"She wouldn't abandon me to return to the city like the other Educated Youth might, but I never expected that Cuihua's family would suddenly demand a higher dowry," Da Li said.
Fang Chaoyang had never met the woman named Cuihua.
But he had heard Da Li mention her.
He said his fiancée wasn't very pretty but was exceptionally hardworking, and she would be able to work the fields with him, unlike his sister-in-law, who could only be pampered at home.
Back then, when he talked about his fiancée, there was a sparkle in his eyes.
Even when they were away from home for a month, Da Li talked about what to buy for his Cuihua, what might make her happy.
Seeing Third Brother selling lipsticks, he secretly bought one, saying he would give it to Cuihua, and that she would definitely like it.
But the person before him now had lost that sparkle in his eyes, replaced only with sadness.