Chapter 225: Chapter 228 Still Can’t Get Engaged Chapter 225: Chapter 228 Still Can’t Get Engaged Shen Luhua nodded, “That point is indeed true.”

“Besides, I’m not like my father.” He had mostly been raised by Zhao Lanzi, and although he had picked up some bandit-like habits from the Xu family, what he had learned were the knowledge and concepts from the respectable clans.

It troubled him greatly; he had never done anything outrageously evil or offensive his whole life. Why were people from ten miles and eight villages afraid of him?

“Your reputation isn’t exactly good!” Shen Luhua had thoroughly inquired about that.

A crack appeared in Xu Qigang’s stoic expression as he took a cigarette out of his pocket and tried to light it. Considering it indecorous to smoke in front of a female comrade, he put it back on the table.

“I’ve been feared by everyone since childhood.” Admitting this was somewhat embarrassing, but in order to marry, he was willing to expose his past.

“Mainly because of my father’s bad reputation.” As a son, speaking ill of his father made him somewhat uncomfortable.

Shen Luhua scoffed, “Exactly, if it weren’t for our old man insisting on this marriage, I wouldn’t have considered your family.”

Anyone who hears of the family of the Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger would keep their distance.

“But our Ningning’s reputation isn’t good either, as I think you might know.” Thinking about Sheng Ning’s reputation made Shen Luhua feel somewhat powerless.

The girl had been too naive and unwilling to heed her advice, which was why Qin Cuifen had been able to fool her so thoroughly.

“Our daughter’s bad reputation is due to others’ jealousy and slander.” No mother does not believe her daughter is the best. Even though Sheng Ning was her stepdaughter, as long as she called her ‘mom’, she had to act the part.

“What’s the reason for your bad reputation?”

“It’s because of my father as well.” In fact, Xu Qigang’s bad reputation stemmed partly because he was Xu Xianxiong’s son. Moreover, since childhood, Xu Xianxiong had never been able to outsmart his son.

It was always him who was deceived and tricked, and over time everyone learned that even the feared Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger were afraid of him.

Thus the reputation of Little Yama spread, further fueled by fights at school, where he alone could take down a group. His ill fame grew ever louder.

A son should not speak of his father’s faults, Shen Luhua was satisfied with his response. He seemed to be a good man and sufficiently filial.

“Auntie, I cannot live without Sheng Ning,” Xu Qigang said earnestly, his handsome face showing determination as he looked at her to emphasize his sincerity.

“I’m not good at speaking, but I will prove it through actions, and our marriage is protected.”

“Being married to you will be hard, as being a family of a rescue comrade is not easy.”

“Sheng Ning has been in contact with the rescue world quite a bit, and I believe she can understand. Besides, I could have requested family accompaniment long ago.”

“Ningning is not yet able to get engaged,” Shen Luhua sighed, her expression relaxing helplessly.

“Why?” Xu Qigang suddenly stood up, his face darkening like stormy waters. He inherently distrusted Xiao Ning’s stepmother, and now her words seemed almost threatening.

Shen Luhua was startled by his reaction, losing her composure and looking at him with a bit of panic.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Xu Qigang quickly apologized, “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“Don’t rush, sit down and listen to me explain.” Young people are just too impulsive.

How could he sit down? If Xiao Ning didn’t marry him, he couldn’t imagine what he might do.

“I’d rather stand to hear what you have to say.”

Shen Luhua looked at him with disdain, “You’re nearly six feet three inches tall, standing in front of me…”
“I’m sorry!” Xu Qigang quickly and obediently sat down.

“Actually, the reason she cannot marry you is simple; Sheng Ning owes the town mayor five thousand yuan, and if she doesn’t pay it within a year, she has to marry the mayor’s foolish son.”

“Bang!” Xu Qigang punched the table hard, instantly causing numerous cracks in the jujube wood table.

Shen Luhua was distressed.

In the kitchen, where Lao San was busy making scrambled eggs, he heard the noise and was about to rush out when Sheng An held him back.

“Dad, don’t rush.”

“What happened? They didn’t start fighting, did they?”

“Dad, he came to ask for her hand in marriage, not to fight. Would he dare?”

“You have a point,” Lao San laughed happily, relieved, “An’an, let me tell you, Qigang is a really good boy. In my opinion, there’s nobody in the county more promising than him.”

“Oh please… just because he’s impressive!” Sheng An pouted, feeling happy for Sheng Ning yet also a bit reluctant.

Sheng Ning had only just started being nice to her, started giving her clothes, and now she was about to get married. About to be taken away by another man, it somehow felt like a loss.

“Dad, can Sheng Ning not get married?” Sheng An spoke whatever was on her mind, and her words were immediately met with a glare from Lao San.

“Nonsense! Rain must fall and girls must marry, it’s natural. Is Ningning supposed to stay home and turn into an old maid?”

“Then let her! If she quits the union, I’ll sell bean sprouts to support her.” Although Sheng Ning was lazy, she was a great cook!

She was willing to support her.

“Nonsense, girl!” Lao San playfully slapped her, “I’m warning you, don’t you dare harbor such absurd thoughts. She’s already eighteen, if she doesn’t get engaged soon, she won’t get married at all.”

Sheng Ning’s reputation was already poor in the village, and there wasn’t a single family willing to marry her. When Xu Qigang and his parents came asking for her hand, he could have laughed himself to sleep.

“You too, even though you broke off that engagement with the mayor’s family, I’ll still arrange for a matchmaker to find someone suitable for you.”

Being able to marry off both his daughters and see them live well was Lao San’s greatest wish in life.

Sheng Ning stuck out her tongue, “Dad, stop talking about me, you should worry about Sheng Ning! We wrote her a letter, and she hasn’t replied yet. What if you agree and she doesn’t?”

“What then? We can’t keep indulging her. Look at Qigang, he’s a good boy, she’ll have fortunate days ahead with him.”

Initially, Lao San had wanted to agree when Xu Xianxiong and his wife came proposing, had Shen Luhua not insisted on asking Ningning’s opinion. Maybe the engagement would have been settled by then.

After Xu Xianxiong and his wife left, he regretted it.

What if they found out about Sheng Ning’s reputation and refused? So this time when Xu Qigang visited, he examined him thoroughly.

The more he looked, the more satisfied he became, nearly wishing to settle the marriage at once.