Rebirth: The Courtyard Bride Is Cool and Radiant

Chapter 231: Chapter 231 It seems that the proposal cannot be delayed

”They were chatting when someone outside shouted, ’Deng Zhiqing, Zhang Mazi is here to pick you up.’”

Everyone’s conversation came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes turned to Deng Xiaojie, whose face had gone pale.

She hadn’t lacked resistance, but Zhang Mazi had said, ”If she doesn’t agree, then I’ll reveal what she paid me to do and make sure she has a hard time in Songling Village.”

Having lost her honor, unless she could return to the city, no one would be willing to marry her. Moreover, knowing Zhang Mazi’s vile nature, he would certainly not let her off easily.

She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the room, her eyes full of hatred. Why did it have to be me who faced such misfortune?

She stood up, picked up her bundled quilt and handbag from the ground, and walked out of the Zhiqing Point with a stern face.

Zhang Mazi had gotten a wife for nothing and was naturally overjoyed. He didn’t care what kind of expression Deng Xiaojie wore. ”Wife, I’m here to pick you up,” he said cheerfully.

Upon hearing Zhang Mazi’s words, tears welled in Deng Xiaojie’s eyes. No wedding ceremony, no banquet, and her reputation ruined—one could only imagine what her future days in the village would be like.

Watching her follow Zhang Mazi into the distance, the zhiqing standing within the courtyard walls all felt heavy-hearted.

「The next day was grain distribution day.」

Early in the morning, the area around the storehouse was already crowded with commune members—men were shooting the breeze, and women were gossiping animatedly.

The cadres had someone set up a table, and Accountant Lu came over, clutching his ledger.

The brigade leader, seeing everything was ready, called out loudly, ”Everyone, line up and prepare for grain distribution! When your name is called, go to Accountant Lu to verify your work points.”

As soon as they heard it was starting, everyone stopped chattering. Nothing was more important than grain distribution; after all, this was a matter of whether their families, young and old, would have enough to eat.

Yunyi hadn’t wanted to come so early. After all, she had few work points, and as a zhiqing, she was sure to be at the very end of the line anyway. But who would have thought Geng Erhong would run over to her place early in the morning and insist on dragging her there to join the excitement?

By the time the two arrived, a long line had already formed, and they went straight to the very end.

Just as they settled into place, Cui Aiju from the Zhiqing Point said, ”Deng Xiaojie is so unlucky, marrying such a good-for-nothing. Did you hear what he was telling everyone when he came over? How is Deng Xiaojie supposed to face anyone after this?”

The expressions of the other zhiqing weren’t much better.

Geng Erhong and Yunyi didn’t know what had happened. Li Rongjuan, who was standing in front of them, whispered, ”That Zhang Mazi is really not a decent human being! He’s going around telling everyone how smooth Deng Zhiqing’s skin is and how great her figure is, saying his ancestors must have accumulated great virtue for him to be so lucky.”

Geng Erhong couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Deng Xiaojie upon hearing this. ”Deng Zhiqing really is unlucky.”

Yunyi thought, If she hadn’t tried to harm others, she wouldn’t be reaping these bitter consequences now.

Just then, some young married women and older unmarried girls from the village came over to watch the grain distribution, ready to lend a hand when it was their family’s turn.

Someone in the line spotted Yunyi. ”I heard Chu Zhiqing donated all the prize money she received. She’s really willing to part with it.”

”Well, it was like free money anyway. She probably doesn’t feel too bad about donating it.”

”I don’t know if she feels bad, but I sure do just hearing about it!”

”It’s not your money, so what’s there for you to feel bad about?”

”Just think, those two prize awards must have been at least several hundred yuan! To donate it all just like that... If her family found out, imagine how heartbroken they’d be!”

”Chu Zhiqing’s family must be well-off. She hasn’t been in our brigade for long, and she’s already received several packages.”

”She rented a small courtyard to live in as soon as she arrived. Her family’s circumstances naturally can’t be too bad, right?”

Someone in the crowd overheard their conversation, exchanged a glance with another person, and then walked to a secluded spot. It seems the matter of proposing marriage should be handled sooner rather than later.