[Lu Qingze: After work this afternoon, we’ll go see your parents.]
An Ning was taken aback.
Ever since she started working after graduation, she had dreamed of finding a way to smoothly transfer her household registration out and completely distance herself from the An family.
She had considered every possible method.
All ended in failure without exception.
And her adoptive parents seemed convinced that her entire life should be spent repaying their kindness in raising her, guarding against her as if she were a thief.
This time, she finally saw a glimmer of hope for victory.
All day, An Ning was distracted.
Even during her lunch break, she was still lost in thought. It wasn’t until a colleague called her to go eat in the cafeteria that An Ning realized she had forgotten something.
She hurriedly hailed a taxi to Nanqu Police Station, went through the verification and registration process, and finally, when she got her suitcase, An Ning couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
As evening fell and work ended, An Ning walked out of the company gate and immediately spotted the black Phaeton parked by the roadside.
“I took some food to my grandmother and told her I’d bring you to see her later.”
As the car headed towards the An family home, Lu Qingze looked at An Ning, who was visibly tense, and asked softly, “Anything you need to tell me?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, yes…”
Snapping back to reality, An Ning quickly glanced at Ji Cheng.
Then, remembering he was Lu Qingze’s second uncle and would find out sooner or later, An Ning suppressed the flicker of embarrassment in her heart and spoke up, “My parents… they will definitely ask you for a bride price. Just tell them you can give fifty thousand.”
Lu Qingze raised an eyebrow.
An Ning explained, “In Sicheng, the bride price for ordinary families is around a hundred thousand. But usually, the bride price is given to the newlyweds. If it’s given to the bride’s family, then the groom gives the bride price and the bride’s family provides a dowry; the amounts from both sides shouldn’t differ too much…. Tell them you’ll give fifty thousand as bride price and don’t need a dowry. They’ll agree.”
As she spoke, An Ning turned around, pulled out five thick stacks of money from the backpack she had been clutching tightly since they met, and handed them to Lu Qingze. “As long as they agree, ask them for the household register. Hand over the money and get the register in return.”
The girl’s words were firm and decisive, clearly seeing right through that couple.
Lu Qingze looked at her calm, unruffled face, then at the brand-new bills in her hand, paused for a moment, took them, and placed them in his bag.
The car fell into silence.
After a long while, An Ning turned to look at him. “Lu Qingze, whether you want to help me or genuinely want to give this a try, I thank you! I want to know, what are your expectations for this upcoming marriage, or rather, for me?”
Being open and honest might just make our cooperation go smoothly.
Sensing An Ning’s meaning, Lu Qingze paused.
“I don’t plan to hold a wedding ceremony for now, so I probably won’t tell many people about my marital status.”
“That suits me perfectly; I don’t want one either.”
“I… travel on business quite often.”
“So, do you need me to help take care of your parents and your grandmother?”
“No, it’s just that you might spend a lot of time alone.”
“Can I say that sounds absolutely perfect?”
“…”
Seeing that Lu Qingze had stated two requirements—or rather, simply the one requirement of keeping the marriage secret and not announcing it—and then fell silent, An Ning looked back at him. “Anything else?”
Lu Qingze hesitated. “I might be transferred to work in Didu.”
Didu?
An Ning’s eyes instantly lit up.
Whether it was following Lu Qingze to Didu while their marriage was still ongoing, or going to Didu first and then divorcing if they found they weren’t suitable for each other, Didu was an excellent destination.
“Alright.”
An Ning nodded, “I’m fine with either. Shall we discuss it further when the time comes?”
“Sure.”
As the words fell, the car slowed down.
In the front seat, Ji Cheng looked at An Ning, “An Ning, is your home down this intersection?”
They had arrived at the address An Ning had given when she got in the car—the same place she had run away from yesterday.
“Just drop me off here.”
An Ning said.
Both were black Volkswagens, but the one belonging to Lu Qingze’s second uncle was clearly different from the one she had hailed yesterday.
The logo was the same, but this car was more refined, elegant, and upscale in both appearance and interior.
An Ning didn’t know much about cars, but she didn’t want her adoptive parents to see it. She didn’t want them to think Lu Qingze was well-off or that he had wealthy relatives.
“Let’s get out…”
Lu Qingze opened the car door and stepped out.
…
It was after dinner, and An Mother was clearing the table.
In the living room, An Father was watching the news, occasionally raising his voice to shout, “Can you keep it down?”
An Xiaoqiang was playing video games in the bedroom, the sound effects from the game particularly grating.
“Alright, alright, stop scolding him…”
An Mother shot her husband a glance, “I’ll talk to An Ning later and ask her to buy Xiaoqiang a headset. Last time I went to Sister Li’s house, I saw her grandson wearing headphones while playing games. That way, you won’t disturb each other…”
Before she could finish, the doorbell chimed.
“Coming, coming…”
Responding, An Mother wiped her hands on her apron and hurried to open the door.
The next moment, the smile on her face froze.
Outside the door stood An Ning, her expression cold.
Beside An Ning was a young man with handsome features.
However, he wore a pair of black-framed glasses, giving him a somewhat nerdy appearance.
The man held large and small bags of gifts in both hands.
Gift-boxed baijiu.
A carton of milk.
A fruit basket.
In a flash, An Mother realized this was the man Sister Fen had introduced to An Ning yesterday. She just hadn’t expected the two to hit it off so quickly.
Beaming, An Mother swung the door open, “Oh, An Ning brought her boyfriend home? Come in, come in. Dad…”
The words “boyfriend” were like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
Not only did An Father put down the remote and come out, but even An Xiaoqiang, who had been gaming in the bedroom, rushed out.
Seeing Lu Qingze, the family of three froze in unison.
Was this the young man Aunt Fen had mentioned—the one who was getting on in years and still hadn’t found a wife?
“Come in, come in…”
Ushering the two inside, An Mother forgot about washing the dishes and hastily poured two glasses of water.
Beside her, An Father looked at Lu Qingze, then at An Ning, and asked, “Young man, you are…”
“Uncle, Aunt, I’m here to discuss An Ning’s and my marriage with you.”
With Lu Qingze’s words, the three members of the An family froze on the spot.
Cursing An Ning in her heart for not giving them a heads-up, An Mother pushed the glass of water toward Lu Qingze, “Shouldn’t matters like discussing a marriage be settled face-to-face between your parents and us? Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to come and discuss it yourself?”
“My father… works in the mines. He only comes back once every year or two.”
Lu Qingze said solemnly, “My mother passed away early. There’s only my grandmother at home, and she’s been in poor health recently, currently hospitalized.”
With each sentence Lu Qingze spoke, An Father and An Mother exchanged glances, their hearts filled with doubt.
How was this different from what Sister Fen had said?
Nearby, An Xiaoqiang had already grabbed a banana from the fruit basket, peeled it, and was eating it as he headed toward the bedroom.
“Uncle, Aunt, the matchmaker should have already told you about my family situation.”
Gone was the composed demeanor he had shown in front of An Ning. At this moment, Lu Qingze seemed like a completely different person.
Wearing a troubled expression, Lu Qingze took out a thick stack of renminbi from his bag and placed it on the table. Looking at An Father and An Mother, he said, “I’m in a hurry to get married, so I want An Ning to marry over quickly to help me take care of my grandmother. That’s why my visit today is a bit rushed. Please forgive me, Uncle and Aunt.”
“If we wait for my father to come, it might take a year or half a year.”
Seeing An Father and An Mother glance at the money on the table with a somewhat dissatisfied look, Lu Qingze said gravely, “This money is simply to show my respect to both of you.”
An Father and An Mother looked up.
Lu Qingze took out two more stacks from his bag and placed them on the table. “This is my bride price.”