?Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Simple Promise (Extra for Monthly Votes)   Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Simple Promise (Extra for Monthly Votes)                                   The family sat down, and Bai Song poured wine into the cup in front of Wang Yan and also for He Wang, while Bai Xiao had already opened another bottle of Wuliangye for his sisters and himself.


    How could one not have a drink on such a day?


    Bai Yue sat on the edge of the kang, too shy to sit too close to Wang Yan.


    Bai Xiao picked up his ss, “Brother Wang Yan, this ss, I toast to you!”


    Wang Yan picked up his ss. He, of course, knew that this girl probably had the most say in the family; she was the darling of the family.


    She was the only college graduate in their vige, the vige chief’s goddaughter; just because of this, he knew this girl was formidable.


    “Brother Wang, my elder sister grew up steeped in hardship, spending the first half of her life for parents, family, and children, bearing humiliations all for me. Now that you havee this far for her, in my eyes, you are a true man. This drink, I toast to your loyalty and righteousness!” Bai Xiao drained his ss.


    He held up the ss for Wang Yan to see it was empty.


    Wang Yan downed his drink in one go. With such a bold sister-inw, how could he not join in this drink?


    Bai Xiao poured a second ss, and Bai Song also filled Wang Yan’s ss to the brim.


    “Brother Wang, this is the second ss I toast to you. My elder sister’stter half of her life will be entrusted to you. She is a good woman, and I only hope you treat her well, cherish her, take care of her, and also be kind to the three children. And not regret the choice you made today. Although it might not be appropriate to say these things on such an asion, now that you are bing part of our big family, bing one of us, some things still need to be stated clearly.


    I, this little aunt, am young and hot-headed; my only w is that my life is tied to my elder brother, elder sister, and second sister. I can endure living poorly and having a tough life, but the one thing I cannot bear is them having a hard life. So, if you ever stop cherishing my sister, please leave early. Don’t mistreat my sister. It’s okay not to love her; nobody can control emotions, but if you mistreat her, then you are nothing but a scoundrel.


    So, don’t me me for being unkind if ites to that, our family’s women cannot be bullied. I’d rather kill you than let my sister suffer!” This was the most severe threat.


    Wang Yan drank the entire ss of wine in one gulp.


    “Little sister-inw, no need for harsh words. I understand that today you are just trying to exert your authority. But I appreciate you inviting me today. By calling me brother-inw, you’ve already shown me the greatest acknowledgment. Rest assured! You don’t have to speak so harshly. I will take good care of Bai Yue in thetter half of her life, not because I’m afraid of you and your siblings, but because I want to be good to her.


    I don’t dare im I’m the best man, but I can promise I won’t hit anyone, I will earnestly support a family. Since your sister married me, I will make sure to be good to her. Men who are without merit are the ones who abuse their wives or rely on a woman to support them. I can’t promise to make your sister wealthy, but as a grown man, fully able-bodied, I have the capacity to provide for my family and keep them fed and clothed.” This was the most heartfelt and rustic confession of love a rural man could make.


    Bai Xiao picked up the bottle and filled Wang Yan’s ss. “Okay! Brother-inw, just for what you said, I dly call you brother-inw. I wish you and my sister evesting happiness and to grow old together!” This time, it was not about showing power, but a pure blessing.


    Bai Song, Bai Ju, and He Wang all raised their sses.


    “To my sister and brother-inw growing old together!”


    Wang Yan’s eyes welled up with tears. This was the greatest eptance the family had shown him.


    The meal was so hearty that everyone was greasy-mouthed. Bai Xiao’s cooking was indeed exceptional. Listening to the bustling Spring Festival program on the radio, which featurededy skits and songs intermittently, the room was warm with the heated kang. Everyone was thoroughly satisfied with the meal.


    Bai Song, Bai Yue, Bai Ju, and Bai Xiao all looked at each other, the four of them raising their sses. Their parents’ offerings were alreadyid out on the altar across from them; Mom and Dad, we siblings will surely continue to improve.


    The mealsted until after midnight. Bai Song and He Wang, along with Wang Yan and the six children, started setting off firecrackers at the main entrance of the courtyard. The sounds of the firecrackers heralded theing year’s abundance and hope.


    Blending with the firecracker sounds from every household in the entire vige, they saw happiness.


    However, the atmosphere at Wang Family’s home on Lunar New Year’s Eve was somewhat somber.


    Old Man Wang sat on the Kang smoking a cigarette, while the olddy ushered her two daughters-inw to serve the prepared meal: meatballs, steamed pork with rice flour, deep-fried peanuts, a portion of pork liver, a portion of pork stomach, along with cold bean sprouts and scallion tofu sd. Their family was not short on meat; the New Year’s meal was rich and borate.


    Seeing the old man’s displeasure, the olddy certainly knew that the old man was worried about their son who still lived in the cave dwelling.


    Although tempers had red that day, resulting in harsh words between father and son, it was, after all, his son. How could they not worry, especially knowing that, in the dead of winter, their son had moved into the vigemittee’s cave dwelling? The people in the vige might not know the full story, but they did. Despite the gossip, the only sce for them was that the son hadn’t moved directly into the Bai Family’s home, preserving some dignity for them.


    Otherwise, who knows what nasty things the people in the vige would say?


    Yet how could the olddy not know? That rickety cave dwelling at the vigemittee was old and decrepit, leaky, and drafty. This winter, the ce was anything but warm, and with scarce food and drink, their son was suffering alone there during the New Year.


    Thinking about this, the olddy felt a heavy suffocation in her heart. Looking at Old Man Wang, she couldn’t hide her displeasure. “Look at what’s happened this New Year; do you know what Shitou is eating? Every household is feasting on dumplings and luxurious dishes, while my poor eldest is out there braving the cold winds. What sins have Imitted? Why does Lord Heaven inflict such suffering on my Shitou?” The olddy sat on the side, wiping her tears, while the two daughters-inw were busy in the kitchen.


    The house contained only their family.


    The two young boys were also squatting to one side, unsure of what to say amidst this scene.


    That was their eldest brother, who had always looked out for them, due to their family’s poverty! The eldest brother quit school early to work with their father and support them; now that the family’s circumstances had finally begun to improve, how could things have be like this?


    Eventually, Wang Erniu couldn’t hold back anymore. “Dad, let me go call big brother back. A meal isn’t too much to ask for, right? After all, big brother is your son; I can’t bear to leave him in that cave alone; if you have to scold someone, scold me. Even if you scold me, I’m still going to call my big brother.”


    Turning around, he walked out, and Wang Sanxi quickly followed. They didn’t talk much! But their feelings for their big brother were the same; their father was all bluster and a soft heart—indeed, who couldn’t see that Old Man Wang was also worried about Wang Yan?


    But he just wouldn’t say it.


    With his sons gone, Old Man Wang red and aggressively tapped his dry tobo pipe against the edge of the Kang.


    “I certainly didn’t agree; the youngsters these days! They don’t even listen to their own father anymore.” Though he said this, the olddy saw a significant softening in the old man’s attitude.


    “When the kides back! You better not say hurtful things. If you drive him away again, I won’t allow it,” the olddy cautioned preemptively.


    Old Man Wang grumbled, “I still don’t approve of him being with that Bai Yue. As long as he agrees to break it off with her, he’ll still be my son; how could I not care about him?”


    This matter was an insurmountable hurdle for Old Man Wang.