Time Travel: Volume 1! Starting from a Small Mountain Village

For Widow Liu, nothing was more important than her son's marriage. So when she learned of the conditions, she immediately agreed without hesitation, without even asking Lin Feifei's opinion.

The two sisters were naturally unwilling, but unfortunately, Widow Liu always made the decisions in the household, so their objections were useless. So, they secretly inquired about the girl and learned that her name was Chen Chunhua.

Through the girl's information, they later learned that Chen Chunhua's cousin was almost 30 years old, widowed a few years ago, and now raising two children alone. Most importantly, they also heard that the man's wife had been driven to suicide by him. The thought of her sister marrying such a man filled Lin Xiuxiu with immense worry.

But the sisters dared not disobey their mother at home, yet they were unwilling to marry such a man. For a time, neither sister knew what to do; Lin Feifei even threatened suicide at home. Lin Xiuxiu was also so distracted because of her sister's situation.

"I understand!" Long Lifan nodded after learning the reason for the matter. "How about this, I'll find some time to go to your house tomorrow."

After speaking, Long Lifan left in silence, pondering how to persuade the widow Liu. She knew the widow had suffered at her hands before, and directly confronting her would be futile.

Long Lifan also remembered Lin Feifei; after all, the entire Dongwan brigade only had these two twin sisters. Lin Feifei had met her requirements last time, and she had originally planned to recruit her later when the chicken farm expanded. She really didn't want to see such a good girl pushed into a fire pit by her mother.

The next day, Long Lifan leisurely arrived at Widow Liu's door and casually knocked a few times. A moment later, Widow Liu opened the door, her steps somewhat hurried. Her son had said he was bringing his girlfriend over that day, and she had just been at home preparing something nice.

However, when the door opened and he saw Long Lifan's face, the smile on his face vanished instantly. He gripped the half-open door frame, unsure whether to open or close it.

"What, aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" Long Lifan said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to Widow Liu's embarrassed expression.

Widow Liu stood silently behind the door for a long time before slowly opening it. She realized that this educated youth was toxic; she could easily say the wrong thing if she wasn't careful, and she had already learned that lesson the hard way last time. So now, her only way to deal with Long, the educated youth, was to remain silent.

"Wow, the house is very clean. Aunt Liu is definitely a thrifty person." Long Lifan walked into the main room, casually looking around, knowing that it must have been the Lin sisters who cleaned it.

"You really are a lucky woman, Aunt Liu. I've heard from the villagers that when you gave birth to twins, you were the envy of the whole village. Everyone who saw you would praise you."

Widow Liu remained silent, but upon hearing Long Lifan's praise, she felt a little proud, and her mind inadvertently recalled past events.

She married Lin Guoqiang, a village schoolteacher, and gave birth to twin girls, Lin Xiuxiu and Lin Feifei, in the first year of their marriage. Although they didn't have any boys, twins were considered auspicious and happy in the countryside. The following year, she gave birth to a son, Lin Weibing.

With a son and a daughter, and a husband who was a teacher, she was the talk of the village, young and old alike. Everyone who saw her praised her for her good fortune in marriage. Those years were the happiest and most fulfilling of her life. However, fate is unpredictable; her husband died in a flash flood a few years ago.

The death of her husband robbed the family of its color. Before, she was always surrounded by envious glances wherever she went, but since then, even the whispers of those around her have made her feel like they are mocking her.

She felt this was because her husband had died and there was no man in the family, so she placed all her hopes on her son, hoping he would grow up quickly and support the family.

“Aunt Liu, I heard that your son is dating a girl from the next village. Of course, this should be a happy occasion, but I heard that she has made a condition—that your daughter must marry her cousin. I know that you have always favored sons over daughters and think that your son is the pillar of the family, but your daughter is also a piece of your flesh and blood. How can you bear to push her into a fire pit?”

"Have you heard anything about that cousin's situation? I heard that his ex-wife couldn't stand being beaten by him and jumped into the river. If Lin Feifei marries him, her life will be ruined."

"Furthermore, that girl isn't even married yet! She's already urging your son to marry her sister off. What if she tries to get your son to kick you out when you get old?!"

"The guard wouldn't do that!"

After remaining silent for a while, Widow Liu finally couldn't help but speak up. She had finally figured out why Long, the educated youth, had come—to plead for her good-for-nothing son. She hadn't paid much attention at first, but when she heard the last sentence, she couldn't sit still any longer. For someone like her, wasn't her biggest worry to be alone in her old age?

"Who knows!"

“If you push your daughter into a fire pit now, they will definitely hold a grudge for the rest of their lives. If you are kicked out by your son and daughter-in-law in the future, you will have no one to help you and you will really be homeless.”

Long Lifan smiled, her tone gentle yet tinged with advice. These days, who isn't afraid of being disliked by their son and daughter-in-law when they get old? Long Lifan's words struck at the last hurdle in Widow Liu's heart.

"So, Aunt Liu, I advise you to think twice before you act. Don't let a momentary decision cause you to live the rest of your life in regret. Some things will definitely happen, and by then it will be too late to regret them."

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Think it over carefully! I'll be leaving now." With that, Long Lifan got up and walked towards the door. As she reached the door, she turned back and gave Widow Liu a meaningful look.

Widow Liu sat blankly on the bench, her mind replaying what Long Zhiqing had just said.

"No, my son isn't that kind of person," Widow Liu tried to reassure herself, but she wasn't entirely sure.

"Mother, I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?" Just then, Lin Weibing's voice came from the doorway. As soon as he finished speaking, he appeared in front of Widow Liu.

"Didn't you say you were bringing your boyfriend home for dinner today? Where is he? Why are you all alone?" The widow asked immediately when she saw only her son.

"Mother, Chunhua said that she won't come to our house for dinner until her cousin's marriage is settled." Lin Weibing shrugged and continued, "She wants us to marry that money-losing girl off first."

Widow Liu initially agreed to the marriage, but Lin Feifei refused to marry him, saying she would rather jump into the river than marry him. So the matter has been deadlocked recently. Then Lin Weibing said again, "Mother, Chunhua said that her cousin is willing to offer 50 yuan as a bride price. You can't let that good-for-nothing have her way."

In the past, Widow Liu hadn't thought anything of her son calling his two older sisters "good-for-nothings," since she addressed her daughters that way too. But after hearing Long Zhiqing's words, and seeing her son's current attitude towards his sisters, she wondered what would become of her...

“Mother, Chunhua also said that when she marries into our family, we will give 66 yuan as a bride price. After deducting the 50 yuan, we will only need to give 16 yuan. However, we need to prepare new furniture to make up 16 legs.”

"Spring flowers are back..."

"Chunhua, Chunhua!" Already flustered, Widow Liu, hearing her son repeatedly call her Chunhua, and recalling Long Zhiqing's words from earlier, could no longer contain herself and roared in anger:

"Chunhua, Chunhua, you keep calling me Chunhua. Is she your father or your mother?!"