Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 I Marry Her Chapter 38: Chapter 38 I Marry Her “I won’t agree! You heard me loud and clear, I said I won’t marry. So stop wasting your efforts, my parents passed when I was only 14, how could they possibly arrange a marriage for me? If it really was a marriage decided by my parents, this family hasn’t shown their faces once in the past four years, nor have they cared how a 14-year-old child could manage to live. Such a family is utterly heartless and unprincipled. And now they’ve heard that I’ve been accepted into college.

They think marrying a college student will bring honor to their ancestors. But don’t get your hopes up. There was no one to lend me a helping hand when times were tough, but now they want to take advantage of the situation. Uncle, Auntie, do you think I should agree to this marriage? Is such a family worthy for me to marry into?” Bai Xiao’s words made everyone nod.

If there really was such a marriage arrangement, Bai Xiao’s life over the past four years had been unknown to the villagers. They had never heard of this matter and had never seen anyone visit Bai Xiao.

Surely, such a family was indeed disheartening to the extreme.

Now, their motive to show up like this really seemed unreasonable. If any parents knew of such circumstances, they probably wouldn’t let their daughter marry into that family.

“Everyone, don’t listen to this girl’s nonsense. Have you thought about it? That day when you fell into the reservoir, a man had his hands all over you, hugging, touching, and kissing you. Your reputation was ruined to the extreme. Now that they are still willing to take you back, you are already so lucky. If you don’t marry into their family, who will you marry? Do you think that instructor, just because he kissed you, is going to marry you?” Li Chunhua threw out whatever words she dared.

Indeed, without anyone mentioning it, people could forget it, but once someone brought it up, it was true that Bai Xiao had fallen into the reservoir, and although the instructor had done it to save her, it was after all a man embracing and holding her, even kissing her at the time, which everyone present had seen.

This event, without being mentioned, once discussed, really might prevent other families from wanting to marry Bai Xiao.

In such a case, the fact that her fiancé’s family was still willing to take her back could even be considered extremely gracious.

People couldn’t help but advise Bai Xiao, “Xiao, for a woman, reputation is of utmost importance.”

“With your current situation, that instructor’s rank is significant, he definitely can’t marry you, and now that your reputation is also damaged, you’ll have trouble finding a marriage even as a college graduate.”

“Right, since your in-laws don’t look down on you, it shows that the family is not bad natured.”

“Exactly, if you don’t marry into such a family, it really doesn’t make sense.”

Immediately, all public opinion began to shift in favor of Li Chunhua.

Li Chunhua said triumphantly, “Bai Xiao, your granny has eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Given your current state, don’t harbor any delusions. Do you really think an officer like Instructor An would marry you after saving you? You don’t even consider how you’re like a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh. Just marry off quickly and save your reputation, otherwise, our village’s girls and boys might all have trouble negotiating marriages!”

The old lady had her years behind her, and with a turn of her tongue, she immediately tied the concern to the interests of every family’s children in the village, so naturally, people wouldn’t side with Bai Xiao.

Bai Xiao wanted to fight back, but she didn’t consider how much baggage she carried herself.

This matter was difficult for Liu Baoguo to interfere in, but Li Chunmei was different; she was grateful to Bai Xiao for giving her advice today.

“Auntie, don’t meddle in this. Whether Bai Xiao marries or not should be up to her. We live in a new society that values freedom in marriage. I’ve never heard the saying ‘parents’ orders’ in this context. Besides, Bai Xiao’s parents have been gone for so many years. We never heard of such an in-law before, and now they suddenly show up. Who knows what kind of tricks are behind this?

You are her own grandmother, don’t turn your elbow out. Besides, that day was about rescuing someone, and everyone saw it. If you hadn’t pushed Bai Xiao into the reservoir, would she have ended up in that situation? And now, instead of protecting your own granddaughter, you stand here making such cold remarks.

I’m really puzzled, is Bai Xiao actually born to your family?” Li Chunmei was also surprised, as she had never seen a grandmother who treated her own granddaughter like this, almost as if she wished her dead.

The way Li Chunhua treated Bai Xiao was not at all like family, but more like enemies.

Li Chunhua twisted her mouth uncomfortably, “Of course, Bai Xiao is my own granddaughter, but precisely because she’s family, I worry about her. Just think, an unmarried girl found in such a situation, seen by everyone in the village, held and touched, kissed by others. The instructor surely won’t marry her. With her reputation like this, when it spreads, which family within ten miles would want to marry her? Could she spend her whole life at home as an old maid?

This is for her own good. The family proposing marriage is wealthy, and they have only this son. If she marries him, that would be a fortunate life. Could it be that I, as her grandmother, would harm her?”

Bai Xiao had just thought that she would rather be an old maid all her life than marry into such a family.

Then, a voice cut in.

“Since the old lady says I have ruined Bai Xiao’s reputation, then of course I must take responsibility.” Everyone looked and saw it was An Zhiyuan standing outside the crowd with a group of students, apparently having listened for a while. The students behind him were making faces at Bai Xiao.

An Zhiyuan stepped forward and walked up to Bai Xiao.

Bai Xiao felt guilty. The instructor An had kindly saved her, and now because of her, he had been labeled like this.

She knew that the more this was talked about, the more outrageous it would become, and it might greatly affect Instructor An’s future prospects.

“Instructor An, this has nothing to do with you. You kindly saved me—you’re my lifesaver. How can you be burdened with such a label because of this? Don’t worry, I will clarify everything with everyone. Even if I, Bai Xiao, am to remain an old maid and never marry, I will not drag you down.”

An Zhiyuan smiled. This girl had a stubborn streak he hadn’t noticed in the past few days.

He’d always thought of her as a timid and weak woman, like a mouse. But today, she displayed an aura fierce and unstoppable, with a decisive and commanding presence. It seemed he had misjudged her.

“Bai Xiao, since the matter involves me and your reputation was tarnished because of me, as a person, and as a man, I should take responsibility. Village chief, fellow villagers, I, An Zhiyuan, hereby assure everyone that I will report to my superiors and marry Miss Bai Xiao. So let’s put an end to this matter.”

Everyone was shocked; after all, Instructor An was a respected figure, a school official of some standing, and now he was willing to step forward and take responsibility.

This was a joyous turn of events for everyone.

Bai Xiao was a college graduate, and marrying a school leader seemed to be an appropriate match.

Everyone was happy.