"Over the past ten years, I've worked hard to raise her. I've long treated her as my biological daughter. Just two days ago, seeing that An'an would turn 18 in three months, I wanted to talk about the marriage with her, but she said that she didn't want to go ahead with it anymore."
"I tried to persuade her, telling her that breaking off the engagement at this stage would harm her reputation. But she refused to listen and even threatened to end her own life. She grabbed a stick and tried to hit herself on the head. But fortunately, I reacted quickly and prevented a major disaster from happening."
"Otherwise… I might not be able to clear my name even if I jump into the sea…"
Liu Mei'e stood there crying and looking aggrieved. She wiped her tears with one hand and covered her face with the other. However, the red slap marks on her face could barely be concealed.
Immediately after, a little white flower started crying too.
"Boohoo… It's my fault. It's all my fault! If I had endured it when An'an hit me, bullied me, and called me a bastard child, maybe Mother wouldn't have been beaten up by her…"
Gu Nana was crying very miserably!
After pinching her palm hard, the tears started flowing instantly. Within just a few seconds, what everyone saw was a pitiful figure with tears streaming down her face.
At this moment, Liu Zhengping's eyes flickered, and he spoke up, "Uncle Gu, An'an had indeed gone too far this time."
"Although Aunt Liu is not her biological mother, she has raised her for ten years. Even if it were just a stray cat or dog, it would have developed some emotional attachment by now.
"But look at her. Auntie Liu was kind enough to bring up the topic of marriage with her. Not only did she throw a tantrum and threaten to break off the engagement with me, she even broke Auntie's teeth. This is…"
"Besides, with my family background, I can find a suitable bride easily. I don't necessarily have to marry someone like Gu An'an. If she really doesn't want to marry me, it's fine, let's forget about this marriage arrangement."
It had to be said that he had added fuel to the fire at the right time.
In that instant, Gu Jianguo started fuming. He clenched his fists so hard that they were crackling.
Sensing that Gu Jianguo was almost reaching his boiling point, Liu Mei'e felt her displeasure caused by Liu Zhengping comparing her to stray cats and dogs instantly disappear.
To her, as long as she could bring misfortune to Gu An'an, it was worth enduring some grievances herself.
"Ahem…"
Suddenly, there was a hint of malicious delight in Liu Zhengping's mother's eyes, but she coughed lightly with feigned concern on her face. "Look, Old Gu. Your An'an had the audacity to hit her own mother. Our family is fearful to have such a violent daughter-in-law!"
"In addition, An'an seems to be quite adamant about not getting married. In that case, it seems that the marriage arrangement between our two families should be… called off."
Unexpectedly…
"No! You can't break off the engagement. If you break off the engagement now, it will be detrimental to the reputation of both our families. I'll marry, I'll marry Zhengping instead!" Upon hearing her future mother-in-law's words, Gu Nana couldn't help but blurt out her innermost thoughts.
When Liu Mei'e heard her daughter's words, she immediately continued, "Yes, let's have Nana marry into your family instead! Anyway, she has already…, let's just take this opportunity to hold the wedding banquet. It's hard to say, maybe in less than nine month's time, the Liu family will have a grandson!"
There was in fact some hidden meaning behind her words. She was implying that it was fine to get rid of Gu An'an, but her youngest daughter had to marry into the Liu family. Otherwise…
She would never allow it!
The faces of the Liu parents immediately darkened. Their expressions were alternating between shades of green, purple, and black. Especially Liu Zhengping's mother's. Her face looked incredibly gloomy.
She certainly despised Gu An'an, but she despised the daughter of a widow even more. If it weren't for her own son being so useless and falling for that seductress's little tricks, she would never agree to have Gu Nana marry into their family.
With these thoughts in mind, Liu Zhengping's mother said with a stern expression on her face, "We can change the bride, but there won't be any dowry. Whether you want to marry or not is up to you. In any case, if this matter is exposed, the party who is on the losing end is your family."
"Brother Zhengping…" Gu Nana looked at Liu Zhengping with tears in her eyes. Pursing her lips, she looked extremely aggrieved.
Liu Zhengping looked at her teary eyes and felt a little sorry for her. However, when it came to money matters, he was resolute. "I'll listen to my mother. No dowry will be given, and we will skip the wedding banquet altogether."
"Furthermore, your family must come up with the dowry, including the 500 yuan that my mother borrowed from Aunt Jiang back then will be considered as cleared. Consider it as part of the dowry for Nana. After all, she is considered part of the family after marrying me, and it doesn't matter who keeps the money."
"Brother Zhengping…"
"No way!"
In that instant, both the mother and daughter spoke at the same time.
"Hmph! Forget it then if you don't agree. In any case, the person who will suffer is your daughter, not my son!" When Liu Zhengping's mother, Jiang Mei, heard their response, she snorted with a darkened face. She was not going to compromise.
"I—"
Seeing the unfavorable expression on her future mother-in-law's face, Gu Nana's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly softened her stance, "I'll marry, I'll marry!"
Then, she quickly tugged at her mother, signaling her to stop talking. If the Liu family really went back on their word, that would be the end of her.
Upon seeing the situation, Liu Mei'e and Gu Jianguo's expressions darkened. They were dissatisfied with the attitude of the Liu family, but considering the status of the Liu couple, they had no choice but to accept it.
Jiang Mei looked at Gu Jianguo and his wife arrogantly and pursed her lips. "Since neither of you have any objections, this marriage shall be…"
"Auntie, you have to stand up for me!"