Chapter 2529 - 2431: Engagement

Upon hearing Liao Hong’s question, Wu Jun was uncertain about the true intentions of these two people. Hence, he instinctively glanced at Huo Sining over there and asked calmly:

"Does this have anything to do with the reason you’re here to see me?"

Liao Hong raised his head and glared angrily at Wu Jun: "Of course it does. They all say you’ve made it big and hooked up with a high official outside!"

"My dad and I are here today to make one thing clear, we’re not here to talk to you because you’ve become a big official, nor are we trying to befriend you on purpose!"

"Back then, when you called off my sister’s engagement, my dad and my sister might not care, but I certainly haven’t forgotten!"

Upon hearing Liao Hong’s words, not only was Huo Sining shocked, but even Wu Ya looked up suddenly and asked instinctively:

"Engagement, what engagement?"

Liao Hong glanced at Wu Ya and spoke bluntly, ignoring his father Liao Agong’s constant signaling:

"Wu Ya, you’re too young to know these things. Back when my dad and your dad were on the same production team and had a good relationship, they agreed verbally that if they had a boy and a girl, they would be in-laws."

"Later on, it happened that one was a boy and one a girl, so your brother and my sister were betrothed as children, and when your brother went to the army, both families sealed the engagement as final."

"But after your family had issues later on, Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu passed away, and when your brother returned from the army, my dad was still hoping they’d get married, fulfilling one of Uncle Wu’s unfulfilled wishes."

"But who would have thought, your brother, that jerk, came back to the village and found my dad, saying he wanted to break off the engagement. No matter how my dad persuaded him, he wouldn’t marry my sister."

"Don’t you think he’s a bastard? My sister waited for him all those years, she was 24 then and hadn’t married anyone. She was the subject of much gossip in the village, then she got dumped, at such an age, where could she find a good family?"

"My sister and dad sympathized with your family’s troubles and didn’t want to retaliate against your brother. Seeing him insist on breaking off the engagement, they had no choice but to agree, but this has always been a knot in my heart."

"Your brother ruined half my sister’s life by jilting her. I haven’t said anything, suffocating inside, but I was young back then, and he was always away, leaving no opportunity. Now that he’s back, I must confront him about this!"

Upon hearing Liao Hong’s words, Huo Sining was simply taken aback, and Wu Ya appeared equally shocked.

Looking at Wu Jun, no longer the calm and composed person he was before, his face flushed red with shame and awkwardness. Clearly, what Liao Hong mentioned wasn’t something made out of thin air, but was indeed true.

Huo Sining was now truly dumbfounded.

She had always thought Wu Jun was an honest man, sincere and single-minded, basically a very upright guy. But who would have known that even he had such a despicable side?

Rural areas are different from cities, especially impoverished places like Xiakan Village. A 24-year-old unmarried woman is certainly considered an old maid, and the Liao family likely faced much gossip because of her.

If Wu Jun really let down a good woman’s youth and feelings, then he is certainly not a good person, and even she would have to reassess him. Qingqing being with someone like him is definitely not good!

Huo Sining’s expression changed to serious, and she looked at Wu Jun with piercing and suspicious eyes.

Wu Jun opened his mouth as if he wanted to explain but seeing Liao Hong’s angry and resentful gaze, Wu Jun felt that any explanation would be futile and chose not to say more.

It was at this moment Liao Agong suddenly erupted. The old man, who had been sitting meekly on the chair without speaking, suddenly shouted at his son:

"Enough, you know nothing about it, what qualifies you to accuse Xiao Jun?"

"This matter of breaking off the engagement was brought up only a few years after he joined the army."

"At that time, he entered the Special Forces, going on dangerous missions. He feared holding her back or something happening to him would ruin her life, so he had Lao Wu return their marriage contract."

"Your sister was stubborn and unwilling to call off the engagement, so the matter dragged on."

"During that time, Xiao Jun was in the army, and we didn’t tell him about this; he thought the engagement was canceled and didn’t know your sister was still waiting for him."

"Later he was discharged from the army, Lao Wu and Aunt Wu met with such a tragedy, and when he returned to the village, he only found out the engagement was still intact."

"Suffering consecutive blows, he feared those drug dealers would come for revenge, even after killing his parents."

"His future was uncertain, even considering taking those drug dealers with him and entrusting his sister to his uncle, having lost any will to live. How could he dare to marry your sister?"

"Your brother was afraid that those feuds might implicate your sister and cost her life, so he insisted on breaking off the engagement. Your sister also knows this, so it’s not at all like you imagined!"

Liao Agong yelled at his son, leaving Liao Hong stunned by countless hidden truths. Realizing his misunderstanding of Wu Jun, his face turned as red as pig liver, wishing he could find a crack to hide in.

His eyes filled with shame, as if he wanted to apologize to Wu Jun but couldn’t bring himself to say it, only to fall dejectedly on the bed, staring at the floor without speaking for a long time.

Tears welled in Huo Sining’s eyes, and her gaze towards Wu Jun dramatically changed, while his sister Wu Ya was already crying silently, clutching a pillow.

Wu Jun’s face was awkward, seemingly realizing he hadn’t acted appropriately back then, sincerely apologizing to Liao Agong and Liao Hong:

"Uncle Liao, Hong, regarding the engagement with your sister, it was indeed my mistake. Back then, I was too young and impulsive, my experience was limited, and I acted recklessly, not considering the consequences."

"I know I let down your sister; I was indeed a bastard, but I really hadn’t planned to live on back then. So even knowing my uncle’s family was unreliable, I still entrusted Yaya to them, intending to find that drug dealer, avenge my parents, and die myself."