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Back to the 80s: A Marriage of Convenience
For the elders, choosing a partner has always been simple. They look at appearance, personality, character, and ability...
The Qi Zheng family is not in a good situation; no matter how good the external conditions are, it inevitably worries the Zhao family. However, through this incident, at least Sun Chun'er and Qian Minmin have changed their views on Qi Zheng.
After returning home, the two of them spared no effort in telling the rest of the Zhao family about their experiences during the day.
The Zhao family did not expect that Qi Zheng had such a network of connections. It wasn't that they loved taking advantage of others, but from this point, the Zhao family saw Qi Zheng's potential and envisioned a better future for Zhao Jin.
As long as Qi Zheng is not someone without responsibility, the Zhao family can rest assured about marrying Zhao Jin off. If Qi Zheng turns out to be truly capable, the Zhao family would be even more satisfied.
Since Qi Zheng seems decent enough, they will continue to actively prepare a dowry for Jin!
Unbeknownst to them, Zhao Jin and Sister-in-law had their own experiences today. Chen Cui also got up early and urged Grandma Zhao to visit the Qi family.
The Qi family also lives in Willow Leaf Village. However, unlike the Zhao family, the Qi family is located in Back Bay, which is about half an hour's walk from where the Zhao family is situated and is even more remote.
As soon as Chen Cui entered the Qi family's yard, she became even more determined that she absolutely could not let Zhao Ying'er marry into this family and suffer. After witnessing the food on the dining table at the Qi family, Chen Cui could only think that if she couldn't eat it herself, how could she force her daughter Ying'er to?
Grandma Zhao felt similarly. From sitting down to getting up to leave, she didn't even drink a sip of water from the Qi family, feeling that having such in-laws was not worth maintaining contact with for a lifetime.
After sending off the disdainful Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui, Mother Qi Zhou Ju couldn't help but look at Grandma Qi: "Mother, did I hear wrong? The Zhao family came to propose? For our eldest?"
Grandma Qi was also somewhat surprised. Especially since Grandma Zhao's target was not Fourth Uncle Zhao's daughter but rather Uncle Zhao's daughter. This made things quite intriguing.
"I'll have him go to Zhao Guoqiang's house later to confirm. If it really is their daughter, our family will have done a good deed." Although they are not from the same bay, they live in the same village; compared to Fourth Uncle Zhao's family, Grandma Qi clearly preferred to form a connection with Zhao Jin's family.
"Isn't that right? I've seen that girl Jin. She's beautiful and particularly charming. Although her personality is a bit spoiled, which girl isn't? At most, once she's married off, we just need to be more accommodating; it's nothing serious." Zhou Ju was speaking from her heart. Additionally, there was another reason: Qi Zheng was already twenty-two and could not delay any longer.
Zhou Ju has been thinking about helping Qi Zheng arrange a good marriage, but nothing has been settled yet. Now that there is Zhao Jin, and it is a marriage related to the Zhao Family, along with the involvement of Great-Grandfather Qi, it is likely that Qi Zheng will not refuse this time.
“It’s fine. Aunt Maternal Family just needs to be a bit spoiled. Didn’t we also act quite spoiled during those years when Yuehong was still around? If it weren’t for the old man passing away later, our family wouldn’t have ended up like this…” Grandma Qi’s voice grew softer, and she sighed lightly, waving her hand, “Forget it, let’s not talk about it. People need to look forward. Forget all those past events.”
Zhou Ju didn’t want to dwell on the elderly’s sad memories. Their family’s current situation is indeed far from what it used to be. However, life must go on; no matter how bad it gets, they cannot suffocate the living.
Thus, Zhou Ju did not follow Grandma Qi’s lead in reminiscing about the past but frowned with concern and said, “Both our families have agreed to this marriage, so it should go through. However, we need to carefully discuss the Bride Price. We cannot let Jin feel wronged before even entering the door and make the Zhao Family think we don’t value this marriage.”
“That’s for sure.” With the mention of the Bride Price, Grandma Qi lost her other thoughts and began to worry, “How about I go talk to her aunt…”
Grandma Qi’s “aunt” refers to her biological daughter, Qi Zheng’s aunt, Qi Xue.
Currently, the entire Qi Family isn’t exactly struggling. For instance, Qi Xue, who married while Great-Grandfather Qi was still alive, managed to secure a wealthy marriage. The man she married is the nephew of the village chief from Willow Leaf Village, and her husband’s family is quite well-off.
However, even though Qi Xue lives well, she never considers helping out her Maternal Family. According to her usual saying, she is a married daughter and water spilled out; she has no ties to the Qi Family.
When Qi Xue made this statement, she clearly forgot that when Great-Grandfather Qi was still alive, she often brought her family—both men and children—to the Qi Family, mooching off meals more frequently than anyone else and always taking something back to her husband’s family afterward.
Back then, whenever Qi Xue walked out of the Qi Family gate with big bags in hand and ran into the village Villagers, she would smile and say that she was helping her in-laws digest their food. Even after marrying, she still cared deeply for her Maternal Family, unwilling to part with them…
The real break in contact between Qi Xue and the Qi Family happened after the passing of Great-Grandfather Qi and subsequent changes within the family.
The Zhao Family is indeed ungrateful; however, this Qijia Family isn’t much better off either. Many villagers gossip during their tea breaks about how heartless and disloyal Qi Xue is.
Nevertheless, Qi Xue has enough thick skin that even when everyone points fingers at her, she can confidently respond: “I can’t even take care of my own family; how can I manage my Maternal Family?”
“Mom, no, let’s forget it. You know what kind of person her aunt is; you’re not unaware of that. Even if you really went over there yourself, her aunt definitely wouldn’t help. Instead of risking your health over this, I might as well go back to my Maternal Family and borrow some money,” Zhou Ju said through gritted teeth as she stomped her foot, planning to return to her unwelcoming relatives.
“Your side isn’t exactly well-off either. We haven’t even paid off our previous debts; how can we borrow again now?” Grandma Qi appreciates her daughter-in-law’s kindness and generosity. However, the Zhou family consists of poor relatives who aren’t doing well either. Continuously causing trouble for them makes it hard for Grandma Qi to face them.
If this continues, the Zhou family will soon be in a situation where they can't even afford to send their children to school.
If it really comes down to giving Qi Zheng a wife, Grandma Qi would feel guilty about putting the Zhou family in such a tight spot, forcing them to sell everything they have.
Shaking her head, Grandma Qi suddenly had a thought and tentatively asked, "How about we go see Second Brother's family?"
"Mother, Second Brother has already separated from us. It was agreed that we would not interfere with each other's lives..." If possible, Zhou Ju also wanted to ask Qi Family's Second Uncle for help.
But just like Qi Xue, Qi Ershu was also a hard-hearted person. When Great-Grandfather Qi was seriously ill, Qi Ershu was reluctant to spend any money; how could he be expected to help with Qi Zheng's wedding now?
Thus, the two of them sat and stood in the courtyard, frowning as they discussed and dismissed ideas without coming up with any solutions. Clearly, there were relatives who could help, but they were all unreliable. It was truly disheartening to think about.
"Grandma, Mom, take my school fees to help my brother marry Sister-in-law." Qi Yuehong had been quietly listening from the side for quite some time.
From the initial joy of learning that her brother was about to marry Sister-in-law to the worry that the family couldn't come up with a proper bride price... After thinking it over, Qi Yuehong felt she should be more understanding and not continue her education.
"Why is it always you involved in everything? Have you finished your homework? Have you reviewed your lessons? You're about to enter junior high; you need to focus on your studies and can't slack off, understand?" Zhou Ju didn't expect Qi Yuehong to overhear this matter and avoided discussing Qi Zheng's marriage while scolding her instead.
Since they had already made Qi Yuehong stop school for a year before, the family had formed an unspoken agreement: they would not let her stop studying again.
"But Mom, my brother..." Qi Yuehong knew about the family's difficulties. It was precisely because she understood that she couldn't pretend not to know and only think of herself. That would be too selfish.
"Your brother's matters are for your parents to handle; you don't need to worry about them. Do you not want to study right now? Then go out and chop some pigweed. Also, the cucumbers and tomatoes in the garden are almost ripe; go pick some for lunch." Not giving Qi Yuehong any more chances to argue, Zhou Ju began assigning her tasks.
Qi Yuehong's eyes turned slightly red. After a while, under Zhou Ju's impatient urging, she reluctantly took a basket and went out.
Watching Qi Yuehong's figure disappear outside the door, Zhou Ju put away her impatience. Sighing and shaking her head, she turned to Grandma Qi and exchanged a bitter smile, sharing a moment of mutual sighing.
It's all because they, as parents, lack ability that their daughter must always be anxious and worried...
When Qi Zheng returned home, he immediately knew that his engagement with Zhao Jin had been settled.
He couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical. However, compared to the visit from Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui, Zhao Jin's actions in the county today were what truly reassured him.
As for the Bride Price for Zhao Jin, Qi Zheng remained silent for a while before seriously stating, "I will take care of this matter."
Qi Zheng's words carried significant weight in the family. If it were about other matters, the Qijia Family would not doubt him. But when it came to the Bride Price and money, even if the Qijia Family wanted to feel at ease, it was still hard for them not to worry.
"Second Brother and Third Brother, don't go to the fields. Come with me to the county," Qi Zheng said under the watchful eyes of his family.
Suddenly being called out, Qi Ze and Qi Rui were a bit taken aback. It wasn't that they were unwilling to listen to their elder brother, but his simple statement seemed a bit too hasty.
Shouldn't he provide more details? Like what the three brothers were going to do in the county...
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