Rebirth in the 60s: A Path to Counterattack
Chapter 32 - 032. Persist, move, fulfill

Chapter 32: 032. Persist, move, fulfill

Fearing that this sudden move by her brother would make their marriage even more challenging and difficult, Shuzhen couldn’t care less about all those previous concerns. Whether underestimated or looked down upon, what did it matter if her partner laughed at her lifelong devotion to him? As long as the marriage could proceed, as long as she could finally claim this silly man as her own, Shuzhen didn’t care about anything else.

All notions of face and reservation, be gone!

All she wanted now was her own man, the one who never despised her or abandoned her no matter how crazy or foolish she was, the silly old guy who always treated her like a treasure.

Besieged once again by those expectant, dewy eyes, Lianshan felt his heart pounding like a drum, his blood boiling. He swallowed hard several times before the parching sensation in his throat eased a bit. Having lived a full twenty-six years, due to poverty, Lianshan had mostly been met with disdain and contempt. Even on rare occasions when one or two widows who weren’t afraid of his poverty asked for a matchmaker, it was with the precondition of properly caring for the children left behind and maintaining distance from his brother and sister. After all, they were adults starting their own families, and couldn’t have situations where the elder brother had to rush in with money and effort.

The cold-blooded opportunism was revolting, utterly quashing any impulse to meet, let alone to face life’s ups and downs together.

After experiencing a few such disdainful and contemptuous encounters, Lianshan no longer entertained the idea of marriage. At least, not until he paid off the family’s debts, built a decent thatched house, and had some savings on hand.

Already hurt deeply by reality and without hope, he suddenly heard a woman as perfect as Shuzhen sincerely confessing her feelings, willing to endure hardship and toil for his sake. She only sought him, couldn’t imagine finding anyone else, and would rather spend a lifetime alone if it meant settling for anything less. Even without any affection for Shuzhen, such words would inevitably stir him; how much more when he’d already lost his heart entirely to her since rescuing her from the river?

At first hearing, Lianshan’s reason and emotions began an intense struggle.

Reason said no, at least not now. Without money or food, there was more famine than anything else. He couldn’t let her experience a fulfilling life of being well-fed and warmly dressed, and dragging her into ridicule and disdain seemed inevitable. Shuzhen was a good woman, and loving her meant not entangling her in such a predicament!

Emotion scoffed: By the time you’re ready, it’ll be too late! A real man should seize the opportunity when it presents itself, so why let it pass? Even if you become wealthy later, will a chance like this come again? If you don’t want to remember this with regret, downing bottle after bottle in remorse when thinking of it, then stop dithering and act!

Faced with such compelling reasoning, the thought of never wanting her to become someone else’s wife, enduring life’s ups and downs with another without any connection to him, made Lianshan feel suffocated. As if an invisible hand had clamped tightly around his heart, fearing that even a moment’s hesitation would mean losing her forever, Lianshan hurriedly spoke up, "No, no, how could that be? Shuzhen, you’re so good, so kind. My only fear is being too old and poor to match you. How could I disdain you? Even when I refused before, it was only because my family is so destitute, and I’m afraid I can’t give you a good life..."

"What’s the point of a life of luxury without true heart and respect? I don’t fear hardship and toil; I’m only afraid of suffering through it all only to end up being blamed for it. I trust in Lianshan’s character, and being with you gives me peace. We’re both from farming families; what’s a bit of temporary hardship? If we work together, pour our efforts in, things will definitely get better day by day." Hearing that his heavy concerns were just worries that a life with him would involve suffering, Shuzhen felt sweet inside and effortlessly raised her declaration of love to a new height.

A few words made Lianshan’s handsome face turn red, yet his eyes shone brightly, looking at Shuzhen as if she were a priceless treasure: "Yes, Shuzhen, what you say makes sense! I think so too, wealth never lasts if it’s not built on a foundation. As long as one is willing to endure hardship and strive forward, how can one stay poor forever? Of course, even if I can’t overturn my fate this life, I will never let you suffer any grievance.

If you truly don’t mind me, then after we marry, you take charge, and I’ll listen to whatever you say.

Even if I eat coarse rice and wild greens myself, I won’t let you suffer, and I’ll love the child in your belly as my own. If I don’t keep to my word, may I never have my own flesh and blood, Lianshan!"

For Liu Shouren, curses and oaths meant nothing, not even punctuation. Given that scoundrel Dai Weiguo’s precedent, who went unpunished after becoming successful and abandoning his wife and child, he didn’t believe in oaths.

If Lianshan thought a few sweet words would whisk his beloved little sister away, Liu Shouren could only say Lianshan was delusional and naive.

Yet, Shuzhen, smiling through tears, shook her head, saying there was no need for oaths. She trusted Lianshan’s every word, ready to endure any hardship with him, delivering a harsh blow to Liu Shouren. He had to admit that it wasn’t Lianshan’s dreams but his own sister’s deep affection!

Either she’d marry only Lianshan or stay home as a lifelong spinster...

The astonishing part wasn’t her words but the seriousness, determination, and decisiveness with which she spoke them!

Finally, his sister had withdrawn her heart from the scumbag Dai Weiguo, deciding to remarry and live well. Though quick and unexpected, and the choice wasn’t entirely satisfying, her decisiveness worried Liu Shouren. He genuinely feared that if he opposed this wholeheartedly, she might take it literally and choose a life of solitude.

So be it, Lianshan it is.

Though poor and burdened, his character and personality were at least decent. His concern for his little sister was apparent, vastly preferable to Dai Weiguo, who discarded his wife and child at the first sign of success. Liu Shouren comforted himself silently, thinking about discussing with his second brother. Both families still had vacant land nearby, and they could build a mudhouse for his sister there. That way, she wouldn’t be squeezed into a small abode with Lianshan, and it would be easier for the brothers to keep an eye on her.

Previously, their parents hadn’t done well in overseeing, leading their sister to marry such a scoundrel. Jumping to new heights, he gained power and connections, and the brothers couldn’t even support her. Now that she’s remarrying, if they, as brothers, are unreliable again, how could they face their parents in the afterlife?

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