"Mama, I couldn't find Brother Ying."
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Yuen'er's words.
"What do you mean you couldn't find him?" I asked, my voice rising without meaning to.
"I checked everywhere, Mama," he said nervously, "the room, the yard, even behind the shed… he's not there."
Aunt Lu smirked immediately, folding her arms like she had just won. "See? I told you! That man was nothing but a liar. He ran off the first chance he got, just like I said he would."
The twins started laughing, pointing fingers at me. "Hahaha, Lin Xu's husband ran away!" they chanted, their voices sharp and childish but cutting me like a knife.
I clenched my fists. "Shut up!" I snapped at them, making their mother gasp.
Uncle stepped forward, his face smug and shameless. "Lin Xu, stop wasting everyone's time. If he's gone, then let's just end this nonsense. You have no husband, no money, and no way to pay back the bride price. Hand yourself over to Big Man Lou and we'll all be done with this."
