Chapter 6

Sang Ran and Zhu Chang’an were once again chased out by their parents.
The adults were discussing the bride price and other matters. As the younger generation and the parties involved, it wasn't appropriate for them to be present. Of course, this was an old-fashioned idea, but since everyone did it, no one said anything.
As soon as they stepped out, Zhu Chang’an took out a pastry wrapped in oiled paper.
For a moment, Sang Ran thought the young man had finally come to his senses.
But the next second, she realized that Zhu Chang'an was still the same clueless man. With a fierce scowl, he said, "Here, have this. Let's make a deal, if my mom asks me to take you shopping in town later, you just agree. We'll split the money half and half, and we'll each go do our own thing, got it?"
Again with this.
Sang Ran was speechless for a moment.
Zhu Chang'an really was still an immature child. This kind of trick was something even elementary school kids in her generation wouldn't use anymore.
Who would have thought he'd try it a second time.
Was he planning to use the money he swindled to go gambling?
Sang Ran pursed her lips, her big eyes glistening with a hint of tears, and said with a worried tone, "But we'll probably have a lot to buy then. What if the money isn't enough?"
Zhu Chang'an froze, his brow furrowing.
That seemed to make sense. The money his mom gave was for shopping, if they split it, they wouldn't be able to buy everything, and then they'd be exposed. Sang Ran might even get dragged into trouble because of him.
Zhu Chang'an had never liked this marriage to begin with, but seeing how well-behaved Sang Ran was, obedient and not prone to crying or making a fuss, he was actually quite satisfied now. After all, if he had a different wife, she might argue and fight with him, which would just get in the way of his gambling.
So if Sang Ran got implicated because of him, what if she changed her mind about marrying him?
A flicker of concern crossed Zhu Chang'an's mind. He wasn't a complete fool; he knew his reputation in the village.
He hadn't cared before, but now he felt a twinge of unease. After a moment's thought, he said, "Then we'll buy what we need first, and split whatever's left. I'll go have fun first, and you stay with the stuff. Wait for me to come back, and then we'll head home together, got it?"
With the wedding approaching, his mom was keeping a close eye on him, afraid he'd cause trouble again. Lately, she'd been strict about these things. In the past, he could always sweet-talk her into giving him a little money to go play a few rounds, but now it was hard to even step out, his mom was watching him like a hawk.
The reason he was being so nice today, giving Sang Ran pastries, was to butter her up and get her to cooperate.
Seeing Zhu Chang'an compromise, Sang Ran didn't say anything more and obediently nodded. "Okay."
Their voices were both soft. Though Zhu Chang'an looked fierce, it was clearly just an act. He even handed the sweet pastry to the delicate-looking girl.
A nosy aunt who had come over to watch the scene teased with a smile, "Oh, Sang Ran really does look like a little bride. Chang'an, don't you bully our Sang Ran, she's such a well-behaved child."
The girl's lovely oval face was radiant, a serene smile gracing her lips, and her big eyes curved with amusement.
Pretty, fair-skinned, adorable, and not a fuss.
Zhu Chang'an nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I won't bully her."
She was so well-behaved, he'd feel bad picking on her.
If she stayed this obedient in the future, he might even be willing to share half the meat he managed to scrounge up with her.
Zhu Chang'an's response made the surrounding villagers laugh even more heartily. One person whispered, "I used to feel sorry for Sang Ran, her marriage fell apart, and she ended up with a troublemaker. But it turns out this couple actually suits each other quite well."
"Exactly. If my daughter could have a mother-in-law like that after marriage, I wouldn’t worry even if her husband were a bit lacking."
Sang Ran smiled faintly.
In truth, if she had been a little softer or more timid, encountering a young man so different from the typical youth of the time might have ended in tragedy. But in reality, Zhu Chang’an wasn’t hard to get along with.
And even if he were difficult, Sang Ran wasn’t afraid.
She could always beat him into submission.

With nowhere else to go, Sang Ran took Zhu Chang’an to her grandfather’s place.
Lately, Sang Ran had been visiting three times a day. She didn’t hand the nutritional supplements directly to her grandfather, knowing they’d likely disappear by the next day. Instead, she went through the trouble of preparing them herself and delivering them daily.
Her approach had drawn criticism from her sisters-in-law in the Sang family, but Sang Ran simply ignored them.
Under her insistence, her grandfather had stopped working and was resting at home. With consistent care, his legs had improved enough for him to walk again.
His once emaciated frame had also filled out slightly under Sang Ran’s regimen of three nutritious meals a day, making him look less alarming.
Grandpa Sang was in the yard, washing clothes.
Today was special, it was Sang Ran’s engagement day, so the family would gather at her home for a meal. With no cooking to do, the other family members were still out working. Only Grandma Sang, who was older and had lighter chores, had finished early and returned home to look after her grandsons.
Two young boys were chasing each other around the yard with sticks, their clear, lively voices ringing out continuously.
Their noise was punctuated by Grandma Sang’s booming scolds: "Can’t you wring it out properly? It’s still dripping and you’re hanging it up!"
"What use are you? Still needing money for medical treatment, and after all those supplements, your health hasn’t improved. How long have you been lying around at home, eating and drinking for free? Aren’t you ashamed?"
"Why can’t you just take care of yourself and spare your son the worry? Honestly…"
Sang Ran’s smile faded as she stepped inside and called out, "Grandpa, Grandma." Her gaze swept over Grandpa Sang, who had just finished with the laundry. He wore an ingratiating smile, nodding repeatedly at Grandma Sang’s scolding without saying a word, wiping his hands.
Seeing her, Grandpa Sang finally smiled genuinely. "Sang Ran, you’re here!"
"Auntie!" the two boys chirped cheerfully.
Only then did Sang Ran allow a slight smile to surface, though it vanished quickly.
Zhu Chang’an walked with his hands clasped behind his head, his body swaying unsteadily, his posture far from upright. In modern terms, it was an eyesore.
With just one glance, both grandparents showed a flicker of disdain, but since the engagement was settled, they greeted him warmly, "Chang’an, you’re here. Have a seat."
Then Grandma Sang snapped, "What are you standing around for? Go get some chairs!"
She had been to the Sang family home earlier but had returned after a short while to tend to her grandsons.
"Right away," Grandpa Sang hurriedly turned to fetch the chairs.
But his legs hadn’t fully recovered, so his movements were slow, one hand braced on his thigh as if moving in slow motion.
Grandma Sang curled her lip disdainfully and waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, I'll go, I'll go"
Sang Ran had already hurriedly fetched a chair from inside the house, first settlingZhu Chang’an into it before saying, "Grandma, Grandpa has only just gotten a little better. If he overexerts himself now, we'll end up spending more money on hospital bills again."
Grandma Sang choked up. When her husband was hospitalized, she had been worried too, even crying in secret. But her nature and mindset being what they were, she didn't see it as a big deal and retorted, "He's already lived over sixty years, that's plenty. Dying early would be just fine, so he doesn't become a burden to you all."
In the countryside, living past sixty was considered decent.
Grandpa Sang nodded along, a smile still on his face, the wrinkles deepening. His rough, sun-darkened hands twisted a piece of rope.
Sang Ran asked curiously, "Then what's the point of having sons? Why bother having sons at all?"
Grandma Sang replied matter-of-factly, "To raise sons for old-age support, of course! Are we supposed to rely on daughters?"
Sang Ran laughed. "More like raising sons for death, isn't it? You and Grandpa have slaved your whole lives for Uncle, Dad, and Little Uncle, and in the end, you're supposed to die early just to avoid burdening your sons. So what's the use of raising sons? Just to handle your funeral arrangements? Wouldn't it be better not to have children at all? Take the money you'd spend raising sons and live a carefree life. When you're old, just die on your own, and pay the neighbors to handle the funeral. Wouldn't that work?"
Grandma Sang was stunned into silence. Her granddaughter's words struck a chord. Though she couldn't fully grasp them right away, she could vaguely sense what Sang Ran was trying to say.
It somehow made sense, yet it contradicted everything she had ever believed and been taught, so it also felt utterly unreasonable.
For a moment, she was torn.
Grandpa Sang, a man of few words, didn't dare contradict his wife, much less his granddaughter. He could only keep quiet and listen.
The scene fell into silence until Zhu Chang’an suddenly exclaimed, "Huh? That makes sense!"
"What sense does that make!" Grandma Sang, hearing this, snapped back to life, her mind suddenly sharp. "This brat is talking nonsense! Who doesn't have children? Who doesn't raise sons? Without sons, who will take you to the hospital if you get sick?"
Zhu Chang’an grinned. "Grandma, didn't you just say you were afraid Grandpa would burden Uncle and the others? I think Sang Ran makes a good point. I'm not having kids in the future, I can barely feed myself, how could I afford to raise a child? And even if I could, if I get sick later and can't rely on my kids, what's the point of raising them?"
Sang Ran was speechless. Zhu Chang’an's train of thought was truly something else.
Grandma Sang, already fuming, sneered, "How can you lump it all together like that? We shouldn't burden our children, but if I get sick, would they really not care? If they didn't, I'd curse them to death!"
This is such a double standard, she can’t bear to spend her son’s money on Grandpa’s medical treatment, but when she herself falls ill, she has no problem doing so.
Sang Ran said with a smile, "Grandma, weren’t you all planning to ignore Grandpa’s illness this time? You didn’t contribute a single cent toward the medical expenses, which amounted to dozens of yuan. Are you saying they only care about you and not Grandpa?"
Grandpa Sang moved his lips, his expression growing more pained.
After speaking, Sang Ran thought it over and realized it was indeed true. Grandma Sang had her own minor ailments and would always go to the village clinic for medicine, but Grandpa endured all his pains on his own.
If not for his robust constitution, he would have collapsed long ago.
Exposed, Grandma Sang’s face darkened, and she pushed the two of them away. "Get out of here! Don’t stay around, you’re an eyesore!"
Sang Ran and Zhu Chang’an were driven out, and as soon as they stepped outside, the wicker gate slammed shut with a "bang."
They exchanged glances, both feeling speechless.
Zhu Chang’an couldn’t resist adding, "What you said earlier was spot on, and I completely agree. Let’s not have children in the future, that way, we can eat more meat. Raising a child is just too hard."
Sang Ran, who also had no desire to bear children, it was too painful, nodded and smiled sweetly. "Alright, I’ll listen to you."
Zhu Chang’an was so pleased by her agreement that he felt light on his feet, growing even more satisfied with the marriage his mother had arranged for him.
Wait, no, he had arranged it himself.
He was truly brilliant.
If it were any other girl, she would definitely have disagreed.
Sang Ran was so obedient.
Each lost in their own thoughts, they ambled back slowly.
It was almost noon, and many people were returning from work to prepare lunch. Coincidentally, a few middle-aged women walked back together, and one of them exclaimed enviously in a loud voice:
"Ah, there are so many happy events in our village today! I just heard that Su Ya from the neighboring village is engaged to that promising young man from the Song family? The betrothal gifts were delivered today, and they even gave a bicycle!"
Zhu Chang’an, who had been feeling quite pleased with himself, paused and stole a glance at the girl beside him.
He knew a little about it, Sang Ran and the original Song Jianguo had been engaged, but due to a twist of fate, he had ended up betrothed to her instead.
Now that Sang Ran heard this, would she feel upset?
Zhu Chang’an thought about his small savings, it wasn’t enough. His eyes darted as he recalled his three older brothers’ secret stashes. Gritting his teeth, he turned and poked the girl beside him.
Sang Ran hadn’t heard a word of it. She was still pondering how to make Zhu Chang’an firm in his decision not to have children. Suddenly snapped back to reality, she asked in confusion, "What’s wrong?"
Zhu Chang’an felt a pang of heartache, this would mean fewer rounds of cards for him. But for the sake of playing more cards in the future, he clenched his teeth and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll get you a bicycle too!"
Sang Ran’s eyes widened in surprise.
Wait, "too"?
What had happened that she didn’t know about?