country bumpkin

When Bai Linlin's mother, Chen Hong, returned home to get money and saw an extra man in the house, she already had a suspicion.

He asked her, feigning suspicion, "Linlin, is this your colleague? Is there something he needs from you?"

Before Bai Linlin could speak, Song Ke had already rushed to explain.

He said, "Auntie, I am Linlin's boyfriend, my name is Song Ke."

Chen Hong hesitated whether to ask what was going on, but then Song Ke continued, "Auntie, Linlin and I just started dating, so she hasn't had a chance to tell you yet."

Chen Hong was even more confused and asked, "What do you mean by 'just started dating'? What was your relationship before? How did you meet?"

Song Ke patiently explained, "I'm a foreman and accountant for a construction team. I met Linlin while working at a garment factory. At first, neither of us understood our feelings, but we became quite familiar with each other. We also helped each other at work. We recently developed into a romantic relationship. However, before I could express my feelings, Linlin came back to go on a blind date. That's how it is."

Looking at her daughter, who was blushing and looking down, Chen Hong could tell that her daughter really liked this young man.

Turning to look at Song Ke, she gazed at her daughter with eyes full of love.

She felt that since her daughter had found someone she liked, they should be happy for each other.

My daughter is a simple and innocent person. If she marries a man who doesn't care about her, she will suffer after marriage.

The daughter couldn't handle the messy relationships with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law alone.

Thinking of this, Chen Hong deliberately put on a stern face and asked him, "Tell me about your family situation first. Do you have any relatives, brothers or sisters?"

Song Ke said seriously, "My mother is my only family member. My father passed away a few years ago after suffering from a serious illness. I also have no siblings. My mother is gentle and sincere, and she only loves her daughter-in-law and would never bully her."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Oh, right, a few months ago, I saved a woman who has now recognized my mother as her godmother, so she's my god-sister. She's also very gentle and won't bully Linlin."

After hearing this, Chen Hong thought that since he could save people without expecting anything in return, he must be very good to them, otherwise they wouldn't have recognized his mother as their godmother.

This family seems to be of good character, worthy of entrusting their daughter's lifelong happiness.

Chen Hong's expression softened a bit, but she wanted to test the waters further, so she said, "Linlin is now getting engaged to someone else, and they've given her 2000 yuan as a bride price. What do you suggest we do?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Linlin became anxious and said, "Mother, I don't want to get engaged. Please cancel the engagement for me. I don't like him, I don't know him, and I don't want to get engaged to a stranger."

Chen Hong glared at her and deliberately said, "That's not up to you. I've already taken the money, but your father is still lying in the hospital. If the engagement is called off, what will happen to his medical expenses?"

Bai Linlin immediately burst into tears, "Waaaaah...waaaah...I...no...waaaah..."

Song Ke said anxiously and with heartache, "Linlin, don't cry, I'll think of a way to solve this."

Chen Hong was very satisfied with his performance. She could tell that his concern was not feigned; he genuinely cared about his daughter.

She then asked, "How do you plan to resolve this?"

Song Ke said, "Auntie, which hospital is Uncle in? Let's get him treated first, I'll pay for it. Then we can break off the engagement, I'll pay the bride price."

Chen Hong never expected him to pay for her hospital stay. She had thought that being able to contribute the dowry money was already a good thing, but now he was taking on so much more.

Bai Linlin said worriedly, "Do you have that much money? I can't let you be in a difficult position because of me."

Song Ke said solemnly, "Don't worry, I have some savings. If it's not enough, I can borrow some from my friends."

Bai Linlin was deeply moved. Her heart was filled with sweetness, as if she had eaten honey.

Chen Hong didn't press him any further, saying, "The bride price hasn't been touched yet, just return it. Consider the hospital fees a loan from us, we'll pay you back later. But the bride price can't be reduced by a single penny; it's about our daughter's reputation."

Song Ke was overjoyed and quickly said, "Auntie, don't worry, I will definitely treat Linlin well. I will never let her suffer any injustice."

Chen Hong felt relieved and said, "You stay home and keep Linlin company. I'll go to the hospital to see if I need anything and come back to get it."

Song Ke said, "Auntie, let me take you to the hospital to see Uncle! Let me see if there's anything I can do to help."

Chen Hong did not refuse and said, "Okay, let's go to the hospital together! You take Linlin, and I'll ride a bicycle."

Song Ke readily agreed and took Linlin to the hospital.

The car sped along the road, and we arrived at the hospital in no time.

Upon arriving at the inpatient department, Chen Hong and Song Ke quickly went to the payment counter to pay.

Bai Linlin went to the operating room door. Her brother paced back and forth outside. Seeing his sister arrive, he asked, "Linlin, what brings you here? Where's Mom? Didn't she go home to get money?"

Bai Linlin said, "Mother has already gone to pay the money. But it wasn't the bride price."

Bai Binbin asked, "Where did you borrow that money from?"

Then, as if remembering something, he spoke up again: "No bride price? What do you mean? You're not planning to get engaged to that Monkey Three kid?"

Bai Linlin said cautiously, "I'm not getting engaged anymore. I... I have a boyfriend. He went with my mother to pay the money."

Bai Binbin opened his mouth in surprise and said, "You little girl, you clearly have a boyfriend, why did you agree to get engaged to Hou Sanxiang?"

Bai Linlin said, "We only officially became a couple this noon. Before, we just liked each other but never made it clear."

Bai Binbin suddenly realized, "Oh! Is that so? As long as it's someone you like, that's fine. Your brother has been feeling guilty for making himself suffer by agreeing to be engaged to Hou San."

He continued, "Hmph! With his shifty eyes and sneaky appearance, that Monkey Three is no match for my sister! It's just that our family is poor and we can't afford to take our father to the hospital, so you've had to suffer."

Bai Linlin was comforted by him and laughed, "It's not that serious. Monkey Three may be a bit ugly, but he's not as sneaky as some kind of thief, hahaha...hahaha."

Bai Binbin also smiled, as if all his troubles had vanished.

After paying, Chen Hong took the receipt to the operating room door, knocked, and a female nurse came out, looked at the receipt, and said, "Give this to the nurses' station." Then she went back into the operating room.

Song Ke followed behind, and when he saw Bai Binbin, he smiled and nodded. Bai Linlin quickly introduced, "Song Ke, this is my brother, Bai Binbin."

Bai Binbin extended his hand to shake Song Ke's, warmly inviting him to sit down and wait for the results. Chen Hong also pulled Bai Linlin to sit down, patiently waiting for the surgery results.

Because her father was the person in charge of weddings and funerals in the village, there were often banquets and feasts.

I drank too much yesterday and didn't eat much, so I got acute gastritis and stomach bleeding.

This morning, his family saw him clutching his stomach and convulsing. He was in so much pain he couldn't speak, so they rushed him to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor said she needed surgery, so they rushed home to raise money. That's why her mother agreed to the engagement with Monkey Three from next door.

Because he was in a hurry to get money, he went against his conscience and arranged for his daughter to meet this ugly neighbor's son named Hou San.

Now that Song Ke has helped, I can rest assured that I can call off the engagement.

This Monkey Three is a difficult person to deal with; I don't know if he'll be easy to handle.