Chapter 500 - 487: Dumbfounded

A few days later, Zheng Changsheng left. He was headed to De Guang City, as there were quite a few matters waiting for him to handle there.

The eighth day of the second lunar month arrived. This was the day Li Hua and Qin Dali were to be married.

As for Li Hua and Qin Dali’s marriage, the Qin family had no objections. They had all met and spent time with Li Hua, and they knew she was a decent woman.

Zhou Feng’er, however, was against it. If Li Hua married into the Qin family, it would no longer be so convenient for her to come over. She had gone to Li Hua and caused a scene several times, but Li Hua never said a word. Her mind was already made up.

When Zhou Mazi heard the news, he also came over to cause trouble several times, but Qin Dali handled him on each occasion. Still, he couldn’t accept it. ’She was clearly my woman, so how did she become someone else’s? I don’t get it. In that house, I was the master, I was the sky. Why am I an outcast now, all alone? Why is everyone else’s life getting better and better while no one pays me any mind?’

Zhou Mazi was no match for Qin Dali, and he could see that Li Hua’s mind was set. With the Li Family also backing her, he knew there was no point in causing any more trouble.

But Zhou Cai’s surname was Zhou. He was Zhou Mazi’s own flesh and blood, an heir to the Old Zhou Family. He couldn’t possibly let Li Hua take the boy. Therefore, he had to take Zhou Cai with him.

Zhou Cai had grown accustomed to city life. While they weren’t wealthy, Li Hua had always made sure he had food and clothes. He felt it was a hundred times better than the village. What kind of good life could he possibly have if he went back with Zhou Mazi? So, he refused to go. But Zhou Mazi’s mind was set. The Qin family had agreed to let Li Hua bring Zhou Duo’er with her, but they wouldn’t accept a son. After some discussion, it was agreed that Zhou Mazi would take Zhou Cai. Zhou Cai refused, cursing his father. Zhou Mazi gave him a beating and then dragged the boy away.

Li Hua felt a bitter pang in her heart, but she knew Zhou Cai belonged to the Zhou family and couldn’t come with her. Besides, she couldn’t control him anyway. ’It’s probably for the best that he goes back,’ she thought. ’It’ll save him from causing trouble down the line.’

On the eighth, Gu’er, Sun Jiaming, and Li Zhi went to Li Hua’s rented house. They didn’t bring the children, leaving them at home with Cao Qiu. They were worried the little ones might get hurt in the crowd.

Gu’er had already sent over new clothes and many other things for Li Hua to take to the Qin family, so she could hold her head high. She had also arranged for someone to help Li Hua with her hair and makeup. Even though it was a second marriage, she wanted her mother to be happy and beautiful on her special day.

"This... I probably shouldn’t wear this, should I? It looks like I’ve been drinking blood. At my age, people will laugh me to death."

Li Hua said shyly, looking at the person about to apply her lipstick.

"Go ahead and wear it. It’s for the festive occasion."

Gu’er didn’t see any issue. A little dressing up can make all the difference. Li Hua had never been unattractive; it was just that years with Zhou Mazi had worn her down and drained the life from her. Now, all done up, she looked quite lovely.

"Fine, I’ll listen to you. If people want to laugh, let them laugh."

Her devil-may-care attitude made everyone laugh.

"Gu’er, do you think... they’ll come and cause a scene later?"

Li Hua whispered to Gu’er when she saw no one else was around. A few days prior, Gu’er had come for a heart-to-heart, telling Li Hua that she supported her decision to remarry and hoped she would finally be able to live a good life.

Li Hua had grabbed Gu’er’s hand and cried for a long time. With Gu’er’s approval, she felt she was making the right choice. Only with Qin Dali by her side did she feel she had a true pillar of support. That was why she wasn’t afraid of being ridiculed and was taking this step to marry again.

"Don’t worry. No one will be coming to make a scene today."

Gu’er said calmly, "I’ve already taken care of everything. I have people watching Zhou Mazi, so he can’t come. As for Zhang Da, I sent someone to have a word with him and deliver a threat. He’s behaving himself and promised he absolutely won’t show up. And Zhou Feng’er? I’ve got someone watching her, too. She can’t even get out the door. Crashing the wedding? Not a chance."

"That’s good, that’s good. Mr. Qin’s family are all good, honest people. I don’t want any trouble today that would make people laugh at them."

Hearing Gu’er’s assurance and seeing her calm expression, Li Hua finally felt at ease.

"Yes, Mom. Master Qin is a good man, so live a good life with him. As for Zhou Feng’er, you should get less involved with her from now on. If she keeps coming over every day to eat and cause trouble like she does now, the Qin family won’t be able to stand it. They’ve already agreed to let you bring Duo’er with you without making any fuss. It’s because they are so good to you that we have to be even better to them, don’t you agree? When the time comes, you can’t get into arguments with Master Qin over Feng’er. Otherwise, you’ll break his heart."

Gu’er was giving her mother a preemptive warning. She had already tasked Lin Shuying with telling Master Qin not to let Zhou Feng’er in the house in the future.

"I know, I understand what you mean. I know what I’m like; I’ve always been a pushover. No matter how bad they are, they’re still the children I gave birth to. But Feng’er is married now, and I’m joining the Qin family. Like you said, the Qins are a family too. They’re good to me, and I can’t let them down. Don’t worry. Whatever Dali decides to do, I won’t say a word."

It wasn’t that Li Hua didn’t understand. It was just that she couldn’t bring herself to turn a blind eye to her own child. ’But if I marry Qin Dali,’ she reasoned, ’I’ll have to listen to him more and make him my priority. My daughter is married now; she belongs to another family and needs to live her own life.’

Gu’er nodded. It was good that her mother understood.

After that, Lin Shuying also spoke with Li Hua at length.

When Qin Dali arrived with a group of people to pick up the bride, he was stunned to see Gu’er, Sun Jiaming, and Li Zhi. ’These are the owners of the mall,’ he thought. ’Especially Gu’er, she’s rarely made public appearances since she got pregnant. It’s so rare to see her. Why is she here today? Is it because of my wedding with Li Hua? But I don’t have that kind of clout. Besides, if they were here for me, they would’ve gone to the Qin family’s house, not here. Do they have some connection to Li Hua?’

While his mind raced with speculation, Qin Dali hurried forward to greet Gu’er, Sun Jiaming, and Li Zhi. The neighbors, friends, and coworkers behind him who recognized the business owners quickly offered their greetings as well.

"Master Qin," Gu’er said seriously, "I’m entrusting my mother to you. You’re an honest man, and we’ve all seen how you treat her. I won’t say much more, but I hope you will continue to treat her well and build a good life together."

Gu’er spoke with great sincerity. She was grateful to Qin Dali; his appearance had completely changed Li Hua’s destiny.

Qin Dali’s mind went blank. His mouth fell open as he stammered, "Your... your mom? But I don’t know your mom. What do you mean, you’re entrusting her to me?"

He was genuinely baffled. He had no idea about the connection between Li Hua and Gu’er. When Li Hua started working at the mall, she never mentioned her relationship with Gu’er, and no one else had either. Besides Liu Yuan, Zheng Zhongshan, and Lin Shuying, almost no one knew, and that included Qin Dali. He had always assumed Li Hua only had three children: Zhou Feng’er, Zhou Duo’er, and Zhou Cai. He’d occasionally heard the Zhou family mention the name Gu’er in passing, but he never gave it a second thought. In his mind, if Li Hua were Gu’er’s mother, there was no way she’d be living in a rented house, struggling the way she was. So, in that moment, his brain simply couldn’t process it.