The aloof military doctor arrives at the unit, and the tough guy can't sit still.

"You still dare to say no? Do you really think you're a human being? Let me tell you, Sun Xiaocao, you're just a dog kept in this house. I'm going to sell you right now, and you can't choose where you're sold to." The woman's sarcastic voice reached their ears.

"Xiaocao, Zhao Feng's colleague is from the city and has a stable job. If you go with him, your life will be better than it is now." After the woman finished speaking, an old woman with a hoarse voice spoke up again.

Sun Xiaocao immediately burst into tears and said, "Grandma, I've heard about it. That guy named Ma Daguang has beaten up several wives in the city. He would push his wives' heads into the water vat and tie them up with ropes to do those kinds of things. Grandma, please, I don't want to go."

After a long silence, the old lady sighed heavily. How could she not know that city people who could afford such high dowries came to the countryside to find partners simply because they wanted to save their lives?

"Little Grass, accept your fate. Your three younger brothers are all counting on your two hundred yuan dowry."

After listening to the conversation coming from inside the house, Xia Qiuran and Lu Zhenghan did not go inside. They simply stood under the eaves and waited for the rain to subside before quietly leaving.

Although it was a new society, the laws and regulations were not as strict. Rural women basically had only one way out: their families would help them find someone to marry, and how they lived after that was entirely up to their own fate.

Looking at Sun Xiaocao kneeling in the room, Xia Qiuran seemed to see herself in her previous life. Perhaps she was even luckier than Sun Xiaocao because she had loving parents and a brother.

"Commander Lu, I want to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a bottle of pesticide. You can go back first," Xia Qiuran said to Lu Zhenghan after thinking for a moment.

Upon hearing the word "pesticide," Lu Zhenghan suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Xia Qiuran, Sun Xiaocao is pitiful, but she's far from needing to take this step."

Xia Qiuran was stunned for a moment, then realized that Lu Zhenghan had misunderstood her meaning. "Commander Lu, what are you thinking? How could I let my good friend commit suicide? I know that if pesticide and two kinds of herbs from the back mountain are mixed together and applied to the skin, it can cause redness, swelling and rashes, making it look like leprosy."

After listening, Lu Zhenghan understood Xia Qiuran's meaning. No one would want to marry a woman with a terminal illness. If they could successfully avoid this terrible marriage, it might not be a bad idea.

The supply and marketing cooperative was Zhao Feng's home. To avoid any unexpected incidents, Lu Zhenghan, speaking in a superior's tone, insisted on accompanying Xia Qiuran there.

...

Supply and marketing cooperative.

After breaking up, Fan Chun kept fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan, clearly still furious about what happened that morning.

"Mom, I think Xia Qiuran is just putting on airs because she knows Xiaofeng likes her. If we ignore her for a while, she'll definitely come crying to our family for help," Zhao Feng's third sister said disdainfully from the side.

"I agree. She's so poor and doesn't even want to marry my son. I haven't even set my sights on her yet."

Fan Chunfen said angrily, then turned to look at Yang Yuqin who was peeling peanuts and eating them. She was even angrier. She thought that the daughter of an accountant would be better than Xia Qiuran, but she turned out to be a useless glutton who could not do anything and ate everything.

"Stop eating! How much grain does the Zhao family have to feed you like this?" Fan Chunfen shouted angrily.

Yang Yuqin was startled and immediately put down the peanuts in her hand, muttering softly, "Auntie, I brought these peanuts from home."

Zhao Feng's third sister then snorted and, before Fan Chunfen could speak, began to speak in a pretentious tone, "Yuqin, I have to say something to you. After you and my brother get married, will you still distinguish between yours and mine? A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup. From now on, the Zhao family will be your true home. You must respect every word your mother-in-law says."

Upon hearing this, Fan Chunfen adopted her mother-in-law's demeanor and said, "Yuqin, you've seen it too. Xiaofeng still can't let go of that girl from the Xia family. A woman who can't even keep a man's heart, our Zhao family won't want her."

"Yes, I understand, Auntie." Yang Yuqin didn't dare to refute. She glanced at Zhao Feng, hoping he would say a few words for her, but Zhao Feng just leaned back in his chair fiddling with his shoes, as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Alright, go mop the floor, wipe the counter, and then boil some water for me to wash my feet. Be more attentive, don't be like a block of wood," Fan Chunfen said impatiently.

"it is good."

Yang Yuqin tugged at the corner of her clothes and reluctantly walked to the door to get the mop. Just then, Xia Qiuran and the other person entered the supply and marketing cooperative and bumped into Yang Yuqin who came to get the mop.

Xia Qiuran glanced at the Zhao family members sitting comfortably in the house, and then at Yang Yuqin holding a mop. She instantly understood what was going on. It was true that no one who came to his house could escape the fate of becoming a servant.

"What are you doing here?" Yang Yuqin put down the mop, crossed her arms, and adopted the posture of the lady of the house.

"I'm going to get some pesticide; the vegetables I'm growing in the yard have gotten infested with bugs," Xia Qiuran replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, Fan Chunfen replied without hesitation, "They're all sold out."

"Auntie, pesticides are common items in the commune, how come they're all sold out?" Xia Qiuran asked.

"Sold out is sold out. Do I need to explain to you?" Fan Chunfen's eyes were full of ruthlessness.

"Mom, there are still so many in the cupboard." At this moment, Zhao Feng stepped forward. "Qiu Ran, I'll go get them for you."

"You silly child, she brought her lover to provoke you, and you're still helping her," Fan Chunfen shouted angrily at Zhao Feng.

"Mom, Qiu Ran isn't that kind of person." Zhao Feng retorted, a departure from his usual demeanor. He then walked up to Xia Qiu Ran, looked down at his shoes, and said with deep affection, "Qiu Ran, do you still remember these shoes? You made them for me yourself."

After saying that, she smiled and looked at Lu Zhenghan, "Commander Lu, did Qiu Ran make shoes for you?"

Lu Zhenghan didn't say much, only glanced at him, his eyes gradually darkening.

Xia Qiuran was in a hurry to buy pesticides and didn't want to waste any more words with these people, so she said directly, "Comrade Zhao, I don't quite remember, could you please get me a bottle of 66 powder?"

"Qiu Ran, how could you not remember? This was the first gift you ever gave me." Zhao Feng said, trying to grab Xia Qiu Ran's small hand, but Xia Qiu Ran dodged him by turning to the side.

"Comrade Zhao, I really don't remember. Is 666 powder two cents a bottle? Here's the money." Xia Qiuran took out two cents and placed them on the counter.

Zhao Feng's third sister rolled her eyes at Xia Qiuran impatiently, "I already said they're sold out, can't you understand?"

Xia Qiuran ignored him and pushed the money towards Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng looked at the small bills in front of him, his lips pursed, seemingly with a hint of displeasure.

"I'm sorry, Qiu Ran, I misremembered. The Liu Liu powder is indeed sold out."

"Did you hear me? Get out of here right now!" Zhao Feng's third sister immediately followed up.

Xia Qiuran gripped the two cents tightly in her hand, taking a few deep breaths. She knew she couldn't have any illusions about this kind of scumbag.

But we can't just let them have their way for nothing.

"Never mind if you don't have it, but I want one of those red diaries," Xia Qiuran said, pointing to the counter.

Ultimately, the supply and marketing cooperative was also a state-owned enterprise. Zhao Feng's father was just the director here. If they didn't sell the things that were already out in the open, it would be difficult to handle if it got to the commune secretary. This time, no one in the room said anything, so Zhao Feng could only give the red diary to Xia Qiuran.

"Qiuran, this notebook comes in other colors, they're all very pretty. You don't need to pay for it, I'll give it to you."

"No need, I want the red one. Don't you think this red booklet looks like a marriage certificate? It's used to record the beautiful dreams the two of us have for the future. How romantic is that?" Xia Qiuran took the booklet and gave the money to Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Finally, the father knew to back down. It seemed he had done the right thing. His father was the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. If he offended the father, his whole family would be unable to buy anything.

"Qiu Ran, although you have done many wrong things before, as long as you sincerely apologize to me, my mother, and my sister, I will still forgive you." Zhao Feng straightened his clothes, a haughty smile curving his lips.

Xia Qiuran only glanced at him coldly, then turned to look at Lu Zhenghan and handed the notebook to him with both hands.

"Commander Lu, this is for you."