The family of three was chatting and laughing happily while having breakfast, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere.
Both Xu Jianguo and Jiang Yumei had taken leave from their workplaces, waiting for the Xiao family to deliver the betrothal gifts.
Hearing the knock on the door, Tang Wenya thought it was Xiao Tingshen arriving. She stood up with a beaming smile to answer the door, knowing Xiao Tingshen was coming today but not expecting him to arrive so early.
Upon opening the door, she saw Zhao Jingyu and was momentarily taken aback. Then, a surge of joy filled her heart as she leaned out to glance down the hallway and asked Zhao Jingyu, “Did Ting Shen send you? Where is he?”
Zhao Jingyu ignored her and led two young men into the house. He walked up to Xu Jianguo and smiled, “Uncle Xu, I’m here to deliver the betrothal gifts.”
Xu Qingning and Liang Yufeng followed behind, their expressions varying as they entered the room.
Earlier in the hallway, Xu Qingning had confessed to Liang Yufeng about her pregnancy. Liang Yufeng was furious, but given the circumstances, she could only swallow her anger for now.
How could Xu Jianguo, as a father, still have the heart to sit at home eating when his daughter was in such a situation? She felt like storming in and flipping their table right then and there.
The living room was small and crowded, so Xu Qingning quietly led Liang Yufeng into the bedroom. With Zhao Jingyu handling things outside, she had no intention of getting involved.
Liang Yufeng, both angry and heartbroken, held Xu Qingning’s hand and listened intently to the commotion outside the door.
“Please, have a seat!” Xu Jianguo also assumed Xiao Tingshen had sent them and paid no attention to Xu Qingning and Liang Yufeng. He warmly invited Zhao Jingyu to sit down and directed the two young men, “Oh, you’ve worked hard too. Just leave the gifts in the hallway for now. There’s so much…”
He recognized Zhao Jingyu as Xiao Tingshen’s classmate, who had visited their home with Xiao Tingshen before, but he had a very poor impression of him.
He had heard that Zhao Jingyu’s two older brothers had settled down in the countryside during the “Down to the Countryside” movement and had never been able to return to the city.
As the youngest in the family, Zhao Jingyu hadn’t been sent to the countryside. Instead, he idled around all day, hanging out with a group of troublemakers. His father, having no other choice, pulled some strings to get him a job, which finally settled him down.
Because of this, Xu Jianguo had privately advised Xiao Tingshen to keep his distance from people like Zhao Jingyu to avoid picking up bad habits.
But now, since Xiao Tingshen had sent Zhao Jingyu to deliver the betrothal gifts, he had no choice but to put on a welcoming face.
Jiang Yumei was even more overjoyed. She led the two young men into the hallway and specifically instructed them to place the gifts in a conspicuous spot. Seeing some onlookers gathering in the hallway, she deliberately raised her voice, “Just leave them here. There’s no room inside.”
Originally, it was agreed that the betrothal gifts would consist of one pig leg and sixty yuan.
Who would have thought the Xiao family would be so considerate and add so much more? Looking across the entire No. 3 State Cotton Mill residential compound, no other family’s daughter had received such generous betrothal gifts.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yumei enthusiastically invited everyone inside, “Don’t just stand outside, everyone! Come in and have some tea!”
“Your family has a joyous occasion—congratulations! We won’t intrude on the celebration.”
“That’s right, you go ahead and attend to your guests!”
The crowd didn’t enter the house but didn’t leave either. Instead, they huddled in the hallway, whispering among themselves:
“When did Zhao Jingyu start dating Xu Qingning? How come he’s already delivering betrothal gifts?”
“I have no idea. I thought it was the Xiao family’s gifts!”
“Me too, I thought it was the Xiao family.”
“It must be the Xiao family. Can you really trust anything Zhao Jingyu says?”
“Oh, stop guessing, everyone. Let’s just wait and see.”
…
Jiang Yumei only had eyes for the generous betrothal gifts of whole pigs and sheep, so she didn’t pay much attention to what they were saying. Happily, she returned to the room to brew tea and entertain them.
Zhao Jingyu opened the gift box, revealing a thick stack of ten-yuan bills, which he placed on the table. “Uncle Xu, this is two hundred yuan as a betrothal gift. I hope you can grant me and Qingning your blessing.”
Xu Jianguo and Jiang Yumei exchanged glances, momentarily stunned, and asked in unison, “What did you say?”
“Uncle, Auntie, I came today to deliver betrothal gifts for Qingning and me.” Seeing their misunderstanding, Zhao Jingyu smiled playfully. “Was I not clear enough?”
“Didn’t Ting Shen send you?” Tang Wenya was also taken aback. Xiao Tingshen had said he would come today—they had agreed on it.
“Miss Tang, perhaps you’ve misunderstood the relationship between me and Xiao Tingshen. We’re classmates, but I’m not his servant. Whether he delivers betrothal gifts or not has nothing to do with me.”
Zhao Jingyu glanced at her dismissively before turning back to Xu Jianguo. “Uncle Xu, I only have three days left of my leave this time. The next time I return will likely be about six months from now. I’d like to register and marry Qingning within these three days.”
Tang Wenya’s face flushed, then paled.
Zhao Jingyu wasn’t sent by Xiao Tingshen?
Then where was Xiao Tingshen?
Why hadn’t he arrived yet?
System: “Don’t worry, Xiao Tingshen is already on his way and will be here soon.”
Tang Wenya wasn’t worried—she was embarrassed.
Xiao Tingshen’s betrothal gifts would surely be less than what Zhao Jingyu had brought. As the Female Lead, she couldn’t lose to Xu Qingning.
And this Zhao Jingyu—why did he have to choose today of all days to deliver his gifts?
System: “Xiao Tingshen is bringing his mother, which shows sincerity. Zhao Jingyu’s parents are in the countryside—how could they compare to Xiao Tingshen’s parents? Don’t worry, you won’t lose.”
Like a sudden clap of thunder, Xu Jianguo was still processing the shock. “What? You said you want to marry Qingning?”
“Yes.” Zhao Jingyu took a sip of tea, his expression calm.
“When did this happen between you and Qingning?” Jiang Yumei was even more astonished and couldn’t help blurting out, “She… she was just about to go to the health center for an abortion…”
Xu Jianguo coughed sharply and glared at Jiang Yumei. Such an embarrassing matter was better left unspoken.
Jiang Yumei bit her lip, realizing that Xu Qingning must have secretly met with Zhao Jingyu.
Otherwise, why would Zhao Jingyu arrive so timely?
A child raised by others could never truly be kept close.
No matter how well she treated Xu Qingning, Xu Qingning would never confide in her. Such a major matter, and she had kept it completely hidden!
What was even more laughable was that Xu Qingning had put on a show, demanding fifty yuan from Xu Jianguo for the abortion, and Xu Jianguo had actually given it to her. He thought that by giving her the money, the matter would be settled…
When did that wretched girl become so cunning?
“I don’t agree to this.” Xu Jianguo, slower to react than Jiang Yumei, firmly refused. “I’ve already arranged with the Educated Youth Office that Xu Qingning will go to the countryside for labor in two months. More importantly, you two have no emotional foundation.”
Xu Jianguo had never thought much of Zhao Jingyu, that little troublemaker.
Even if Xu Qingning was pregnant, he wouldn’t let Zhao Jingyu step in as the fallback. No amount of betrothal gifts would change that.
“Uncle Xu, the child Qingning is carrying is mine.” Zhao Jingyu looked expressionlessly at Xu Jianguo. “Even without an emotional foundation, I believe I should take responsibility for her, shouldn’t I?”