Thinking about this, Shen Jiaojiao became even more determined. She looked at Shen Luanfeng aggrievedly.
“Dad, just agree to it. Besides, swapping marriage partners won’t affect Sister. Zhou Yuanzheng is young and accomplished, and the Zhou family has good conditions too. Once Sister marries into their family, she’ll just have to sit back and enjoy life as an officer’s wife! If Mom hadn’t said that I should give way to Sister, I wouldn’t have been willing to give up such a good marriage.”
Shen Luanfeng glanced complicatedly at Bai Nianyun and his younger daughter, who was clinging tightly to his arm.
That was what she said, and it was true that Zhou Yuanzheng was much better off than Lu Yunshan. But if Jiaojiao claimed she was doing this for her older sister’s benefit, he really couldn’t believe it.
His younger daughter had always been competitive. She had never liked anyone getting the better of her, let alone giving such a good opportunity to someone else.
Although he had no idea what kind of scheme the mother and daughter were cooking up, seeing the longing look in his younger daughter’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her.
After thinking it over, he could only turn his gaze toward Shen Qingqing.
Seeing this, Shen Jiaojiao quickly said, “Dad, Sister already agreed too. Don’t worry.”
“Qingqing, what do you think about this?”
The corner of Shen Qingqing’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly before she nodded.
“Dad, Jiaojiao already talked to me about it earlier today. As long as you and Mom agree, I have no objections.”
Seeing this, Shen Luanfeng couldn’t say anything more.
Looking at his younger daughter’s expression, as though she couldn’t wait for him to agree immediately, he could only nod and agree to let the two sisters swap marriage partners.
After all, in his heart, he was naturally closer to the younger daughter he had with Nianyun.
It wasn’t that he didn’t love his eldest daughter. It was just that she wasn’t as lively as his younger daughter and didn’t usually interact with him much.
Besides, the Zhou family’s conditions were indeed better than Lu Yunshan’s. Looking at it this way, he wasn’t exactly treating Qingqing unfairly.
And so, with Shen Luanfeng making the final decision, Shen Qingqing and Shen Jiaojiao’s marriages were officially swapped.
The two sisters were scheduled to get married the following month. In other words, they had less than a month to prepare for the weddings.
Although weddings in this era didn’t involve particularly complicated ceremonies and formalities, they were still celebrations that needed to be arranged.
And this time, there were two weddings!
Bai Nianyun was the only female elder in the household, while Shen Luanfeng knew nothing about such matters. In the end, everything still had to be handled by Bai Nianyun.
After dinner, Bai Nianyun pulled Shen Qingqing into the bedroom, saying that there were some things she wanted to discuss with her.
She even made sure that Shen Luanfeng and Shen Jiaojiao couldn’t listen in.
Shen Qingqing’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
She had no idea what her stepmother was plotting this time, but it wasn’t the right moment to turn against them.
So she decided to see what scheme Bai Nianyun was planning.
Once they entered the room, Bai Nianyun looked at Shen Qingqing as though she were in a difficult position, nervously twisting her hands together.
“Qingqing, Mom knows you’re a good girl. Normally, I really shouldn’t make such a request, but I’m a mother too. Jiaojiao is such an honest child. She was willing to give up such a good marriage just like that…”
She sighed.
“I really am useless…”
At those words, Shen Qingqing’s brows lifted slightly, and a probing look appeared in her eyes.
Before she could think about it further, Bai Nianyun continued.
“Qingqing, although Zhou Yuanzheng and Lu Yunshan are cousins, one of them is a deputy regimental commander while the other is only a deputy battalion commander. You see, Jiaojiao has already given such a good marriage to you. Could you… could you…”
Bai Nianyun stopped halfway.
She seemed extremely embarrassed, stammering for a long time without being able to finish.
Instead, she looked at Shen Qingqing expectantly, clearly hoping that Shen Qingqing would take the hint and say it herself.
But Shen Qingqing wasn’t someone who could be manipulated so easily.
Not only did she have no intention of taking the bait, she simply stared quietly into Bai Nianyun’s eyes, as though she had no idea what the woman was getting at.
Bai Nianyun grew anxious inside.
This stupid girl.
I’ve practically spelled it out for her, yet she’s still pretending not to understand.
She couldn’t tell whether Shen Qingqing genuinely didn’t understand or was deliberately pretending.
Since things had come this far, Bai Nianyun could only bite the bullet and say it herself.
“Although I shouldn’t be making this request, you know that I don’t have much ability and can’t give you girls very much. All these years, I’ve always treated you and Jiaojiao equally.
“Now that you’ve gotten such an excellent marriage, could you… swap your dowry with Jiaojiao’s?”
After saying this, Bai Nianyun herself felt somewhat embarrassed.
After all, most of Shen Qingqing’s dowry had been left behind by her biological mother, who had died young.
Being a stepmother was already difficult enough. If people found out that she was coveting her stepdaughter’s dowry, wouldn’t everyone gossip behind her back?
But when she thought of her own daughter, she no longer had much to worry about.
Although Shen Qingqing had already known that the mother and daughter weren’t up to any good, she hadn’t expected them to be shameless enough to target her dowry.
That was what her mother had left for her!
Seeing that Shen Qingqing’s expression had turned unpleasant, Bai Nianyun quickly explained.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to exchange them. Mom was just mentioning it. Don’t take it to heart.
“It’s just that Jiaojiao has always looked out for you since she was little. She was even willing to give such a wonderful marriage to you. Once you marry into the Zhou family, you’ll become the wife of a deputy regimental commander.
“But that poor girl… Who knows how much hardship she’ll have to endure when she follows her husband to the island? And I won’t even be there to take care of her.”
As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eye with great sincerity.
Her voice took on a hint of melancholy.
“It’s fine. Qingqing, you should get some rest. Just pretend Mom said something wrong today. Don’t take it to heart.”
With that, she pretended to turn around and leave.
Shen Qingqing watched her back coldly.
This stepmother of mine really knows how to put on a show.
She never committed any obvious wrongdoing. Yet behind closed doors, she had never treated Shen Qingqing particularly well.
But in front of outsiders, she always acted as though she cared deeply about her stepdaughter and only wanted the best for her.
After saying all that today, wasn’t she simply trying to pressure Shen Qingqing into voluntarily giving up her dowry?
She didn’t want to bear the reputation of being cruel, but she still wanted the benefits.
Where in the world was there such a good deal?
Based on Shen Qingqing’s understanding of this mother and daughter, if she refused today, Bai Nianyun might not say anything to her face.
But who knew what methods they would come up with later to steal her dowry?
It would be better to agree openly and give it to them.
With that thought, Shen Qingqing called out to Bai Nianyun.
“Mom, wait.”
“Ah!”
Bai Nianyun immediately turned around and looked at Shen Qingqing eagerly.
In truth, she had never intended to leave.
“Since my sister has already given Big Brother Zhou to me, then as her older sister, I can’t keep letting Jiaojiao give way to me.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll give the dowry my mother left me to my sister. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Bai Nianyun hurriedly asked.
Shen Qingqing spoke hesitantly.
“It’s just that if I give my dowry to Jiaojiao, I won’t have anything left. I don’t really mind having nothing myself, but I’m afraid that if I go to the Zhou family without bringing anything, they’ll have something to say about it.”
“That’s easy!”
Bai Nianyun slapped her thigh.
“Your mother will prepare your share! I’ll make sure everything is prepared properly for you!”