Chapter 38

Who said that? A woman was equivalent to 500 ducks. Jin Nian counted that her already small living room could accommodate 2,000 ducks chirping at the same time. She didn’t mean to blame her elders, but the noise was giving her a headache. Seeing Jin Nian’s nonchalant look, her aunt started to scold Ms. Tan, “You and your brother-in-law are the same. How can you let the child do whatever she wants? Was marriage a child’s play? Yesterday, I didn’t listen to anything, and Jin Nian even got herself drunk. Are you going to delay the child’s marriage just like that?” Tan Siyun sighed helplessly. Jin Nian couldn’t take it anymore and turned to her aunt, “If you want to talk about me, then talk about me. Don’t talk about my parents.” Her aunt was very unhappy. “Your mother is my biological sister. Why can’t I say that?” Jin Nian frowned. “You can’t criticize my mom in front of so many people even if you are her sister!”

Jin Nian’s aunt was really unhappy. “Jin Nian, why don’t you know what’s good for you?” Didn’t I say all this for your sake? Did I come here to be hated?” Jin Nian wanted to retort, but Tan Siyun stopped her. “Enough, Jin Nian. How can you talk to your elders like that? Apologize to your aunt.” Everyone advised Jin Nian earnestly, “Look at you. Who isn’t saying these things for your good? You’re not young anymore, why are you still so hot-tempered? Hurry up and apologize to your aunt.” Jin Nian felt suffocated, but she still apologized. She didn’t want to make things difficult for her mother.

Everyone chattered on. “I don’t think this matter is that serious. Why can’t the two of them talk about it after being together for so long? The wedding at this hotel has already been arranged and the invitations have been sent out. If others find out that the engagement has been canceled, Niannian will be the one who will suffer in the end.” “Jiang Qingchi is a good child in every aspect. As a man, who doesn’t make some harmless mistakes? Just muddle along.” “Jin Nian is too extreme. She embarrassed him in front of so many people yesterday. Why was she so impulsive?” “Can you guarantee that the next one you find will be better than Jiang Qingchi? To put it bluntly, the older a man was, the more popular he became. Moreover, his career was currently on the rise. There were probably many women waiting for him. Look at you. You wasted five to six years on him for no reason, and now you run away when it’s time to check the results. Are you stupid?” “In my opinion, we should find a mediator to deal with them. The two families don’t usually have any conflicts. It’ll be fine as long as we talk things out.”

Jin Nian’s head was about to explode. She felt like a dry firecracker that had been exposed to the wind and sun. A slight spark could set her on fire. The anger in her heart was getting stronger and stronger. She could no longer listen to those who thought they were doing this for her good. Jin Nian slammed the teacup in her hand on the table and roared, “Whoever is willing to marry Jiang Qingchi can marry him. Stop nagging in my house!” As soon as Jin Nian finished speaking, she turned around and went back to her bedroom. She slammed the door shut with a loud bang. The photo on the wall trembled a few times. There was no lack of criticism from the outside. Jin Nian covered her head with the blanket.

She was filled with confusion, anger, and helplessness. She didn’t understand why these relatives had such strange worldviews. Other than these trivial family matters, they couldn’t know anything. Jin Nian suddenly thought of Lu An’s mother, Xie He. Xie He had been married so many times, and she had always made decisions based on her thought. She had never cared about what others thought. Deep in her heart, Jin Nian admired and yearned to become a valiant woman like Xie He. Because she knew that she would never be as free and decisive as her.

The noise outside gradually stopped, and those relatives should have left. Tan Siyun knocked on Jin Nian’s door and said, “Jin Nian, I think you did the right thing. However, we are all ordinary people. We can’t live without daily necessities in life. Don’t say that we won’t get married again. Mom thinks that her daughter is worthy of the best man in the world.” Jin Nian, who was hiding under the blanket, did not speak, but Tan Siyun knew that she was listening. “Alright, I’m not here to lecture you this time. There are some things you have to face on your own. Even if you can escape today, you have to face them tomorrow.” Tan Siyun sighed heavily. “I’ll go back first. Don’t skip dinner.”

Whose life was not a mess? The moment Tan Siyun closed the door and left, the 80-square-meter house fell silent. Jin Nian crawled out from under the blanket. She felt very helpless. She had never been so tired even when she had broken off the engagement. However, she felt disheartened because of the accusations from the people closest to her. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. Jin Nian’s mood had been completely ruined today.