Xiuping ran out of Wang's house in anger, but as soon as she got outside, she regretted her decision.
She shouldn't be so impulsive. She has no other way out except to rely on Ma Yunhao.
These days, she has been paying attention to the things her family has shown her.
No one in her family thought about her. They only cared about choosing the family with the highest bride price, and didn't care how she would live in the future after she got married.
She has been quietly allowing others to pick and choose, making herself look miserable, all for the purpose of finding a suitable partner and leaving this home as soon as possible.
But she didn't know many people, as most of the people in the village were relatives, and even those who were not relatives were all married.
Her only chance now is Ma Yunhao and those educated youth.
Compared to those educated youth who could not carry anything, she would certainly prefer to be with Ma Yunhao, whose family was rich and powerful.
But she didn't expect Ma Yunhao to be so difficult to deal with and he looked down on her.
Thinking of how Ma Yunhao had just been rude to her, the veins on her face bulged, and she slapped the wall. Feeling that the mud wall was not enough to vent her anger, she kicked it hard.
At noon, Ma Yunhao and Xiao Min cooked lunch together, and after he finished eating, he rode his bicycle back home.
After cutting grass for the pigs, Xiuping came to see Xiaomin again.
As soon as she walked into the main room, she saw Xiao Min sitting alone writing. Although she was only eleven years old and not particularly good-looking, she had the temperament that she had always desired.
Xiuping clenched her fists and greeted with a smile, "Xiao Min!"
Xiao Min raised her head, put down the brush in her hand and came forward, "You're here!"
Xiuping looked around the room and asked, "Is Ma Yunhao gone?"
Xiao Min nodded, "Yes!"
Xiuping clenched her fists, then quickly opened them, grabbed Xiaomin's hand, and begged, "Xiaomin, can you do me a favor?"
Her eyes were fixed on her, Xiao Min's heart tightened, and she subconsciously let go of her hand, took a small step to the side, put her hands behind her back and leaned against the table, "Xiuping, just say whatever you want to say."
Xiuping didn't notice Xiaomin's retreat, instead she encouraged herself, "Xiaomin, I love Ma Yunhao, can you say more good things about me in front of him?"
After all, she and Ma Yunhao had too little contact. If Ma Yunhao knew how good she was, he might have cherished her.
It was indeed related to Ma Yunhao. Xiao Min looked bitter and said dryly, "Xiuping, Ma Yunhao has a bad temper. I don't think you are suitable for him."
Xiuping was stunned, her eyes narrowed and locked onto Xiaomin's, her voice instantly changed tone, "You don't want to help me?"
Xiao Min was frightened by her sharp eyes and subconsciously took a step to the side, wondering why Xiuping looked at her like that
Xiao Min was surprised and looked up again, only to find that Xiu Ping had returned to her usual tenderness and pity. She held Xiao Min's hand again and begged, "Xiao Min, I can only ask you for help now. I really love Ma Yunhao and want to be his wife. You also know that my family wants to marry me off. I don't want to marry an old man who is a generation older than me. Please help me."
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, and Xiao Min felt very sympathetic towards her.
Sympathy is sympathy, but Xiao Min has her own insistence. Her grandmother said that marriage is a matter of mutual affection. Xiuping loves Ma Yunhao, but Ma Yunhao doesn't love Xiuping at all. If she brings them together, wouldn't that hurt Xiuping? But the truth is too hurtful. Xiuping is so gentle, how can she bear it
Xiao Min pondered in her heart and tried to make her words more tactful, "Xiuping, Ma Yunhao is only in technical secondary school, he can't get married so early. His mother said that he should wait until he is at least 20 years old before getting married."
This is true. Guo Mingxia mentioned this to Qian Shulan during a chat. Guo Mingxia felt that her son was too playful and had not yet settled down. Getting married early would only harm the girl.
So I plan to find him a wife later. Qian Shulan also agreed that it is time to get married later. Getting married too early is not good for your health.
Xiao Min was right there at the time and heard it all clearly.
She said it sincerely, but Xiuping exploded directly. She shook off Xiaomin's hand, her eyebrows raised, and the dissatisfaction in her eyes could no longer be suppressed, "You don't want to help me?"
Xiao Min was finally sure that it was not her illusion just now, there was real hatred in Xiuping's eyes.
Why did Xiuping hate her? Xiaomin couldn't figure it out. She thought to herself that she had always been sincere to Xiuping.
While Xiao Min was in a daze, Xiu Ping made malicious speculations towards Xiao Min without caring about anything, "In the end, it's because you love Ma Yunhao that you are unwilling to make the connection."
Xiuping changed so quickly that Xiaomin was shocked for a while before she reacted, "Xiuping, why do you miss me so much? My grandma doesn't allow me to date so early."
She loves Ma Yunhao? How could she not know? Xiao Min couldn't stand being wronged by her good sister.
Xiuping didn't seem to believe it at all and became aggressive, "Then why don't you help me?"
Xiao Min was pressed into a corner and blurted out, "I'm not helping you because Ma Yunhao doesn't care about you at all."
Xiao Min regretted what she said as soon as she finished speaking. She looked up at Xiuping and saw that her face was frighteningly dark, as if she had suffered a great blow.
Xiao Min felt that her mind was in a mess. Xiu Ping had always been gentle and pitiful, but the two looks just now made her scalp tingle. It was hard to describe what kind of feeling it was, a bit like the horror of being stared at by a poisonous snake. Xiao Min instinctively felt that Xiu Ping might not be as weak as she looked. Didn't her grandma say that some people look very gentle on the surface, but they are full of bad water in their hearts, and they may stab you when you are not paying attention.
She didn't want to believe that Xiuping was such a person, and she didn't want to argue with Xiuping anymore. She subconsciously didn't want to continue this topic. Whether Xiuping believed it or not, it didn't matter to her. She had already fulfilled her obligations.
Unfortunately, she didn't want to continue, but Xiuping refused to let her go, and looked at her playfully, "He doesn't care about me? Then does he care about you?"
Xiao Min waved her hands and retorted without thinking, "How is that possible? He doesn't care about anyone."
What does it feel like to like someone? Xiao Min has never had this experience. But since it is a relationship between a man and a woman, it should be different from ordinary friends. She felt that Ma Yunhao never showed any special feelings for her, not even a glance.
Xiuping looked Xiaomin straight in the eye, not letting her back off. "You're lying! If he didn't care about you, why would he come to your house again and again?"
In Xiuping's view, Ma Yunhao was her only lifeline to escape from that family. Now that this straw was gone, she seemed to have lost her previous scruples and became aggressive.
Xiao Min couldn't explain this to her. She had promised her grandmother not to tell anyone about this. Otherwise, their family would be ruined. People should keep their promises. Even if Xiuping was her good friend, she would not make an exception.
Xiao Min also began to feel dissatisfied with Xiu Ping's attitude, and immediately turned cold, "He is my friend, believe it or not. Besides, he doesn't care about you, what does it have to do with me? I only know that I don't care about him."
Xiuping had never seen Xiaomin so imposing before, and was afraid that she would be noticed by him, so she immediately backed off and hurriedly retreated, "I know!"
After saying that, she walked out of Wang's house carrying the pig basket full of pig feed.
Looking at her back, Xiao Min couldn't suppress the strange feeling in her heart.
Some things really need no thought. Women are born to be more sensitive and careful than men.
Xiao Min thought about Xiuping's abnormality many times but couldn't find the answer.
She couldn't practice calligraphy properly with her mind full of distractions. Xiao Min simply picked up her grandmother's archaeology book to read.
When she was in primary school, she found it very easy to learn because the courses were simple. When she had nothing to do, she would read Qian Shulan's books.
You know what, these archaeological books are really interesting. Every ancient artifact is a piece of history, telling the rise and fall of various dynasties.
Xiao Min gradually learned a lot of interesting knowledge from it.
When Qian Shulan came back, she found Xiao Min reading her book again, and couldn't help rubbing her head.
"Grandma, you're back?" Xiao Min put down the book in her hand and jumped up happily from the chair. "Grandma, take a rest first. I'll go heat up some food for you."
Qian Shulan nodded, watched her disappear at the kitchen door in the blink of an eye like a rabbit, and smiled.
She walked to the seat where Xiao Min had just sat and looked at the latest words.
Although Qian Shulan was not very experienced in calligraphy, she knew a little about it.
Especially since Xiao Min followed the teacher's handwriting, the difference can be seen even more clearly.
When Xiao Min brought the dishes to the table, "Grandma, eat quickly."
Qian Shulan was pleased, "Your calligraphy has improved a lot."
Xiao Min covered her face with her hands, her eyebrows showing a hint of joy, and her heart was filled with ecstasy. She liked the way her grandma praised her, which represented a kind of affirmation and pride, and made her feel happy.
After dinner, Qian Shulan originally wanted to clean up the dishes herself, but Xiao Min insisted on doing it, so she didn't refuse.
After Xiao Min cleaned up the dishes, she saw her grandmother leaning against the head of the bed, holding a large palm-leaf fan in her hand, her eyes fixed on the account book.
She walked up to help her grandma fan, "Grandma, I have something I want to ask you."
Qian Shulan put down the notebook in her hand and looked up at her, "Go ahead!"
Xiao Min pinched her braids and asked tentatively, "Grandma, what kind of person do you think Xiuping is?"
Qian Shulan rubbed her brows, looking a little tired. "You don't have much contact with her. It's hard for me to answer you when you ask me this all of a sudden." She took her hand away. "Why do you ask this question suddenly?"
Xiao Min briefly told her grandmother what happened today, and at the end she began to doubt herself, "Grandma, do you think I am a little too suspicious?"
There are many secrets in their family. In order not to bring trouble to the teacher and brother Xiaoyang, Xiaomin has always been cautious and vigilant.
Qian Shulan didn't answer directly. Instead, she tilted her head and lay down on the bed. She closed her eyes and muttered, "Figure it out yourself. Grandma is very tired today."
Seeing that her grandmother was almost asleep due to exhaustion, Xiao Min did not ask any more questions. She helped her grandmother adjust her sleeping position and then turned around and left the room.
Xiao Min stood in the yard with a heavy heart. She looked at the still hot sun and took a military kettle to the kitchen to fill it with warm water.
She couldn't figure it out, and her grandma couldn't give her an answer, so she wanted to ask Brother Xiaoyang. He was so smart, he would definitely be able to tell her the answer.