"See? I told you Qing Qing wasn't ready. Brother-in-law, you should drop this matter for now." Aunt Hong immediately jumped at the opportunity to stop the two's marriage. If she could, she would've snatched the certificates out of Li Chen's hands and ripped them to shreds!
"Yes, Brother-in-law. Qing Qing isn't ready. Let her fully recover first." Aunt Si nervously added.
She didn't have any other way to live an enviable life. Getting Li Qing Yue tied to her Mu'er and consuming all her wealth was her life-long goal.
"Qing Qing, don't worry. You won't have to marry if you're not ready. Brother-in-law won't force you." Even more desperate than the other two as she only had a daughter, Aunt Mei even explicitly implied that Li Chen was forcing Qing Yue into marrying.
"Qing Qing, just recover well. You can get married whenever you want to. After all, you are Li Qing Yue. With your status and wealth, do you need to be afraid of not getting married?"
When Yei Yi arrived, she was bawling her eyes out and crying unrestrainedly about how no man would want to marry an ugly and crippled woman. However now, her tone had completely changed.
To prevent this marriage, the four women weren't even ashamed of being seen through and labeled as hypocrites.
Li Chen silently looked at the four women and wondered how it was possible for humans to change faces like changing clothes.
He turned to his innocent daughter and felt fortunate to get her out of the reach of these wolves. " Yue'er, you once said that if I chose someone for you, you'd marry without any objections. You said you believe in my judgment and trust that the person I choose for you will be the best for you, right?"
Qing Yue looked at her Dad with a complicated gaze.
Maybe it was because she laid on a bed while he sat beside her, but at this moment, she felt and saw only love from his eyes.
"But Dad, if I marry because of others, then wouldn't I have to divorce because of others?" This was the reason why Qing Yue was against this marriage.
If she married to shut other people's mouths, then in the future, wouldn't she have to divorce to shut others' mouths?
To her, marriage was more than just a commitment to stay and live together. It was a vow to be faithful and stay loyal to each other. It was a promise to support each other in both ease and difficulty, and an oath to share pain and joy.
Marriage was the most sacred of bonds that brought two complete strangers together and made their life one. It binds the two in a relationship where they adjust and become each other's strengths and weaknesses, respect and image.
Their happiness, sadness, honor, disgrace, rise, and fall were all connected together.
So how could she enter such a sacred bond with the intention to silence others? Wouldn't that be equivalent to spitting on the very bond?
"Haha...Qing Qing, who said you're marrying because of others? Tian Tian and you were engaged on the day you were born. Sooner or later, you were going to marry. The process is only rushed ahead of time because of circumstances." Long Hongwu reassuringly patted her shoulder.
"That's right, Yue'er. Your Uncle Long and I were planning on announcing your engagement after the New World Formation's inauguration day passed. But now, instead of your engagement, we'll announce your marriage." Li Chen felt helpless.
His daughter's simplicity made him feel as if she were still a child. Was he being too hasty in getting her married so quickly?
Qing Yue thought about his words and felt that they made sense. She was going to marry Uncle Long's son anyway. Why not do it earlier and skip the cumbersome celebration?
"Okay Dad, Uncle Long. Qing Yue will follow your wishes."
"Good. Good. Brother Li, give the certificate to Tian Tian. Once he signs, Qing Qing will sign as well."
Li Chen shook his head and threw the thought out of his mind. Yue'er was going to marry Little Tian. With her going to his best friend's house, there was nothing for him to worry about.
"Yes, Brother Long." He turned to pass the Marriage Certificate to Long Tian.
Seeing this, the four women became as anxious as if their pants were on fire.
"Brother-in-law, it's really too early!"
"Yes, waiting a week or two will do as well!"
"Qing Qing, we haven't even informed our friends yet! Think of how upset they'd be if they heard about your marriage from outside. Couldn't you delay a few days?"
"Waiting a few days won't hurt. Waiting a few days won't hurt."
But their words were treated like air by the three men. Long Tian decisively signed the certificate and passed it back to Li Chen, who supported Qing Yue's hand and helped her sign.
The moment Li Qing Yue and Long Tian's signatures appeared on the same page, the expressions of the four women became as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Before their very eyes, Li Qing Yue had become Madam Long, the wife of Long Hongwu's only son, Long Tian.
The pain and hatred they felt couldn't even compare to the pain and hatred one would feel if they saw the murderer of their loved ones.
Because at this moment, their ambition to climb the social ladder and their dream to live a luxurious life was murdered right before their eyes.
Anger, jealousy, envy, and deep resentment wared together. But since they still possessed a little bit of sanity, they didn't commit the mistake of losing their temper and cursing like shrews.
"Brother-in-law, you rushed our Qing Qing into signing the certificate. Were you afraid of failing to find someone if Young Master Long backed out in the future?" No longer mincing her words, Aunt Mei scornfully stared at Li Chen.
He strangled her dream before it could even form. If she didn't hate him, then she'd be lying...
The other three didn't say anything, but their pale complexions and dark gazes spoke volumes of their feelings.
"Haha...Sister-in-law, you jest. Didn't you say earlier that if we delay the matter of Yue'er's marriage, then the TeleSecs will start gossiping about the crippled and disfigured daughter of Li Chen, Li Qing Yue?"
"That's correct. Madams, I, Long Hongwu, personally thank you for reminding us of this fact. We are men of the battlefield and are not privy to the workings of society. If my dear Qing Qing was scorned and disdained because of her injuries, then I'd be very distressed. Now it's just perfect. We can take Qing Qing home to the Long Mansion. If any senseless pest dares to say a word about her, then they'll have to answer to the Longs!"
The women shivered at the frost in the Great Commander's tone. At that moment, they got the vague feeling that the words were meant for them.
"Ha...ha...Commander...Long, you jest. Who...would dare...gossip...about your Long...family's...daughter-in-law. If you don't mind...please, excuse us." Stuttering through her entire speech, Aunt Hong felt her face burn as she turned and hurriedly exited the room.
The other two Aunts were in just a foul mood. Giving the bandaged Li Qing Yue one last glance, they hummed and left one after another.
The only one left of the four women, Yei Yi shuffled her feet, unwilling to leave so early without exchanging a word with the outstanding man. But her presence was completely ignored as Li Chen and Long Hongwu congratulated and addressed each other as in-laws, while Li Qing Yue and Long Tian exchanged examining glances.
From their gazes, it was obvious the two were checking out their new spouses.
Feeling stifled and furiously uncomfortable for being treated like air, Yei Yi threw a hateful glance at Li Qing Yue and stormed out of the room.
Bang!
"Li Qing Yue, today, you're only an ugly cripple. In the future, I'll make sure you become disgustingly dirty. Heh...I'd like to see if Long Tian will still keep you then..."