Chapter 014 Discussion for Wedding Date_1

Jiang Nanfei bowed her head, and everyone thought it was out of shyness. No one knew that her fists on her knees were clenched so tightly that her fingernails were embedded in her palms.

It turns out their grandfather had long known her character's weakness, yet she had been content in her ignorance, smug and self-assured.

Seeing that all was well, their grandfather gestured for everyone else to leave the room without worry.

Only Zhou Yongxian remained, sitting steadily in her place. Granny did not leave either, her gaze intense as she looked at Nanfei. Zhang Fengmei could not help the anxiety rising in her chest at the thought of the words said by acquaintances she passed by on her way through Da Wang Village.

"Nanfei!" Jiang Dechun clenched his hands nervously, somewhat reluctant to meet his eldest daughter's eyes.

"Father, speak." She had learned to face what was coming with calm acceptance.

"Father…" Jiang Dechun wanted to apologize to his daughter, but given the elders in his presence, saying those words would be offensive. He hoped Nanfei could understand the difficulties and hardships they faced as parents. Moreover, he was very pleased with Huo Beijiang. If his daughter could marry him, they would be free of worry for a lifetime.

"I'll speak!" Granny glared at her younger son for their uselessness, then turned to Nanfei. "You're turning eighteen this year, others your age are already married. We've decided you should marry Bei Jiang soon, to give Granny Huo a great-grandchild."

Upon hearing her mother-in-law's words, Zhang Fengmei, although blind, could already picture her daughter's grieved face. A mother knew best what her daughter wanted. Nanfei started school late and was just entering her senior year, with an age gap of whole seven years between her and the Huo family's grandson. In trendy words, they had a generational gap.

Deep down, she was not prepared to send off her daughter to someone so much older.

"Mother-in-law, this matter requires Nanfei's own agreement," Zhang Fengmei retorted. "Besides, Nanfei has excellent grades; she shouldn't marry so early."

Granny straightforwardly said, "Can you afford to send her to university? You can't even come up with the tuition for the new term beginning on September 1st."

Her remark silenced everyone present in the hall.

Jiang Dechun looked at his daughter anxiously, while Jiang Zhuanzhuan shrank into a corner without saying a word, her face marked by tension.

Oddly, Jiang Nanfei seemed to understand her younger sister's thoughts.

Zhou Yongxian, looking disapprovingly at her sister, said, "Don't speak like that. Once Nanfei becomes my granddaughter-in-law and comes to my house, I'll definitely take good care of her. If she wants to continue her studies or apply to university, I'll fund it."

"I know you'll treat Nanfei like your own granddaughter." Granny's stern face softened into a warm smile seeing her old sister.

She had met Zhou Yongxian through their church, and over the years, they had grown close, sharing everything with each other. When her younger son went away to avoid the one-child policy and left the infant Nanfei in her care, she began bringing Nanfei to church every Sabbath. Little by little, Nanfei became acquainted with Zhou Yongxian's grandson, and the two decided to arrange a childhood betrothal between them.

Of all her achievements over the years, Granny was proudest of having found a good son-in-law for her granddaughter. She had three sons and two daughters, with even more grandchildren. But among all her grandchildren, because she had raised Nanfei herself as a child, she favored Nanfei the most.

Unfortunately, as Nanfei grew older, her behavior became more inconsiderate, losing much of her childish charm.

"Nanfei, if you call me granny again, you must obey my decision." Anticipating the girl's stubbornness, Granny made a stern threat.

"Mother, don't force Nanfei," advised Jiang Dechun guiltily, ashamed to raise his head. The family was indeed too poor. Fengmei's eye problem required further hospital checkups, while the new semester was approaching, and all of these required money.

He knew that even if he sold his blood, he wouldn't be able to gather enough money.

With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Dechun's thin frame seemed even more stooped under the weight of his worries.