Jiang Xingyao didn’t bother responding to her. Over on the other side, Butler Gao had already begun reading out the list.
“One refrigerator, one large color television, one washing machine, a pair of gold lock pendants, a pair of gold phoenix hairpins, a pair of jade bracelets, two necklaces, two pairs of earrings, six sets of fashionable clothes, six sachets, and six pairs of shoes.
“In addition, 66,666 yuan in cash as the betrothal gift!”
Seeing the dazzling array of goods filling the courtyard, everyone watching was left completely speechless.
“My goodness! Didn’t they say Xingyao was marrying some poor country boy? With betrothal gifts like these, even our factory director’s family couldn’t afford them, could they?”
“What are you thinking? Even if our factory director didn’t eat or drink a single thing, he’d have to work for twenty years to earn that much. This has to be some tycoon who made a fortune after going into private business.”
“Yaoyao has suddenly gone from sparrow to phoenix! The Shen family really shot themselves in the foot. They must be regretting it so badly their guts are turning green.”
“No wonder people say your fate is determined by Heaven. Ten years in the east, ten years in the west. The Shen family’s good fortune has run out. Shen Jiaoli simply doesn’t have Yaoyao’s good luck!”
……
Shen Jiaoli was so anxious that she stamped her feet and grabbed Shen Yunfeng.
“Dad, didn’t you investigate them? Three generations of the Xie family have been poor farmers. How could they possibly afford such an astronomical betrothal gift?”
Forget about the more than sixty thousand yuan in cash. Their family didn’t even own a color television, refrigerator, or washing machine.
Shen Yunfeng was equally confused.
“I really did have someone investigate them. I was told that the Xie family was ostracized in their village and could barely even afford food. The entire family supposedly left the village to flee the famine years ago. How could they possibly have this much money?”
Liu Zhilan said firmly, “I know what happened. The Xie family must have been unable to survive, so they resorted to illegal activities like theft. None of this money or these goods were obtained legitimately.
“Just wait and see. Once Jiang Xingyao marries into that family, she’ll end up behind bars.”
Shen Jiaoli nodded. “It must be like that. And that Xie Jingsi must be hideously ugly, with a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, ugly as a pig. Otherwise, what decent family would give someone so much in betrothal gifts? They’re obviously using money to make up for his shortcomings.”
Shen Chaolei said, “Regardless of what’s going on, the marriage arrangement with the Xie family was with someone from our Shen family. These betrothal gifts belong to our family. Mom, Dad, Lili, Big Brother, Second Brother, hurry up and move all these things into our house.”
With this money and all these goods, not only would there be enough for the three brothers to marry wives, there would even be plenty left over. He could even quit his job and stay home to enjoy life.
Jiang Xingyao sneered.
“Shen Chaolei, go ahead and touch them if you dare. Every single one of these things and every penny was given to me by my husband’s family. Anyone who dares take even one item is committing theft. I’ll report it to the police right now!”
“What do you mean they’re yours? Without our Shen family, how could you have married into the Xie family? These betrothal gifts belong to our family! If you don’t believe me, call someone from the Xie family over and ask them. Let’s see if they dare break off their marriage arrangement with the Shen family!”
“Didn’t your Shen family break the engagement first?”
As a deep voice rang out, a man walked in through the main gate.
He had a cold expression and an air of aristocratic refinement. Not only was he exceptionally handsome, but every movement he made carried the imposing presence of someone accustomed to being in a position of power.
Shen Jiaoli’s heart began pounding wildly, and even her voice unconsciously became flattering.
“Who are you?”
Before he could answer, Jiang Xingyao stepped forward and slipped her arm through his.
“Husband, you’re finally here. These people from the Shen family are trying to steal the betrothal gifts you gave me.”
In fact, Xie Jingsi had already been there for a while. He had been sitting in the car outside the gate, listening to everything.
By now, he had a general understanding of what had happened.
“Don’t worry, wife. No one can take anything that belongs to our family. Whoever dares touch even one thing, I’ll send them to prison.”
Shen Jiaoli stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re Xie Jingsi? The man who registered his marriage with Jiang Xingyao?”
“Yes.”
Shen Jiaoli’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. She patted her chest and said eagerly, “Jingsi, you’ve got it wrong! I’m the Shen family’s daughter. I’m your wife. Jiang Xingyao is pretending to be me. Hurry up and divorce her, then marry me. These betrothal gifts should all belong to me too!”
With a man as handsome as Xie Jingsi and all this money and wealth, who would still care about the son of the steel mill director?
Xie Jingsi looked at her with cold disdain.
“You really have some nerve. Your Shen family broke its word and looked down on me because I came from the countryside and wasn’t worthy of a wealthy young lady from the city. So you found someone else to marry me in your place.
“Then, when you saw me sending over expensive betrothal gifts, you accused us of obtaining our money illegally. And now what? Now that you’ve seen I’m not bad-looking, you’re shamelessly throwing yourself at me and demanding to marry me?
“I’m sorry, but I’m a man who values loyalty and affection. When it comes to marriage, I’m absolutely faithful. As long as my wife doesn’t leave me, I’ll never abandon her. I had no idea you people had put my wife through so much.”
As Xie Jingsi spoke, he pulled a car key from his pocket.
“Wife, this is the Mercedes-Benz I just bought. It’s a gift for you, to make up for all the hurt you’ve suffered.”
Heaven knows he really had ordered the car only last month. It had just been shipped in from overseas yesterday. He’d simply chosen a white one because it suited a young woman better.
Jiang Xingyao accepted it without hesitation.
“Thank you, husband.”
Shen Jiaoli’s eyes widened.
“A car costs more than 200,000 yuan! Xie Jingsi, you’re just giving it to her like that?”
“Sorry. The car I gave my wife cost 600,000 yuan.”
Shen Jiaoli nearly stopped breathing. Her eyes reddened as she turned to Shen Yunfeng and cried, “Dad! The person who was engaged to the Xie family was clearly someone from our Shen family. Xie Jingsi should have been my husband too! Why should such an amazing opportunity go to Jiang Xingyao?
“Dad, I don’t care! Make Xie Jingsi divorce Jiang Xingyao and marry me… Waaaah…”
She had originally thought Jiang Xingyao was merely marrying some ugly, poor country bumpkin in her place.
But with one turn of events, that man had transformed into a handsome, wealthy young man.
How could she possibly accept that?
Jealousy spread through her entire body. She was practically going mad.
“Lili, don’t panic. Let me find out what’s going on first.”
Shen Yunfeng looked at Xie Jingsi.
“May I ask where your parents work? How can you possibly afford so much money?”