Knowing Liang Huan was at Blue Phoenix, Liu Fang wasn’t so anxious anymore.

What was a fight between cousins? They were relatives – it’s not like they could eat Liang Huan.

“That foolish girl, did she let slip about the Fan family? Why else would Xiaolan argue with her!”

Liu Fang muttered, and Liang Bing’an glared at her: “You’ve spoiled the child. She’s almost 17, without any worldly wisdom. She’s so stupid she’d probably help count the money while being sold! She has no idea which things can be said and which can’t!”

Liu Fang thought the same, but when Liang Bing’an got angry, she became defiant.

“So what if she told? The Fan family is already talking about a wedding in May. If Huanhuan didn’t tell today, I would’ve gone to the provincial capital tomorrow anyway.”

There would definitely be arguments and scenes, but in the end, wouldn’t she still have to marry Fan Zhenchuan?

Liu Fang didn’t care about Xiao Lan’s feelings, but for the sake of Liang Bing’an’s career, she would have to smooth things over with Xiao Lan – pillow talk could be very powerful.

It was just ten thousand yuan – Liu Fang couldn’t afford to be stingy anymore.

The couple exchanged a few words on the road, and after returning home, Liu Fang called Shangdu from the public phone in the alley next to Grandmother Yu’s house. After a long while, Xiao Lan’s voice came through:

“Hello?”

“Xiaolan, it’s your aunt. Did you argue with Huanhuan? If she made you angry, I apologize to her. Don’t be mad at your cousin… Let me talk to Huanhuan, I’ll scold her right now!”

“Oh, but she can’t come to the phone right now.”

Xiao Lan hung up after saying this, leaving Liu Fang bewildered.

Why couldn’t she come to the phone? Was Liang Huan still at Blue Phoenix? It was possible – the clothing store wouldn’t be closed at this hour. Seeing so many beautiful clothes, it would be normal for Liang Huan to be reluctant to leave. If her sister-in-law Li Fengmei were more generous, she should buy a couple of outfits for Huanhuan. Being so good to Xiao Lan – they were both nieces, showing such favoritism wasn’t right!

Unable to speak with her daughter, Liu Fang called again but was told not to bother as Xiao Lan wouldn’t take the call.

“Looks like Huanhuan did let it slip. Should we go there tonight? If we don’t appease that girl Xiaolan, she’ll keep making trouble.”

Liang Bing’an agreed to go to the provincial capital.

He happened to have his work unit’s car today. After dropping Liang Yu at his parents’ house, he was ready to leave with Liu Fang.

“Why are you going to the provincial capital so late? Have you eaten?”

Liang Bing’an’s mother came out asking her son, not even glancing at her daughter-in-law. Liu Fang suppressed her anger. Once Xiaolan married into the Fan family, the whole Liang family would have to look at her differently. Just endure a little longer – her status in the Liang family would soon change.

Stung by her mother-in-law’s attitude, Liu Fang finally couldn’t help revealing something:

“Mother, I’m having Bing’an drive me to see my niece in the provincial capital – my second sister’s daughter. She’s engaged to the Fan family and getting married in May!”

Mother Liang was suspicious – had she taken the wrong medicine? For so many years she’d never mentioned her family; the Liangs had thought they’d married a woman without family.

How could the mother-in-law approve of Liu Fang? They were from different social classes, and after marriage, she’d forgotten her origins. Mother Liang thought Liu Fang was cold-blooded – this woman prided herself on not associating with her rural family, but outsiders who didn’t know might think the Liang family was snobbish.

The most snobbish person was Liu Fang, yet the whole Liang family had to bear the blame!

Mother Liang disliked this daughter-in-law, finding her worthless. Liu Fang had entered their home pregnant; Liang Bing’an had insisted on marrying her, and the Liang family, fearing Liu Fang might spread rumors affecting Liang Bing’an’s work, had grudgingly accepted her. Mother Liang looked down on Liu Fang. Her first child was a daughter; Liang Huan grew up lovely, and sweet-talking once she could speak. The Liang elders loved their granddaughter – how could they drive away their granddaughter’s mother?

A few years later, Liu Fang’s womb proved capable, of producing a son. Using the grandson as leverage with her in-laws, Mother Liang could at most only ignore her, not dare to make things difficult for Liu Fang.

Not knowing why Liu Fang suddenly spoke about her family as if she’d taken the wrong medicine, Mother Liang didn’t initially react to how her niece’s marriage related to the Liang family. But Father Liang caught the key point:

“Our Hedong County’s Fan family? Marrying which one?”

Mother Liang suddenly understood – another relative using marriage to change their rural status, no wonder she wanted to mention it.

Liu Fang contained her pride, “Father, she’s marrying Fan Zhenchuan.”

Fan Zhenchuan!

Father Liang’s eyelids twitched.

Marrying into the Fan family was one thing, but marrying Fan Zhenchuan meant a political alliance. Father Liang certainly wasn’t confused about what this meant.

“Bing’an, is what your wife saying true?”

Liang Bing’an felt the matter was practically settled, so there was no harm in telling his family: “The Fan family has confirmed it. The wedding will be in May. Aunt Li and Fan Zhenchuan both really like Afang’s niece.”

Liang Bing’an’s words carried great credibility. Mother Liang looked at her daughter-in-law in surprise – how could a village girl marry Fan Zhenchuan? She must be extremely beautiful for Fan Zhenchuan to overlook other conditions… Though Mother Liang disliked her daughter-in-law, she had to honestly admit from an objective standpoint that Liu Fang was beautiful, which explained Liang Huan’s good looks.

Liang Huan’s cousin must have typical Liu family features.

Father Liang wasn’t as contemplative as his wife; men cared more about practical matters.

If Liu Fang’s niece could marry Fan Zhenchuan, it meant new opportunities for Liang Bing’an’s career. Father Liang didn’t show his pleasure, but his voice softened: “Going to visit relatives so late, you two are going empty-handed? I’ll have your mother pack something. Someone just gave us two jars of honey – take them with you.”

Liu Fang was overwhelmed by this favor.

Her niece wasn’t even married to Fan Zhenchuan yet, and her father-in-law’s attitude had already changed.

Once the marriage happened, all her years of hardship would finally pay off!

“Thank you, Father! I’ll take them now, and bring you both some fresh honey another day.”

“We’re all family, no need to keep such careful count of things.”

Father Liang had them pack the honey and hurry to the provincial capital.

After Liang Bing’an drove away, Mother Liang came to her senses:

“Old man, are you sure about this?”

Father Liang stood with his hands behind his back, in a good mood: “Bing’an confirmed it, so it must be true.”

Liu Fang was beside herself with joy, talking about it with Liang Bing’an the whole way. Liang Bing’an absent-mindedly humored her with a few words, “Let me do the talking when we get there. Young girls don’t understand – they only see that we arranged things behind her back, not the benefits of marrying into the Fan family.”

This was a political alliance, not making enemies.

If they could get Xiao Lan to marry willingly, that would be best – everyone would be happy!

If she wasn’t willing, she’d still have to marry – why cry and make everyone unhappy?

Liu Fang’s words weren’t as persuasive as Liang Bing’an’s – he was a deputy director after all, dealing with different people every day. They drove straight to Grandmother Yu’s house in Shangdu.

“This is the place, I’ll knock.”

Liu Fang carried the two jars of honey to knock, and Liang Bing’an also got out of the car.

The door opened from inside, and a bucket of sewage water was thrown out. Liu Fang, standing in front, was drenched. Liang Bing’an dodged quickly and was less affected. Liu Fang’s mouth opened in shock, and the sewage water flowed in. The rancid smell made her retch several times.

The typically timid and honest Liu Fen held the empty bucket:

“…Don’t vomit at my doorstep, go further away!”