Volume One, Chapter 13: In Full Swing

After Lei Cheng and Yuan Bao’an brought back the eight baskets of mushrooms they had collected, I originally intended to have him come inside for a cool drink. But when Lei Cheng saw the serious atmosphere of the three-way family interrogation at Chen Yang’s house, he immediately ran off.

This guy was always afraid of Chen Yang’s mother, Liu Minghua, because he had gotten plenty of beatings from her since childhood. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Liu Minghua’s intimidation was even greater than that of his own father, Li Zhiquan.

“Dad, Mom, big sister, what are you doing? You’re scaring me!” Chen Yang felt uneasy because the three of them looked extremely stern.

“Sit down. We need to talk,” Chen Zhilin said after taking a puff of his dry tobacco.

Despite usually being quiet and honest, family matters big and small were decided by Liu Minghua. But when it came to serious matters, as the head of the family, whenever Chen Zhilin spoke up, Liu Minghua would be obedient.

Chen Yang didn’t dare to show any sign of defiance. He quietly fetched a small stool and sat down by the cabinet in the east room.

“Chen Yang, tomorrow is the day we go to Huang Zhiqing’s place to propose marriage. Tell us your plan,” Chen Zhilin said after another drag on his pipe.

He had lived his life straightforwardly and had never felt so embarrassed. Although Huang Zhiyao had agreed to marry his son, Chen Zhilin knew exactly why she agreed.

So, no matter what it took, they could not fail Huang Zhiyao. If Chen Yang said anything unreasonable, he wouldn’t hesitate to “sacrifice his own son for the greater good.”

“Dad, I’ve already said it before—this will be a proper proposal. Tomorrow, I’ll present Zhiyao with a bride price of 188 yuan and a bicycle. As for the other small items, of course, they’ll all be included.

Nowadays, the highest standard for bride price is 'three spins and one ring.' If I can secure a bicycle ticket tomorrow, I’ll also add a watch, a sewing machine, and a radio when I get the tickets later. These are all necessary,” Chen Yang said confidently.

Hearing Chen Zhilin’s words, Chen Yang finally relaxed. He thought it might be a big issue, but apparently, they didn’t need to worry.

Once the money from the mushrooms arrived tomorrow, buying these things would be no problem.

“What? Yangzi, stop bragging, okay? A bride price of 188 yuan plus a bicycle? Where will you get that money? Even if our parents sold everything they owned, it wouldn’t be enough,” Chen Ying said bluntly.

Though she wanted to give Huang Zhiyao more and not let her suffer, she knew the family’s actual situation all too well.

Just those two items alone cost over three hundred yuan. Even if the whole family saved without eating or drinking for an entire year, that would already be quite an achievement.

The wages they earned from work mostly went to food and daily necessities; what could be left?

Asking him for a bride price wasn’t like asking him to make a wish—it wasn’t realistic at all.

Although Chen Zhilin and Liu Minghua didn’t voice their doubts, one reached for the fire poker while the other’s hand moved toward the wooden board on the kang bed.

Judging by their stance, if Chen Yang didn’t offer a reasonable explanation, it would immediately turn into a full-blown family confrontation.

Chen Ying was even reaching for her slipper because Chen Yang noticed his sister’s right hand moving toward it.

“How can I be getting married by taking money from home? Don’t worry, I’ve got it almost all prepared,” Chen Yang said.

“Slap!”

After speaking, he stood up and threw a thick wad of bills onto the kang.

After deducting money spent on supplies and what he gave to Lei Cheng and the others, he still had over 300 yuan left.

Though it was a bit tight, once the mushrooms were sold tomorrow, all the money would be gathered.

“You little brat, what did you do again?” Chen Zhilin finally raised the fire poker.

“Dad, dear dad, at your age, can you not be so impulsive?” Chen Yang hurried over and hugged his father to calm him down, lest he really get hit.

“Where did you get so much money? This is over 300 yuan!” Liu Minghua’s voice changed as well; this was an astronomical sum.

If it were stolen or robbed, he’d be facing execution.

“Didn’t I tell you? I earned this by selling mushrooms to the county’s state-run grand hotel! One basket earned over fifty yuan yesterday; today, six baskets, naturally more! After paying Lei Cheng and the others and buying supplies, this is what’s left.

Although it’s a bit tight, once I deliver the mushrooms to the county tomorrow, we’ll have enough,” Chen Yang explained quickly.

If he had hesitated or argued longer, those weapons would surely have landed on him.

“You’re saying you earned over 400 yuan from that one cart of mushrooms?” Chen Ying looked at her brother incredulously. Was this really the same good-for-nothing kid?

Just selling one cart of mushrooms earned nearly a whole year’s income for a family—it was simply unbelievable.

“That’s right. But I hope you all keep this low-key and don’t spread it around. Let’s just quietly earn money and not worry about anything else,” Chen Yang said seriously.

He wasn’t afraid of anyone stealing his business because Liu Guolin trusted him absolutely.

But people had envy, and if this got out, who could say there wouldn’t be trouble?

Making money quietly was the true path. Besides, it was a good opportunity to help out a few brothers—why not?

“Are you sure you didn’t steal or rob?” Liu Minghua clearly still didn’t believe him, gripping the wooden board tightly.

“Mom, how can you say that? Don’t you know your own son?” Chen Yang was helpless. He wished they had smartphones back then.

If he could record the whole process, they wouldn’t be so ready to fight.

“I know you too well. How many times have you stolen or caused trouble? Dad and I have paid compensation to the village people more times than I can count. Don’t you have any shame?” His mother’s words left Chen Yang at a loss for a reply.

Because she was telling the truth—he had certainly caused a lot of trouble before.

“I swear it’s true! No cheating or scamming. I’m working hard to marry well, my back’s almost broken. Why don’t you trust me?” Chen Yang was resigned. His past had indeed set his reputation.

It seemed breaking free from the ‘good-for-nothing’ label would be difficult in the short term.

But effort could change things eventually.

“You’d better be telling the truth, or I’ll break your legs! I’ve already contacted your third and ninth uncles and Li Zhiquan. When you return from the county, we’ll go together to propose at the Zhiqing point.

You know why Huang Zhiqing agreed to marry a good-for-nothing like you. Let me warn you: if you hurt her, I…”

“Break my legs? Got it!”

“Who told you to answer me? No manners!”

With that, Chen Zhilin finally swung the fire poker down...