Chapter 46: Using Herself as a Bargaining Chip

“Uncle Liu, I know that your family spent a lot in the betrothal between our two families. Would you be agreeable to this? I’ll write you a promissory note for five thousand yuan, to be paid to you in full within a year, and we’ll treat that as our compensation to you for your losses.”

“Five thousand yuan?” Mayor Liu’s eyes lit up. The amount exceeded his wildest expectations. The eldest daughter of the Sheng family sure was capable and didn’t at all seem like she came from a village. She would make a much better daughter-in-law than Sheng An.

“Are you crazy?” Sheng An was horrified by the figure, and she hurriedly tugged on Sheng Ning’s sleeve.

Sheng Ning pretended not to notice. After interacting with Mayor Liu today, she knew that a small sum wouldn’t be enough to move a vile person like him. She was determined to dissolve the betrothal no matter what, but if she offended him with a small figure, she knew her parents would pay a high price for it in the future.

This was the only option.

“Are you agreeable to it, Uncle Liu? Although I don’t have five thousand yuan at the moment, I will definitely pay you within a year.”

“My dear Ningning! Five thousand yuan isn’t a small sum. Do your parents know about this?” Mayor Liu placed his hands behind his back and started to play the part of a kind elder.

When Sheng Ning witnessed the quick change in his attitude, she inwardly sighed in relief. “Uncle Liu, don’t worry. My parents are aware of it.”

“What happens, then, if you’re unable to pay up within a year?”

In other words, he wasn’t confident in her ability to pay him, and given the fact that she currently had nothing, five thousand yuan was an astronomical amount. Five thousand yuan in this era was the same as five hundred thousand yuan in the future.

It was natural for him to doubt her.

“Uncle Liu, if I’m unable to pay, I’ll marry into your family, and you wouldn’t have to pay any kind of bride price. What do you say to that?”

“Done!” It was all Mayor Liu could do not to slap his thigh in glee, but he forcefully suppressed the urge and said, “Ningning, since you’re volunteering to do this on your own, you can’t accuse me of making things difficult for you when the time comes.”

“I won’t. We’re relatives, after all! I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us as it is.”

“Well said. It’s just too bad for me that I’m a good mayor who cares for my citizens!”

“Well, here’s wishing you a speedy promotion.”

“Ha ha ha… Ningning, you’re really thoughtful.”

After writing the promissory note and stamping their thumbprints on it, the sisters walked out of the mayor’s house. Sheng An couldn’t hold it in any longer. She flung the things in her hands onto the ground and stood with her arms akimbo. “Are you crazy?” she asked as she pointed at Sheng Ning.

“No, I’m not.”

“How could you agree to pay them five thousand yuan, then? And how could you use yourself as a bargaining chip?” Sheng An’s eyes reddened in anger. Her chest tightened, and the pain was enough to make her cry.

“If I didn’t agree, you’d have to marry into the family right away. Although I’ve never seen the second fool before, I can’t allow that man to be your husband.” Sheng Ning sighed deeply and said from the bottom of her heart, “You deserve better.”

“Still… You shouldn’t have done that.” Sheng An hemmed and hawed for a while but was still unable to agree with Sheng Ning. So what if she had to marry into that family? It was better than Sheng Ning having to!

If their mom found out that Sheng Ning had taken her place and promised to marry the second fool instead, she’d kill her!

“It was the best thing to do. The mayor is a sly and cunning man, and he’s the kind to hold a grudge. If we offend him, there won’t be a place for us in Shixi Town anymore.” That was a price their parents couldn’t afford to pay.

Five thousand yuan was a lot of money, and she had to carefully plan how she was going to earn it. The alternative was no laughing matter.

“Still, you can’t do that,” Sheng An huffed as she picked up her belongings and walked off, pushing the cart along with her. She left Sheng Ning in the dust and completely ignored her.

Neither of them said a word to each other the entire journey back. When they reached home, Shen Luhua had already prepared lunch and was waiting for them by the entrance.