Chapter 180: Chapter 180: A Slap in the Face

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted from the Xu family’s mess to the food simmering in the pot.

No matter what happens, eating always comes first.

Liu Guifang also let Yan Lijun off the hook for now and hurried off to find Xu Mingshan to discuss how they could get the bride price back.

Yan Lijun shot a grateful look at Chen Fengqin, but Chen Fengqin just shook her head and left—she had lost her appetite for this meal.

Yan Lijun felt a deep bitterness in her heart. When she first arrived, Liu Guifang had been so kind to her, and she’d thought Liu might understand her struggles. She never expected that, once the truth came out, Liu would turn on her in an instant, even raising her hand to hit her.

Thinking of this, a wry smile tugged at her lips. Let them do whatever they want—make a scene at her family’s house, storm in and cause trouble—she couldn’t care anymore.

If the Xu family really did go and make a scene, she’d even feel a bit of vindictive satisfaction. At least her good-for-nothing little brother would finally get a taste of what she was going through.

What should have been a lively wedding had turned into utter chaos. People scrambled to the pot, elbowing each other to get food, afraid there’d be none left if they were late.

Yan Lijun, carrying her luggage, slipped into Xu Huaiyu’s room. In this big Xu family house, it was the only place she felt even a shred of safety.

The room was decorated with red paper cuttings, festive and bright, making her eyes sting with tears.

Thinking of how good Xu Huaiyu used to be to her, she felt both guilty and afraid.

Xu Huaiyu slowly came to, and when he saw Yan Lijun sitting by the bed, all the anger from before he’d fainted came rushing back. He even forgot about his injuries.

“Yan Lijun, after all the trust I put in you—did you know your parents were planning this all along? Were you in on it with them, trying to scam me?” He sat up abruptly, glaring at her.

Yan Lijun anxiously grabbed his hand. “Huaiyu, listen to me, I didn’t mean for this to happen. Please don’t be angry. My little brother got a girl pregnant, and her family demanded the ‘three rounds and one sound’ as a condition for marriage, or else they’d send him to a labor camp.

My family had no other choice, that’s why we did this. Can’t you just let it go for my sake? We can work hard together and buy all those things back in the future, okay?”

For the first time, Yan Lijun told Xu Huaiyu the truth, hoping he’d understand how hard things were for her, pleading humbly.

But she had no idea that the attentive, gentle Xu Huaiyu she’d known was just an act. The real Xu Huaiyu was a reckless, rough-edged troublemaker who didn’t care about anyone else.

*Smack!*

A loud slap landed on Yan Lijun’s face, ringing in her ears and leaving her stunned.

Xu Huaiyu, when he lost his temper, didn’t even spare his own sister or sister-in-law—let alone his legitimate wife.

“Yan Lijun, listen up. Your Yan family has to return the bride price to me, every last bit of it, or I’ll make sure your whole family suffers for the rest of your lives.

Why should I pay for your brother knocking up some girl?

You took the bride price and ruined my wedding—how is that even human?

I went hunting in the mountains for you, hurt my foot, nearly died from the pain, just to give you a grand wedding. And this is how you repay me?” Xu Huaiyu shouted, not caring what he said.

He really was hurt. Sure, he was mostly after Yan Lijun’s status as a city girl, but after being classmates and spending so much time together, he’d developed feelings for her. Being betrayed by someone he trusted stung, even for someone as rough as him.

The grand wedding he’d dreamed of had become a complete joke. He could already imagine that for decades to come, every time anyone in the village talked about weddings, his story would be dragged out and gossiped about.

The thought was unbearable.

Yan Lijun stared at Xu Huaiyu in disbelief.

She’d imagined he’d be furious, that he’d demand the return of the gifts, but she’d never thought he’d actually hit her—right in the face.

He’d always smiled at her before, promising her the world, telling her how good he’d be to her after they married, how she’d never have to lift a finger. She’d heard it all a thousand times.

He’d lied so much, Yan Lijun had started to believe him.

They’d never even had a real argument before. Whenever she got upset, Xu Huaiyu would always give in and coax her.

In her heart, Xu Huaiyu wasn’t ambitious, but he was gentle, reliable, never violent, and willing to spend money on her—a man she could depend on.

She never expected that, on their wedding day, his true colors would show. Yes, she’d made mistakes, but that slap woke her up completely.

A man’s words are nothing but lies.

Even her own parents couldn’t be relied on—how could she expect a man to be any better? She’d been deluding herself.

She knew she had no way out now. The marriage certificate was signed, the wedding done, the bride price taken. She could only grit her teeth and carry on, or else she’d be doomed.

She remembered something from her textbooks:

“For a man who goes astray, there is still hope; for a woman, there is none.”

Once a woman makes her choice in life, it’s almost impossible to turn back.

Now, her in-laws must hate her. If Xu Huaiyu didn’t stand by her, she’d have no place in this family.

No matter how much she hated it, she could only swallow this bitter life.

“Huaiyu, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean for this to happen. It’s my own wedding—I didn’t want it to turn out like this. I couldn’t fight my family. If I didn’t agree, they wouldn’t have let me marry you. I just wanted to be with you.

If you’re really angry… then send me back! Let’s just end it here…”

Yan Lijun threw herself into Xu Huaiyu’s arms, sobbing her heart out.

It was a risky move—softness is a woman’s best weapon. With someone like Xu Huaiyu, fighting back would only make things worse; retreating might actually work.

Xu Huaiyu was a normal man. Seeing his woman so heartbroken and seeking comfort, his protective instincts kicked in. He sighed and hugged her back, feeling a little sorry for her.

The marriage certificate was signed—there was no turning back. And honestly, Yan Lijun was the best match he could hope for.

“Get up. What’s going on outside? Help me out there to take a look.”

Xu Huaiyu calmed down, ready to discuss with his parents how to handle this mess.

He couldn’t just let the Yan family get away with this.

Yan Lijun had no choice but to help him out to the main room.

The Xu family’s big courtyard was deserted—everyone had left, leaving behind a mess.

After dividing up all the food, everyone had gone home to eat, not even remembering to leave a bite for the bride and groom.

The courtyard was littered with borrowed tables and benches, and the ground was covered with pine nut shells, sunflower seeds, and peanut husks.

Yan Lijun looked down at her stomach in grievance. She hadn’t eaten a bite since morning. Her own family didn’t care about her, and neither did her in-laws.

Xu Huaiyu was too busy being angry to notice the little things like this."