Chapter 589 - 579: The Stepmother Who Refused to Be a Stepping Stone 67 (Bonus - for 750 Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 589: Chapter 579: The Stepmother Who Refused to Be a Stepping Stone 67 (Bonus Chapter for 750 Monthly Tickets)

Lu Meng looked at Li Jingming.

At this time, the sky had already grown dimmer, with Li Jingming’s back against the light, his facial contours appeared even more distinct.

Lu Meng was engulfed in shadow, appearing somewhat blurry, yet her eyes shone astonishingly bright: "I heard my dad say that Lu Yi’s family raised more conditions, something about demanding meat or whatever. If it doesn’t work out, just buy it for them. Otherwise, if you can’t bring back a bride tomorrow, it’ll be a laughingstock."

Li Jingming frowned, looking distressed.

He frantically ran his fingers through his hair: "Neither option is good; the Lu family is doing this on purpose. I really... Now my dad and mom are angry, and I don’t know what to do."

Li Jingming was genuinely troubled. Agreeing to the conditions might lead to further extortion by the Lu family.

Because the Lu family sees the Li family as pushovers, thinking the Lis would agree to any condition they propose, why would anyone refuse to take advantage of that?

But if we don’t agree, failing to bring back a bride tomorrow would leave us unable to face our relatives and friends.

"What should I do?"

Li Jingming squatted on the ground: "I’m completely out of ideas, I might get beaten when I go back home."

Lu Meng also squatted down, her large eyes unblinkingly fixed on Li Jingming: "How about taking me back with you? I have an idea that might work; I can discuss it with your parents to see if it will work."

"What’s your idea?"

Li Jingming hurriedly asked, as if grasping at a lifeline.

Lu Meng shook her head: "I can’t say now, I’ll talk to your uncle and aunt when we get to your house."

Li Jingming thought for a moment: "Alright then, I’ll take you home quickly, and then I can take you back to your place later."

When Li Jingming returned home with Lu Meng, it really gave Li Zhiyuan quite a scare.

Sun Xiumei grabbed Li Jingming and asked: "Where did you go, and why did you bring back a young lady?"

Lu Meng hopped off the motorcycle, greeted Li Zhiyuan and Sun Xiumei with a smile: "Uncle and Auntie, hello, I’m Jingming’s classmate, my name is Lu Meng. I’m here because there’s something I would like to discuss with you."

Although they were busy, Sun Xiumei would still be sure to entertain a guest, especially their son’s classmate.

She quickly smiled and pulled Lu Meng into the house: "It’s cold out, you must be frozen after riding the motorcycle. Come in and warm up a bit."

Once inside, Lu Meng spoke to Sun Xiumei: "Auntie, could you close the door? I’d like to keep our conversation private, just between the two of us."

Sun Xiumei closed the door: "Young lady, what is it that you want to say?"

Lu Meng said straightforwardly: "I know it’s difficult for you, uncle and auntie don’t really want Jingming to marry Lu Yi, right? You look down upon the Lu Fu family’s behavior, don’t you?"

Sun Xiumei nodded.

"The conditions that Lu Yi’s family raised today are clearly aimed at squeezing you. If you agree, you’ll undoubtedly have to give in more in the future."

Lu Meng added another sentence.

This remark struck a chord with Sun Xiumei: "Indeed, but we have no other choice, do we? Everything is prepared, we can’t just not go through with the wedding."

"Of course, the wedding must go on; otherwise, your family would become the joke of the entire area."

Lu Meng smiled: "As long as there is a bride tomorrow, the wedding is set, right? As for who the bride is, most likely the relatives and friends don’t really know her that well, do they?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Sun Xiumei listened but was somewhat confused.

Lu Meng pointed at herself: "Auntie, what do you think of me?"

Huh?

Sun Xiumei stared blankly at Lu Meng, really not understanding what young people are thinking nowadays.

Lu Meng simply spilled her thoughts, "I’ve liked Jingming since junior high, but I was young then, never expressed it, and later Jingming didn’t go on to high school, so I didn’t see him much. Despite the years, I still think about him. However, since he was dating Lu Yi, I couldn’t be the third wheel, so naturally, I kept my distance. But now that it seems their thing isn’t going to work out, I should consider my own future. So I figured, if Lu Yi doesn’t want to come marry into our family tomorrow, then I will. I certainly won’t let Jingming lose face."

"This matter..."

Sun Xiumei really didn’t have the authority to decide.

She patted Lu Meng on the shoulder, "Wait here, I’ll discuss it with your uncle."

After walking a few steps, Sun Xiumei turned back to ask Lu Meng, "Did you tell your parents about this? Do they agree?"

It was clear that Lu Meng was getting the short end of the stick here—she had never been in a relationship with Li Jingming; their parents hadn’t even met, let alone discussed a dowry. This match would mean a maiden marrying into a family without asking for anything. Somewhat lacking in foresight, it would seem.

Lu Meng smiled, "I can make my own decisions, my parents listen to me."

Sun Xiumei was even more puzzled.

She stepped out of the house to find Li Zhiyuan and quietly shared the situation with him.

After thinking for a bit, Li Zhiyuan said, "Alright, since the Lu Family isn’t playing fair, then let’s outdo them at their game. Jingming’s wedding isn’t tied to marrying Lu Yi. There are plenty of good girls out there, why hang ourselves on the Lu Yi branch?"

Afterwards, Li Zhiyuan found Li Jingming and recounted the situation to him.

Li Jingming was stunned.

"No way, Dad, you agreed to this? This seems a bit unscrupulous. Why would Lu Meng say such a thing? How could she be so foolish?"

Li Jingming said as he went into the house to find Lu Meng.

"Lu Meng, what are you thinking? Don’t you feel wronged? If we get married and Lu Yi comes back for me, what will you do? You’re from the same village as Lu Yi. If word gets out, the people in your village might ridicule you."

Lu Meng got up smiling.

"I’m not afraid. I’ve never been scared of anyone. I like you a lot, and I’ve asked around—everyone in your family is nice, especially your uncle and aunt; they’re truly good people. With your family’s condition being so good and me liking you while you don’t dislike me, why shouldn’t I marry you?"

With that, Lu Meng asked Li Jingming, "So, what if I married into this family? You wouldn’t look down on me, would you?"

Li Jingming shook his head, "No, I couldn’t."

"And you’ll be good to me in the future, right?"

"Definitely."

Li Jingming replied.

"Well, there you go," Lu Meng clapped her hands happily, "It’s settled then."

"No, wait," Li Jingming was getting confused by Lu Meng, "You’re not making any sense, you’re the one being wronged here. Aren’t you afraid that I..."

Lu Meng laughed, "We were classmates for three years in junior high, and we were even desk mates. I know exactly what kind of person you, Li Jingming, are. Even if you don’t like me right now, you won’t treat me badly. And, I’m confident that you’ll come to like me eventually."

What a bold heart she has.

Li Jingming couldn’t help but comment.

But damn, he was actually moved.

It wasn’t that he liked Lu Meng all that much; he just felt the situation could really work out.

If the bride was switched tomorrow, it would be Lu Yi’s family losing face. His family would carry on with the wedding as planned. Likely, the Lu family had already informed the relatives and friends. If no groom showed up, the Lu family’s reputation would be tarnished for generations.