Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 497: Chapter 260: A Man’s Responsibility

Li Changyu’s mind was a million miles away. Li Mingrui and Mrs. Fang watched him with concern, saying nothing. The room fell silent.

After a good while, Li Gengtian cleared his throat and began to reason with his son. ”Changyu, I’m not trying to criticize you. Juhua is a hardworking and gentle girl, a good maiden. For a country girl, she’s considered quite decent. But she still can’t compare to Mr. Gao’s daughter. I won’t even talk about looks—we’re a straightforward family, good character is all that matters, we aren’t concerned with appearances. But if we compare education, Mr. Gao’s daughter is literate. If we compare upbringing, she’s a well-bred young lady. How can a girl from the countryside possibly compare? There’s no point in comparing family background and wealth, because even though I’m a villager, I’m not the sort to covet wealth or climb the social ladder.”

He went on at length until his throat felt dry. He poured himself a cup of water and took a drink, only to see the old master, Li Mingrui, shoot him a fierce glare. The old man then stood, pulled Li Changyu out of the room with him, and left the couple sitting there, staring blankly at each other. They had no idea why the old master was suddenly so displeased.

As it turned out, Li Mingrui was furious after hearing his son’s speech. He thought with disdain, ’You brat, it’s easy for you to say. Back when you wanted to marry Mrs. Fang, you had a whole list of reasons for breaking off your engagement. Now your grandson wants to marry someone he loves, and suddenly the same logic doesn’t work?’

’Juhua is getting engaged to Huai Zi, and Changyu is heartbroken. Yet here you are, his own father, spouting all this useless nonsense. If a person’s feelings could be changed that easily, what would be the point of love!’

In the end, the Li Family did not call off the engagement. Li Changyu knew that even if they did, there was no longer any hope with Juhua. He just couldn’t bring himself to accept it yet.

Despite this, on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, he returned to Qinghui. It was as if closing the distance, even just a little, would allow him to at least glimpse the shadow of his lost first love, even if he couldn’t reclaim it. He could mourn its passing and pay his respects to its memory.

Li Mingrui made small talk with his grandson for a while, but seeing that the boy remained withdrawn and melancholy, he thought for a moment before speaking. ”Changyu, when you get back to Qinghui, you should go see County Magistrate Hu and call off the engagement. Just make sure you think of a good reason first, so the other family doesn’t lose face.”

Li Changyu was stunned. He asked in disbelief, ”Grandfather, you... what do you mean?” ’Does he want me to go and fight Huai Zi for Juhua? But isn’t it too late for that? Causing such a scene would only lead to ruin for all three of us.’

Li Mingrui picked up a sunflower seed, cracked it between his teeth, and then spat the shell out with a *pfft*. Only then did he say to Li Changyu, ”You think I’m telling you to go fight for Juhua?”

He shook his head gently and continued, ”As for you and Juhua, you know in your heart what your real chances are. What you should do is for you to weigh on your own. What I’m talking about is your engagement to the Gao Family... and your father.”

Li Changyu looked at his grandfather, puzzled, unsure of what he was getting at.

Li Mingrui looked his grandson squarely in the eye. ”Call off the engagement,” he said, ”so that in the future, you won’t always feel that your father ruined your good fortune by arranging this marriage. Call it off, so you won’t spend your life thinking that you would have surely married Juhua if it weren’t for Miss Gao. You have to understand that even if your father hadn’t arranged this match, it’s not a given that you would have been able to marry Juhua anyway.”

Li Changyu stared blankly at his grandfather’s lips as they moved, feeling only the cruelty of an unveiled truth and the despair of facing reality. Yes, it was like pulling the veil from Juhua’s face only to see the hideous blemishes that marred her beauty—a sight that made one’s heart ache with pity, yet left one utterly helpless.

Li Mingrui spoke in a low voice. ”Grandfather doesn’t want to hurt you, but you need to understand: no one is forcing you. Not your father, and certainly not Miss Gao. If you are unwilling, we will call off this engagement, even at the cost of Changfeng’s future. But if you accept this match, then you must bear the responsibility. Don’t go around later saying things like, ’It’s because of Father that I lost my chance with Juhua,’ or ’I don’t even like Miss Gao; I was forced into marrying her.’ Never mind your father—he was a bit rash, perhaps, but whose marriage isn’t arranged by their parents? Do people just find spouses for themselves? And that’s to say nothing of Miss Gao. Her character, family, looks—she’s outstanding in every way. Why should she have to marry you only to suffer your moods? If you’re unwilling, then break it off now. Don’t go and ruin an innocent girl’s life.”

Li Changyu mumbled the words to himself, ”No one is forcing you... no one is forcing you!” In that instant, the phrase struck him like a clap of thunder, jolting him awake from the depths of his despair and the veiled resentment he held toward his father.