“Six hundred yuan? Six hundred is no problem at all—we can certainly give that. Our Gu family taking in a bride is naturally not something to be taken lightly.”
Li Wenxiu smiled warmly and agreed without hesitation.
Wu Xiuling was happy for her daughter as well. The fact that they agreed so readily showed they didn’t look down on her daughter, which put her mind at ease.
Gu Zhengnan remained silent throughout, not even raising an eyebrow when he heard the six hundred yuan figure.
The marriage negotiations went smoothly. The only awkward point was that Jiang Shutang had been cast out of the Jiang family, so on the wedding day, the groom might have to pick her up from the dormitory at Jixie Chang—a bit shabby, to say the least.
When Gu Zhengnan learned of their concern, he spoke up with a suggestion. “She could stay at a guesthouse.”
Jiang Shutang took her mother’s hand and gently reassured her. “Mom, it’s fine. Let’s just use the dormitory. That way, everyone at the factory will know I’m married, and there won’t be any more wild speculation.”
Wu Xiuling’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Her daughter was right—it made perfect sense. When the time came, all those wicked people who had bullied her daughter would see with their own dog eyes that her precious daughter had married such a capable man.
“That works too. How about we go talk to your father in person? Have a proper discussion with him?”
Gu Hongwei said with a smile from the side.
As the grandfather, he naturally didn’t want to hear anyone calling his grandson a bastard. The fact that Jiang Dahai had kicked Jiang Shutang out over this matter brought no honor to the Gu family either.
Jiang Shutang quickly shook her head. It was better that Jiang Dahai had severed ties with her—it saved her from having to deal with him in the future. Besides, with his snobbish nature, if he found out she’d married into such a wealthy family, he’d probably come crawling back with a fawning smile, begging for favors.
There was no way he’d get any benefit from her. Jiang Shutang would always remember his ugly, contemptible face.
The Gu family respected Jiang Shutang’s wishes and didn’t press the matter further.
When the meal came to an end, Jiang Shutang prepared to take her three sons and leave. But Old Master Gu couldn’t bear to let them go. However, given his age, he couldn’t very well lower himself to say so outright, so he gave his son a hard stomp on the foot under the table.
Gu Hongwei’s face instantly turned the color of pig’s liver. He gave an awkward laugh and said, “Say, Xiao Jiang, why don’t you take the afternoon off? Ask for leave from the factory. Marriage is a big deal—let Zhengnan take you to pick out some jewelry. As for the three little ones, the old man can watch over them. You can come pick them up when you’re done.”
Gu Zhengnan had originally planned to return to his unit after the meal, but he hadn’t expected his father to assign him another task.
“Dad, I have—”
Before he could get the word “plans” out, he saw Gu Hongwei’s face twitching wildly as he desperately signaled with his eyes.
Gu Zhengnan immediately understood and reluctantly nodded.
“I don’t have anything pressing this afternoon anyway. Let’s go browse at Youyi Shangchang.”
Jiang Shutang wasn’t stupid. Someone was offering to buy her jewelry—why would she refuse? Only a fool would turn down a good deal. Besides, she was the great contributor who had given the Gu family triplets. Carrying those three sons had been no easy feat, so collecting a little interest now was only fair.
Old Master Gu was satisfied. His son and grandson certainly knew how to read the room.
After leaving the restaurant, Jiang Shutang gave the three little ones a few instructions before they happily followed their great-grandfather away.
Old Master Gu certainly traveled in style—he had a personal driver, which showed he was someone of considerable standing.
At that moment, Li Wenxiu sidled over, looking as though she wanted to tag along, but Gu Hongwei pulled her away.
“Don’t go. Let the two of them have some time to bond.”
Li Wenxiu frowned but couldn’t very well say anything in front of Jiang Shutang.
“Shutang, you two go ahead. I’ll be off now,” Wu Xiuling said as she prepared to leave.
Jiang Shutang felt a pang of reluctance. It was scorching hot outside, and her mother hadn’t even ridden a bicycle—who knew how long she’d have to wait for the bus. And given how frugal Wu Xiuling was, she might very well walk the whole way home.
That was such a long distance—she’d be exhausted by the time she got there.
But the driver was Gu Zhengnan, after all. The two of them could only speak to each other civilly for the sake of the children; there was no real relationship between them. She didn’t feel comfortable ordering Gu Zhengnan to drive her mother home.
Soon enough, however, Gu Zhengnan took the initiative.
“Auntie, we’re heading in the same direction. Let me drop you off first.”
Jiang Shutang’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help stealing another glance at Gu Zhengnan. This man certainly had good social awareness.
Wu Xiuling let out a dry laugh. “No need, Xiao Gu. That’s too much trouble. I can make my own way back.”
Jiang Shutang opened the car door and practically pushed her mother inside.
“He already said it’s on the way, Mom. No need to be polite.”
After getting in the car, Gu Zhengnan asked for the address and drove attentively.
When they reached the entrance of the family compound, Wu Xiuling thanked him before getting out.
Afterward, Gu Zhengnan drove Jiang Shutang straight to Youyi Shangchang.
Not just anyone could enter Youyi Shangchang—it generally catered to foreign guests, and purchases required Waihuiquan.
But for a family like the Gu family, such things were naturally in no short supply.
Once inside the mall, Gu Zhengnan turned to Jiang Shutang and said, “Take your pick. I’ll pay.”
Jiang Shutang didn’t stand on ceremony. Her eyes went straight to the watch she’d been longing for.
In this day and age, not having a watch was terribly inconvenient, but the problem was that these things were expensive—in the past, she couldn’t have afforded one even if she sold everything she owned.
Jiang Shutang leaned over the counter, carefully examining the styles inside.
Just then, the sound of two female comrades laughing and chatting came from beside her, and Jiang Shutang inexplicably felt their voices were somewhat familiar.
As she looked up, her gaze happened to collide with theirs.
Jiang Shutang narrowed her eyes. What a coincidence.
She knew both of these female comrades. One was the person she hated most in this life—her cousin Jiang Siyu—and the other was Ye Yiyi, the one who had gone to Jixie Chang that day to humiliate her.
The two were arm in arm, looking especially close, presumably good friends.
Jiang Shutang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Birds of a feather flock together, as they say. Those who aren’t cut from the same cloth can’t be friends.
When Jiang Siyu saw Jiang Shutang standing in front of the watch counter, she was momentarily stunned, then a mean-spirited expression immediately spread across her face. She strode forward, opened her foul mouth, and started spewing garbage.
“Oh, if it isn’t my dear cousin? I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. This kind of place isn’t for the likes of you.”
As she spoke, Jiang Siyu deliberately looked Jiang Shutang up and down.
Jiang Shutang’s clothes were somewhat worn—though without patches, they clearly showed she was living in straitened circumstances.
“Do you even have two hundred yuan on you? You dare come here to look at watches? Do you have Waihuiquan? Don’t get yourself detained by the guards.”
With that, Jiang Siyu waved dismissively at the sales clerk. “No need to attend to this kind of customer. She’s just a pauper.”
If it were anyone else being humiliated like this, they’d probably be red-faced by now, wishing they could dig a hole and bury themselves in it.
But who was Jiang Shutang? She had a thick skin, and these words held no real power to hurt her.
“Cousin, you call me a pauper, but aren’t you one too? You’ve been strolling around here for ages without so much as a bag in your hand—haven’t bought a thing, have you? Just came in for a free walk? If you’re so rich, buy a watch right here and let everyone see.”
As she spoke, Jiang Shutang deliberately glanced at Jiang Siyu’s wrist.
“Is that watch of yours second-hand? It’s all beaten up—look at the state of it!”