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Back to the 80s: A Cherished Marriage
"It's fine, it's fine. Our family doesn't have so many rules, there's no need to be too restrained," Grandma Qi spoke first, clearly supporting Zhao Jin.
Zhou Ju immediately nodded in agreement, gently adding, "Jin just married into our family, so she must be feeling out of place everywhere. It's not too late now, so don't worry too much."
With even a reason found for her late rising, it seemed that she had encountered a very kind mother-in-law? This was the first impression Zhou Ju left on Zhao Jin.
"I definitely won't get up late again." Although the two elders were quite lenient with her, Zhao Jin would not take advantage of their kindness. If she got up late, then she got up late; if she made a mistake, then she made a mistake—there was no excuse, and Zhao Jin never thought about denying it.
In a farm family, no one really likes a lazy daughter-in-law. Hearing Zhao Jin's statement, both Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju smiled with satisfaction.
Regardless of whether Zhao Jin could actually get up on time, they liked her attitude at this moment.
"Let's talk about tomorrow when it comes. Jin should wash up first and then prepare for breakfast." Besides Zhou Ju, Grandma Qi's first impression on Zhao Jin was solidified by this statement.
To be honest, although Zhao Jin had always claimed that she felt Qi Zheng was honest and that marrying him would allow her to live a stable life before coming to the Qi Family, she still had her worries and anxieties before truly interacting with the Qi Family.
What family doesn't have an exceptional relative? But what if this exceptional person was part of the Qi Zheng Family rather than just a relative of Qi Zheng?
What if Grandma Qi was biased like her own grandmother but favored someone other than Qi Zheng? And what if it was one of Qi Zheng's uncle's children? Wouldn't that stir up trouble in their lives?
What if Qi Zheng's mother wasn't easy to get along with and resembled those wicked mothers-in-law? Would she face unnecessary difficulties? Would Qi Zheng feel burdened and exhausted being caught in between?
All these questions troubled Zhao Jin's mind without any answers until now. However, at this moment, she felt completely untroubled.
Perhaps some people like to put on a facade, but Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju, as elders and members of the in-law family, really had no need to play such games with her. As the new daughter-in-law of the Qi Family, it was only natural for the mother-in-law to establish authority right away.
But Zhou Ju did not act that way; instead, she was very gentle with her. Even tolerating her late rising and smiling kindly at her...
Zhao Jin had a premonition that she was extremely lucky to have encountered a well-regarded in-law family that everyone hoped for.
Zhao Jin's premonition was not wrong. After finishing her morning routine and sitting down at the breakfast table, no one from the Qi Family mentioned her negligence and mistake of not preparing breakfast as the new daughter-in-law. After Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju took the initiative to serve her a few dishes, the atmosphere at the table became increasingly harmonious, with almost everyone wearing smiles or gentle expressions.
After the meal, Zhao Jin wanted to help wash the dishes but was stopped by Zhou Ju.
"You don't need to do that. Just go do what you need to do; Mom will take care of it." Zhou Ju's attitude was not because she was being distant with Zhao Jin as the new daughter-in-law. Rather, she had heard from Qi Ze and Qi Rui about how Zhao Jin did nothing at home after returning from the Zhao Family, even leaving the washing of dishes to her two sisters-in-law.
The Qi Family had no sisters-in-law to help Zhao Jin, but Zhou Ju believed she could still manage it herself and didn't want to trouble Zhao Jin. This was another form of care and affection from Zhou Ju towards Zhao Jin.
"Mom, I can do it too." Thinking that Zhou Ju was worried she wouldn't do well, Zhao Jin didn't immediately step away but tried to help clear the dishes.
"Sister-in-law, let me do it." Qi Yuehong also had a good impression of Zhao Jin. Seeing her mother's attitude, she realized that her mother intended to treat Zhao Jin with great care.
Qi Yuehong felt no jealousy about this; she simply cooperated with Zhou Ju in keeping Zhao Jin at a distance.
Zhao Jin felt a bit flustered and turned to Qi Zheng for help. What should she do if her mother-in-law and sister-in-law wouldn't give her a chance to show herself?
"Didn't you just bring the basin and kettle to Yuehong?" On the matter of not wanting Zhao Jin to do housework, Qi Zheng's stance was exactly the same as Zhou Ju's. Without making it obvious, he began to change the subject.
"Oh right, I'll go get them now." Trusting Qi Zheng completely, Zhao Jin didn't think much and immediately shifted her focus.
However, after running a couple of steps, Zhao Jin stopped again and called out, "Qi Zheng, can you help me get some kettles for my parents too? And some blankets; Grandma and Yuehong need new ones as well. Check on Qi Ze and Rui's room while you're at it."
Without a doubt, Zhao Jin was planning to distribute her dowry.
Qi Zheng nodded lightly and did not object.
However, when Zhou Ju and Grandma Qi heard this, they immediately shook their heads in refusal. Unfortunately, Zhao Jin moved quickly and ran off before they could say anything.
Qi Zheng followed behind Zhao Jin and spoke up before Zhou Ju and Grandma Qi could refuse: "This is Jin's heartfelt gesture; everyone should just accept it."
Strictly speaking, Qi Zheng hadn't spent much time with Zhao Jin. However, he believed that he understood her well enough.
Since he went to the Zhao Family to deliver the Bride Price, after Zhao Jin opened her heart and expressed her requests, Qi Zheng saw through Zhao Jin completely.
Zhao Jin is not the kind of girl who plays tricks or schemes. She believes that what is good is good, and what is bad is bad; when she feels wronged, she wants to speak out. Conversely, when she likes someone, her feelings are genuine and untainted.
Today, Zhao Jin's intention to share her dowry with them comes from the heart. It is not forced, nor is it insincere.
Zhao Jin's simple desire for happiness is to get along well with his family. Qi Zheng wants to protect Zhao Jin's kindness and hopes that she can continue to live carefree.
Qi Zheng's words carry weight in the Qi Family. Once he spoke up, Zhou Ju and Grandma Qi had no further objections, tacitly approving Zhao Jin's actions.
Subsequently, every member of the Qi Family received a gift from Zhao Jin. Even Uncle Qifeng, who was paralyzed and bedridden, was no exception.
Due to his condition, Qi Feng had never stepped outside. Whether it was the Qi Family's celebration yesterday or the meal they had together this morning, Qi Feng did not make an appearance.
Zhao Jin's gift was delivered by Qi Zheng along with her into Qi Feng's room.
Throughout the visit, Qi Feng maintained a stern expression and hardly exchanged a word with Zhao Jin. Within a few minutes, he "sent" Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng out of the room.
It was "sending," but merely a polite term. In reality, Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng were likely being expelled without any mercy or room for negotiation.
Even after leaving Qi Feng's room, Zhao Jin felt a sense of regret.
It wasn't because she couldn't bear Qi Feng's indifference; rather, it was because she knew that Qi Feng had been a soldier in battle.
A war hero ultimately reduced to this state, unable to leave his bed...
Just thinking about it made Zhao Jin inexplicably feel a lump in her throat.
This world is far from as beautiful as one might imagine. Fate can be so unfair at times, turning lives that should be smooth and straightforward into ones filled with obstacles and difficulties. She experienced this in her past life, and so did Qi Feng.
"Uncle doesn't dislike you; he's not intentionally targeting you," Qi Zheng said softly, noticing Zhao Jin's disappointment.
"I know. I just feel a bit heartbroken. Uncle must have been particularly impressive in the past. I've heard stories about him for a long time, but now..." Before seeing it with my own eyes, Zhao Jin didn't feel it as deeply. She only heard from the fellow villagers that Qi Feng had injured his leg and was recovering, and after expressing some sentiments, she let it go.
However, seeing Qi Feng lying in bed and truly feeling his pain made Zhao Jin sincerely want to help him. Even though what she could do was very little, she still wanted to try her best.
"Uncle has been consistently taking his medicine, and his leg is slowly getting better." This was the fundamental reason why the Qi Family was becoming increasingly poor.
Just to treat Qi Feng's leg had already exhausted all of the Qi Family's income. Moreover, they were constantly facing the threat of having to bear enormous debts.
"Really? That's great." While others viewed Qi Feng as a burden to the Qi Family, Zhao Jin did not think that way. Not only did she not think so, but she also seriously said to Qi Zheng, "Doesn't treating Uncle's leg cost a lot of money? You can take the money I have to buy medicine for Uncle."
Previously, when Zhao Jin wanted to give her money to Qi Zheng, he had refused. This time, when Zhao Jin wanted to buy medicine for Qi Feng, Qi Zheng opened his mouth but didn't know how to refuse for a moment.
Uncle's leg indeed needed medicine, and it had to be good and expensive medicine. The doctor said that if they wanted Uncle to stand up again one day, they couldn't stop his medication.
Just two days ago, the doctor suddenly suggested that they start the next phase of treatment, which required Uncle to combine acupuncture with his medication.
Acupuncture required money, and correspondingly, the medicine became better and more expensive. However, Qi Zheng hadn't anticipated this change and hadn't set aside enough money. After preparing for this Bride Price and wedding banquet, he truly had very little left...
If he had known earlier that Qi Feng's treatment phase would need an unexpected change, Qi Zheng would have definitely prepared in advance. But the doctor's suggestion came too suddenly for him; it felt like a heavy blow yet also gave him greater hope.
As long as there was recovery, even if it was slow progress, Qi Zheng would never delay Qi Feng's treatment.
Thus, when Zhao Jin brought up this matter again, Qi Zheng paused for a moment and did not refuse anymore: "Consider it a loan from me."
"Great! When you get rich in the future, remember to pay me back double." Because Qi Zheng didn't treat her as an outsider this time, Zhao Jin immediately felt happy. No matter what Qi Zheng did, she was willing. Then she even started joking with him.
Amused by Zhao Jin's antics, Qi Zheng patted her head and nodded in agreement: "Okay."
In the past, Zhao Jin didn't like being patted on the head by others. However, now that it was Qi Zheng doing it, she seemed to accept everything exceptionally easily. Moreover, she felt joyful without any hint of reluctance.
Qi Feng never had a habit of eavesdropping. However, Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng's conversation happened right outside his room, and he indeed had good hearing. Helplessly but not intentionally, he overheard their discussion.
For Qi Feng, injuring his leg was a painful experience. However, what hurt even more was the burden he placed on his family, causing Qi Zheng and Qi Ze to reach marriageable age without getting married. Additionally, Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui constantly worried about tuition fees, always contemplating dropping out of school.
If Qi Yuehong and Qi Rui truly disliked studying, Qi Feng might not feel so guilty. But he knew very well that both of them enjoyed their studies; the siblings performed excellently in school and brought home certificates after every exam.
Clearly, the eldest brother's family lacked no labor force. Neither the eldest brother nor his two younger brothers, Qi Zheng and Qi Ze, were lazy. Yet despite their hard work throughout the year, they could never save any money.
It wasn't that the eldest brother and his sons weren't trying hard enough; it was because of Qi Feng, who was a constant drain on their finances!
Qi Feng had once firmly resisted treatment. If his leg was disabled, then so be it; there was no need to add unnecessary burdens to his brother's family.
However, at that time, the underage Qi Zheng resolutely gave up his studies and stood before his bed with a fierce determination, speaking to him.
Qi Zheng insisted that only if Qi Feng's leg healed and he could stand again could he truly help the Qi family out of their predicament. Lying in bed as a disabled person would only allow him to watch his family suffer.
Qi Zheng did not want to see his family suffer because of him; he needed to recover as soon as possible. Only then would he not be forever powerless to help them.
Undeniably, Qi Zheng gave Qi Feng a belief—a burning belief—that urged him not to give up, to strive, and to be strong.
In fact, Qi Feng really liked Zhao Jin, his niece-in-law.
If it weren't for Zhao Jin's arrival, the shackles in Qi Feng's heart would have tightened even more. But now, because Zhao Jin married Qi Zheng, Qi Feng could finally breathe a little easier.
At least the eldest brother's family had not been dragged down to the point of losing their next generation…
As for why he had maintained a stern face when Zhao Jin entered earlier, it was because Qi Feng was too nervous.
He worried that Zhao Jin would harbor grievances against the Qi family upon seeing him as an insurmountable burden and might even argue or clash with Qi Zheng.
Due to his anxiety, Qi Feng couldn't muster a smile or calmly express his goodwill.
In such circumstances, even if he allowed Zhao Jin to stay in the room, it would only make him more tense.
Excess is as bad as deficiency. If there were to be any mishap, and he performed poorly or spoke harshly, leading to misunderstandings with Zhao Jin, it would only frustrate Qi Feng even more.
So in the end, Qi Feng maintained a stern expression and "sent off" Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng.
However, Qi Feng did not expect to overhear such a conversation after Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng left.
Feeling that Zhao Jin's concern was completely genuine, Qi Feng took a deep breath and clenched his teeth tightly.
He could not continue like this, nor would he. He had to stand up so as not to burden his family any longer!
Before Zhao Jin handed over the "large sum" of four hundred yuan as her dowry to Qi Zheng, Zhou Ju called Zhao Jin into her room.
Thinking that Zhou Ju must have something important to privately discuss with her, Zhao Jin followed in apprehensively.
Zhou Ju warmly pulled Zhao Jin to sit by the bed and took out a folded handkerchief, layer by layer unfolding it to reveal the money inside.
"This is the gift money we received from the banquet yesterday. Mom added a little more; it totals thirty yuan. Take it all," Zhou Ju said. The Qi family was indeed struggling financially, but Zhou Ju was not selfish. She had reported this gift money to Grandma Qi and still believed it was better to give it to Zhao Jin.
"Mom, why are you giving me this money? You should keep it for yourself. You know better than I do that our family doesn’t need to spend money," Zhao Jin shook her head and immediately hid her hands behind her back.
Compared to the dowry given by her maternal family, thirty yuan was truly not much. However, behind this amount lay the Qi family's genuine feelings for her.
Yet… the kinder Zhou Ju was, the less comfortable Zhao Jin felt accepting it.
Zhao Jin understood very well what the situation was like in the Qi family. Before marrying in, she had prepared herself for hardship. But the Qi family treated her genuinely well; they didn’t let her cook breakfast or even wash dishes.
Moreover, the clothes she changed out of yesterday were taken by Qi Zheng early in the morning to be washed. The Qi family must have noticed but did not scold her or say anything unpleasant.
In just half a day, Zhao Jin’s impression of the Qi family had improved significantly. In fact, she had already begun to feel a sense of belonging.
This would be her home in the future, and the Qi family would become her family. She wanted to stay by Qi Zheng's side and also wanted to help protect their shared home and family together with him.
So, Zhao Jin absolutely would not accept the thirty dollars, no matter what.
"Jin, Mom knows that you feel wronged after marrying into our Qi Family. Our family's situation isn't great, but I'm not the kind of mother-in-law who keeps score. What belongs to you is yours; take it and don't be polite with me." Zhao Jin's actions brought genuine comfort to Zhou Ju.
It was precisely because of Zhao Jin's actions that Zhou Ju became even more insistent. While speaking, she tried to pull Zhao Jin's hand over and force the money into her hands.
"Mom, Mom, this really won't do." Seeing through Zhou Ju's intentions, Zhao Jin stood up and stepped back three paces. "I just got on good terms with Qi Zheng and used my dowry money to buy medicine for Uncle. If you give me money now, Qi Zheng will think differently of me! Please don't harm me; I finally managed to get Qi Zheng to use my money."
Zhao Jin's earlier words were fine, but the last accusation about Zhou Ju harming her truly left Zhou Ju both amused and exasperated.
"What nonsense is that? Your dowry money is for you to keep; how can you give it to Qi Zheng? Qi Zheng is just being unreasonable; I'll talk to him later." Zhou Ju was not just saying this for show. How could a new bride have her dowry taken away by her in-laws just two days after marriage?
The items that Zhao Jin brought as dowry were actually not something they should take. However, just as Qi Zheng said, it was a gesture of goodwill, and they couldn't refuse.
In any case, Zhou Ju firmly believed that their family should not take advantage of Zhao Jin. Especially when it came to money, they should be even more careful.
"Mom, I'm begging you, please don't." With her hands clasped together and blinking at Zhou Ju, Zhao Jin softened her tone and pleaded, "I really had a hard time getting Qi Zheng to agree. If it weren't for our uncle's sake, Qi Zheng definitely wouldn't have used my money. No matter what, I'm part of the Qijia Family now; if you keep drawing a line between us, I'll be upset."
Hearing Zhao Jin say this, Zhou Ju shook her head and couldn't help but sigh deeply: "You!"
"Mom, although I'm not particularly virtuous or skilled at work, I genuinely want to be a good and filial daughter-in-law. Well then, I won't bother you anymore; I'll go out and see if there's anything I can do." Seeing that Zhou Ju was swayed by her words, Zhao Jin smiled brightly and turned to leave quickly, fearing that Zhou Ju would call her back to give her money again.
Watching Zhao Jin act as if she were trying to escape made Zhou Ju smile even more.
She had heard that daughters from the Zhao Family were quite spoiled; she initially thought that a spoiled girl would be hard to deal with. She was also worried about Qi Zheng's cold demeanor and feared he wouldn't be able to win over Zhao Jin. However, after meeting Zhao Jin in person, Zhou Ju felt no worries at all.
As for household chores, since Qi Zheng had given prior notice about his matters, Zhou Ju had no intention of strictly demanding anything from Zhao Jin.
Zhou Ju did not expect that Zhao Jin would be such an understanding girl.
It wasn't about whether she could do things well; what truly impressed Zhou Ju was the genuine willingness in Zhao Jin's heart to contribute.
Originally, I was worried that Qi Zheng's constant protection of Zhao Jin might not be a good thing. But now, there is nothing to worry about.
As soon as Zhao Jin stepped outside, she saw Qi Zheng and ran over without a second thought. Grabbing Qi Zheng's hand with lingering fear, she patted her chest and whispered, "Mom just tried to give me money, it scared me to death."
Qi Zheng looked surprised at Zhou Ju's house, confused, "What money?"
"It's the money collected from yesterday's wedding banquet. Mother even added some to make it a total of thirty dollars for me. Luckily, I ran fast; otherwise, she would have forced it into my hands." Zhao Jin let out a long sigh of relief, her expression one of having narrowly escaped a disaster, which was quite amusing to see.
Qi Zheng did not expect his mother to give Zhao Jin the gift money collected from the wedding banquet.
It wasn't that he was upset with his mother; rather, he thought that since Zhao Jin had just married into the family for less than two days, it would take time for his mother to genuinely accept Zhao Jin as part of the family. At the very least, there should be an adjustment period.
However, the current situation clearly indicated that no adjustment was needed; his mother had already accepted Zhao Jin as her newlywed daughter-in-law.
Thinking of this, Qi Zheng looked at Zhao Jin with more warmth in his eyes.
She truly was the girl he liked; no matter where she went, she was charming enough to bring joy and surprises to those around her.
"Next time Mom gives you money, just accept it. There’s no need to feel burdened; we are all family and don’t need to be so clear-cut about things." Qi Zheng could see that compared to the Qijia Family, Zhao Jin was the one who needed to adapt more.
Up until now, the only person Zhao Jin truly believed in and relied on within the Qijia Family was him alone.
Undeniably, Qi Zheng was pleased to see Zhao Jin getting close to him. However, at the same time, he hoped that Zhao Jin could quickly integrate into the Qi Family and live comfortably and happily instead of being cautious or even anxious.
"I don’t want to," Zhao Jin vigorously shook her head and muttered with a hint of grievance, "We are all family now; why does it have to be about giving me money? I won’t manage money better than Mother."
Qi Zheng raised an eyebrow and found himself momentarily speechless.
Well, she did have a point. This matter could be dropped; he wouldn’t force it anymore.
Completely unaware of Qi Zheng's thoughts, Zhao Jin then brought up another important matter: "Qi Zheng, you won’t believe it; just now I was called into the house by Mother and thought I was going to get scolded."
"You didn't do anything wrong, so why are you afraid of being scolded?" Qi Zheng did not directly comfort Zhao Jin; his mother was a gentle person who rarely scolded anyone, so there was no need for Zhao Jin to overthink or be nervous.
He understood very well that the most difficult relationship in the world is that between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. To him, his mother was a kind elder. However, it might not be the same for Zhao Jin.
Therefore, Zhao Jin's worries were completely normal. Qi Zheng did not think that Zhao Jin was overreacting, nor would he arbitrarily try to change her established perceptions.
Qi Zheng's comfort came from a different level and perspective. It seemed casual, yet it was thoughtful.
"Who hasn't done anything wrong?" Zhao Jin immediately widened her eyes, pointing angrily at the clothes hanging on the line. "I had to wash those! Look at what you've done! Who does that? My mother isn't angry with me because she's generous and doesn't hold this against someone of my generation. Try having another mother-in-law and see if your wife gets scolded!"
Despite Zhao Jin's indignation, Qi Zheng couldn't help but smile. He didn't argue with her and readily admitted his mistake: "Yeah, it was my fault."
"It definitely was your fault. Look at which man washes clothes for his wife? There are even my intimate garments in there! You..." Zhao Jin started but felt her face flush first.
She recalled how shocked and horrified she was when she accidentally saw those familiar clothes on the line after coming out of the dining room.
If she hadn't had some sense, she would have confronted Qi Zheng right away.
How embarrassing! She wondered if anyone saw Qi Zheng while he was washing them. Anyway, after Qi Zheng washed them and hung them up, the entire Qijia Family must have known about it.
Zhao Jin considered herself someone who took responsibility for her actions. She didn't try to come up with excuses or reasons to brush off the matter, like saying she got up last night to wash them...
When Zhou Ju called her into the house, Zhao Jin had already prepared herself to accept criticism and guidance.
However, she did not expect that Zhou Ju was genuinely kind to her and showed no signs of wanting to scold her; she appeared just like a loving mother-in-law. The Qijia Family's tolerance made Zhao Jin feel somewhat guilty.
"I'll avoid them next time so they won't know," Qi Zheng truly hadn't expected to run into Grandma Qi. He usually woke up early enough that his family wouldn't notice.
It seemed that Grandma Qi had indeed woken up a bit too early today!
"Hmph! Just think about next time! There won't be another chance like this for you," Zhao Jin's complaint wasn't loud; she even gave Qi Zheng a roll of her eyes before turning back into the house.
Seeing the lively Zhao Jin, Qi Zheng couldn't help but feel fond of her. Since there was no need to work in the fields today and most of the household chores were done, he decided to follow Zhao Jin back to the room.
From the moment Zhao Jin came out of Zhou Ju's room, Qi Ze, Qi Yuehong, and Qi Rui had their eyes fixed on her.
It was their mother's first time alone with Sister-in-law; would she give her a warning or something?
Although they believed their mother was very tolerant and kind, it seemed that Sister-in-law had overslept on her second day and even asked their eldest brother to help with the laundry... It appeared that she could easily fall under the rules set by their mother.
Having heard many rumors in the village about conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, the three siblings of the Qi family couldn't help but worry. Zhou Ju and Zhao Jin were not exempt from this pattern, as their interactions were not entirely harmonious.
In fact, Sister-in-law was quite nice. They all liked her and naturally didn't want to see any unpleasantness at home.
When they first saw Zhao Jin rush out of Zhou Ju's room, the three siblings' hearts sank; they were genuinely frightened.
Even though there was no anger or rage on Zhao Jin's face—she seemed more like she was fleeing in panic—their suspicions only grew stronger. Did that mean Sister-in-law really had rules imposed on her?
Just as the Qi siblings were filled with concern, Zhao Jin began to confide in Qi Zheng, spilling everything like beans. The three standing not far away could hear bits and pieces of their conversation.
Afterward, the Qi siblings all breathed a sigh of relief, letting go of their worries.
It turned out they had overthought things!
As long as there were no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, even if things were a bit different from what they imagined, the three siblings felt happy and relieved.
As for their eldest brother and Sister-in-law's temperaments towards each other, they weren't worried at all.
Just looking at how their eldest brother indulged and spoiled Sister-in-law made them envious. Any other emotions like worry or anxiety simply didn't arise.
Their eldest brother was never one to be gentle with girls; he rarely spoke more than a word to outsiders. Even with his siblings, he seldom showed a smile and usually maintained a stern demeanor that commanded respect.
But in front of Sister-in-law, he became an entirely different person. He smiled, coaxed her, and showered her with sweet words. This not only surprised them but also eased all their tension.
Despite it being only the second time, the three siblings had every reason to believe that the sweet relationship between Qi Zheng and Zhao Jin, like being immersed in a jar of honey, would continue indefinitely.
Therefore, they were not worried about Sister-in-law getting into a mood with their elder brother. What they feared was Sister-in-law ignoring him completely and treating him indifferently.
With this thought in mind, the three siblings took one last glance at Qi Zheng, who was happily following Zhao Jin, and silently shifted their gaze away.
If their elder brother continued like this, it would tarnish his grand image in their hearts! But what could they do? They didn’t feel the slightest bit of dislike; instead, they were filled with anticipation.
Zhao Jin was not really throwing a tantrum at Qi Zheng. Once she firmly expressed her stance on what needed to be said, her anger dissipated, and she began to get busy.
After distributing her dowry among the Qi family members, Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng's room felt much more spacious. As Zhao Jin tidied up and took stock, she was quite pleased with the outcome.
“Qi Zheng, does our grandmother know how to use a sewing machine?” The biggest challenge that lay before Zhao Jin at the end of her tidying was this brand-new dowry item.
To be honest, Zhao Jin hadn’t expected her family to specifically buy her a sewing machine as part of her dowry. Initially, she had refused it, feeling that she had already taken too much from her maternal family and owed them a lot.
It was only when her mother mentioned that this sewing machine was something Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law had discussed together with her elder brother and Second Brother before approaching her parents that she understood. The whole family had come together for a serious discussion before making this decision behind her back.
The Zhao family didn’t care about how much the sewing machine cost. What mattered more to them was that Zhao Jin’s life after marrying into the Qi family wouldn’t be too difficult. They couldn’t bear to see Zhao Jin suffer, which is why they wanted to help make her life a little easier.
At that moment, Zhao Jin was moved to tears and cried uncontrollably while hugging Xu Mei. Afterward, she took the initiative to thank Zhao Zhenqi and others one by one face-to-face.
Especially towards Sun Chun'er and Qian Minmin, these two Sister-in-laws; thinking about the harm she had caused them in her previous life while seeing their unwavering kindness towards her made Zhao Jin feel both guilty and distressed. However, all she could do now was owe them for their kindness. In the future, she would repay them double for all the goodwill.
“Grandma can use it. Mom should know a little too, but Grandma is definitely more skilled,” Qi Zheng replied after thinking for a moment.
The best days for the Qi family were when Great-Grandfather Qi was still alive. Grandma Qi’s skills were truly remarkable; she excelled in everything from those early years.
“I see... So should I go find Grandma to ask for guidance or just move the sewing machine to Grandma's room for her to use?” Zhao Jin was quite aware of her own limitations. If it were up to her to learn, she certainly wouldn’t be as quick as Grandma Qi using it directly.
Moreover, Zhao Jin originally intended to move the sewing machine out so everyone could share it together.
"Why don't you let Grandma teach you? Don't move out again, so Grandma won't feel uncomfortable." Zhao Jin's dowry was considerable, and she wasn't upset about it. Qi Zheng could completely empathize with his family's feelings. When it came to the valuable sewing machine, Qi Zheng immediately made a decision for Zhao Jin.
"But if I learn it now, I think I'll be really slow, right? It would be easier for Grandma and Mother to just use it directly! It's so simple and saves trouble!" Zhao Jin had no intention of hiding the sewing machine for her own use, which is why her stance was completely different from Qi Zheng's.
"That's fine. My wife is so smart; she'll definitely learn quickly. It will still be simple and save trouble." Without explaining the current feelings of the Qijia Family in detail to Zhao Jin, Qi Zheng confidently praised her.
Zhao Jin's face instantly turned red. She touched the sewing machine in front of her and said, "I'm not that smart..."
"Don't worry, I believe in you." In Qi Zheng's eyes, Zhao Jin was the best no matter what. Even if Zhao Jin couldn't learn to use the sewing machine, it wouldn't affect her wonderful position in Qi Zheng's heart at all.
"Then... okay! I'll learn." For the sake of Qi Zheng's trust, Zhao Jin took a deep breath and seriously planned to give it her all.
She didn't want to disappoint Qi Zheng and wanted to show a better version of herself in front of him. So, she decided to take her first step by starting to learn sewing!
Zhao Jin went ahead and found Grandma Qi, expressing her desire to learn sewing from her.
Grandma Qi naturally wouldn't refuse; she nodded with a loving smile.
With Grandma Qi's strong support, Zhao Jin also invited Qi Yuehong to join her in learning.
Grandma Qi was genuinely prepared to teach Zhao Jin. Seeing that Zhao Jin had brought along Qi Yuehong to learn together, it further strengthened Grandma Qi's determination to teach Zhao Jin everything she knew.
Grandma Qi taught very earnestly, and both Zhao Jin and Qi Yuehong studied hard. Since the sewing machine belonged to their family, they took turns using it, and under Grandma Qi's careful guidance, their progress was indeed quite good.
"Oh no, it's time to make lunch." The time spent learning always passed particularly quickly. By the time Zhao Jin realized it was almost eleven o'clock and intended to get up, she was surprised.
"That's fine. Jin, take your time learning with Grandma; Mom will make lunch." Just then, Zhou Ju walked in and heard Zhao Jin's voice, immediately stopping her from getting up.
"How can that be? I didn't make breakfast; I have to make lunch!" Zhao Jin shook her head and directly gave up her seat for Qi Yuehong. "This way Grandma can teach Yuehong first without delaying anything."
"No need, I..." Qi Yuehong had been just tagging along with Zhao Jin to learn sewing. At this moment, seeing that Zhao Jin wanted to go make lunch while leaving her alone here to study made her feel a bit anxious.
"Alright, it's settled. Yuehong, you help Sister-in-law learn first. Later, when Sister-in-law encounters difficulties, it will be all up to you to teach her." Knowing that Qi Yuehong felt embarrassed, Zhao Jin forcibly pressed Qi Yuehong down into her seat and thoughtfully provided a very grand reason for her.
Qi Yuehong waved her hands in a flustered manner but couldn't resist Zhao Jin's insistence. In the end, she could only comply with Zhao Jin's wishes and obediently sat there to learn.
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