of them almost took the money, but this damn girl was not there!

"I heard that the one from the Qi family hasn't come back either. Humph! She must have led Sun Pandi astray. If Sun Pandi was alone, how could she have the guts to not come home? The one from the Qi family has a bad temper and won't tolerate anyone saying anything bad about her. She's definitely not going to get married in the future. If that money-losing Sun Pandi can't get married because of that damn girl from the Qi family, I'm going to find the old couple from the Qi family! I'm going to ask them for an explanation!"

Chen Juan waited so long for Sun Pandi to come back, and even Zheng Haifeng from the village had returned, but she and Qi Yuanyuan still hadn't returned! Wouldn't it be gossip for two girls to stay out and not come home?

She cooked the entire New Year's Eve dinner this year by herself! She was hoping that Sun Pandi, that money-loser, would come home to help! But who knew she'd disappeared? This year, Chen Juan had to take care of the New Year's Eve dinner by herself, working herself to death. Haha... Sun Pandi is so selfish! She's enjoying herself so much outside and didn't even come home to help her mother with the housework! Is she still a daughter of the Sun family?!

Could it be that she still holds a grudge against him for wanting to marry her to Ma Hui? How petty!

Sun Degui suddenly remembered something and put down his chopsticks.

"Why did I hear...that Sun Pandi had to pay me to date Zheng Haifeng? Humph! You've become more capable after being away from home for so long! You're even hooking up with other men on your own?"

When Chen Juan mentioned Zheng Haifeng, her eyes were filled with disdain. He? Could he be her son-in-law? Forget it!

"Does Zheng Haifeng have a rich family? How could he be interested in Sun Pandi? Can he help her with schooling, finding a job, and getting married in the future? Zheng Haifeng is really blind! He's interested in such a money-loser..."

Chen Juan took a bite of food with her chopsticks and continued, "Oh, if only Zheng Haifeng's family were richer, then I would agree to their marriage. If his family had some money, they could get married now. When the boy grows up and needs help, wouldn't Zheng Haifeng, as his brother-in-law, be able to help? But Zheng Haifeng is also poor! How unlucky! I thought that loser would go to the big city to hook more rich men, but who knew he would find Zheng Haifeng instead?"

She is indeed a money-losing girl. Not only does she not receive any betrothal gifts, but she also has to find an incompetent husband... You can't expect her to help her family at all.

"But... didn't Zheng Haifeng apply to the police academy? He should be a good candidate for the police in the future. Even if he's broke, he can still help our family. Think about having a police officer's brother-in-law, that would save us a lot of trouble. He doesn't have the final say on the bride price, so what if his mother hasn't saved enough money for him to marry? We can just ask her for it when the time comes."

Sun Jiacai was enjoying his meal when he suddenly interrupted, "Dad, what if they don't give us anything? Then we won't get anything, right?"

Chen Juan thought about it and realized that even if the men in Zheng Haifeng's family were all dead, how much money could a woman at home earn? What if she had no money? Wouldn't it be a waste to raise a daughter?

Then she looked at her husband.

"You won't give it to me? Even if you don't give it to me, I'll make a fuss until I give it to you. How can we let our daughter, whom we raised with so much effort, just give her away like that? How can we not give her a penny and let her be married off? Does that mean it costs us nothing to raise her? Besides, Jiacai will need money to marry a daughter-in-law in the future. How will we get the money for Jiacai to marry a daughter-in-law if she doesn't marry?"

"That's true... But I've already made an agreement with Sister Jin that her son Tianzhuang is going to marry that money-loser... If Sun Pandi really marries Zheng Haifeng, what will happen to Sister Jin? I'm stuck in the middle..."

Sun Degui blinked and continued, "That's easy. We'll see which family offers the most money and then marry our daughter to that family. Although Xu Tianzhuang may not live long, if he offers the most money, we won't mind marrying him off. She'll repay us sooner or later anyway."

Chen Juan nodded.

Qi Yuanyuan and Sun Pandi haven't returned home. These days, rumors have been circulating in the village that they're doing shady business outside...

Zheng Haifeng happened to see him that day.

Zhong Shanshan and her mother-in-law were washing clothes by the river. There were other women with them.

"Oh... this is really strange. How could my daughter not come back for the New Year? I thought it was something else. It turns out that she has already found that kind of job in the big city. How could she have time to go home for the New Year? Wouldn't she earn more there? Hehehe..." said Liao's mother.

"Who says it's not true? Especially that Sun Pandi, she's so pretty and has such a great figure. Who knows what she's doing in the city... She's not going home during Chinese New Year, she must have made a lot of money out there. How can a girl really make money? She still has to rely on men. Isn't that what's going on?"

"Tsk tsk tsk... She said she wouldn't marry Ma Hui... Now what does this mean? I always say Ma Hui isn't rich enough. There are plenty of richer men in Youcheng..."

Upon hearing this, Liao's mother continued to laugh, and then said, "I also heard that the man from the Qi family went to their school last time and said that these two girls usually have part-time jobs when they have nothing to do. Who knows what part-time jobs they do? He is so foolish that he thinks his daughters are so promising..."

This caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Zheng Haifeng just happened to come over to do the laundry.

"Hey... Haifeng... Why are you washing your clothes yourself? Where's your mother? I think you're really too filial. You should find a wife to wash her clothes in the future... Tell me, are you dating Sun Pandi?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Yes……"

Hearing the satisfactory answer, everyone laughed. Liao's mother continued, "Haifeng, you're just too honest. You don't even know what Sun Pandi's side job is... or how many men she's been with... Oh, you should break up with her right away. How can such a dirty girl marry you?"

"What do you mean?" Zheng Haifeng was confused.

"You don't know yet, you silly boy? Did you really believe that girl Sun Pandi when she said she was working part-time in a restaurant? Who knows what she's doing in secret..."