“Th-this, Jiaojiao, where did you get the money to buy all these things?”
Li Ruyi knew very well that Lin Jiaojiao’s salary had always been handed over to her vicious stepmother.
She could practically be said to have had no money at all.
But now Jiaojiao had suddenly bought so many things for them—had something happened that they didn’t know about?
Seeing Li Ruyi so nervous, Lin Jiaojiao didn’t hide anything. She directly told her everything that had happened at the enrollment office that day.
Of course, she did not mention the three-part agreement she had made with Gu Tingzhou.
After Li Ruyi and Lü Li finished listening to Lin Jiaojiao’s shocking account, they exchanged a look.
Lü Li was the first to grind her teeth in anger. “That Lin Miaomiao really isn’t a good person. I said it before—she definitely didn’t have good intentions accompanying you on that blind date. As expected, she was up to no good!”
After speaking, Lü Li looked at Lin Jiaojiao with an expression that said you’re not completely foolish and added, “Luckily you’ve become smarter. Otherwise, you would’ve suffered for it.”
Lin Jiaojiao nodded in agreement. “Yes. But because of this incident, I’ve completely seen my family’s true colors. It’s a blessing in disguise.”
“Who’s to say otherwise?”
Li Ruyi nodded and gently patted Lin Jiaojiao’s head with some pity.
Her younger sister only left behind this one daughter. If anything were to happen to her, she truly wouldn’t know how to explain it to her sister.
However, thinking that Lin Jiaojiao had not yet married Gu Tingzhou but was already spending his money, Li Ruyi felt it necessary to remind her niece.
After some thought, she held Lin Jiaojiao’s hand earnestly and said, “Jiaojiao, although Comrade Gu is a good person and is willing to spend money on you, you’re not married yet. In the future, you must not casually take his money, or your in-laws may look down on you.”
Lin Jiaojiao naturally knew Li Ruyi was doing this for her own good, and what she said made sense.
But right now, she was completely broke—if she didn’t spend Gu Tingzhou’s money, whose would she spend?
Besides, she couldn’t possibly come to her uncle’s house empty-handed.
More importantly, they were already going to get married. She felt that spending a bit of Gu Tingzhou’s money wasn’t a big deal.
At most, after marriage, she would make it up to him properly.
Although she thought this, in order to reassure Li Ruyi, she still nodded. “Mm, I understand. I won’t do it again.”
Seeing that she had listened, Li Ruyi nodded in satisfaction.
But then, remembering what Lin Jiaojiao had said earlier, she quickly asked, “Right, Jiaojiao, didn’t you say you needed help from your uncle and me just now? What kind of help?”
Lin Jiaojiao pressed her lips together and said bitterly, “It’s like this, Aunt. You know my situation at home. Lin Fantong never treated me as his biological daughter…”
“And my stepmother Xia Qiuyue basically wishes I would disappear immediately.”
“So after they found out I caused their daughter to be forced to marry a hooligan, they definitely won’t let me off easily. Let alone let me marry Gu Tingzhou smoothly.”
“If they dare to stop you from marrying Comrade Gu, I’ll fight them to the death!”
Lü Li suddenly stood up, furious.
Lin Jiaojiao was touched by her reaction and also believed she meant it. After all, in her past life, Lü Li had ended up dying tragically while trying to seek justice for the original host.
But understanding and emotion were one thing; Lin Jiaojiao did not agree with such an approach.
Destroying oneself over trash was not worth it.
Besides, she had plenty of ways to deal with those scum—there was no need to drag her loved ones into it.
Li Ruyi shot Lü Li a disapproving glance and pulled her back down before turning to Lin Jiaojiao. “So Jiaojiao, what exactly do you want us to do?”
Lin Jiaojiao placed the enamel cup down and said seriously, “Aunt, Lin Fantong never treated me as his daughter, so I naturally don’t need to keep trying to please them.”
“So I don’t want them to know about my marriage, and I don’t want them involved at all. So I was thinking…”
“So you want your uncle and me to take charge of your marriage for you?” Li Ruyi immediately understood.
Lin Jiaojiao nodded carefully. “Yes. That’s what I was thinking. I just don’t know if you’re willing.”
Based on her understanding of them, they would definitely agree.
Li Ruyi held her hand tightly. “Of course we’re willing. Although you are your aunt Qinghe’s daughter, your uncle and I have always treated you as our own child.”
“If you want us to handle your marriage, we will gladly do it.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
Lin Jiaojiao sincerely expressed her gratitude.
She was genuinely happy that the original host had such a reasonable aunt.
In her past life, although she had been the heir of a prestigious ancient medical family and a world-renowned genius doctor, she had been raised strictly as a successor from childhood. Everything—food, sleep, friendships—was arranged.
She felt like an emotionless machine being controlled.
In that kind of large family, affection was always thin. People pursued fame, profit, and wealth.
For those things, anyone could be sacrificed, even siblings.
As the eventual head of the ancient medical family, she appeared cold, but deep down she longed for family affection.
She had not expected that after coming to this world, she would actually experience such warmth in her uncle’s family.
It made her transmigration worthwhile.
Li Ruyi smiled and tapped her lightly. “You child, we’re family. No need to say thank you.”
Hearing this, Lin Jiaojiao said nothing more.
Because she knew that actions mattered more than words.
Afterward, Li Ruyi went out to buy groceries, leaving Lü Li to keep her company at home.
That evening, when dinner was ready, their uncle Lü Bing returned from work.
Lü Bing was the younger brother of their mother Lü Qinghe and was only 40 years old.
But due to family pressure, he looked much older, as if he were nearly 50, with a somewhat weathered appearance.
Seeing her uncle like this, Lin Jiaojiao felt her eyes sting slightly.
He was very surprised that she had come—and even more so that she was willing to stay for dinner.
Of course, more than surprise, he was happy.
The family ate a simple meal of coarse home-cooked food, but it was rare and warm.
After dinner, when Li Ruyi explained Lin Jiaojiao’s request, Lü Bing immediately agreed without hesitation.
He even said that if Lin Fantong dared to sabotage her marriage, he would not let him go.
Moved once again, Lin Jiaojiao then dropped another bombshell.
“Uncle, Aunt, actually I came today with one more thing to discuss. I want to give my job to my cousin.”
“What? Jiaojiao, you—you want to give your job to your cousin?”
Even the usually calm Li Ruyi’s voice cracked in shock.
These days, their family had been worrying about Lü Li having no job and being required to go down to the countryside.
They had no money and no connections, so they had already resigned themselves to it.
But now, at the very moment they were about to give up, Lin Jiaojiao said she wanted to give her job to Lü Li.
No wonder Li Ruyi was so shocked.
And she wasn’t the only one—Lü Bing and Lü Li were equally stunned.