Rebirth in a Book: The Road to Breakthrough

"Patriarch Fu, please be nice. There is no need to consult the leader about this matter. We can just discuss it among ourselves."

"You see, this youth compensation is necessary!"

"Why is it unnecessary? There has been no news from your He Hongjun for three years, and my Rubao has waited for three years in vain. If it weren't for your He Hongjun's marriage, my Rubao would have a child now. Youth compensation must be paid, 20 yuan a year, 60 yuan for three years." The third grandmother said angrily.

"Then isn't this mental damage compensation unreasonable?"

"How is it unreasonable? My Rubao was devastated when he heard about this and still can't believe it. He cries every day and almost committed suicide. This is simply taking my Rubao's life. You must pay compensation, 100 yuan."

"This, this..." He Yuannian kept saying "this" for a long time but couldn't find any reason to refute.

"Humph, you should pay the compensation honestly. You also have to pay 100 yuan for your reputation. In addition, Rubao has sent a lot of things to your family in the past three years, which is converted into cash for 48 yuan. A total of 308 yuan."

"What do you mean by wedding? Those things are worth less than ten yuan. Not even enough to buy the clothes that my Rubao made for your He Hongjun."

"Third Auntie Fu, look, you want so much and we can't give it to you!" He Yuannian spread his hands, thinking of playing tricks and delaying.

"Oh, don't try that. If you don't have it, go to the army and ask your son's leader for it. I want to ask how their leaders lead the troops. Why do they teach cheating when they are serving in the army?"

"My dear relatives, you misunderstood. There is absolutely no such thing as marriage fraud in our Red Army. The engagement with Rubao was decided by us two old people. Our Red Army did not agree to it."

"Humph, now it seems that He Hongjun doesn't agree. I can't control you guys if you want to take the blame for your son. I also don't believe that since He Hongjun doesn't agree, why would he go to my house to show his courtesy before the engagement."

"My dear, we forced him to go there."

"I don't care whether you forced me to do this or whether I did it voluntarily. It is a fact that your family has delayed my youth for three years. Don't make excuses. Just pay the compensation and that's it."

The members of the Fu family stood behind the third grandmother, all with their backs straight, creating a sense of oppression.

He Yuannian and Wang Cuihua stood in front of the Third Grandma, not knowing what to do and remained silent.

Third Grandma was not in a hurry and just sat and waited.

He Hongjun is the third son of the He family. The other two sons of the He family were lying on the ground, with their heads down, wondering what they were thinking. No one came to help their parents. He Xiaomei had already lain back in her room. The two daughters-in-law were carefully cleaning up the kitchen utensils that had been smashed by the Fu family members.

Tiezhu saw that the He family was trying to keep silent, so he broke the silence and said, "Third Grandma, since they don't want to solve it properly, just call the police! I will go back to the police station tomorrow and file a case directly, and then start contacting the leaders of He Hongjun's army."

"Okay, let's go back then! Everyone has something to do, so don't waste time."

Third Grandma stood up and looked like she was going to leave.

The He family's old couple looked at each other, and Wang Cuihua quickly grabbed Third Grandma.

"Don't worry, dear. Wait a moment. We will go and raise money right away. For compensation, don't cause trouble to the police for such a small matter."

"Oh, we'll have money now. Don't waste time. We're not as idle as your family, standing there all afternoon. We're busy."

"My in-laws have misunderstood. We were just thinking about how to raise money." He Yuannian explained with a forced smile and winked at his wife.

Wang Cuihua went outside for a while, and came back to the house a few minutes later, holding a wad of money in her hand and handed it to the third grandmother.

Grandma ordered it and it was exactly 308 yuan. She collected the money and told the people to leave.

After leaving Xiawan Village, the third grandmother slowly stopped. Her face showed an undisguised fatigue, and her eyes stared into the distance, as if she was recalling the hardships along the way.

"Old man, hit me." Third Grandma said softly.

"What for?" asked Mr. Fu San, confused.

"See if I'm dreaming or not, we got the compensation." There was a slight tremor in Third Grandma's voice, as if she still couldn't believe it.

Uncle Fu San sighed slightly, reached out his hand and patted Third Grandma's shoulder gently, saying: "Look at you, it's true. There is nothing to doubt, just such a small amount of money, but Rubao wasted three years and his reputation was ruined. What is there to be happy about? It makes you doubt whether you are dreaming." There was a hint of sadness in his tone.

"Are we happy? I don't believe we can really get the compensation by following Congcong's method." There was a complex light flashing in the third grandmother's eyes, with both relief and helplessness.

"It's already like this, do you still want Rubao to marry him? We have to cancel the engagement anyway, and getting compensation is better than having a bad reputation and nothing at all. Let's just let this matter go, and we should plan more for Rubao's future."

Master Fu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Let's go! Second brother and the others have gone a long way."

The two walked home silently, with a lot of thoughts in their minds. They were sad. Although they received the compensation, Rubao's future was still full of uncertainty. They only hoped that Rubao could find the happiness that truly belonged to her and no longer suffer any harm.

When the group returned to the village, they were immediately welcomed by a group of gossiping women with smiles on their faces, warmly greeting them.

Yu Congcong was also among them. Her purpose was different from those women. She came here specifically to wait for her lover.

Tiezhu saw his sweetheart from a distance and ran over excitedly. He held Yu Congcong's hand tightly and walked towards home impatiently, leaving his grandfather to be questioned by the women.

A little further away from the crowd, Tiezhu stopped and hugged Yu Congcong fiercely. He used all his strength, as if he wanted to rub Yu Congcong into his bones and blood.

"Tiezhu, be gentle, you're hurting me." There was a hint of coquettishness in Lu Congcong's voice.

"CongCong, I miss you. I've been thinking about you every day these days. I'm worried that you'll stay in bed late again in the morning and go to work without eating breakfast. I'm also afraid that you'll have an accident on your way home at night, and that you'll skip lunch because you think the food in the cafeteria is not tasty."

"I'm not as delicate as you say. Besides, didn't you tell Brother Zhang Yun to pick me up in the morning and evening?"

"I'm worried that Zhang Yun is delivering goods to a distant place and won't be able to pick you up in time."

"No, Brother Zhang Yun carried out your instructions very well."

Yu Congcong pushed Tiezhu, signaling him to let her go.

"CongCong, don't move, let me hold you for a while."

"Ah, but we have to go back to eat, aren't you hungry?"

Tiezhu stared at Yu Congcong's delicate face, looked at her beautiful and tender red lips, and whispered, "I'm hungry."

As the voice fell, his head slowly dropped, and his lips gently pressed against those red lips.

Tiezhu's hand gently supported the back of her lush head, lingering on her red lips.