Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 132: The Lure of Wealth

Liu Li wished she could get in the car right now. Without asking anything, she impatiently said, "I got it! Second Brother, don’t worry. As long as I can live a good life, I’ll definitely behave. Enough talking, I’m leaving now!"

Liu Yongming was infuriated by Liu Li’s attitude, and any remaining guilt vanished completely.

After returning from the police station, he was clearly in a good mood and even bought some things for Ma Cuihua.

Ma Cuihua was extremely surprised, "Why are you spending money recklessly at a time like this! How did your sister’s issue go?"

This morning, Liu Yongming said he had found connections. If handled well, Liu Li would not only be released but also marry a wealthy man. He could also transfer back to the city and no longer stay in that remote and impoverished place.

Ma Cuihua was just happy and didn’t think deeply about it. Seeing Liu Yongming this cheerful now, she started to feel uneasy.

Liu Yongming put his arm around Ma Cuihua’s shoulder as they went inside, "Mom, Little Sister is already out. They drove over to pick her up. I originally wanted her to come back for a bit, but she couldn’t move when she saw the car and insisted on going with them, even leaving her Second Brother behind."

"What? Second Brother! Your sister doesn’t understand, but don’t you? I haven’t agreed to her marriage yet! What’s more, we don’t know the situation on the other side or what they look like. How can you just let your sister run off with them so easily? What respectable girl does this kind of thing!"

Ma Cuihua was furious. If it weren’t her proud younger son standing before her, she would have already acted.

Liu Yongming’s smile faded slightly, and he patiently spoke kindly, "Mom! Have you forgotten the lesson from this time? Does Little Sister still have a reputation in our area? Who doesn’t know about her past mess? Just tell me, which decent family around here would dare to marry her?

If you really invite someone over to discuss marriage, and they hear rumors around town and then verify them, wouldn’t all my efforts be in vain?

This time, I told them that Little Sister was framed and targeted by her former sister-in-law, and it was all my fault. They didn’t doubt it at all. If they actually came over, my lies wouldn’t hold up at all."

Ma Cuihua didn’t want to admit it, but she had to say that Liu Yongming was quite reasonable. Liu Li’s troubles were enough to scare anyone away.

She instantly felt deflated and sighed repeatedly, "Forget it, you’re all grown up. I can’t control you anymore. As long as she can marry smoothly, that’s fine. I don’t have to see the person, but we can’t skip the dowry!"

Liu Yongming had long guessed Ma Cuihua’s intentions, and immediately placed a thousand yuan on the table, "Here, Little Sister’s bride price, a full thousand. Count it carefully."

Ma Cuihua suddenly perked up, counting the thick wad of cash several times in front of Liu Yongming, beaming, "Good, good, good! Our family still has someone with skills! I heard Old Qin’s youngest daughter married well, and her bride price was only eight hundred yuan. Your sister’s bride price is two hundred more! Now, all the debts at home have been covered!"

Liu Yongming smiled and agreed. In fact, the other party gave more than that, he hid half to repay the high-interest loan later. Once transferred back to the city, he wouldn’t have to worry about being harassed by those gangsters.

Their plans were buzzing in their minds, and they had already forgotten about Liu Li, who had been taken away.

Xu Manzhi, upon learning that Liu Li’s bride price was a thousand yuan, improved her attitude toward Ma Cuihua.

The Liu family could finally settle down.

Meanwhile, Liu Yongming, preparing to return to the countryside for work, took a special trip to the seafood wholesale store before leaving.

This time he didn’t see Lin Qin, only seeing Lin Yi busy in the store with an unfamiliar woman.

He had just been observing for a while when someone came over to question him, "Buying something?"

Liu Yongming shook his head.

The person’s face instantly turned sullen, "If you’re not buying anything, why are you standing here? Are you here to make trouble?"

Seeing that they were about to act, Liu Yongming quickly left.

After chasing him away, the old man sat back down by the roadside to chat with others.

Lin Yi saw everything.

Once the store’s goods were mostly sold, leaving some small fish and shrimp, he packed a bit and handed it to the old man, "Old Zhang, I saw everything earlier. Thanks a lot. This is just some leftovers, take them home and let your wife make some soy sauce water, hurry up."

Old Zhang politely accepted after a few refusals, happily heading into the nearby alley.

At this time, Huang Yuezhen was also carrying a box of seafood, preparing to head to the construction site. Lin Yi had to stay a while longer to wait for Chen Wenjun’s next batch of goods.

He still had to help sort and load the cargo. It was almost time to pick up the kids from school, while Chen Wenjun rushed back to Nanyu to cook.

At noon, Lin Qin returned home with her younger son.

Lin Yi recounted what he saw with Liu Yongming and praised, "Back then, when you gave seafood to the old folks around there, I thought you were messing around, but turns out it was useful at the critical moment! If it weren’t for those neighbors stepping in, you might not have been able to handle that family by yourself with the kids."

Lin Qin smiled wryly, "Dad! Even without those neighbors, we have plenty of people in our store. I wouldn’t get bullied. It’s just a bit more troublesome.

When I gave things to those aunties and uncles, I didn’t think much. In the future, let’s just remember to treat people with kindness, nothing else to think about."

Lin Yi nodded, reminding, "We still need to be careful in the future. If it’s really not possible, don’t go to the store. Wenjun, your cousin-in-law, and I can help."

Chen Wenjun chimed in, "That works. I’m planning to buy another tricycle, so our family could have two tricycles and two bicycles. You and Cousin-in-law can ride bicycles when going out, while Dad and I use the tricycles to haul goods and take the kids. It’ll make things easier."

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up at this and he nodded quickly, "That’s great! I’ve long wanted to talk to you about getting another tricycle. When the kids were smaller, cramming them on a bicycle was still possible. Now they’re growing, it’s too cramped for the rear seat and I can’t handle them in the front.

With a tricycle, it’s different. Set up two little stools, and they can read or have a snack on the way to school. Going out as a family of five is convenient too."

Chen Wenjun’s tricycle was specifically for transporting seafood, and it carried a strong smell of fish. Riding that as a family of five wasn’t exactly suitable.

Chen Wenjun thought for a moment and then went to find Gao Lei.

Gao Lei was quite capable. After successfully modifying a five-cabin boat, he also modified several diesel tricycles that would run with just a press of the pedal, and they weren’t slow either.

Seeing that Chen Wenjun needed them, he took out two, and they weren’t that expensive.

After trying them personally, Chen Wenjun found the diesel tricycles much more convenient than the manpower ones for transporting goods, saving a lot of effort.

He immediately brought the two tricycles back to Nanyu.

Lin Qin cradled her child, watching with the whole family.

Luckily, the island had paved cement roads.

Lin Yi took Ping’an and Yaya for a ride several times, bursting with excitement.

Lin Qin watched for a while, then suggested, "I think we could rent a place to park the vehicles on the other side of the river to make it more convenient."