"Uncle Liu, I know our families got engaged, and your family spent a lot of money. How about this? I'll write you an IOU for five thousand yuan, promising to repay you within a year. Consider it our compensation for your losses."
"Five thousand yuan?" Mayor Liu's eyes lit up; this number exceeded his expectations. Sheng family's eldest girl indeed had some skills, not like she came from the countryside. If he could bring her home as his daughter-in-law, it would be much better than that girl Sheng An.
"Are you crazy?" Sheng An was startled by this number and quickly pulled on Sheng Ning's sleeve.
Sheng Ning pretended she didn't see it. After dealing with Mayor Liu today, she knew this kind of person wouldn't be moved by a small amount of money. If she took a hard stance, she could call off the engagement, but it would offend him completely, and her parents would surely suffer in the future.
There was no better choice but this.
"Uncle Liu, will this work? I can't produce five thousand yuan right now, but I promise to repay you in full within a year."
"Ningning, five thousand yuan is not a small amount. Do your parents know about this?" Mayor Liu put his hands behind his back, posing as a benevolent elder.
Sheng Ning was relieved to see his attitude change so quickly. "Uncle Liu, don't worry, my parents are aware."
"What if you can't pay it back after a year?"
He doubted her ability. Indeed, she had nothing now, and five thousand yuan was a large sum, almost equivalent to fifty thousand in the future.
It was normal to have doubts.
"Uncle Liu, if I can't pay it back, I'll marry into your family myself, and I won't ask for a single cent of bride price."
"Good!" Mayor Liu was so excited that he almost couldn't resist slapping his own thigh. He held back and said, "Ningning, since you said it, don't say Uncle is making things difficult for you later."
"I won't. Our families are relatives, after all! I have to thank you for looking out for our family."
"Sure! Who makes me such a diligent and people-loving mayor?"
"Then let me wish you an early promotion, Uncle Liu."
"Hahaha... Ningning, you're so sensible."
After writing the IOU and stamping it with a fingerprint, the two sisters left the mayor's house. Sheng An couldn't hold it in any longer. She threw her stuff on the ground in a huff, pointed at Sheng Ning's nose, and cursed, "Are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy."
"You're not crazy? You promised to compensate five thousand yuan? You're not crazy using yourself as leverage?" Sheng An was so angry that her eyes turned red; she felt like a dough ball was stuck in her chest, making her want to cry.
"If I didn't agree, you would have to marry over there immediately. Although I haven't met Fools, he definitely can't be your future husband." Sheng Ning sighed and said earnestly, "You deserve a better man."
"You... But you can't do this." Sheng An stammered for half a day, still feeling Sheng Ning's words were wrong. What if she married into that family? It would still be better than Sheng Ning marrying in.
Mom would strangle her if she knew Sheng Ning married in her place.
"This is the best way. The mayor is cunning and extremely vengeful. If we offend him, we wouldn't have a place in Shixi Town." This was a result their parents couldn't bear.
Five thousand yuan was a big number. She had to carefully plan how to make money; otherwise, it wouldn't be a joke.
"But you still can't do this." Sheng An angrily picked up her stuff, pushed the cart, and left, leaving Sheng Ning far behind without paying her any attention.
They didn't speak the whole way, and by the time they arrived home, Shen Luhua had already finished cooking and was waiting at the door.