Chapter 385 Do You Have a Daughter?

Chapter 385: Do You Have Any Daughters?

Auntie Tan looked around, convinced they were faking it.

Let’s be honest—they just didn’t want to return the money or let their daughter marry into your family.

She curled her lip and said, "He Guangcai, you’re a respectable man with a job in the city. You’re not really trying to cheat us out of just two hundred bucks, are you?"

Lai Yuanxing shared her view. He Youfu’s talking about cutting ties was probably just a trick to help his son cheat them out of their money.

He tightened his grip on the knife again. "If you refuse to return the money and deny the marriage agreement, I’ll cut off your fingers before turning myself in at the police station! Even if it ruins me, I’ll drag you down with me!"

With his fury unleashed, Lai Yuanxing’s anger flared. The blade pressed against He Guangcai’s hand, already drawing blood, ready to slice down at any moment.

Chen Xiuying’s legs buckled in fear, and she knelt on the ground, pleading, "No! Please don’t! Let’s talk this out—no need for knives!"

Auntie Tan snapped sharply, "If you want to talk, then return the money! You can’t have your cake and eat it too—denying the marriage and keeping the money. Do you think you can take all the advantages?"

Chen Xiuying turned to He Qianqian, crying hysterically, snot running down her face as she begged, "Qianqian, help your eldest brother! You grew up together—how can you just turn your back on him now?"

He Qianqian avoided her gaze. "Begging won’t help. I don’t have two hundred yuan either."

Chen Xiuying then turned to Jiang Yu.

"Jiang Yu, you must have the money. Please help us! If it weren’t for your family, my eldest brother wouldn’t have gone to Henan, and I wouldn’t have given him the money. In the end, this is all your family’s fault! That two hundred yuan should be ours as compensation!"

Jiang Yu arched an eyebrow. "Go blame the person who’s actually responsible. It was Jiang Ting who sent your brother to work in the mines—why don’t you go after her?"

Chen Xiuying had tried to extort money before but failed.

This time, repeating the same trick wouldn’t be so easy.

Bullies always go after the easiest target, and Jiang Yu was no pushover.

"I suggest you hurry up and return the money. Given the situation, even if you take this to the police, you won’t win," Jiang Yu coolly reminded her.

Chen Xiuying sobbed in panic, "But I don’t have the money! I really don’t!"

He Guangcai, meanwhile, was soaked in sweat, slumped on the ground, muttering, "You’ve ruined me! You’ve ruined me!"

The mere thought of losing a finger sent chills down his spine, shaking uncontrollably.

Just then, the Veteran Party Branch Secretary finally showed up.

"Youfu, what’s going on here?"

Spotting Jiang Yu, his expression softened slightly.

"Jiang Yu, you’re here. I heard you went to Henan—did everything go smoothly?"

No point being hostile to someone friendly. Jiang Yu responded in kind, "It went well. The disaster is under control now."

The Veteran Party Branch Secretary chuckled warmly. "Good, good!"

After exchanging a few more words with Jiang Yu, he turned his attention to He Guangcai.

"What’s the matter with you and your wife now? Get up already!"

Chen Xiuying grabbed his leg like he was her last hope, clutching and crying for help.

"Great-uncle, they're going to chop off Guangcai's finger! Please save him!"

The Veteran Party Branch Secretary went rigid, his leg frozen mid-movement.

"Let go!"

Only then did Chen Xiuying help He Guangcai up, still sobbing uncontrollably.

The Veteran Party Branch Secretary cleared his throat. In the past, he never would've considered He Guangcai guilty of any serious wrongdoing.

After sizing up Lai Zhijie for a moment, he also felt the man was a good catch.

He Qianqian would be getting a good deal marrying him!

But today was different—Jiang Yu was here watching.

She was close with He Qianqian and would undoubtedly take her side.

If he spoke up for He Guangcai now, he’d only end up offending Jiang Yu again.

Right now was the time to mend their relationship, not make things worse.

"I get the gist of what’s going on. Guangcai’s wife, hand over the money! Don’t tell me you don’t have it—if you don’t, pawn the clothes off your back to repay it! Either go ask your family for the money, or let Guangcai divorce you. Take your pick!"

Chen Xiuying’s eyes widened. "Great-uncle, how could you! All these years in Nanhe Village, if I've done nothing else, I’ve put in my sweat and tears! How can you just talk about divorce like that?"

Jiang Yu raised eyebrows at the Veteran Party Branch Secretary’s approach today.

This wasn’t his usual way of handling things.

He Youfu and Liu Junmei locked eyes, both seeing resignation in each other’s faces.

The Veteran Party Branch Secretary was still the same—it was just that He Qianqian had Jiang Yu in her corner now.

But whatever the reason, it was for the best.

"Hmph! I’m not arguing with you. I’m giving you a choice—if you don’t want a divorce, fork over the cash!" the Veteran Party Branch Secretary said coldly.

Chen Xiuying hesitated but, left with no other option, finally caved in and agreed to repay the money.

But it was true she didn’t have the funds right away, so she had no choice but to sign a promissory note.

Auntie Tan, now holding the promissory note, yanked Lai Zhijie by the arm and turned to leave.

Lai Zhijie didn’t move, his eyes boring into He Qianqian.

"You really think I'm too good for you?"

He Qianqian shrank under his glare and lowered her head.

"It’s not that I think I'm too good for you—I just don’t like you. There are plenty of men in the world; I can’t possibly like every single one."

Lai Zhijie let out a nasty laugh and then swung his attention to Auntie Du.

"Auntie, do you have a daughter?"

Auntie Du’s face was an open book, her emotions written all over her face.

The moment they’d come to propose to He Qianqian, she could only think: why couldn't it have been Wang Pandi instead?

Lai Zhijie's question left Auntie Du stunned.

"Zhijie, have you lost your mind!" Auntie Tan stared at him in disbelief, tugging at him to leave.

Lai Zhijie brushed off her hand and continued looking at Auntie Du. "Auntie, if you've got a daughter, forget about formalities—I'll propose on the spot. Both my parents are working professionals, and I’m their only son."

Auntie Du was overjoyed, too excited to speak, and could only nod vigorously.

Her daughter, Wang Pandi, was originally meant to take in a live-in son-in-law.

But how could she let go of such a good catch?

"Yes!" she finally managed to find her voice. "My daughter Pandi is eighteen—ready for marriage!"

Auntie Tan’s heart sank heavily, completely frustrated with Lai Zhijie.

"If you want to find a match, I’ll get the matchmaker to find you someone later!"

The reason she had favored He Qianqian wasn’t just because of her job, but also because both her parents were cadres.

Village officials are still officials—they’ve got status.

But what was so great about Wang Pandi? Just a country bumpkin with no job.

Lai Zhijie ignored her, digging in his heels: "Mom, let's get this done today. We’ll go to Wang Pandi’s house to propose, and it’d be best to marry right away—I want a big fancy wedding!"

Auntie Tan turned to Lai Yuanxing for help, hoping he’d talk some sense into him.

Unexpectedly, Lai Yuanxing actually thought it made sense.

"Let the boy do what he wants. He’ll have to marry sooner or later anyway—might as well do it early and get us some grandbabies faster."

Auntie Tan: "..."

And just like that, Lai Zhijie, who had originally come to propose to He Qianqian, ended up engaged to Wang Pandi in the blink of an eye.

Auntie Du walked with a spring in her step, chin up, her back straight with pride.

She had given birth to three daughters but had never stood this tall before.

Some said Wang Pandi was just picking up what He Qianqian didn’t want.

At first, Wang Pandi felt a pang of doubt, but the moment she saw Lai Zhijie, those feelings vanished.

He Qianqian has no damn taste—how could she reject such a good catch? She’ll be kicking herself.