Chapter 30: Bing Wengu Has Eyes Only for Nan Jinping and No One Else, the Sun Family Wants to...

At that moment, Liang Shi and Zhou Shi had gone to town to shop and hadn't returned. The Bing brothers were busy with other matters and weren't at home either.

Only Aunt Bing and Bing Sanniang were at home. Aunt Bing was currently recovering from childbirth and couldn't come out to receive guests, while Bing Wuniang was still too young to entertain guests.

Bing Wengu had no choice but to put down his book and come out to receive them.

There happened to be some coarse tea at home that would be used for the wedding in a few days. Bing Wengu scooped some and brewed two bowls of tea for them.

When Bing Wengu handed the tea bowl to Miss Cong, she didn't take it. Instead, she stared straight at Bing Wengu.

Bing Wengu simply placed the tea bowl on the table, not waiting for Miss Cong to take it.

It was unclear what Cong Shi was thinking, but seeing this, she actually smiled with satisfaction.

"Big Brother, where are your parents?" Cong Shi asked.

Bing Wengu didn't even give Miss Cong a second glance, his tone distant and cold, "They went to town to buy things for my wedding the day after tomorrow."

Cong Shi frowned slightly, somewhat displeased, "How come you didn't discuss such a big matter as your wedding with our family? If you had mentioned it, the Jiang family would never have agreed to you marrying a Xiao Geer."

Bing Wengu glared coldly at Cong Shi, devoid of any warmth, not hiding his disgust.

"Jiang family's second daughter-in-law," Bing Wengu didn't even bother to address her as sister-in-law as Bing ErNiang did, nor did he know her surname, so he addressed her directly like this. In terms of the relationship between the two families, Bing Wengu's way of addressing her was extremely impolite.

"Have you forgotten what my surname is and what your husband's family's surname is?" Bing Wengu said rudely, "Since when does the Bing family need the Jiang family's approval for a marriage!"

Cong Shi opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out. She never expected Bing Wengu to be so disrespectful to her, and her face immediately turned red.

Cong Shi still didn't give up, thinking Bing Wengu's rudeness might just be because she'd said something he didn't like.

If Bing Wengu knew that she had come this time to introduce her younger sister to him, he definitely wouldn't have been so rude, and might even have been overjoyed.

In the village, unless out of necessity, which man would willingly marry a Xiao Geer.

Cong Shi stubbornly continued, "Big Brother Bing, you're a scholar, and your family has some money. Marrying a Xiao Geer like Nan Jinping is truly a disservice to you. Nan Jinping is not worthy of you."

Miss Cong's face turned red, she lowered her head, but her back was straight.

Cong Shi even gave her younger sister, who was sitting beside her, a push, "Then let me be blunt, our two families are already relatives, we know each other well, it would be perfect to strengthen our ties through marriage. If my younger sister marries into your family, I know your family's character, you won't mistreat her, and I can rest assured. It would also save you from marrying a Xiao Geer who can't bear children."

Bing Wengu pointed to the gate and said, "Get out, now!"

Bing Wengu wasn't known for his good temper; once angered, no one could calm him down.

Cong Shi never expected Bing Wengu to react this way when it came to marriage.

Could her younger sister really be less than a worthless Xiao Geer?

Cong Shi's face also turned ugly, she asked angrily, "You dare to disagree?"

"Disagree," Bing Wengu replied coldly.

Cong Shi was thoroughly enraged and sprang to her feet, "Where is my younger sister not as good as that unwanted old Geer? That thing can't even lay eggs, my younger sister is a proper young lady, do you understand? Many are lining up to propose to her."

"Jin Geer isn't a hen, of course, he can't lay eggs, can you and your sister?" Nan Jinping was the person Bing Wengu cherished the most, how could he allow Cong Shi to insult him, "That would indeed be a strange sight, my Jin Geer naturally can't match that. If your sister can lay eggs, she must be worth a lot of money, my family can't afford her."

"Besides, my family is kind-hearted, we can't stomach human eggs, it's nauseating. You'd better find a family for your sister who isn't squeamish and can stomach human eggs."

Cong Shi's face turned pale, not understanding how the marriage discussion had suddenly turned out like this.

Cong Shi was so angry that her chest rose and fell violently, almost unable to catch her breath and nearly passing out.

"Let's get out of here!" Cong Shi angrily grabbed Liang Shi and left.

As Liang Shi left, she couldn't help but look back at Bing Wengu, her eyes filled with tears.

After they left, Bing Wulang gave Bing Wengu a thumbs-up, "Big Brother, your tongue is really sharp; even the most sharp-tongued woman in the village can't surpass you!"

Bing Wulang and Bing Sanniang, who had been playing outside, heard the commotion and ran over to eavesdrop by the window.

Bing Sanniang also said, "When I used to play at my second sister's house, I always found this sister-in-law the most annoying. She always looked down on me. Every time Fourth Brother and I went to find Second Sister, if we ran into this sister-in-law's younger sister, she would have her sister hide far away, as if Fourth Brother were some kind of scoundrel who would do something to her sister."

Bing Wulang, acting like a little adult, said, "She's just eyeing our family's large brick house. I've heard many people in the village speaking ill of Jin Geer to our parents, wanting Big Brother to marry their daughters."

Bing Wengu was aware of all this, but the villagers never said it to his face, and when it reached Liang Shi, she outright refused.

Bing Wulang picked up the tea that Cong Shi had left behind and continued to drink it, even handing the bowl that Liang Shi had left to Bing Sanniang, who drank it without a second thought.

"From now on, don't eat or drink what others have left," Bing Wengu said, "It's unhygienic."

Bing Wulang asked curiously, "What's unhygienic about it? We've always done this before; having something to eat is a blessing."

"Before was before. Back then, our family was poor, and when we were starving, we even had to eat clay. But now that our family's situation has improved, we can't do that anymore," Bing Wengu explained, "First, it's unhygienic; illnesses enter through the mouth, and many diseases are transmitted through saliva. Second, it's about etiquette. Have you ever seen the young ladies and gentlemen of wealthy families eating leftovers? It's seen as an insult."

Bing Wulang and Bing Sanniang didn't dare drink anymore and poured out the leftover tea in the bowls.

Bing Wengu returned to his room to continue studying, thinking that the issue with the Cong sisters was resolved.

Unexpectedly, in the evening, Cong Shi came knocking on their door again.

Cong Shi recounted the events of the day in a flurry, and finally said, "Auntie, tell me, my daughter, your niece, is such a fine young lady, with good looks and a graceful figure. That old brother can't even compare to a single finger of my daughter."

Liang Shi thought of Cong Xiao Niang's sallow and thin, bean sprout-like figure, and couldn't see where the gracefulness was.

Out of consideration for Bing ErNiang and her in-laws' face, she hummed and hawed in response.

But Cong Shi became even more aggressive, "I'm not boasting, but many families are eager to marry my daughter. It's only because we're relatives that I came to ask, otherwise, where would your family's turn be?"

Liang Shi continued to hum and haw, mentally calculating what else needed to be bought for the wedding banquet.

"Auntie, marriage is a major event, decided by parents and matchmakers. Da Lang has to listen to you. What do you say about the marriage between our two families?" Cong Shi pressed.

"Um, ah?" Liang Shi was stunned for a moment before reacting, and smiled bitterly, "I can't make decisions for Da Lang; it could cost lives. Previously, Si Lang was afraid that the family's money wouldn't be enough for both brothers to marry, so he wanted to get married first, and Da Lang almost drowned him in the water. I dare not make the decision."

Cong Shi was dumbfounded, "Is Da Lang crazy?"

Liang Shi said helplessly, "Da Lang is particularly fond of Nan Jia Xiao Geer."

Cong Shi was surprised, "And you just let him? If they really get married, what will happen?"

Liang Shi forced a smile, "We have no choice. You don't know how much Da Lang adores Nan Jia Xiao Geer. He told me and his father that the seven big brick houses can be under our names, on the condition that once Jin Geer marries in, he won't have to do any housework."

Cong Shi asked again, "And what about the other daughters-in-law in your family, do they agree?"

Liang Shi poked her hands and said, "Yes, they agree. Da Lang also promised that from now on, he would be responsible for the family's expenses. Tell me, who wouldn't agree to such a good deal in exchange for Jin Geer not having to work?"

Liang Shi said enviously, "Back when I was a daughter-in-law, if any of my brothers had proposed something like this, I would have agreed with both hands and feet."

After hearing this, Cong Shi became even more determined not to give up on the idea of marrying her daughter off to Bing Wengu. Where else could she find a man who was not only wealthy but also so devoted to his wife?

With a look that said "I'm doing this for your own good," Cong Shi said, "Da Lang is so talented, we can't let him marry that older man. Everyone in the surrounding villages knows that Jin Geer is infertile. If you let Da Lang marry him, wouldn't that cut off Da Lang's lineage? That would be harming Da Lang. Moreover, I've heard that marrying a man as the principal wife can affect one's career prospects..."

Bing Wengu happened to pass by and overheard Cong Shi's incessant chatter, belittling Nan Jinping to the dirt while elevating her own sister to the skies, as if Nan Jinping and her sister were worlds apart.

Bing Wengu couldn't stand others belittling his beloved; his heart burned with anger.

Standing in the courtyard, Bing Wengu didn't care whether the neighbors could hear him, and he shouted, "Jiang family, in my opinion, your sister isn't even worth a single hair on Jin Geer's head."

"And, is your sister so desperate to marry that she has to latch onto me?"

These words were indeed harsh, causing Cong Shi to turn around and leave in anger. Though she still couldn't bear to give up on the Bing family's marriage proposal, continuing the conversation would make it seem like her daughter was unmarriageable, which would be too humiliating.

Liang Shi knew that Bing Wengu now had firm opinions, and she could no longer make decisions for him, so she kept her comments brief.

Liang Shi simply said, "I know you're angry, but at least show some respect to your second sister and her in-laws. There's no need to be so blunt. Just let me escort her out."

Bing Wengu said, "Mother, you should know that if it weren't out of respect for Second Sister, I would have driven her out."

Liang Shi remained silent. She knew that Bing Wengu had been very short-tempered lately, and if he could take action, he wouldn't argue.

Bing Sanniang secretly approached Liang Shi and told her how Bing Wengu had scolded her for drinking leftover tea earlier in the day, whispering, "Mother, why is Big Brother so fussy now?"

Liang Shi gently patted Bing Sanniang's head, "He's not mistaken, just follow his instructions."

Bing Sanniang pouted, skeptical.

Liang Shi looked serious, "Sanniang, I know you and your siblings used to disparage your Big Brother behind his back, thinking he was useless and that studying was a waste of money. But the facts have proven that studying is indeed useful. Look at our big house, it was built just like that. If we had relied on me and your father, or your other brothers, it would never have happened in this lifetime."

Bing Sanniang snorted, "Mother, don't think I'm too young to understand anything. Big Brother is like this because he wants to marry Jin Geer. If Fourth Brother hadn't stopped him from marrying a man, he wouldn't have gone crazy and tried to make money in the deep mountains. For so many years before, why didn't he go into the deep mountains? It's all because he wants to marry a man."

Liang Shi was speechless, "Who said that?"

Bing Sanniang didn't want to betray her Fourth Brother, her big eyes darting around as she vaguely said, "The brothers said it."

"Nonsense, your Second Brother definitely didn't say that."

Sanniang thought to herself, 'Second Brother is so quiet, what does he know?'

"Still, your Big Brother is capable," Liang Shi finally said. "Otherwise, even if he wanted to marry a man desperately, he wouldn't have been able to get the money. Those old bachelors in the village, who don't want to marry a woman desperately? But they don't get the money either. In any case, your Big Brother is very capable now, listening to him is definitely not wrong."

Bing Sanniang pouted, "I know."

Not only was Bing ErNiang's sister-in-law's mind unsettled, but many others were also having thoughts.

The Sun family had been waiting for Aunt Bing to be unable to stay at her parents' home, and then she would pack up and return with her child in disgrace.

Mother Sun had even thought about how to punish this daughter-in-law, making sure that Aunt Bing would kneel at their doorstep and kowtow to apologize.

Only when her head was bleeding, and she personally threw the little servant she had given birth to into the back mountain, and swore to heaven that she would never have contact with her parents' family again, would they take her back.

Good news had come, as on the first day Aunt Bing returned home, she had angered the Bing family's third daughter-in-law into returning to her parents' home.

Although the Bing family hadn't yet relented, Mother Sun felt it was a sure thing. In a few days, the Bing family would compromise with their daughter-in-law. Then they would obediently send Aunt Bing back, or kick her out of the Bing family.

But instead of waiting for Aunt Bing to be kicked out, they first heard the news that the Bing family was going to build seven large tiled houses.

At first, Mother Sun could still stubbornly insist that the Bing family didn't have the financial means, but as she watched the Bing family's seven large tiled houses being built one by one, Mother Sun had to admit, no matter how reluctant she was, that the Bing family had become prosperous.

The Bing family has built seven large tiled houses, so how could they possibly lack food for Aunt Bing and her four children?

What's more, the Bing family has also let it be known that after Aunt Bing finishes her recovery period after childbirth, they will find her a suitable husband, and the dowry will definitely not be less, at least enough for the three children to live on until adulthood.

With this news out, many families who had previously mocked Aunt Bing for her divorce and return home stopped their mockery and instead began to show interest.

Now, Mother Sun could no longer stand her ground, Father Sun was filled with deep regret, and even Sun Erlang started blaming his mother.

The Bing family, it seems, really cares for their daughter. They didn't show it before because they were poor and had no money to pamper their daughter, but now that the Bing family has risen, they have started to treat their daughter better.

If he hadn't divorced Aunt Bing, the Sun family would have certainly reaped great benefits.

Moreover, with the Bing family's current financial status, the Sun family wanting to marry into the Bing family again would be reaching too high, and it's simply impossible.

Mother Sun, who caused all this, has almost become the family's scapegoat.

Mother Sun began to send people to the Bing family to mediate, but the Bing family refused to reconcile, and the intermediaries were politely turned away.

The Sun family has already sent three mediators, and even the last one, in order to advocate for their family wholeheartedly, did not hesitate to spend money.

But even so, they still couldn't settle the matter. Sun Erlang was in despair.

Mother Sun then gave Sun Erlang another idea, "Erlang, you don't need to sigh all day long. After all, it was me who treated Aunt Bing poorly. She has been married to you for so many years and has borne three children, so she must be reluctant to part with you. Go and cry and beg, and if she can't bear to leave you, she will come back."

Sun Erlang hurriedly said, "I will go to the Bing family to beg her to come back."

Mother Sun quickly added, "If you manage to beg her back, that's fine, but there's one thing you must make clear to her. Our family has no money to raise that little servant. If she really wants to raise him, then the Bing family should pay for it, or leave that little servant at the Bing family. In any case, our family definitely doesn't have the money to raise him."

"I understand," Sun Erlang agreed and quickly ran off.