Xu Yunhua eyed the Da Tuanjie notes and various certificates in the box, unable to suppress a pang of jealousy and resentment.
Even though she knew they were fake, she still felt irritated deep down.
Xu Yunhua endured it again and again, digging her nails into her palms. It took her a long while before she managed to suppress her sour feelings and force a smile. “Sister, the Zhou family has shown their full sincerity. We can’t fall behind.”
“If you’re satisfied with Zhou Shuang, why not take advantage of today and go get your marriage certificate before the office closes? Then take Zhou Shuang to the bank to withdraw your dowry. That way, we show our sincerity too, and no one can say our family is stingy or only looking to take advantage of others.”
“You’re right, sister.”
Xu Ruyan followed her lead. “Then there’s no time like the present. I’ll go get the certificate with him right away, then withdraw the dowry from the bank and bring it home.”
Zhou Shuang’s face lit up with joy at this.
He and Xu Weiguo had already planned everything—they’d paid off the office staff in advance to prepare a fake marriage certificate. Once they got their hands on the dowry, they’d kick Xu Ruyan to the curb.
Zhou Shuang nodded eagerly and smiled. “No problem.”
Xu Ruyan looked at him, sneering inwardly.
In her past life, she’d been blind and couldn’t read people, letting him lead her around by the nose.
“Before you go, help me carry the boxes upstairs first.”
Xu Ruyan pursed her lips, raised her snow-white chin, and smiled at him sweetly.
Zhou Shuang was taken aback. Though reluctant, he swallowed his displeasure and forced a smile, agreeing to carry the boxes upstairs for her.
Song Chungui watched from behind, her heart bleeding with pain.
But then she thought again.
Soon she’d have that little wretch Xu Ruyan’s dowry in her hands. This was just a down payment—once Xu Ruyan went to the countryside, wouldn’t it all come back to them anyway?
Song Chungui felt a little better.
After going upstairs, Xu Ruyan locked the bedroom door and stored all the boxes Zhou Shuang had brought into her Spatial Dimension before leisurely heading back down.
She picked up her household register and smiled at Zhou Shuang. “Let’s go. We’ll get our marriage certificate, then withdraw the dowry!”
Zhou Shuang brought Xu Ruyan to the office and they queued up to register their marriage.
When they reached the window, he shot the clerk a meaningful look.
The clerk understood immediately, pulled out a pre-made fake marriage certificate, and offered his congratulations with a smile. “Wishing you a lifetime of harmony.”
“Thank you. Here are some wedding candies—have some to share in the joy.”
Zhou Shuang took the certificate and handed over a handful of red-wrapped fruit candies, then turned to Xu Ruyan, unable to hide his eagerness.
“Ruyan, from now on, we’re husband and wife.”
“Once you come back from the countryside, I’ll hold a proper wedding banquet and marry you properly. For now, bear with it—I promise I won’t treat you badly in the future.”
Xu Ruyan kept her head down the whole time, not bothering to acknowledge him.
She knew full well that the certificate in Zhou Shuang’s hand was fake—he had no intention of actually marrying her.
Xu Ruyan didn’t care. She also wanted to withdraw the dowry and keep it safe in her Spatial Dimension.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The two of them were using each other, but who was the oriole and who was the mantis or cicada—that remained to be seen.
Xu Ruyan smiled. “Thank you, Brother Zhou Shuang. Find some people to help carry my dowry back home. After I go to the countryside, I’ll need you to keep it safe for me.”
At this, Zhou Shuang’s eyes could no longer hide their greed—he was practically drooling. He quickly agreed. “No problem! I’ll find people to help you withdraw the dowry right away!”
When the two arrived at the bank,
Xu Ruyan suddenly turned around and extended her hand to Zhou Shuang, her fair, radiant face breaking into a brilliant smile. “Your wages—give them to me too.”
“What?” Zhou Shuang was stunned.
Xu Ruyan frowned, her tone cooling. “I said your wages.”
“When couples get married, the husband’s wages go to the wife for safekeeping.”
Xu Ruyan put on a disappointed look and let out a helpless sigh. “Brother Zhou Shuang, you’re not unwilling, are you?”
“If you don’t want to hand over your bankbook, then I won’t withdraw the dowry. Let’s go apply for a divorce right now!”
Zhou Shuang panicked instantly. “Ruyan, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course I’m willing!”
“It’s just that my bankbook is at home—I didn’t bring it with me. How about this: you withdraw the dowry first, and I’ll bring you the bankbook another day.”
“That won’t do.” Xu Ruyan crossed her arms, pursed her lips, and smiled. “I’m in no hurry to withdraw the dowry. The bank still has an hour before closing. If you don’t mind the trouble, go home and get the bankbook.”
“No bankbook, no dowry!”
Zhou Shuang hadn’t expected Xu Ruyan to pull this at the last moment.
He gritted his teeth in frustration, realizing for the first time that he’d underestimated this fool Xu Ruyan. His eyelid twitched, and he suppressed his anger, forcing a smile.
“Fine. Wait here—I’ll go home and get the bankbook.”
Zhou Shuang huffed and puffed as he got on his bicycle and rode off reluctantly.
It was summer in Jiangnan.
The afternoon sun was still scorching. Zhou Shuang went back and forth, drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through, looking as pathetic as a drowned dog.
Half an hour later.
He rode back, panting, and handed the bankbook to Xu Ruyan, forcing a smile through gritted teeth. “Satisfied now?”
Xu Ruyan glanced at it. The bankbook had three thousand yuan in it. Her eyes curved into crescents, and she smiled.
“Fine, I’ll take the money out and return the passbook to you. From now on, remember to hand over your salary on time.”
Zhou Shuang was furious inside, but for the sake of the dowry, he had no choice but to endure it!
He watched as Xu Ruyan withdrew all the money from his passbook, his heart aching as if it were bleeding.
Zhou Shuang said reluctantly, “Ruyan, let me help you count the dowry.”
“No need.”
Xu Ruyan put the three thousand yuan away safely without looking up: “I can check it myself. You go wait by the door to move the things.”
Zhou Shuang was choked up, growing even angrier inside. He gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Xu Ruyan, a murderous look in his eyes, wishing he could tear that bitch’s face apart!
But for the dowry.
He endured it again!
Xu Ruyan took her marriage certificate and successfully retrieved the dowry her mother had left her.
There were over a dozen boxes of various sizes, all packed full—and inside were actually little gold bars!
There were also scattered jewelry pieces, various gold, silver, and jade ornaments.
A rough estimate—converted to cash, it would come to at least two or three hundred thousand yuan.
Xu Ruyan couldn’t help but be startled.
Last time, Zhou Shuang had volunteered to help her count, and she hadn’t looked carefully.
Now that she saw it, she was truly shocked.
Xu Ruyan suppressed her excitement and went out to direct Zhou Shuang, having him help carry the boxes back home.
Zhou Shuang, thinking that thirty percent of this would be his money in the future, grinned greedily and worked with renewed vigor.
By the time the sun set.
Zhou Shuang rode a small three-wheeled cart, making over a dozen trips back and forth, before finally moving everything.
Xu Weiguo looked at the boxes piled up in the living room, exchanged a glance with Xu Yingying, and both couldn’t help but reveal excited smiles.
“Ruyan, you should store your dowry properly. Don’t lose it.”
“Of course.”
Xu Ruyan raised her hand and patted the boxes, pretending to be naive as she smiled: “How about we put all the boxes in Dad’s warehouse for safekeeping? That way I can rest easy.”