Huayuan Community, which was an old neighborhood, looked rather ancient judging by the color of its exteriors, certainly having seen at least twenty to thirty years.
There, all the buildings were no more than seven floors high with no elevators installed. The spaces between buildings were narrower than modern ones, and all the anities like a green area, exercise zone, and children’s playground that newer neighborhoods had were absent.
The community also lacked an underground parking garage. A few parking spots were demarcated with white lines in a several hundred square ter courtyard, reserved exclusively for the residents’ vehicles.
Gazing at the decrepit building before him, Mo Han was reminded of a year ago when he went bankrupt and his villa was repossessed by the bank. In order to survive, he and Luo Ning moved into an old neighborhood that only cost six hundred yuan a month.
The current community before his eyes bore so resemblance to the temporary housing environnt they had rented back then.
At this ti, Luo Ning let out a sigh, her tone carrying a hint of nostalgia, "Mo Han, don’t you think this neighborhood is sowhat like the one we lived in before?"
It truly was a case of great minds think alike, without the need for words.
Mo Han gave a faint smile and replied, "I was just thinking about that too, the one-bedroom, one-living room, and one-bathroom place we rented in the old district a year ago. Back then, Chen Chen couldn’t even play at ho because the house was too small."
"I had no choice but to take Chen Chen to play in the yard."
"Yes."
Luo Ning nodded, saying, "Back then, I took the bus to work at the Luo Group during the day and in the evening, I would pick up goods to sell at a stall in People’s Square, trying to earn a bit more each day."
"Now, we have moved into a villa and got a car, and my studio has also gotten on the right track. Finally, life has gotten better."
"It’s Xiao Hui who has had it too tough..."
Mo Han, holding his daughter’s hand, didn’t interrupt and listened quietly to Luo Ning’s narrative.
"After graduating from university, Xiao Hui returned to Jiangnan City and beca a primary school teacher. It was there that she t her now husband, Peng Ye."
"Peng Ye’s family owns a toy factory, and he’s an only child, so his family was quite well off. The two t by chance at a mall. Xiao Hui was naturally attractive, and Peng Ye fell in love at first sight, thus beginning his pursuit of her."
"At first, Xiao Hui did not accept his advances, but Peng Ye often waited for her after school and helped her with many troubles. Gradually, Xiao Hui agreed, and after dating for a while, they both found each other quite agreeable. Xiao Hui beca pregnant unexpectedly, and naturally, marriage beca the next step."
"Peng Ye took Xiao Hui to et his parents, who were adamantly against the match. They argued that while Xiao Hui’s education was comndable, her family’s financial status was too poor, not even owning a house in the city and unable to provide a substantial dowry."
"To marry Xiao Hui, Peng Ye went so far as to threaten his parents with severing their filial ties, which reluctantly made them consent to the marriage. However, they imposed a condition that Xiao Hui’s family must provide a luxurious dowry car."
Upon hearing this, Mo Han finally understood why Ning’er insisted on renting a luxury car; it was not just about giving Xiao Hui face, but also to send a ssage to the Peng Family not to underestimate Xiao Hui, as she had wealthy friends.
"The struggle with Peng Ye’s parents was hard enough, but then more problems arose on Xiao Hui’s side."
Luo Ning sighed with a helpless tone, "Xiao Hui’s parents are petty bourgeoisie, with a rather rcenary mindset. Plus, they have an unmarried son to consider, so they demanded a bride price of three hundred thousand yuan, refusing to marry off their daughter for a penny less."
"Peng Ye’s parents already disliked Xiao Hui, the poor bride, but learning that her family asked for a bride price of three hundred thousand yuan, they balked, wanting to call off the wedding."
"Out of desperation, Xiao Hui and Peng Ye sought loans from everywhere. Xiao Hui even went behind Peng Ye’s back, working late delivering takeout while pregnant to raise money."
"I felt so bad seeing Xiao Hui struggling, which is why I lent her twenty thousand yuan."
After speaking, Luo Ning lifted her gaze, scanning the yard at length, slightly confused.
Xiao Hui had ntioned that tomorrow was her actual wedding day. Logically, her family should at least have set up so inflatable balloons or hung up banners celebrating her farewell by now.
Why couldn’t she see anything after glancing around? Could it be they intended to prepare only in the afternoon? Wouldn’t that be a bit late?
Mo Han exhaled a sigh, sympathetic to Xiao Hui’s plight, when he suddenly rembered sothing. He asked, "Ning’er, didn’t Xiao Hui invite her other classmates?"
"No."
Luo Ning shook her head, her voice bitter, "Xiao Hui is quite introverted and doesn’t have many friends. Besides, her in-laws don’t think much of her. To avoid letting her classmates witness her embarrassnt, she only invited ."
"The main issue is her too demanding parents and brother. They urged Xiao Hui to get an abortion and find a wealthy man to marry, even if it ant becoming a mistress, as long as she could bring ho three hundred thousand yuan."
Mo Han couldn’t contain his anger, "Are they marrying off their daughter, or selling her!"
As a father, he could not fathom how anyone could treat their children as commodities to be sold.
"Yes, Xiao Hui is really pitiful. Coming here, I really wanted to help her as much as I could."
Luo Ning exhaled, her gaze finally settling on Building Five, "Let’s go, it’s this building, Room 402."
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