002: Speak to Me with Respect, I'll Be Your Mother from Now On
Wen Qiao steadied herself, pulled her clothes back up, and looked calmly at Shen Jichuan.
"If you don't marry me, I'll run out right now and shout it for everyone to hear. I know you officials care about your reputations. I also know you're a very high-ranking official, even more powerful than Shen Haiyang."
She didn't understand military ranks well.
But she had heard people say that Shen Jichuan had reached the position of deputy division commander before turning forty.
A very formidable and influential man.
She wasn't marrying Shen Jichuan for his money, nor for the man himself.
Even if she told Shen Jichuan she wanted nothing from him by marrying him, he wouldn't believe her anyway.
In that case, it was better not to say anything.
This was the first time Shen Jichuan had been threatened by a female comrade.
And one even younger than his adopted son at that.
Stubbing out his cigarette, Shen Jichuan fell silent.
Suddenly, he thought of his older brother's constant pressure for him to marry and the endless stream of blind dates being arranged.
He immediately felt that marrying Wen Qiao might not be such a bad idea.
It would help his adopted son Shen Haiyang by getting rid of his childhood betrothal,
and also shut his older brother up about the frequent matchmaking.
"Fine, I'll marry you."
As he spoke, Shen Jichuan tugged at his collar button, feeling stifled and irritable.
"But I have conditions. I'll marry you, but we'll sleep in separate rooms after marriage, and we won't interfere with each other's lives. Weren't you quite impressive? Refusing money, refusing job offers. You'll support yourself after marriage—don't come to me with any problems or troubles."
"Give me your childhood betrothal contract now."
Wen Qiao refused, covering her pocket.
"No. Marry me first, get the marriage certificate, and I'll tear it up right in front of you."
Shen Jichuan sneered, "You're quite the schemer, aren't you?"
Shen Jichuan suddenly understood.
Wen Qiao didn't want money, didn't want a job, didn't even want a city household registration.
So this was her game all along.
She knew he held a high position and wanted to marry him to become the wife of a deputy division commander.
Wouldn't all his assets eventually become hers?
This country girl was more cunning than she appeared. He would have to be extra cautious around her from now on.
"Drop your little schemes—they won't work on me. Let me tell you, even if we're legally married, I have full control over my assets. I can make a will, and when I die, you still won't get a single thing."
Wen Qiao said softly, "I don't want your assets."
Shen Jichuan asked coldly, "Aren't you afraid that after I marry you and get what you're using to threaten me, I'll divorce you immediately?"
"Let's get married first, then we'll see."
Even if Shen Jichuan divorced her right after getting the childhood betrothal contract, as long as she could humiliate Shen Haiyang during that time, it would be enough.
It wasn't as if she truly loved Shen Jichuan or was desperate to marry him.
Shen Jichuan opened the study door with a cold expression and motioned for her to leave.
Wen Qiao remained obedient as ever and turned to go.
When Shen Haiyang saw Wen Qiao, he walked over with a dark expression.
"Wen Qiao, what did you say to my dad? I've never met anyone as shameless as you. I'll give you whatever you want, just cancel this damn childhood betrothal."
Wen Qiao glanced at Shen Haiyang.
"I may be shameless, but at least I'm not as malicious as you."
"Your dad said he's going to marry me."
"From now on, speak to me with respect—I'm your mother."
Wen Qiao deliberately emphasized the last word, saying it with the clear intention of infuriating Shen Haiyang.
Shen Haiyang was now so enraged he had lost all reason.
“Don’t even think about it! What makes you think you can marry my dad? He would never marry you. Get out of here now, or I’ll find a way to make you leave.”
Wen Qiao calmly walked over and sat down on the sofa, her expression cool and detached.
She was naturally beautiful, with delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, large bright eyes that seemed to sparkle, and a round face that still held a hint of youthful innocence, though she tried to appear mature and composed.
Shen Jichuan looked at Wen Qiao as if she were a child.
His elder brother was nearly twenty years older than him and had married early.
Shen Jichuan’s nephews and nieces were even a few years older than Wen Qiao…
With a stern face, Shen Jichuan called Shen Haiyang into the study.
No one knew what they discussed.
From inside Shen Jichuan’s study came the sound of Shen Haiyang’s furious voice.
“Dad, how could you agree to this? She’s just trying to humiliate us both on purpose. No, you can’t agree to it.”
Shen Jichuan looked at Shen Haiyang. “Your focus right now should be on your studies. I’ll handle everything else.”
This Wen Qiao was clearly scheming, and her reasons for wanting to marry him were anything but simple. But she had miscalculated—did she really think it was so easy to enter the Shen family?
“But…” Shen Haiyang looked at his father, feeling more guilt than anything else. “You haven’t even married yet, and now, for my sake, you have to sacrifice so much…”
Shen Jichuan’s expression remained indifferent.
“It makes no difference who I marry. Besides, a young girl like her is nothing to worry about.”
“Enough. The matter is settled.”
Shen Haiyang knew his adoptive father’s temperament—once he made a decision, there was no changing it.
When he set his mind to something, others had little say in the matter.
Come to think of it, how hard could it be to deal with a country girl like Wen Qiao?
Damn it, she really managed to pull it off this time.
“Dad, what about me and Xuelan? We…”
During high school, Shen Haiyang and his classmate Yang Xuelan had developed mutual feelings and promised to be together once they got into university.
Shen Haiyang had been admitted to a military academy and went straight to college.
Yang Xuelan, however, hadn’t done well on her exams, and since she wasn’t an only child, she had no choice but to go to the countryside.
Fortunately, Yang Xuelan was assigned to a military farm in the suburbs.
It wasn’t too far from Shen Haiyang’s school.
The two could meet once a week.
Naturally, their relationship was good.
Shen Haiyang had even promised Yang Xuelan that once he graduated and received his assignment, they would get married.
Yang Xuelan’s father held a fairly high position, even above Shen Jichuan.
Shen Haiyang had some intention of currying favor with the Yang family, but Shen Jichuan had disagreements with Yang Xuelan’s father over his conduct and military matters, so their relationship wasn’t particularly good.
Shen Jichuan said, “Handle it yourself.”
“Haiyang, I’ve told you before—once you start working, you don’t have to stay by my side.”
“Dad, you’ve misunderstood me. No matter what, you’ll always be my father. When you grow old, I’ll take care of you and see you off.”
Shen Jichuan’s expression softened slightly, and he said nothing more.
He turned and glanced at Wen Qiao, who was still sitting on the sofa.
“Make yourself at home.”
With that, Shen Jichuan strode out confidently. Shen Haiyang hurried after him.
“Dad, are you still busy?”
“There are matters to attend to at the military unit. Rest well these next few days. Sister Ling will be back this afternoon—if you need anything, ask her.”
Sister Ling was their family’s housekeeper, or more precisely, the Shen family’s housekeeper.
Shen Jichuan currently lived in the family compound assigned to him by the military unit.
Before adopting Shen Haiyang, Shen Jichuan lived in the military unit's dormitory.
After adopting Shen Haiyang, he applied for a family residential compound and lived there for several years.
As Shen Jichuan's position rose, he moved from an ordinary family apartment building to the current detached house with a small courtyard.
The reason for allocating such a good house to Shen Jichuan back then was the hope that it would help him find a partner once he got married.
Who would have thought that, even after many years of having the house, he remained single to this day.
He has always been resistant to the idea of finding a partner, though he has never explained the specific reasons.
Instead, the family's nanny has lived here comfortably for decades, almost making the compound feel like Sister Ling's own home.