"How could that be! Of course you're welcome!" Xu Cheng exclaimed with profuse apologies. "Please come in!"
Xu Cheng had assumed Jiang Yao had discovered something and wanted to break off the engagement with Xu Changxia, which was why he hadn't come along this morning.
Therefore, seeing Jiang Yao appear at his doorstep at this hour made it somewhat hard for him to believe his eyes.
Behind them, the Jiang family's driver and adjutant followed, carrying large and small bundles of Hui Men Li gifts.
"Look at you, coming all this way and bringing so many gifts!" Xu Cheng said awkwardly, rubbing his hands together.
"Just some small gifts for Auntie, and for you and Aunt-in-law," Jiang Yao replied calmly. "My mother passed away early, so if there are any oversights in etiquette, please forgive me."
Xu Cheng glanced back at the items, and his eyes instantly widened.
The cigarettes were the local Lan Xi Hu brand—ten cartons in total. The liquor was Mao Tai—two cases with twelve bottles. Then there were those exquisitely packaged Bird's Nest and Peach Resin products, all so high-end that they could only be found in the locked counters of department stores.
In the past, Xu Cheng would only splurge on a bottle of Mao Tai during the New Year to share a few drinks with his father-in-law—a single bottle cost nearly half his monthly wages!
Not to mention those premium cigarettes! Not only did a carton sell for twenty to thirty yuan, but even with money, they were usually hard to come by. Such high-end, sought-after items were difficult to obtain even with cigarette coupons.
Xu Cheng usually only allowed himself to buy Da Qian Men cigarettes, which cost just over thirty cents a pack, and even those he smoked sparingly.
A rough estimate showed that the Hui Men Li gifts Jiang Yao brought were worth at least over a thousand yuan!
"As for those candies, they're wedding candies to distribute to the neighbors. Uncle, you can handle it as you see fit," Jiang Yao added, gesturing toward the several bags placed by the door.
Xu Cheng hurried over to take a closer look.
One glance, and he gasped in astonishment.
Inside were high-end imported candies packaged in plastic shells—there were milk candies, fruit candies, and chocolates. Especially the chocolates—something poor families had never even tasted—a few pieces alone were almost equivalent to a day's wages for him!
Distributing such luxurious wedding candies would surely earn him immense face!
"Good, good, good!" Xu Cheng beamed, his eyes crinkling with delight, as he called out to Zhou Yun, "Xiao Yun! Come over quickly and distribute some to the old neighbors!"
The fact that Jiang Yao had brought so many valuable gifts only indicated one thing: he truly cared about Xu Changxia.
Now he could rest easy! He had been worried that Jiang Yao might call off the engagement.
Let those neighbors who loved gossiping about Xu Changxia take a good look—this time, he would thoroughly wipe the smug looks off their faces!
Zhou Yun was no fool. As she examined each Hui Men Li gift, she gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered, barely able to maintain her composure.
"Jiang Yao, didn't you have urgent matters with the Troops? You should go attend to them. We can handle these small matters ourselves!" She turned back and gave Jiang Yao an awkward smile.
"The matters are settled. The Hui Men is important—no matter what, we must finish the midday Hui Men Jiu," Jiang Yao said, his gaze shifting to Xu Changxia standing in the main hall.
Just then, the morning sun spilled over the wall into the small courtyard, casting a brilliant, dazzling light that outlined Jiang Yao in a golden halo.
As Xu Changxia watched him standing there, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She had thought Jiang Yao wouldn't come today. Because in her previous life, their second meeting had been tomorrow—the originally scheduled day for the Hui Men.
His sudden appearance at this moment was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise.
His arrival proved that he believed her, that he hadn't listened to the nonsense Jiang Chi and Jiang Yihe had been spreading.
Actually, on her way back, she had already prepared herself to confess everything. After all, she and Jiang Chi had been in a relationship for nearly a year, and no matter who it was, they would surely feel uncomfortable about it.
Although she had been love-struck in her previous life, she had still managed to get into Hang City No. 1 Middle School from their town through her own efforts. She knew what should and shouldn't be done, and she had always guarded her final boundary, never letting Jiang Chi touch her.
Who would have thought he would follow her here right after?
The moment their eyes met, she pursed her lips into a smile at Jiang Yao and, pulling Xu Fangfei by the sleeve, walked to the doorway together.
She glanced at the gifts in front of her and asked him, "When did you go buy these?"
"Early this morning, sister-in-law! The commander went personally!" The adjutant beside him cheerfully chimed in.
Jiang Yao shot a glance at the adjutant.
The adjutant instantly felt a chill run down his spine and wisely shut his mouth.
Xu Changxia hadn't expected Jiang Yao to be so thoughtful. If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, he hadn't brought so many gifts.
Receiving such lavish gifts all of a sudden made her feel both flattered and overwhelmed.
She looked at Jiang Yao, her eyes and brows brimming with laughter.
"Isn't it a waste to give such good candy to those people?" Zhou Yun grumbled nearby, unable to hold back her frustration.
"Auntie, by saying that, are you belittling yourself or Uncle?" Jiang Yao immediately turned to Zhou Yun.
"I…" Zhou Yun was left speechless, gritting her teeth without another word.
Originally, she had intended to use the Jiang family's desire to break off the engagement to make a scene and cover up her own disgraceful actions. Who would have thought Jiang Yao would bring such expensive Hui Men Li gifts? Anyone could guess that there was no problem between the young couple.
Could it be… that Jiang Yao didn't know Jiang Chi had previously been in a relationship with Xu Changxia?!
Her eyes lit up, and she put down what she was holding, saying to Jiang Yao, "Jiang Yao, why didn't you bring your parents and Jiang Chi along? Is Jiang Chi too embarrassed?"
"Xiao Yun!" Xu Cheng immediately scolded from the side.
"Did I say something wrong?" Zhou Yun froze for a moment, then put on a panicked expression.
"She's just a housewife, didn't have much schooling and doesn't know how to speak properly. Jiang Yao, don't take it to heart." Xu Cheng quickly changed the subject. "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? It just so happens Xiaxia hasn't eaten either. Why don't you two go out and have something together?"
As he spoke, he hurriedly tried to pull him and Xu Changxia out the door.
Jiang Yao simply stood quietly in place, watching Zhou Yun, not moving, not making a sound.
The courtyard was so silent you could hear a pin drop.