“How could that be! Of course you’re welcome!” Xu Cheng apologized profusely: “Come in, come in!”
Xu Cheng had thought Jiang Yao had discovered something and wanted to break off the engagement with Xu Changxia, which was why he hadn’t come along this morning.
So seeing Jiang Yao appear at his doorstep at this hour made him almost unable to believe his eyes.
Behind him, the Jiang family’s driver and adjutant followed, carrying large and small packages of return gifts.
“Look at you, coming all this way and bringing so many gifts!” Xu Cheng said awkwardly, rubbing his hands together.
“Just some small gifts for Auntie, and for you and Auntie-in-law,” Jiang Yao replied calmly. “My mother passed away early, so if there are any oversights in etiquette, please forgive me.”
Xu Cheng glanced back at the items, and his eyes instantly widened.
The cigarettes were local Blue West Lake brand, ten cartons in total. The liquor was Maotai, two cases of twelve bottles each. And those exquisitely packaged bird’s nests and peach gum—all were high-end goods only seen in locked display counters at department stores.
In the past, only during the New Year would Xu Cheng splurge on a bottle of Maotai to share a few drinks with his father-in-law, and a single bottle cost nearly half a month’s wages!
Not to mention those premium cigarettes! Not only did a carton sell for twenty or thirty yuan, but even with money, they were usually hard to come by. Such high-end, sought-after goods were difficult to buy even with cigarette ration coupons.
Xu Cheng usually only allowed himself to buy some Daqianmen cigarettes, which cost just over thirty cents a pack, and even those he smoked sparingly.
With just a rough estimate, the return gifts Jiang Yao brought were worth at least over a thousand yuan!
“Those candies are wedding sweets to share with the neighbors. Uncle, you can handle them as you see fit,” Jiang Yao gestured toward the several bags placed by the door.
Xu Cheng hurried over to take a closer look.
This look made him gasp in astonishment.
Inside were high-end imported candies wrapped in plastic shells—milk candies, fruit candies, and chocolates. Especially the chocolates, which poor families had never even tasted. A few pieces of chocolate alone were almost equivalent to a day’s wages for him!
Distributing such high-end wedding sweets would surely earn him immense face!
“Good, good, good!” Xu Cheng’s smile reached his eyes as he called out to Zhou Yun: “Xiao Yun! Come over quickly and share some with the old neighbors!”
Jiang Yao bringing so many valuable gifts only meant one thing: he truly cared about Xu Changxia.
Now he could rest easy! He had thought Jiang Yao might call off the engagement!
Let those neighbors who loved gossiping about Xu Changxia take a good look—this time, their faces would be thoroughly slapped!
Zhou Yun wasn’t blind. As she examined each of the return gifts, she gritted her teeth so hard they almost shattered, and her expression nearly faltered.
“Jiang Yao, didn’t you have urgent matters in the army? Go ahead and attend to them. We can handle these small matters ourselves!” She turned back and gave Jiang Yao an awkward smile.
“The matters are settled. The return visit is important, so I must at least stay for the midday return banquet,” Jiang Yao said, looking toward Xu Changxia standing in the main hall.
Just then, the morning sun shone over the wall into the small courtyard, spilling across the ground, so bright it was dazzling, outlining Jiang Yao’s figure with a golden halo.
Xu Changxia watched him standing there, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She had thought Jiang Yao wouldn’t come today. Because in her past life, their second meeting had been tomorrow—the originally scheduled day for the return visit.
His sudden appearance at this moment was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise.
His arrival proved that he believed in her, that he hadn’t listened to the nonsense from Jiang Chi and Jiang Yihe.
Actually, on her way back, she had already made up her mind to come clean. After all, she and Jiang Chi had been in a free relationship for nearly a year. No matter who it was, they would definitely feel uncomfortable about it.
Although she had been love-struck in her past life, she had still managed to get into Hangzhou City No. 1 High School from the town on her own merit. She knew what she should and shouldn’t do, and she had always guarded her final line of defense, never letting Jiang Chi touch her.
Who would have thought he would follow her here right after?
The moment their eyes met, she immediately pursed her lips into a smile at Jiang Yao, pulling Xu Fangfei’s sleeve as they walked together to the door.
She glanced at the gifts in front of her and asked him, “When did you go buy these?”
“Early in the morning, Sister-in-law! The officer went himself!” The adjutant beside him chuckled, eagerly answering first.
Jiang Yao glanced at the adjutant.
The adjutant instantly felt a chill run down his spine and wisely shut his mouth.
Xu Changxia hadn’t expected Jiang Yao to be so thoughtful. If she remembered correctly, in her past life, he hadn’t brought so many gifts.
Suddenly receiving such lavish gifts made her feel a bit overwhelmed by the favor.
She looked at Jiang Yao, her eyes and brows filled with smiles.
“Giving such good candy to those people, isn’t it a bit of a waste?” Zhou Yun muttered angrily beside her.
“Aunt saying that, are you belittling yourself or Uncle?” Jiang Yao immediately turned to look at Zhou Yun.
“I…” Zhou Yun was left speechless, gritting her teeth without saying another word.
Originally, she had wanted to make a big fuss about the Jiang family wanting to call off the engagement to cover up her own disgraceful actions. Who would have thought Jiang Yao would bring such expensive return gifts? Even a fool could tell there was no problem between the young couple.
Could it be… Jiang Yao didn’t even know that Jiang Chi had been in a relationship with Xu Changxia before?!
Her eyes lit up, and she dropped what she was holding, saying to Jiang Yao, “Jiang Yao, why didn’t you bring your parents and Jiang Chi along? Is Jiang Chi too embarrassed?”
“Xiao Yun!” Xu Cheng immediately shouted from the side to stop her.
“Did I say something wrong?” Zhou Yun was stunned for a moment, then put on a panicked expression.
“She’s just a housewife, didn’t go to school for many years and doesn’t know how to talk. Jiang Yao, don’t take it to heart.” Xu Cheng quickly changed the subject, “You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Xiaxia hasn’t eaten either. Why don’t you two go out and have something together?”
As he spoke, he hurriedly tried to pull him and Xu Changxia out the door.
Jiang Yao just stood quietly where he was, looking at Zhou Yun, not moving, not saying a word.
At that moment, the courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.