Chapter 21 - 21 0021 Breaking Off the Engagement

21: Chapter 0021: Breaking Off the Engagement 21: Chapter 0021: Breaking Off the Engagement The customers were few tonight and besides, Ye Weidong and Chen Fang knew they needed to get to He Xiaoqing’s house early to speak with her parents in person about that matter. “Auntie, why are you closing the shop so early?” He Xiaoqing asked. “Xiaoqing, there’s something related to you happening tonight, you need to be prepared mentally!” Chen Fang looked at her and said. Actually, she was quite satisfied with He Xiaoqing. Yet, Chen Fang also knew that the current Ye Qiu was different from the Ye Qiu of the past, naturally, his criteria had changed significantly as well. He Xiaoqing fell silent for a while as if she had already guessed what it could be. Ye Qiu and Ye Xue headed home first. On the way, Ye Xue turned to Ye Qiu and asked, “What did mom and dad go to Xiaoqing’s house to talk about?” “It’s about that arranged marriage. Sis, you know, I never liked He Xiaoqing. Back then, it was just our parents forcing it,” he replied. Ye Xue understood. However, she thought that although He Xiaoqing was quite plain-looking, not pretty, she was suitable to be a good wife and mother. If Ye Qiu truly didn’t like this type of person, no amount of parental pressure would work, and it would be better to clear things up quickly with He Xiaoqing and her parents. For some reason, upon knowing this, Ye Xue felt a vague sense of relief. Along the road, under the dim streetlights, Ye Weidong, Chen Fang, and He Xiaoqing silently made their way toward He Xiaoqing’s house. “Auntie, what exactly is the matter?” Although He Xiaoqing had some guesses, she still couldn’t be sure. “Xiaoqing, we’re sorry. Initially, we thought since Ye Qiu wasn’t doing well in school, we would wait for him to finish high school and then have him marry you. But now, Ye Qiu has made it clear to us that he doesn’t like you, so he will not marry you. We felt it necessary to clarify this with you and your parents now, to not delay your life nor owe you or your family any favors,” said Chen Fang. He Xiaoqing felt as though time had momentarily frozen. Although Chen Fang had already prepared her somewhat beforehand, the discomfort He Xiaoqing felt was still indescribably intense. She and Ye Qiu had known each other since they were children after all, with their parents both working in the textile factory and living in the same neighborhood. When Ye Qiu was in elementary and middle school, his grades were outstanding, the best in the neighborhood. He Xiaoqing lacked talent in academics, and her grades in both elementary and middle school were poor, so much so that she couldn’t even get into a regular high school, which led her parents to have her help out at the pork stall instead. However, throughout those elementary and middle school years, perhaps because her parents often praised Ye Qiu’s academic prowess in her presence, and also because Ye Qiu was not bad-looking, she harbored some inexplicable feelings for him. Later, when Ye Qiu started freshman year at Jiangbei No. 3 Middle School, possibly because the learning methods in high school were completely different and the subjects much harder than in middle school, his grades began to decline significantly. Since Ye Weidong and his wife were good friends with He Xiaoqing’s parents, they had informally discussed and arranged for Ye Qiu and He Xiaoqing to be together in the future. At that time, He Xiaoqing didn’t oppose the idea, for she had somewhat liked Ye Qiu then. As for Ye Qiu, he had begun to become timid, shy, and insecure, somewhat muddled, and he had no particular objections to his parents’ arrangements. However, during these almost three years, although Ye Qiu and He Xiaoqing saw each other often at the porridge and noodle shop, they hardly ever talked. In He Xiaoqing’s memory, they probably didn’t even exchange ten sentences; thus, to say she had any feelings for Ye Qiu was impossible. It was as if this whole arrangement was orchestrated by fate, and now that it was abruptly changing after three years, she found it hard to accept all at once. Moreover, since Ye Qiu was discharged from the hospital after his car accident, He Xiaoqing had clearly felt that the current Ye Qiu was profoundly different from the former Ye Qiu. When He Xiaoqing remained silent, Chen Fang said, “Xiaoqing, actually, you really are suited to be a devoted wife and loving mother, Weidong and I really like you. But, Ye Qiu doesn’t like you, and we can’t force him, so we need to clear this up as soon as possible.” He Xiaoqing didn’t speak. Ye Weidong also didn’t know what to say, only that three years ago, he and He Xiaoqing’s parents shouldn’t have said those things, and now it might be a bit troublesome. He grabbed two packs of Furong Wang cigarettes to later give to Butcher He, to see how this old friend would handle the situation. Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it was because Ye Qiu had neither agreed nor objected at the beginning, as he couldn’t oppose the matter. Now, going upstairs with He Xiaoqing and knocking on the door, it was Li Lanfang who answered. Li Lanfang was surprised, wondering how Xiaoqing had come back so soon? When she opened the door and saw Ye Weidong and Chen Fang, she also wondered why these two had also come over? As Li Lanfang invited Ye Weidong and Chen Fang inside, Chen Fang said, “Lanfang, it’s so late, and we’re here to disturb you.” “We’re all old friends, former colleagues, neighbors, no need for such formalities!” Li Lanfang replied. Seeing her daughter looking somewhat troubled, Li Lanfang didn’t know what had happened to her daughter; He Xiaoqing didn’t elaborate further and went straight back to her room, closing the door behind her. “What’s wrong with Xiaoqing? She seems distressed!” Butcher He, who was just coming out of the room, asked. “You’re asking me? How would I know?” Li Lanfang replied. Chen Fang and Ye Weidong appeared somewhat embarrassed. When Butcher He saw Chen Fang and Ye Weidong coming over, he exclaimed, “Oh, you’ve come too?” “Old bro, there’s something important we need to discuss with you,” Ye Weidong said. Ye Weidong handed the two packs of Furong Wang directly to Butcher He. Seeing the good cigarettes and Ye Weidong’s expression, Butcher He thought Ye Weidong was there to borrow money. After all, he knew about the over one hundred thousand yuan in medical bills that Ye Qiu had accrued. Indeed, having already heard that Ye Weidong was thinking of mortgaging the house for a loan, Butcher He had prepared to lend the money to Ye Weidong, considering it as a dowry since his daughter and Ye Qiu were to be married. But, Li Lanfang disagreed, saying Ye Qiu had the car accident because of a beautiful girl in his class, so the money shouldn’t be lent to Ye Weidong. Smoking, Butcher He remarked, “Brother Ye, these are fine cigarettes! Tell me, it’s so late, what important matter brings you to us?” At that time, Li Lanfang also thought that Mr. and Mrs. Ye Weidong were there to borrow money. After all, Vice Mayor had already covered those bills for Ye Qiu, curing his daughter, and not many people knew about it. “Old bro, sister-in-law, it’s like this, originally we had agreed that after Ye Qiu finished high school, he would marry Xiaoqing. However, Ye Qiu has now clearly told us he doesn’t like Xiaoqing and will not be marrying her in the future,” said Ye Weidong directly. Upon hearing this, Butcher He looked at Ye Weidong, puzzled. Li Lanfang, hearing this, initially had the same expression. They had thought that the two came to borrow money, but unexpectedly, they had come to break off the engagement. “You’re saying Ye Qiu doesn’t like Xiaoqing and doesn’t want to marry her in the future?” Li Lanfang asked with some uncertainty. Ye Weidong and Chen Fang could only nod and confirm.