Ma Dishi’s words got stuck in her throat, and she shrank back again. She didn’t want to get hit, but she was still not giving up. She kept staring at her son, as her son surely wouldn’t dare hit her.

"Mother, just give up on this idea." Ma Laiwang looked at his mother, "I’m at this age, being able to marry a wife is already a blessing from our ancestors. If you’re really my mother and expect me to care for you in your old age, then please calm down. Besides, after the marriage, I’ll move out. Staying at home, even Qiaoqiao might not stay with me for long."

"Laiwang!" Ma Qiang frowned. Moving out means splitting the family, right? It would be a laughingstock to have just one son and still split the family.

"Dad." Ma Laiwang wasn’t intending to back down, "If we live in the same courtyard, it won’t be good."

"But splitting the family will be mocked."

"Dad." Ma Laiwang sighed, "At my age, not being able to marry, don’t you think people mock that? Having such a lazy and greedy mother, don’t you think people mock that too?"

Ma Qiang had no words.

"And those are matters for later. Now, I need to find someone to propose marriage." Ma Laiwang waved his hand, "I’d like to ask the village head’s sister-in-law to go. Do you have anything to say?"

"Alright!" Ma Qiang let out a breath, nodded, and then pulled out a worn pouch from his body, "Here’s two taels of silver. Go to town and buy something. Don’t be thrifty; spend it all."

Ma Laiwang originally didn’t want it. He had saved five taels of silver recently from work, but after thinking about it, he accepted it. After all, the family had nothing, and there were too many things to buy. Now, even seven taels wouldn’t be enough. If it really wasn’t enough, he’d have to borrow some and slowly repay it with hard work in the future.

The father and son automatically ignored Ma Dishi.

Lin Xiaoling was warm-hearted, and she had previously worried about Ma Laiwang. Even if he had gotten engaged to Yang Baihe before, she thought it would at least prevent him from being a bachelor. But it fell through. Now unexpectedly, he found a better match, so she readily agreed to help with the marriage proposal.

If only Ma Qiang and his son went, they probably wouldn’t be able to say anything.

It was unexpected that Luo Qiaoqiao was also present during the proposal, ready to discuss some matters openly with Ma Laiwang.

Lin Xiaoling felt this was a bit improper, but considering Yang Ruxin was someone with no taboos, she just tacitly consented to such behavior.

"You know my family situation." Luo Qiaoqiao didn’t have time for shyness and got straight to the point, "I have two elders and two younger brothers to support."

"I understand. I will support them with you." Ma Laiwang didn’t hesitate at all.

"Since you don’t mind, then I have no demands." Luo Qiaoqiao smiled, "Of course, I’ll also be filial to your parents with you, and I don’t mind your mother."

"Don’t worry; after we marry, we’ll move out." Ma Laiwang gave Luo Qiaoqiao reassurance.

With the main parties in agreement, there was no more trouble. The betrothal gifts were directly discussed.

Ma Laiwang went around the town unsure of what to buy. In the end, he simply bought several kinds of pastries and a silver hairpin and added his own saved five taels of silver as the betrothal gift.

Luo Qiaoqiao accepted graciously.

Village people didn’t have as many rules as larger families; all the customs like Na Ji and Na Zheng were skipped, and they directly set the wedding date for May 16th.