On the day they received their marriage certificate, the He family officially invited Lu Zhao and Li Haili to their home at noon to discuss the wedding arrangements.
As for the wedding banquet, Lu Zhao had no particular demands. This was his only biological daughter. Since she had chosen the path of “marrying far away into a family above her station,” he was already grateful just to be able to attend her wedding. What he truly cared about was the honor and benefits that might come in the future.
Since Lu Zhao had no objections, Li Haili had even fewer. After all, Lu Jinhuan wasn’t her biological daughter. Whether the wedding was grand or not had nothing to do with her.
The only thing she cared about was how much bride price the He family would offer.
When Lu Jinyun got married, the He family had given 660 yuan in bride price, and she had provided a 300-yuan dowry. Now that the “wretched girl” was getting married, she wasn’t asking for much just double that amount.
After all, her own daughter’s husband had been a perfectly normal man, so 660 yuan had already been considered a generous bride price. But this girl’s husband had a physical defect. Even if the amount was doubled, Li Haili still felt she was getting the short end of the deal.
Although Lu Jinhuan didn’t know exactly what Li Haili was thinking at that moment, she knew the woman well.
Before they entered the house, she stopped Li Haili and said quietly,
“Aunt Li, if you still want me to establish myself firmly in the He family, then don’t make any unreasonable demands that will embarrass everyone.
Otherwise, before I’ve even married into the family, the elders will already dislike me. If that happens, I won’t be able to help my sister anymore.”
Li Haili gritted her teeth.
“So I raised you all these years for nothing?”
Lu Jinhuan had no intention of arguing over who had actually raised her. There was no point. She knew better than anyone how greedy this woman was.
“Fine. Ask for whatever you want. But after today, we’ll consider all debts between us settled. Neither of us will owe the other anything.”
With that, she quickened her pace and ran over to He Congnan’s side.
Li Haili’s anger immediately subsided.
She wanted money, but she wasn’t stupid. A one-time payout could never compare to a steady stream of benefits.
She still had her son. He was the one she intended to rely on in the future.
Forget it.
The wretched girl still cared about Old Lu. Once she had secured her place in the He family, she could simply have Old Lu write a few more pitiful letters asking for financial help.
When the group entered the house, every member of the He family was present. Even Lu Jinyun, who was still observing the traditional postpartum confinement period after giving birth, had come downstairs.
The moment Lu Jinhuan stepped inside, her eyes met Lu Jinyun’s.
The instant she saw what her sister looked like now, her eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Good heavens!
How could giving birth change someone this much?
Lu Jinyun looked at least ten years older.
Her complexion was sallow, almost as if she’d turned yellow from eating too many carrots. The dark circles under her eyes looked like she’d been punched, and the freckles and blotches on her face were enough to give anyone goosebumps.
Am I going to end up looking like that too?
[Of course not! You have me, your system! After you give birth, you’ll look even prettier than you do now!]
“Really?”
[Absolutely! Once you successfully become pregnant, the system shop will gradually unlock beauty-enhancing pills and prenatal care pills. After you give birth, there’ll even be recovery pills. Go ahead and have as many babies as you like even eight babies in one pregnancy wouldn’t be a problem!]
The one Lu Jinhuan trusted most now was Qiuqiu.
Hearing its confident promise instantly put her mind at ease.
It had been about two and a half years since Lu Jinyun had last seen her younger sister.
One look was enough to ignite overwhelming jealousy inside her.
Did that little bitch swallow some kind of magical pill?
How did her skin become so fair and delicate?
Ever since they were children, Lu Jinyun had envied her sister’s beauty. She often fantasized that if only she had that face herself. If she looked like that, why would she ever need to dance? With a face like that, she could choose any good man she wanted.
Yet after more than two years apart, her sister had become even more beautiful.
Lu Jinhuan smiled faintly at her before looking away and respectfully greeting the elderly couple seated at the head of the room.
“Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Grandma.”
“Hello, Uncle He. Hello, Aunt He.”
“Good child, come over and sit!”
Grandma He, Huang Qiuci, had always loved beautiful people.
No wonder her daughter-in-law had said the girl was pretty.
“Pretty” wasn’t nearly enough to describe her.
She was absolutely radiant.
She was more than worthy of her outstanding eldest grandson.
Lu Jinhuan obediently walked over and took the seat beside the old lady.
He Qianlin was equally satisfied with this future daughter-in-law.
Her family background might be somewhat lacking, but her beauty more than made up for it.
Now he could let everyone who had been waiting to laugh at their family see for themselves.
His son might be older and have a physical defect…
But he had still married an eighteen-year-old beauty.
“My dear in-laws,” He Weiguo said with a smile, “who would’ve thought our families were so destined? Both of your daughters married both of my sons. From now on, we’ll be doubly related.”
Lu Zhao smiled awkwardly.
“That’s right. As parents, we all do what’s best for our children. My younger daughter has always been obedient and sensible. Now that she’s married into the He family and can be sisters-in-law with her own sister, I can finally feel at ease.”
After exchanging a few polite words, the conversation turned to the bride price and the wedding banquet.
The He family offered 880 yuan as the bride price, along with the traditional “Three Turns and One Sound” a bicycle, a sewing machine, a wristwatch, and a radio. They also promised to arrange a permanent government job for Lu Jinhuan.
Lu Zhao was very satisfied.
With a stable job, even if something unexpected ever happened to his son-in-law, his daughter would still have financial security.
Li Haili wanted to seize the opportunity to secure a job for her own daughter as well ideally getting Xiao Yun into the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe.
But the He family never gave her a chance to speak. They kept discussing the wedding arrangements, leaving her no opening to interrupt.
In the end, she decided to stay silent.
If she said the wrong thing on an occasion like this, she might not only fail to help her daughter, but actually make things worse.
The wedding banquet was set for two days later at the state-owned restaurant near the military residential compound.
There would be twelve banquet tables, with all of the He family’s relatives and friends invited.
After everything had been settled, Grandpa He invited Lu Zhao and Li Haili to stay for lunch.
Seeing that the serious business was over, Lu Jinyun finally spoke.
“Lu Jinhuan, come to my room. I need to talk to you.”
Just as Lu Jinhuan was about to go, He Congnan grabbed her hand and said coldly,
“What did you just call her?”
“Lu Jinhuan is my wife now. According to proper etiquette, you should address her as Eldest Sister-in-law.
And don’t give me that nonsense about her being your younger sister. This is the He family. Here, we follow the He family’s rules.
Do you understand?”
Jiang Yun had never cared much for Lu Jinyun to begin with.
The moment she heard her eldest son’s words, her expression turned stern.
“Congnan and Jinhuan are legally married now. From now on, you are not to call Jinhuan by her name, nor are you to disrespect your elder sister-in-law. If I hear it again, don’t blame me for speaking harshly.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yun shot Li Haili a meaningful glance filled with warning and displeasure.
Lu Jinyun’s face grew even paler.
Holding her daughter tightly in her arms, she lowered her head and quietly replied,
“I understand, Mom.”
Lu Jinhuan stood frozen.
For years, she had grown accustomed to swallowing every grievance in silence.
This was the first time in her life that she had experienced the satisfaction of finally holding her head high.
So… this is what it feels like to be cherished and protected?
He Congnan shot Lu Jinyun one last glare before taking Lu Jinhuan’s soft little hand and leading her toward the dining room.
Ever since they had confirmed their relationship, he had hardly let go of her hand whenever they were together.
“Don’t pay any attention to her, and don’t get too close to her. I can guess what she wants to say without even thinking.”
Lu Jinhuan’s eyes sparkled.
“Mhm! I’ll remember.”
He Congnan gently squeezed her hand.
“Good girl.”
During the past few days, they had spent nearly every day together.
More and more, he felt as though he hadn’t married a wife at all…
He felt as if he had adopted a daughter.
This little thing was simply too obedient so well-behaved that she melted his heart.
She completely satisfied both his protective instincts and his possessive desire to care for and cherish the woman he loved.