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Back to the 80s: A Marriage of Convenience
In Zhao Jin's eyes, a drunk Qi Zheng was quite honest, not acting crazy from the alcohol, and especially quiet.
Zhao Jin forgot where she had heard the saying that a person's character is revealed through their behavior when drunk.
Now that she had witnessed Qi Zheng's behavior firsthand, Zhao Jin couldn't help but feel even more assured about Qi Zheng's character.
She had always believed in Qi Zheng's integrity, and this additional reason only deepened the smile on Zhao Jin's lips, filling her heart with a warm flow of happiness.
Qi Zheng had previously only gone along with Xu Mei's suggestion to spend more time alone with Zhao Jin. He never expected to actually find himself lying in Zhao Jin's bed.
It was a fresh experience that made Qi Zheng's heart race, leaving him in a dazed state.
Even though he hadn't drunk much and didn't truly feel drunk, at that moment, Qi Zheng genuinely felt that he was indeed "drunk."
After getting him to lie down, Zhao Jin brought in a cup of warm water for Qi Zheng and also took a damp towel.
The Zhao family had many towels, but they were not all separated. However, as an unmarried girl, Zhao Jin definitely used her towel exclusively.
Now, though, there was an additional user for Zhao Jin's towel—Qi Zheng.
Gently wiping Qi Zheng's face, Zhao Jin's movements were tender, and her tone carried a hint of coaxing: "Just sleep for a while."
"Okay." Qi Zheng nodded in agreement with Zhao Jin's suggestion.
Zhao Jin smiled. After finishing wiping Qi Zheng's face, she planned to get up and let him have a good sleep.
However, just as Zhao Jin was about to rise, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Turning his head, he saw Qi Zheng with his eyes closed.
Just by observing Qi Zheng's actions, Zhao Jin could tell that at least in this moment, Qi Zheng was not asleep.
However, Zhao Jin did not pull away from Qi Zheng's hand. Instead, he chose to stay in the room, quietly accompanying Qi Zheng.
Zhao Jin's room had good lighting; even with the curtains drawn, the sunlight still streamed in, casting a warm glow that adorned the two people inside with a dizzying warmth.
Qian Minmin originally intended to come in and see if there was anything she could help with. However, upon peeking through the crack of the door, she immediately dismissed the idea of entering.
Gently closing Zhao Jin's door, Qian Minmin went to find Xu Mei and Sun Chun'er, wearing an ambiguous smile as she whispered to them.
Qi Zheng was sleeping soundly.
Ever since he confirmed that he would marry Zhao Jin, Qi Zheng had been tirelessly busy preparing the Bride Price. Even last night, he was still working overtime on the final chair. Now, however, he had finally gotten a good rest, perfectly concluding all his hard work.
In fact, without anyone telling her, Zhao Jin could guess how hard Qi Zheng had been working lately.
Zhao Jin was well aware of the situation of the Qi Family. The amount of Bride Price that Qi Zheng could provide was something that could only be achieved through his own relentless efforts; Zhao Jin couldn't think of any other shortcuts.
Although Zhao Jin had not witnessed Qi Zheng's carpentry skills in her previous life, she had experienced the prosperous life of the Qi Family after they became successful.
At that time, money was not an issue for Qi Zheng. It allowed Zhao Jin to stay in the best hospital rooms, enjoy various high-end delicacies, and even stay for free in a large villa after being discharged...
It wasn't until later that Zhao Jin heard from Qi Zheng himself that their family's situation had improved significantly; they were living well and no longer lacked money.
The greatest assurance for the well-being of the entire Qi Family was the business that Qi Zheng founded: Qishi Woodworks.
In the 1990s, Qishi Woodworks was a very famous brand. Due to its quality products at reasonable prices, it thrived in business. Its scope of operations was just as its name suggested; everything related to wooden furniture could be found at Qishi Woodworks.
As for Qi Zheng, he is indeed a carpenter by trade and has made his fortune from it.
No matter how glorious Qi Zheng may become in the future, right now he is just a poor boy, burdened with the weight of his family's responsibilities. He has to take care of his elders, support his younger siblings, and work hard to earn money for his paralyzed uncle's leg treatment...
Zhao Jin knows that Qi Zheng did not get married for a long time, even after he became wealthy; he never considered personal matters. The reason for this is likely that he was always delayed!
In the past, Zhao Jin was unaware that Qi Zheng had feelings for her. Now, she sincerely hopes to accompany Qi Zheng through this difficult time. Even if Qi Zheng cannot achieve the same level of success as in his previous life, Zhao Jin would not mind.
Life is what people make of it. As long as Qi Zheng is by her side, Zhao Jin is not afraid of any hardship. On the contrary, she finds joy in it and willingly embraces it.
Qi Zheng slept until four in the afternoon.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Zhao Jin leaning on the edge of the bed, and Qi Zheng felt as if the whole world had suddenly brightened.
Releasing the wrist of Zhao Jin that he had been holding onto, Qi Zheng sat up from the bed without waking her and got out of bed. Then, he gently picked up the sleeping Zhao Jin and placed her back on the bed.
The sunlight streaming into the room had diminished significantly and lost its warmth; Qi Zheng could tell without going outside that he had slept for quite a while.
Although he wanted to stay in the room with Zhao Jin, even if it was just to watch her peaceful sleeping face which filled him with happiness, he remembered that this was Zhao Jin's home and there were elders outside...
Qi Zheng did not delay any longer and walked out.
"Qi Zheng is awake! Where's that girl Jin? Still sleeping?" Since neither of them had come out for such a long time, Xu Mei had glanced in several times. Knowing there had been no movement inside meant both Qi Zheng and Zhao Jin were asleep, so she did not wake them.
"Hmm." Upon hearing Xu Mei's words, Qi Zheng realized that she must have seen the scene inside earlier. He felt a bit awkward, "It's my fault for letting Jin sit and sleep."
"It's fine, it's fine. You've worked so hard preparing the Bride Price for our Jin. It's only right that she gets to sit with you for a while." After Qi Zheng entered Zhao Jin's room, Xu Mei learned about the origins of the Bride Price from Qi Ze and immediately felt both satisfied and sympathetic towards Qi Zheng.
Qi Zheng did not expect Xu Mei to know about his preparations for Zhao Jin's Bride Price; however, upon reflection, since Qi Ze and Qi Rui were also present today, it wasn't too difficult to understand.
Preparing the Bride Price for Zhao Jin, Qi Zheng did not feel it was hard or tiring. At this moment, when he received Xu Mei's concern, he honestly expressed his thoughts: "Not hard."
Xu Mei immediately smiled, extremely satisfied with Qi Zheng as her son-in-law.
Knowing that Qi Zheng's words were sincere and not just polite formalities, Xu Mei felt both relieved and pained: "Stay for dinner tonight."
"Okay." Since he had already made up his mind to be a son-in-law of the Zhao Family, Qi Zheng did not hesitate to agree with Xu Mei.
Seeing that Qi Zheng truly did not treat her as an outsider, Xu Mei nodded repeatedly: "I originally wanted to let Zehe and Rui stay for dinner too. Unfortunately, the two kids refused, saying there were chores at home they needed to help with. I tried to keep them for a while but couldn't stop them, so I had to let them go."
If it were any other family, Xu Mei would not have easily allowed the Qi Family brothers to leave first. It was a rare visit, especially since it was their first time coming over; they should at least finish dinner before heading back.
However, the Qi Family was different. Xu Mei knew the situation of the Qi Family and understood that they genuinely needed Qi Ze and Qi Rui to return home to help, which is why she reluctantly let them go.
Of course, Xu Mei did not hold back on the gifts that Qi Ze and Qi Rui were required to bring back home; she did not allow the two brothers any excuses or refusals.
Thus, Qi Zheng was unaware that his two younger brothers were returning home loaded with gifts, which could be considered quite a harvest.
Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei were not people who held grudges. After seeing what the Qi Family prepared as the Bride Price for Zhao Jin, how could they just stand by?
The Bride Price from the Qi Family was accepted promptly. The gifts that the two brothers brought back were also given away by Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei without hesitation.
Qi Zheng did not understand what was going on and did not think much of it. He nodded and quietly took the broom from Xu Mei's hands, starting to clean up the yard.
Xu Mei did not engage in pleasantries with Qi Zheng; seeing that he wanted to help out, she let him be.
After all, it was just sweeping the floor; it wouldn't take much effort and wouldn't tire her new son-in-law. Thinking this way, Xu Mei smiled and turned around, planning to go to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Although it was still early, Xu Mei wanted to stew old hen soup for Qi Zheng, so she figured she should start it early in the pot.
Because Qi Zheng came to visit today, the Zhao family did not go out to work in the fields. At this moment, seeing Xu Mei smiling happily, Qian Minmin couldn't help but tease Xu Mei, "Mom, are you especially happy? Our new son-in-law is so filial and hardworking; you must feel like you've struck gold, right?"
"Only you have the insight!" Xu Mei shot a glare at Qian Minmin, her words scolding, but the smile on her face showed no signs of fading.
"Isn't that so? I could tell from early on that our new brother-in-law is a good son-in-law. Mom, don't forget, I've always been on Jin's side and couldn't be more satisfied with this new brother-in-law." Qian Minmin wasn't just saying this for show. Since returning from the county last time, she had been praising Qi Zheng at home, almost elevating him to the skies.
"Yes, yes, yes. Good brother-in-law, good son-in-law! You're absolutely right! I'm preparing to kill a chicken for soup; will you help me?" Xu Mei was naturally gentle and rarely had conflicts with Qian Minmin. Moreover, her good mood today made her even more amiable.
"Sure!" Qian Minmin was not one to slack off. Upon hearing Xu Mei's words, she immediately nodded in agreement.
Just then, her son Yaozong was playing at his sister-in-law's place, so Qian Minmin had some free time and wouldn't be tempted to slack off.
The two women entered the kitchen cheerfully while Qi Zheng diligently swept the yard.
When Zhao Guoqiang and his two sons walked out of the main room, this was the scene they encountered.
"Dad, our brother-in-law is really too hardworking," Zhao Zhenan said. Although he wasn't exactly lazy, he usually worked in the fields and never bothered with chores like sweeping the yard at home.
"You two should learn from him," Zhao Guoqiang said with a roll of his eyes at Zhao Zhenan's comment, which also included Zhao Zhenqi.
Zhao Zhenqi was a steady person. Even though he was dragged into this conversation, he merely nodded and increasingly looked favorably upon Qi Zheng as a brother-in-law.
Zhao Zhenan was more lively. As soon as he heard Zhao Guoqiang's remark, he raised his voice playfully: "Wow! Dad, our brother-in-law hasn't even officially joined the family yet, and you're already showing favoritism?"
"What do you mean 'joined'? Your sister has married out," Zhao Guoqiang corrected him helplessly upon hearing Zhao Zhenan's offhand comment.
"What difference does it make? We're all one family anyway," Zhao Zhenan replied deliberately misinterpreting his father's words. Even after Zhao Guoqiang corrected him, he waved his hand dismissively and pouted.
Zhao Zhenan maintained his indifferent stance on his firm statement while Zhao Guoqiang and Zhao Zhenqi shook their heads repeatedly.
Qi Zheng naturally heard Zhao Zhenan's shout, which was specifically meant for him!
“Dad, Big Brother, Second Brother.” Although he hadn't "entered" yet, Qi Zheng had already changed his way of addressing them.
“Hmm.” Zhao Guoqiang first responded to Qi Zheng's call and then instructed Zhao Zhenan, “Go sweep the yard.”
“Dad, you really don't want your son anymore now that you have a son-in-law...” Zhao Zhenan covered his chest with both hands, looking as if he had been greatly hurt. However, he obediently walked towards Qi Zheng, intending to take over the sweeping duty.
After all, it was Qi Zheng's first visit; it wouldn't be right for them to just let him sweep while they stood by and watched.
“It’s fine, I’m almost done.” Qi Zheng didn't hand the broom to Zhao Zhenan, instead speeding up his movements and quickly finishing sweeping the yard.
As a grown man, Zhao Zhenan didn't intend to argue with Qi Zheng. He spread his hands and turned to Zhao Guoqiang with an innocent shrug: “Dad, it's your son-in-law who is too diligent; don’t blame me for being lazy!”
“I think it’s because you’re too lazy,” Zhao Guoqiang snorted coldly but wasn't really angry with Zhao Zhenan.
Whether or not Zhao Zhenan was truly lazy was clearly not the most critical issue at the moment. What mattered more was that Qi Zheng had already become part of the Zhao Family in their eyes.
At least in Zhao Jin's view, this scene in her family's yard made her feel quite satisfied.
When Zhao Jingang had just woken up and found herself alone in the room, lying on the bed, she thought that Qi Zheng had already left the Zhao Family.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she opened the door, she saw Qi Zheng sweeping the yard. Hearing her dad and Second Brother bantering back and forth, inexplicably, Zhao Jin smiled and felt warm inside.
Not rushing to join in, Zhao Jin simply stood at her room's doorway, allowing Qi Zheng to blend into her family's atmosphere.
Nothing excited Zhao Jin more than seeing someone she liked being genuinely accepted by her family. Even when she initially had some feelings for Wu Feng, he wasn't particularly well-received by her dad and two brothers.
It wasn't that her dad and brothers were particularly discerning; rather, it was that Wu Feng, who always considered himself exceptional, looked down on everyone else despite whatever expression he wore on his face.
Zhao Guoqiang and his two sons are very honest people. Naturally, they could not be close to Wu Feng, let alone consider him family. At most, they maintained a superficial peace for Zhao Jin's sake, ensuring that there would be no arguments or conflicts when they sat at the same dining table.
This "peace" could only be sustained by Wu Feng treating Zhao Jin well.
In this regard, the Zhao Family has always been proactive. Regardless of their true feelings, they have consistently made an effort without slackening.
Unfortunately, Wu Feng disappointed them. In fact, he made them grind their teeth in resentment deep down.
When the fact that Zhao Jin and Wu Feng were not getting along reached the Zhao Family, it became even more impossible for Zhao Guoqiang and his sons to coexist peacefully with Wu Feng.
At that time, no matter how good Wu Feng appeared in terms of looks, family background, or other conditions, all of that was erased; none of his merits remained.
Now, seeing Qi Zheng from the preparation of the Bride Price to this moment and all that he has done, Zhao Jin finally realized just how far apart Wu Feng and Qi Zheng truly are.
Both being men, Wu Feng simply does not qualify to be anyone's son-in-law. In contrast, Qi Zheng can be regarded as a model and an example.
Of course, Zhao Jin understands even more clearly that all of Qi Zheng's efforts are due to her being the intermediary. It is because he wants to marry her that Qi Zheng appears in their yard, helping out without considering himself an outsider, even sweeping their yard.
Suppressing the rising bitterness and emotion in his chest, Zhao Jin took a deep breath, and his smile remained as radiant as ever.
"Hey, you’re up? I thought you’d sleep until dark! Hurry up and take Qi Zheng to wash your hands; I’ve cut some watermelon," Qian Minmin joked while calling for Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng to eat without delay.
At the sound of Qian Minmin's voice, Qi Zheng turned around to look over.
"Got it," Zhao Jin nodded without hesitation and walked over to Qi Zheng.
Indeed, daughters grow up quickly! However, Qi Zheng is quite good; I believe once Jin marries him, she will definitely have a good life.
With this thought in mind, Qian Minmin smiled as she carried the watermelon into the main room. She didn’t forget to call for Zhao Guoqiang and his two sons to join them in the main room for a meal.
Despite the absence of Qi Ze and Qi Rui at the dinner table, the enthusiasm of the Zhao Family remained undiminished. The dishes served were just as plentiful as at lunch, and the atmosphere was even livelier than before.
The reason for this was the return of Zhao Daxi's sister, Zhao Jin, who was already married.
Zhao Daxi, now twenty-three years old, had a daughter after marrying her husband Wang Jun and was currently pregnant with her second child.
If it weren't for her large belly making it inconvenient to move around, Zhao Daxi would have returned to her Maternal Family in the morning. However, she was glad she didn't come back earlier; otherwise, facing Grandfather Zhao and Zhao Guofu's family would have surely upset her.
Pregnant women should avoid emotional turmoil as much as possible; it is better to steer clear of such matters. If anything were to happen to Zhao Daxi's health due to anger, it would clearly be unwise.
Although she missed the events that unfolded earlier, Zhao Daxi still heard about them from Xu Mei and couldn't help but mutter a few words.
Zhao Daxi's personality resembled Xu Mei's—gentle and kind-hearted. Especially after becoming a mother, she had become even more mild-mannered.
However, even this gentle person felt her face flush with anger upon hearing about Grandfather Zhao's family's actions.
Zhao Daxi was not very pleased with Zhao Jin marrying into the Qi Family. After all, she only had one younger sister, and naturally, she didn't want her sister to suffer in the Qi Family.
Moreover, this marriage was originally meant for Zhao Ying'er. Now that Zhao Ying'er had backed out, it was unfairly placed on her sister Jin, which left Zhao Daxi feeling quite frustrated.
She complained to Wang Jun at home about this matter.
Given that Zhao Daxi was pregnant, Wang Jun was very accommodating and agreed with everything she said without question. Even when Zhao Daxi requested to secretly give Zhao Jin an extra hundred yuan, Wang Jun agreed without hesitation.
Wang Jun drove a large truck in the county and usually earned a decent income. He wasn't overly concerned about money; now that he eagerly awaited Zhao Daxi to give him a Fat Baby, he became even more generous with his words.
Today, he specifically accompanied Zhao Daxi to deliver money to Zhao Jin. It was simply because he wanted to.
However, this "he wanted to" was kept from his own mother. Otherwise, it would surely lead to an unavoidable family battle and mother-in-law versus daughter-in-law conflicts.
Fortunately, Wang Jun always kept his own money and never handed it over. So those potential threats, for now, need not be mentioned.
Zhao Jin anticipated that her sister would return, but she didn't expect her sister to secretly slip her some money.
Shaking her head, Zhao Jin instinctively wanted to push it back: "Sister, I don't want it."
"Are you silly? Just take it! Why refuse? Your sister isn't always subsidizing you; she wants to splurge a little while you're getting married. Don't deny her this chance!" Zhao Daxi forcefully stuffed the hundred yuan into Zhao Jin's pocket and then lowered her voice, "Your sister can still give your Brother-in-law a few orders while she's pregnant. Once the baby is born, she might not have that kind of power anymore."
As soon as Zhao Daxi said this, Zhao Jin immediately wanted to return the money to Zhao Daxi. Her sister and Brother-in-law had always had a good relationship; she couldn't let their bond become strained because of her.
"Alright, just be grateful for your unborn nephew! With him around, your sister can still hold her ground in front of your Brother-in-law. This hundred yuan is considered a gift from your nephew to you." Zhao Daxi pinched Zhao Jin's hand and earnestly advised, "Your sister can't help you much; I just hope you can be happy and content after marrying into the Qi Family, with everything going smoothly."
"Sister, I will." At this point, with Zhao Daxi being so generous, Zhao Jin truly had no more words of refusal. She nodded and quietly accepted her sister's goodwill.
"That's settled then. You've always been smarter than me; you'll definitely have a better life than I do. I just hope you marry well and keep in touch with me often; don't let our connection fade." Zhao Daxi was someone who valued family ties. From her parents to her sister, she wished they could always stay close and not drift apart after marriage.
"Yes, I understand. Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person, and neither is Qi Zheng." Regarding her relationship with her maternal family, Zhao Jin firmly believed that even after marrying into the Qi Family, Qi Zheng wouldn't oppose her closeness with them. Just looking at how Qi Zheng interacted with her family showed that clearly.
"You haven't even married yet, and you're already defending your brother-in-law?" Playfully patting Zhao Jin's hand, Zhao Daxi couldn't help but smile, "As long as you can keep your brother-in-law in check, I'll be at ease."
"I can handle it. It's precisely because Qi Zheng is honest that I'm willing to marry him. Sister, did you see the Bride Price he brought to our house today? It made everyone in the village envious. Your sister here really got to shine this time." Only in front of her family could Zhao Jin express her joy and excitement so freely, mixed with a hint of prideful boasting.
What she took pride in wasn't just how much Qi Zheng gave as a Bride Price, but his genuine feelings for her.
Zhao Jin knew very well that what mattered most to her didn't require much; her family understood that too and wouldn't misunderstand even a little.
"That's true. Your brother-in-law performed well today; it exceeded my expectations. Just based on how willing he was to make such a big show for you today shows he truly cares." Zhao Daxi indeed understood Zhao Jin's words seriously.
"Sister, I estimate that once you marry him, your relationship will definitely be fine; there's no need to worry about that. What I'm concerned about is the burden from your in-laws; you will surely have to endure some hardships." Time and again, Zhao Daxi felt sorry for her sister marrying into a family that might not be ideal, fearing that Zhao Jin's future life would be difficult.
"Aiya, sister, I’m speaking from the heart. Whether or not I suffer is just something others say. In the end, I know in my heart how it really is. It's like this: my in-law family is very wealthy, but they treat me poorly and make me feel like a servant. How can that make me happy? On the other hand, if I marry into the Qi Family and Qi Zheng treats me like a treasure, even if I have to eat nothing but husks for every meal, I would be more than willing." Zhao Jin expressed this heartfelt sentiment. The hardships and pains she had endured were deeply ingrained in her. What she cared about had become very different.
It was just a matter of being a little poor; to her, it truly didn’t matter.
"Still eating husks! If you really had to eat husks, our dad would be the first to disagree." Zhao Daxi tapped Zhao Jin on the head and couldn’t hide her worried advice. "Just keep it in your heart. If things are really tough, come to me. I may not be able to help much, but I will do my best to support you. Your brother-in-law seems decent enough; don’t worry about him not standing by my side."
"Sister, I know what I'm doing!" Thanks to Zhao Daxi's concern, Zhao Jin nodded repeatedly. Fearing that Zhao Daxi would continue to worry about her, she quickly changed the subject. "How have you been lately? Is the food still to your taste? Mom pickled some jars of sauerkraut for you; remember to take them back when you go home later."
"Mom is with me; don’t worry! Now we just have to wait three months to see what pops out." Zhao Daxi rubbed her belly. Although she didn’t favor boys over girls, deep down she still hoped this time would satisfy her in-law family and that she would give birth to a fat baby.
"What will pop out? It must be a chubby little one!" Zhao Jin knew what her sister was worried about. And on this matter, she could indeed reassure her sister. "Sister, having both a son and a daughter is the greatest blessing. You and Brother-in-law already have a beautiful and sensible daughter; the next one will definitely be a lively and adorable son! Don’t think too much about it; just wait for my nephew to be born."
Zhao Daxi was indeed that way; even if she were to have another daughter, she would still love her dearly. With that thought, whether or not the child was a fat baby seemed less concerning.
Moreover, she believed that with so many family members' expectations resting on her, the child in her womb would surely not disappoint everyone.
So she listened to Jin and didn’t think too much about it; all she needed to do was wait for the child to be born safely.
The bond between the sisters was strong; whenever they were together, there was always endless conversation. Now that Zhao Jin was about to get married, Zhao Daxi couldn’t help but give numerous reminders, leading their topics of discussion to increase.
When Qian Minmin came calling for dinner, she immediately joked about Zhao Daxi and Zhao Jin: "Come out quickly for dinner! One of you is a pregnant woman who can't go hungry, and the other is a bride-to-be whose husband is waiting outside! You two sisters are just fine staying holed up in here talking while ignoring everything outside?"
"Isn’t there Second Sister-in-law here? Second Sister-in-law is our support at Maternal Family; we can leave everything to her and rest easy." As Zhao Jin helped Zhao Daxi walk outside, she echoed Qian Minmin’s words.
"Tsk tsk. Look at our Sister-in-law’s sweet talk; it’s almost like a jar of honey! Who knows how much honey she's secretly smeared on; sweet enough that Second Sister-in-law might lose her teeth!" No one dislikes flattery, and Qian Minmin was no exception. Moreover, Zhao Jin’s compliments were more because of her closeness with Second Sister-in-law, which naturally made Qian Minmin very happy.
Zhao Daxi looked at Qian Minmin in surprise and then at Zhao Jin. She hadn’t been back for just a month; how had Second Sister-in-law and her sister become so close?
But it was a good thing. Although Second Sister-in-law could be sharp-tongued, she wasn’t a bad person. If her sister got closer to Second Sister-in-law, they would have another strong ally in the future and wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied by the in-law family without anyone to help them.
Clearly, the gentle Zhao Daxi is much more perceptive than Zhao Jin from her previous life. Her understanding of Qian Minmin as the Second Sister-in-law is also quite accurate.
If Zhao Jin from her previous life had this level of awareness and had built a good relationship with Qian Minmin early on, her life after marrying into the Wu Family would surely not have been so miserable.
In this life, although Zhao Jin accurately identifies Qian Minmin's role, it is not out of a desire to please her for future favors; rather, it stems from a sense of guilt.
However, it cannot be denied that Zhao Jin's lack of ulterior motives has made her increasingly likable to Qian Minmin. Just look at how, in the entire household, aside from her son Zhao Yaozong, Qian Minmin's favorite is Sister-in-law Zhao Jin!
Even Zhao Zhenan, the Second Brother of the Zhao Family, often finds himself ranked behind Zhao Jin, which truly becomes a source of amusement for the family.
"Come on, come on, it's time to eat." With the return of Zhao Daxi's family, the entire Zhao Guoqiang family gathered together without exception. Seeing such a scene brought immense joy to Zhao Guoqiang.
Inspired by the smiles on his children's faces, any unpleasantness he had with Grandfather Zhao and others was temporarily set aside and forgotten.
"Everyone eat more! There's still plenty in the kitchen; if it's not enough, just let me know." Xu Mei was also filled with happiness as she looked at her children and grandchildren sitting together in one room, their steps noticeably lighter.
With so many people around, the two dining tables and dozens of chairs sent by Qi Zheng became particularly useful. Even Brother-in-law Wang Jun gave Qi Zheng a thumbs up for his foresight.
"If Brother-in-law likes it, I can make another set of furniture and send it over to your house," Qi Zheng said. He was not the type to be overly sociable or mercenary. The offer was simply because Wang Jun was Zhao Jin's Brother-in-law and part of her family; there were no other ulterior motives.
Wang Jun often worked outside and was quite adept at socializing. He wouldn't outright refuse or engage in unnecessary pleasantries. He genuinely appreciated Qi Zheng's craftsmanship and indeed wanted a set for his own home, so he felt tempted.
In this situation, Wang Jun first glanced at Zhao Daxi to confirm that his wife had already given that hundred yuan to her sister. He then decided not to be polite with Qi Zheng and nodded in agreement: "That sounds great. But let's skip the bed and wardrobe; if you have time, just add a dining table and a few chairs for my home."
"Sure," Qi Zheng readily agreed without hesitation.
Even if it were an entire set of furniture, he would deliver it without batting an eye. Not to mention just a dining table and chairs; Qi Zheng had already begun calculating how to arrange his time in his mind.
At the very least, he wanted to deliver the dining table and chairs to his sister and Brother-in-law before Jin married into the Qi Family. Fortunately, there was still some wood at home that should be sufficient.
The word "good" directly elevated Qi Zheng's status in Wang Jun's eyes, quickly rising to the level of a trusted relative.
"Brother-in-law, this is our first time sitting at the same table, so we must have a drink." Wang Jun raised his wine glass and began to toast.
Qi Zheng nodded and raised his glass in response: "Brother-in-law, let's drink to that."
Qi Zheng genuinely downed his drink, clearly showing respect for Wang Jun as his brother-in-law. Wang Jun was pleased and repeatedly exclaimed "good," drinking without hesitation.
To be honest, Zhao Daxi was pregnant, and Wang Jun shouldn't have been drinking so much. However, the situation was different today, and Wang Jun was genuinely satisfied with Qi Zheng as his brother-in-law, so Zhao Daxi did not stop him and allowed Wang Jun to bond with Qi Zheng.
Although somewhat thick-skinned, Zhao Daxi believed that her husband Wang Jun was indeed more promising than Qi Zheng. If Qi Zheng could spend more time with Wang Jun in the future, he might also carve out a successful path. This way, Zhao Daxi wouldn't have to suffer alongside Qi Zheng; it would be a good thing.
Zhao Guoqiang's family shared the same sentiment.
As fellow sons-in-law, they watched as their eldest son-in-law Wang Jun's life became increasingly prosperous. If he could also uplift son-in-law Qi Zheng, it would undoubtedly be a good thing.
Thus, Zhao Guoqiang and his two sons did not interfere. They simply helped liven up the atmosphere at the right moments, hoping to facilitate a quicker familiarity between Wang Jun and Qi Zheng.
Zhao Jin immediately noticed everyone's good intentions. Although she felt it was unnecessary, she did not reject her family's kindness.
In her previous life, she had taken her family's care and love for granted and had never truly cherished it. But this time, she would not turn a blind eye or harm her loved ones again.
After an enthusiastic dinner, Qi Zheng stood up to take his leave.
Leaving with Qi Zheng were Zhao Daxi and her family.
When Qi Zheng arrived in the morning, he had borrowed a tractor from other villagers in the village. Naturally, it was to transport the bride price. However, by the time Qi Ze and Qi Rui left in the afternoon, they had already returned the tractor.
Tractors were still quite rare and valuable at that time. Because it was borrowed, they were even more cautious about it, fearing any damage. So after delivering the bride price, the first thing Qi Ze and Qi Rui did was return the tractor.
Therefore, at this moment, Qi Zheng undoubtedly had to walk back.
Zhao Daxi's family also walked back, so at least there was company.
However, the distance they traveled together was not long; most of the journey still had to be walked by Qi Zheng alone.
Zhao Jin originally wanted to see Qi Zheng off, even if it was just accompanying him for a short distance. However, as soon as this thought arose, she quickly dismissed it.
Zhao Jin had no doubt that if she really accompanied Qi Zheng for that distance, when she returned later, Qi Zheng would definitely walk her back to her doorstep. After that, Qi Zheng would still have to walk alone in the direction of his home.
A little reflection made her realize that her intention might cause unnecessary trouble for Qi Zheng, so Zhao Jin immediately became obedient and quiet.
At this moment, it was already getting late, and it was undoubtedly best to hurry back before it got dark. Zhao Jin's family did not keep anyone else and reminded Qi Zheng to be careful on the way, while also handing him a basket of homemade salted duck eggs.
Qi Zheng initially intended to refuse but was interrupted by Zhao Jin's bright smile. In the end, he could only leave with the basket of salted duck eggs in hand.
After sending off Qi Zheng, Zhao Jin finally felt completely at ease.
Although she had been busy preparing for her marriage before, it always felt a bit unreal. It wasn't until today when Qi Zheng came to their house that Zhao Jin finally felt reassured.
On the other side, the Qi Family was also lively.
Since the afternoon when Qi Ze and Qi Rui returned, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had been carefully inquiring about the Zhao Family's attitude.
In fact, after seeing the Zhao Family's return gift, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju felt relieved. However, they still needed to ask; if the Zhao Family felt that there was anything they did not do well enough, they would need to improve and pay attention in the future.
Facing Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju's inquiries, Qi Ze and Qi Rui did not hide anything and slowly recounted their experiences at the Zhao Family today.
Hearing that Zhao Jin's family was very warm towards the three brothers of the Qi Family, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju couldn't help but smile. As for Grandfather Zhao and Zhao Guofu's family's commotion, both Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju were kind-hearted people and chose not to comment.
When Qi Zheng returned, he was seen carrying a basket of salted duck eggs. Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju were both happy and a bit reproachful: "It's already afternoon, and Zehe Rui has brought back quite a few gifts. Why are you bringing back another basket of salted duck eggs? Your in-laws are really too generous; you should refuse some of it, Qi Zheng."
That said, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had no real intention of letting Qi Zheng return the basket of salted duck eggs to the Zhao Family. This was a gesture from the in-laws, and they would accept it and remember it. When the opportunity arose in the future, they would return the favor.
Relatives rely on these exchanges of goodwill to gradually build connections and become more familiar with each other.
It must be said that whether it was Zhao Jin's family or Qi Zheng's family, from this point on, they regarded each other as true relatives, as if they were family.
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