Ger, So Proud

Chapter 73

As the two groups got closer, He Bao’er and Li Dali suddenly stopped.

He An felt a twinge of anxiety. Would He Bao’er really dare to do something in front of his husband? It was the first day of the New Year, and causing trouble would be so unlucky! And what about Brother Lin? Lin Yu still hadn’t married his brother; he had to help keep an eye on him for Lin Yu.

While He An’s mind raced with thoughts, He Ze walked steadily forward, unaffected by He Bao’er’s intense gaze.

“What are you looking at? What, can’t move after seeing your old lover?” Li Dali grabbed He Bao’er’s hand, glaring at He Ze.

At first, Li Dali was eager to marry and thought He Bao’er looked good. He didn’t care about the previous divorce since he was getting older. The idea of marrying someone like He An had long faded with repeated disappointments.

He could accept a divorcee but not a discarded concubine. Especially not one who clung to their old lover upon returning to the village. Spoilt-brat! Slut! Scum!

He hadn’t even fully enjoyed the excitement of having a new wife before he was mocked for picking up someone else’s cast-off! Which man could bear such humiliation?

Li Dali’s scolding was loud, drawing the attention of He Youcai and Dad Li, who looked over, feeling embarrassed.

They knew Li Dali, and they had heard about his marriage to He Bao’er from the villagers. But they didn’t expect to run into them now.

Back then, He Ze somehow managed to break the engagement between He An and Li Dali, leaving the He family feeling guilty. He Youcai’s expression shifted several times before he finally nodded at Li Dali.

“Father, it’s getting late. Grandfather and Granddad are still waiting for us.” He Ze acted as if he hadn’t seen the other two, pulling He Youcai along at a faster pace.

He never told his parents about the two-tael silver IOU. Now that Li Dali had accepted the money, he couldn’t take on the role of an elder.

“Are you satisfied now? They couldn’t care less about you. You’re my wife now. If I hear about you being unfaithful again, I’ll beat you to death!”

Li Dali’s hand rose, veins bulging. He Bao’er had already turned away from He Ze, eyes red, wishing he could hide.

He shouldn’t have looked. He Ze was about to marry someone else, and he had already married. His husband knew about his past but hadn’t abandoned him. He should be content!

Seeing He Bao’er’s reaction, Li Dali snorted and didn’t strike. After all, this was a good day, and He Bao’er was now on the family register. He wouldn’t cause trouble today.

“You wretched thing…”

Li Dali spat on the ground, glancing one last time at He Ze’s retreating group before dragging He Bao’er in the opposite direction.

“Brother, they seemed…” He An looked back, conflicted.

“What? Regretting it?”

Now that the trouble was gone, He Ze’s mood brightened.

“Spit, spit, spit! What are you saying?” He An glared at him, annoyed. “They’re married, but something feels off.”

And they had just married, yet Li Dali was already about to hit him. Thank goodness he hadn’t married into that. But what if his future husband was like that?

He An frowned, not wanting to marry…

“Why bother about it?” He Ze took the items He An was carrying and said with a mischievous tone, “You’re seventeen now. Dad’s getting anxious. You’ll experience it soon.”

Thinking about it brings tears to his eyes. He really wanted to experience it as soon as possible! However, just thinking about that new house which was only a third completed made He Ze’s heart bleed.

“Brother!” He An shouted angrily.

“We’re almost at Grandfather’s house.”

Returning from his thoughts, He Ze’s voice carried a hint of laughter as he walked up to He Youcai. Despite He An’s anger, he didn’t dare to argue further.

The “Grandfather” He Ze referred to was Dad Li’s father, named Li Houtian, who was in his sixties. His wife was Dad Guo. They had two sons and one youngest child, Dad Li, who was a ger.

Li Houtian’s family was considered wealthy in Li Village, owning more than ten acres of fertile land and a large water buffalo.

Dad Li was pampered from a young age and was very attractive. When it came time for marriage proposals, many suitors came knocking on Li’s door.

He Youcai had saved up only three taels of silver over several years to join the crowd of suitors. Li Houtian drove him away several times, but He Youcai persisted, and eventually, Dad Li noticed him. Surprisingly, Dad Li took a liking to He Youcai, who was rough, bearded, and burdened with debt!

What a calamity!

Dad Guo nearly fainted from anger.

But there was no way around it. Dad Li was stubborn and insisted on marrying He Youcai. The Li family couldn’t dissuade him, so they had to give in.

He Youcai got incredibly lucky, marrying the village beauty of Li Village. Though their life was tough, it was sweet. However, Li Houtian and Dad Guo had never shown a kind face to this son-in-law.

After all, their ger was exceptional! Not only was he good-looking, but he had never been made to work in the fields. Among his suitors were men ten times better than He Youcai!

But it was He Youcai who got him!

Li Houtian and Dad Guo couldn’t accept it, and He Youcai knew he had gotten incredibly lucky. Over the years, he had been respectful and hardworking, enduring the taunts of his brothers-in-law without complaint.

Reflecting on past visits to the Li family, He Ze suddenly felt deep sympathy for his father.

“What are you staring at? Watch where you’re going, we’re almost there!”

Noticing the look of “pity” from his son, He Youcai felt uncomfortable. He wanted to take out his tobacco pipe for a smoke but remembered he hadn’t brought it today.

His father-in-law hated that habit.

Sighing silently, He Youcai quickened his pace.

By mid-morning, the family finally reached the gate of the Li family’s courtyard. The gate was wide open, and two men were inside making flatbread while five children in red jackets ran around playing.

Recalling his memories, He Ze recognized the men as his uncles, and the children as his cousins, three from his eldest uncle and two from his second uncle.

Thinking about the large family, He Ze felt a bit overwhelmed. A child bumped into his arms, “Uncle!”

He Ze picked him up, “Er Mao is so good, but uncle didn’t bring any candy today.”

Er Mao was his eldest uncle’s grandson, his eldest cousin’s son, and was four years old this year. Er Mao was his nickname, as villagers believed that giving children simple names would make them easier to raise.

In the family, the five children were named sequentially from Da Mao to Er Mao… He Ze suddenly thought of his own childhood nickname, feeling a bittersweet smile on his face.

“Yes, you did, you did! Uncle… Uncle, what’s wrong? Er Mao will blow on it for you, give me the candy,” Er Mao blew a few breaths on He Ze’s face, his eyes fixed on the items in He Ze’s hands.

“…How do you know the candy is here?” The candy he had prepared for the kids was indeed in his hands.

Before He Ze finished speaking, Er Mao’s small, dark hands were already reaching for the items he was holding.

Uncle was so silly, he could already smell the candy!

Er Mao swallowed his saliva, but before he could tear off the red paper tied to the gift, his eldest uncle quickly picked him up and set him on the ground, “Being naughty again? What did grandma teach you when uncle came?”

“Pour water,” Er Mao pouted, on the verge of tears.

“I’ll pour it, I’ll pour it! Uncle wants to drink the water I poured!” Da Mao raised his hand excitedly and ran towards the kitchen.

“Isn’t anyone going to pour water for me? I brought candy too,” He An squatted down, coaxing softly.

“I will, I’ll do it for you!”

The other children staggered after him, Er Mao paused, then quickly followed, “Mine, mine, I want to pour water for Uncle!”

“Haha—”

He An couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the children running with their short legs, and He Ze smiled as well.

“Look at these kids, they were waiting for you all night. Come in, come in!” After sending the children off, the eldest uncle-in-law hurriedly ushered He Youcai and Dad Li inside.

The family entered the main room.

Although Li Houtian and Dad Guo never showed He Youcai any kindness, they were always good to He Ze and He An. After all, they were their cherished ger’s children, and they loved them because of that.

So, this scene played out.

Uncles, uncle-in-laws, cousins, and their spouses, a large group of children filled half the room. Li Houtian sat in the center. After He Youcai kowtowed to wish them a Happy New Year, Li Houtian barely acknowledged him with a curt “Hmm.” When it was He Ze and He An’s turn, Dad Guo pulled them up before they could kneel and handed each of them a red cloth package.

“Xiao Ze, is your health much better? Are you engaged? How’s the betrothal gift preparation going? When are you planning to get married? And An-ge, Caiyun, I’m telling you, An-ge isn’t getting any younger. You need to think about his marriage. Just the other day, I heard that the son from Li Quan’s family…”

“Dad, don’t worry. I have everything under control for the kids. What are you worrying about?” Dad Li said, holding Dad Guo’s arm with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

“Why am I worrying? You don’t know why I’m worrying? If you don’t find a good match for him, what if he ends up like you…”

As she spoke, Dad Guo cast a disdainful glance at He Youcai, who remained completely unfazed, without a trace of emotion on his face.

It seemed his father really had mastered the art of composure.

He Ze patted He An on the shoulder and smiled, interrupting Dad Guo, “Granddad, it’s been a while since we visited. How’s your health?”

He An caught on and quickly stepped forward to take Dad Guo’s other arm. “Grandma, I’ve missed you! And your osmanthus cake!”

Knowing that He An loved these treats, Dad Guo always prepared some for the holidays, waiting for them to come.

Initially, Dad Li’s face darkened at Dad Guo’s remarks, but seeing the two children being so considerate, he exchanged a glance with He Youcai, his expression softening into a smile.

Everything was understood without words.