C2 Luh Xiaoya's Father

"You all are sensible folks, so I'm sure you've figured out why I'm here," Luh Dashan said, lifting his chin a bit. "I've spoken to you before about Xiaolong and Xiaoya's engagement. Given Xiaolong's current condition, what do you propose we do about it?"

In the room, Zhang Xiaolong lay on the bed. Though he wasn't eavesdropping, every word from the conversation outside reached his ears with uncanny clarity.

In the countryside, engagements and marriages often happen early. In the past, many had already tied the knot and started families before reaching the legal age. Zhang Xiaolong's parents had brought up the subject before, but he was solely focused on his dream of attending university and hadn't given it much thought. Little did he know that the elders from both families had already made arrangements behind the scenes.

"If you're having second thoughts, just be upfront about it!" Despite his suspicions, Zhang Daniu couldn't help but glare angrily.

"Now hold on, Zhang Daniu, that's not fair. What do you mean by second thoughts? If your son might never come out of his coma, should I expect my daughter to marry into your family and live like a widow?" Luh Dashan retorted with a fierce stare, matching Zhang Daniu's intensity.

"Can't you speak with any decency? Your son is the one who might never wake up," Zhang Daniu shot back, growing more infuriated. He clutched his chest and coughed, "Luh Dashan, weren't you the one who used to follow me around, calling me 'brother' and saying how Xiaoya had set her heart on Xiaolong and no one else?"

"Dear, let it go," Liu Mei interjected, tugging at Zhang Daniu's arm. "With our son in this condition, we can't possibly go through with the engagement. We shouldn't be acting so unreasonably."

"Fine, call it off then..." Zhang Daniu finally conceded with a wave of his hand, though he continued to grumble, "Don't think your daughter is the only treasure around. My Xiaolong is the Number One Scholar. If he were awake, he might not even spare a second glance for your daughter."

Luh Dashan didn't seem bothered by the muttering, his eyes darting about more rapidly. "Mr. Daniu, remember, it was you who initiated calling off the engagement. You can't go around saying that our Xiaoya was the one unwilling to marry."

Liu Mei felt resigned. With the situation as it was, she saw no point in further argument. Her son was gone, and there was nothing to be gained from contention. "It was us who called it off, okay?"

"That's better," Luh Dashan said, a smug smile spreading across his face. "According to the old traditions, if the groom's side breaks off the engagement, the betrothal gift isn't returned."

Zhang Daniu and Liu Mei exchanged puzzled glances. "But we never paid any betrothal gift!"

"Had you paid, I wouldn't even be discussing this with you," Luh Dashan's eyes gleamed cunningly. "Now, you need to make up for the betrothal gift. My daughter, Xiaoya, can't just be dismissed without compensation."

"What are you talking about?" Both Zhang Daniu and his wife thought they had misunderstood.

"We farmers make our promises as solid as nails," Luh Dashan chuckled. "Since the marriage between Xiaoya and Xiaolong was agreed upon, I consider it as good as a betrothal. Now that you want to back out, you can't do so without some form of restitution. Consider the betrothal gift as compensation for my daughter."

"Luh Dashan, have you lost your mind over money?" Zhang Daniu, grasping the implication, coughed more violently. "Or do you think I, Zhang Daniu, am that easy to push around? Do you take me for a fool?"

"Brother Dashan, you're crossing the line," Liu Mei interjected as she patted her husband's back. "Xiaolong is still bedridden. We don't have the money, and even if we did, we wouldn't give it to you. You flip your stance faster than flipping through a book. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution when you step outside?"

"Now you're being unreasonable," Luh Dashan retorted with conviction, his eyes whirling. "You just acknowledged the engagement to Xiaoya and then backed out without leaving a dime for the betrothal gift. And now you're claiming the moral high ground? Forget about lightning; even if it were to strike, it would target you two. Besides, with your child in that condition, what use do you have for so much money? It would be better off in my hands. I'll ensure Xiaoya gets a good education. Think of it as your contribution to a good cause..."

"You..." Zhang Daniu was shaking with rage. "Luh Dashan, oh Luh Dashan, everyone says you're sly and always looking for an angle. I only agreed to this arrangement because I took a liking to Xiaoya's daughter. Now, with my son bedridden, you want to break off the engagement just like that? How can you even utter such deceit?"

"You need to speak with a clear conscience. It was you who agreed, clear as day. I'm just following the old ways, and I'm not afraid to swear it to the heavens," Luh Dashan retorted boldly, standing his ground. "Now, who doesn't know about the misdeeds your family has committed? Why else would lightning strike your home, if not to strike your son?"

Already in poor health, Zhang Daniu felt these words pierce his heart. He struggled to catch his breath and gasped for air. "Luh Dashan, if you dare to talk nonsense again, do you believe I won't slap you?"

"Come on then! If I don't slap you today, I'm the grandson. You think you're some kind of Number One Scholar? You're nothing but a man cursed by lightning!" Luh Dashan taunted, approaching with a face as impassive as a corpse, unfazed as a pig in boiling water.

Crack...

The one who struck was Liu Mei, and it wasn't just a single slap. Her hands flew, raining slaps across Luh Dashan's face and body in a furious barrage.

"It's you who's cursed by lightning... Insulting our family is off-limits, and cursing our son is even worse..."

Normally, Liu Mei was a calm and collected individual, but in that moment, she was like a lit fuse, pummeling the slight figure of Luh Dashan until he was utterly bewildered.

She had thought that Zhang Daniu and his wife, being the docile sort, would eventually agree to a settlement, allowing her to walk away with a tidy sum. Instead, she hadn't seen a penny and had ended up with a face full of slaps from a furious woman. Luh Dashan couldn't contain his frustration.

"If you hit me again, I'll fight back."

Despite his slight build, Luh Dashan was still a man, and if he fought back, Liu Mei would surely be at a disadvantage.

Zhang Daniu paused to catch his breath and was just about to speak to Liu Mei when a loud bang interrupted him. A door burst open from inside, and Zhang Xiaolong emerged, looking utterly bewildered.

"Xiaolong?" Both Zhang Daniu and his wife were dumbfounded, half-convinced they were dreaming.

Liu Mei, more direct, pinched her arm forcefully, eliciting a loud "Aiya!" from Zhang Daniu. "Why are you pinching me?"

"You feel the pain, which means our son has truly awakened!" Liu Mei exclaimed, her tears streaming down her face in joy.

Zhang Xiaolong remained rooted to the spot in shock. He had heard the noise outside and, in his haste, had leapt from the bed and reached out to push the door. Little did he expect the wooden door to be sent flying with such force, leaving him startled by his own strength.

Gazing at the nearly shattered door, he wondered if a human could really have done this.

"Xiaolong, how are you feeling?" Liu Mei, with a tremor in her voice, looked at her son, waiting for him to speak.