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Back to the 80s: A Beloved Marriage
Chen Cui and Zhao Ying'er, mother and daughter, were not on Zhao Jin's radar, nor did she intend to pay them any attention.
Unimportant people do not need to be concerned about. She only needed to care about Qi Zheng and her family. And her "family" included the Qijia Family as well as her Maternal Family.
However, this "Maternal Family" did not include Chen Cui's family.
Despite some unpleasantness, the wedding banquet of the Wang Family went smoothly, and everyone enjoyed the festivities.
Before leaving, Wang Jun asked Qi Zheng for something: his son's cradle.
"No rush. The child is still young; my mother will definitely be worried. The baby should sleep with his mother first. He can only sleep in the cradle after at least a month." Wang Jun truly regarded Qi Zheng as one of his own and was straightforward, saying, "I appreciate your help, brother-in-law."
"You don't have to wait until a month. I'll bring it over in a week," Qi Zheng might not be good at small talk, but his promises were always kept.
Previously, Qi Zheng had also given the Wang Family a set of tables and chairs. This was another very important reason why the Wang Family treated the Zhao Family with such courtesy today.
Aside from Wang Jun and Zhao Daxi, the Royal Elders were unaware that Zhao Daxi had added that one hundred dollars to Zhao Jin's dowry. In the eyes of the Royal Elders, receiving the tables and chairs from Qi Zheng only confirmed the saying, "A soft mouth eats soft food; a short hand takes short gifts."
Thus, their attitude towards the Zhao Family inevitably became much warmer. Additionally, since Zhao Daxi had just given birth to a Fat Baby for the Wang Family, it further elevated the Zhao Family's status in the hearts of the Wang Family members.
This was evident in today's occasion.
Qi Zheng was serious about giving a cradle to the Wang Family. After returning home, he began to take action.
In this regard, Zhao Jin had no objections, but her brothers Zhao Zhenqi were quite vocal about it the next day when they came to help.
"Qi Zheng, you don't need to rush. Focus on your own tasks first, and you can work on the cradle later when you have time." Zhao Zhenan didn't want Qi Zheng to send the cradle to the Wang Family; he just personally experienced how hard and busy Qi Zheng had been lately, so he naturally sided with Qi Zheng.
"Indeed, there's no need to hurry." Zhao Zhenqi nodded, also supporting Qi Zheng, "The baby is still far from a month old; once we finish our current tasks, it won't be too late." "It's fine. There's no rule that a baby has to sleep in a cradle only after reaching a month old. If we finish it early and send it over, the baby can use it sooner. It's just a craft that we can do ourselves; we shouldn't make things harder for our own child," Qi Zheng said, his tone not high-pitched and his voice not loud, but his words were particularly comforting and pleasing to the Zhao Brothers.
Thus, they all had high hopes for Qi Zheng as a brother-in-law and were very willing to interact with him!
However, the more they understood Qi Zheng's character, the more Zhao Zhenqi couldn't let him suffer: "That's true. But these pieces of furniture are urgent for delivery; you've already worked hard enough and don't need to tire yourself out further. Your health is more important than anything else; you mustn't let yourself break down."
Zhao Zhenan repeatedly agreed. Even more so, he offered suggestions: "How about this, Qi Zheng, you direct while I do the work?" "I think it's better not to! If Second Brother does it, what could be done in two or three days will at least take an extra month," Zhao Jin, who had come out to use the restroom, overheard the conversation between the two brothers and Qi Zheng, feeling both happy and relieved, interjected without hesitation.
"What are you butting in for? This is a conversation between men; go back inside and work on your clothes!" After being mocked by Zhao Jin, Zhao Zhenan put on a stern face and waved his hand, trying to send her away.
Zhao Jin had no intention of staying there to bicker with Zhao Zhenan. She was busy herself! When she could help ease the burden at home, she couldn't hold back Qi Zheng.
She pouted at Zhao Zhenan and quickly returned indoors. She had just asked Grandma Qi to help check her stitching and wasn't sure if it was good enough or passed inspection. "This stitch is nice, and you've handled the thread ends very well," Grandma Qi, though older, still had sharp eyesight. Because she truly cared for Zhao Jin, and since her sewing skills were passed down from her, her expectations for the finished clothes made by Zhao Jin were quite high.
Seeing Zhao Jin's results today, Grandma Qi nodded repeatedly and couldn't help but praise her: "Good, really good."
"Hello, Grandma. Now I can relax," Zhao Jin said. Recently, she had been working hard to improve herself. The style of the clothes was already imprinted in her mind, but she struggled with the details. After several revisions, she finally produced a satisfactory finished product.
She was initially worried that the effects of her own trial and error wouldn't be very good, but after receiving Grandma Qi's approval, Zhao Jin immediately felt at ease.
"Our Jin is amazing! There's nothing to worry about. Just go ahead and do it; Grandma is here to support you!" Grandma Qi said, giving Zhao Jin a thumbs up and praising her without hesitation.
Zhao Jin couldn't help but smile. Being able to marry into the Qi Family and meet such a group of elders who genuinely cared for her made Zhao Jin truly happy.
"Thank you, Grandma; you're the best!" This was Zhao Jin's first time boldly acting cute with Grandma Qi. However, it felt quite nice.
Grandma Qi was delighted to be close to Zhao Jin, allowing her to hold onto her arm and shake it back and forth, while her smile widened.
Zhou Ju, who was busy in the yard, could hear the laughter from inside through the door and couldn't help but smile as well.
In the past, their family had many members, but moments of genuine joy like this were rare. The burden at home was too heavy, and the pressure too great; everyone was racking their brains trying to figure out how to save a little more money, leaving no room for laughter.
But now it was different. Ever since Jin married into their family, it seemed like they had hit a stroke of luck; everything was going particularly smoothly. Qi Zheng had encountered a benefactor and found a more profitable livelihood.
All of this was brought by Jin. Their entire family should be grateful to her; she was truly the blessing of the Qi Family!
Qi Zheng worked quickly. Within a week, just like when he delivered tables and chairs to the Wang Family last time, he soon sent over the cradle.
Qi Zheng's craftsmanship was impressive; he put great care into making the cradle, and both Zhao Daxi and Wang Jun loved it. The Royal Elders were especially satisfied and immediately laid down cotton blankets in the cradle before placing their Fat Baby inside.
Perhaps it was new or perhaps they genuinely liked the cradle; as soon as Wang Family's Fat Baby was placed inside, he began to giggle non-stop, which delighted the Royal Elders.
"Quickly, Dajun, give your brother-in-law twenty dollars..." Seeing how much their grandson enjoyed the cradle, Wang Jun's mother rarely felt generous and took the initiative to call out.
"Don't be like that. Mom, Qi Zheng is not an outsider. He's family; why would we pay him?" Zhao Daxi interrupted Wang Jun's words while signaling to Wang Jun, "Otherwise, should we just let Qi Zheng take a couple of our piglets?" Wang Jun also understood that paying money was inappropriate; it would seem too distant and would embarrass Qi Zheng. Moreover, he hadn't intended to pay in the first place. With Zhao Daxi's hint, he immediately chimed in, "That's right. Mom, Qi Zheng is my brother-in-law; why would we pay him? Didn't we just slaughter pigs for the last few banquets? Let's just send him home with a pig's trotter."
"Alright, alright, that's fine." As soon as Wang Jun's Mother said this, she felt it wasn't quite right. After all, they were relatives, and discussing money could hurt feelings. Not to mention that it was her son who had actively approached Qi Zheng for the cradle; now it seemed as if Qi Zheng was trying to profit off them by selling the cradle. Realizing her mistake and considering that the Qi family wasn't doing too well, Wang Jun's Mother quickly apologized to Qi Zheng: "Well, Qi Zheng, I spoke without thinking; I didn't mean anything by it. I just really liked the cradle you made by hand and got a bit too excited."
"I won't," Qi Zheng shook his head, his expression as calm as ever.
He genuinely didn't take Wang Jun's words to heart. Besides, Zhao Daxi and Wang Jun had already helped ease the situation, so there was no need for him to say more.
"What a good child!" Some elders prefer those who are charming and talkative, while Wang Jun's Mother liked those with a straightforward nature.
Now, Qi Zheng's few words made him appear solid and reliable in Wang Jun's Mother's eyes. "Qi Zheng, wait here! I'll pack some things for you to take back. It's nothing precious; it's just a little token from me. You mustn't refuse; that would be disrespectful." To be honest, Wang Jun's Mother wasn't particularly generous. However, she had just welcomed a healthy grandson and was in high spirits.
Moreover, she had a very good impression of Qi Zheng. In addition to the two piglets mentioned by Zhao Daxi and the pig's trotter from Wang Jun, she also packed a jar of lard and a large piece of homemade cured meat for him. "Come on, don't be polite with me! You should come over more often to visit. We're close relatives—sisters and brothers-in-law—so we should keep in touch more; that's what real relatives do." Having raised someone as lively as Wang Jun, Wang Jun's Mother knew how to handle situations well. If she set her mind to it, she could make anything work out. At this moment, her words to Qi Zheng were indeed heartfelt.
"Okay, thank you, Auntie; I appreciate it." Qi Zheng initially wanted to refuse but then thought about how once he finished his furniture work, he could return the favor by gifting the Wang family a complete set of furniture. So he decided not to insist on refusing.
After all, he had only given them a dining table and chairs before; he could gradually provide them with items like beds and wardrobes later on.
Qi Zheng had this plan in mind but did not express it directly. However, he would show his gratitude for the favor from the Wang Family through his subsequent actions. This relationship was naturally one that he would acknowledge without question.
As Qi Zheng sent the cradle out, he returned carrying two snake-skin bags, which surprised Zhao Jin. "Huh? Why are there live animals in the bags?"
Just as Zhao Jin finished speaking, they heard the grunting of piglets, and her eyes widened. "Did my sister's in-law family send a return gift? Are those piglets?"
"Yes, and there's also a pig's trotter, a jar of lard, and a large piece of cured meat." The more favors he received, the more he needed to remember them deeply. Qi Zheng reported everything to Zhao Jin without missing a detail.
Zhao Jin's eyes widened even more in disbelief as she looked at Qi Zheng. "Qi Zheng, how did you manage to please my sister's mother-in-law? Even when my sister's mother-in-law gives gifts to my maternal family, she isn't this generous."
Zhao Jin was genuinely shocked. While she didn't know everything about Wang Jun's character, she was aware of some things. The haul Qi Zheng brought back completely astonished her.
"I didn't..." How could Qi Zheng, with his personality, possibly win anyone's favor? He wanted to explain but then met Zhao Jin's sparkling eyes.
Realizing that Zhao Jin was just smiling at him, Qi Zheng closed his mouth and handed the bag containing the cured meat to Zhou Ju, while he opened the bag with the piglets and took them out.
"Wow, they look really sturdy," Zhou Ju said as she glanced over and nodded in satisfaction. She also turned to Zhao Jin and instructed, "We need to find an opportunity to send some return gifts to your sister's in-law family; we can't let your sister feel uncomfortable with them."
"Okay, thank you, Mom." Zhou Ju's thoughts aligned perfectly with Zhao Jin's.
Compared to herself, when her sister Zhao Daxi married Wang Jun, the bride price wasn't that high. Although she knew her sister was doing relatively well in the Wang Family, Zhao Jin didn't want her sister to have any conflicts with the royal elders because of her.
"There's no need for thanks; it's only right," Zhou Ju said as she waved her hand and went into the kitchen to put away the cured meat and pig's trotter.
Oh right, there was also a jar of lard; she needed to find a place for that too. If it got knocked over accidentally, it would break her heart.
After living with the Qi Family for several months, Zhao Jin had become increasingly accustomed to and comfortable in her new environment. She believed Zhou Ju's words without hesitation, feeling that there was no need for thanks, and she would not pursue the matter further.
Zhao Jin held a high regard for the character of the Qi Family and trusted them deeply. Her life had already welcomed its greatest dawn.
On the day Zhao Ying'er finally got married, Aunt Zhao and He Yun did not show up. Consequently, Uncle Zhao also did not return.
It was unexpected that Zhao Guoqing's family would truly miss this joyous occasion. Chen Cui was particularly displeased. Even though she had some reservations in her heart, she still expressed her dissatisfaction in front of Grandma Zhao.
Grandma Zhao also had strong opinions about this situation. However, Zhao Guoqing was different from Zhao Guoqiang. Despite Zhao Guoqing's seemingly gentle and agreeable nature, Grandma Zhao knew very well that once Zhao Guoqing made a decision, it was difficult for anyone to change it.
Especially after Zhao Guoqing married He Yun, he became even less controllable by Grandma Zhao.
If possible, Grandma Zhao would have liked to treat Zhao Guoqing's family the same way she treated Zhao Guoqiang's family—by sternly reprimanding them without hesitation.
However, Grandma Zhao lacked the courage and determination to do so.
Grinding her teeth, Grandma Zhao stomped her foot and took Chen Cui to find Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei: "What is going on with Third Brother's family? Shouldn't you two be sending over a gift?"
Grandma Zhao's inquiry was sharp, leaving no room for subtlety; she focused on not letting go of Zhao Guoqiang and his wife.
When Zhao Jin got married, the Zhao Guofu family had specifically emphasized that they would no longer interact or associate with Zhao Jin. Therefore, in such circumstances, Zhao Jin did not come over to make things awkward.
As for why Zhao Guoqing and He Yun did not come, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei indeed had received an explanation. However, they had already discussed this matter with Chen Cui beforehand.
They simply did not have the time or availability. Both Zhao Guoqing and He Yun had classes that day and could not return.
To be honest, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei didn't want to come either. However, there was no choice; Grandma Zhao had gone to their house early in the morning to make a fuss.
Grandma Zhao's fighting spirit was undeniable. It was clear that if they didn't come to drink Zhao Ying'er's wedding wine, Grandma Zhao would sit in their yard and create a scene.
Undeniably, faced with Grandma Zhao's thick skin, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei shook their heads and sighed in compromise.
However, when it came time to give the wedding gift money, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei didn't give more than necessary. They stuck to the amount that Zhao Guofu and Chen Cui had given them before and only contributed ten dollars. At that moment, seeing Chen Cui pulling Grandma Zhao over to cause trouble again, Xu Mei felt somewhat helpless: "Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are busy at school today; they both have classes and can't come over. As for the gift money, I already discussed it with Fourth Sister-in-law. Didn't I just give it to Fourth Sister-in-law? Isn't Fourth Sister-in-law still unsatisfied?"
Upon hearing Xu Mei say this, Chen Cui immediately tightened her grip on Grandma Zhao's sleeve: "Mother, Sister-in-law only gave twenty dollars. It's ten dollars per family; do you believe that?"
In any case, Chen Cui was not going to believe it. Don't think she didn't know that every time He Yun went to Zhao Guoqiang's house to give gift money, it was never less than fifty dollars, at least thirty. No matter what, it was always several tens of dollars. How could it possibly be just ten dollars when Ying'er got married?
Ultimately, what Xu Mei cared about wasn't whether Zhao Guoqiang and He Yun would come back but whether the received gift money was insufficient!
Grandma Zhao also didn't expect that Zhao Guoqiang and He Yun would only let Zhao Guoqiang's family contribute ten dollars as a wedding gift. Undeniably, she wasn't particularly convinced either.
"Only ten dollars?" Frowning, Grandma Zhao looked at Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei with suspicion. "You two must have made a mistake, right? This money is what you helped deliver first? Don't tell me the messenger heard wrong; did you two misunderstand Third Brother's family's intention?"
Anyone who had witnessed Zhao Guoqiang and He Yun's previous generosity would find it hard to believe the mere ten dollars now. Chen Cui and Grandma Zhao felt this way; in fact, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei were also puzzled.
However, this information was something Xu Mei had specifically confirmed with He Yun. There was indeed only ten dollars; it wasn't as Grandma Zhao thought—"Xu Mei delivered it first, and He Yun would pay her back later."
The sequence of events here was simple: He Yun gave Xu Mei ten dollars to ask her to deliver the gift money. There was no extra money; there couldn't be any extra money.
"Mother, this ten yuan was given by Third Brother, not from our family," Xu Mei said, a straightforward person. She didn't even mention He Yun's name and directly shifted the blame to Zhao Guoqing. "Impossible!" Grandma Zhao did not believe a word of Xu Mei's statement. With suspicion in her heart, Grandma Zhao looked at Xu Mei, her tone turning unfriendly. "Xu Mei, are you withholding Third Brother's family's gift money? We are all relatives, family; don't you feel ashamed doing this? Do you believe I will go to the county today to verify with Third Brother face to face?"
Xu Mei felt completely unjustly accused and burdened with such a serious accusation.
She gently shook her head and sighed helplessly, "Think whatever you want, Mother. If you want to go find Third Brother to verify, then go ahead. I'll just sit here and wait for you to come back."
Grandma Zhao actually wanted to believe Xu Mei. Among her three daughters-in-law, she considered Xu Mei the one she could handle best.
Given Xu Mei's usual demeanor, since it had come to this point, Grandma Zhao really couldn't continue to pursue the matter.
Turning her head to see Chen Cui's displeased expression, Grandma Zhao snorted coldly, contemplating whether she should go find Zhao Guoqing and He Yun to clarify things.
However, Chen Cui was not willing to let it go so easily.
From the moment Xu Mei had only given her twenty yuan, Chen Cui had a very bad premonition.
Hearing that Zhao Guoqing and He Yun had only contributed ten yuan as a gift, Chen Cui was furious. Rather than doubting that Zhao Guoqing and his wife would be so stingy, she was unwilling to face the reality before her.
Chen Cui knew very well that compared to her, He Yun was much closer to Xu Mei, this sister-in-law. She also knew that back when she teamed up with Grandma Zhao to suppress and bully He Yun during her confinement, she had completely offended He Yun.
He Yun was such a proud person; she must have hated Chen Cui to the core by now. Why would she come back specifically to support Chen Cui's family?
However, even if He Yun and Zhao Guoqing truly did not intend to return, it didn't matter much to Chen Cui; it wouldn't make her lose her temper on the spot. As long as He Yun was willing to contribute some money, Chen Cui didn't care whether she saw He Yun's arrogant face or not.
Who would have thought that He Yun really didn't come back, but the gift money was only ten dollars!
Is He Yun treating her like a beggar? Doesn't she know that when Zhao Jin got married, He Yun gave fifty dollars?
She had been specifically watching He Yun, so there was no way she could be mistaken.
Why does Zhao Jin get fifty dollars for her wedding, while Zhao Ying'er can only get ten? Even if He Yun wanted to treat them differently, it shouldn't be so obvious!
No matter how she thought about it, she felt something was off. Chen Cui then turned her attention to Zhao Guoqiang's family.
After all, the gift money was given by Xu Mei; who could guarantee that Xu Mei didn't pocket some of it?
Completely different from Grandma Zhao's thoughts, Chen Cui was determined not to let this opportunity slip by. So when Grandma Zhao looked over, Chen Cui not only didn't advise against it but also started to stir the pot: "Mom, I see Sister-in-law is quite confident! What? Does Sister-in-law think that since Third Brother's family isn't short on money, even if you really confront them, Third Brother will just grit his teeth and accept this debt?"
Soon she found a way to continue her attack, and Chen Cui couldn't help but feel a bit smug as her tone became more lively: "Could it be that Sister-in-law wants Third Brother to contribute more money? Even if they are brothers, isn't Big Brother's behavior a bit too much? Even I, an outsider, can't stand it!"
Chen Cui was quick to react and her thinking was sharp enough. With her pushing like this, Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei had no choice but to fill in the so-called "gaps" in Chen Cui's argument.
That is to say, since Chen Cui believed that Zhao Guoqing and He Yun couldn't possibly give only ten dollars as gift money, what Chen Cui wanted—"more"—had to be made up by Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei. No matter how much Zhao Guoqing's family actually gave, Chen Cui was convinced it was more than just ten dollars. Grandma Zhao, having lived under the same roof as Chen Cui for many years, quickly understood Chen Cui's intentions and immediately sided with her: "Oldest son, how much did you really deduct from your third brother's family? Today is your niece's wedding; don't play tricks on me. Hurry up and hand over all of Third Brother's contribution!"
This was an attempt to forcefully make Zhao Guoqiang's family acknowledge this debt and pay more money.
Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei were not fools; they immediately understood the intentions of Chen Cui and Grandma Zhao.
"Mother, you should go find Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law to confirm things!" Xu Mei replied gently, not wanting to argue with Grandma Zhao in public. "Confirm what? Are you all waiting until you see the coffin to shed tears? Do you need me to publicly tear off your facade before you realize how embarrassing this is? Clearly, it was Third Brother's family who gave Ying'er the money for the occasion, and you took a cut of it—what does that count as? We're all surnamed Zhao; if you have no shame, we still have to live in the village!"
Grandma Zhao's voice grew louder, unabashedly drawing the attention of the guests around them.
Qian Minmin and a few others arrived a little later.
Given their family's current relationship with Zhao Ying'er’s family, Qian Minmin would have preferred to invite Sun Chun'er over for a meal at their home if possible.
After all, two representatives from their family had already gone and presented gifts to Zhao Ying'er. Whether they joined in the festivities or not seemed less important.
However, Qian Minmin did not want Zhao Ying'er’s family to take advantage of them so much. Why not eat when there was food available? They had already given gifts; wouldn’t it be a loss not to eat?
Thus, after delaying at home for quite some time, Qian Minmin finally went with Sun Chun'er and brought three children along to join Zhao Zhenqi and his brothers.
However, as soon as they arrived, they found that their parents were already in trouble again.
After roughly hearing Grandma Zhao's shouting, Qian Minmin pouted, her expression darkening instantly.
She truly disliked Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui and did not want to acknowledge this relative. If she could, she would prefer that her family never interacted with Grandma Zhao's group again.
How shameless! In front of so many elder villagers, how could Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui speak so freely without blushing or feeling guilty?
Did they really not fear that if someone retaliated without holding back, it would be an embarrassing and shameful situation for them?
Oh, that's right. With Chen Cui and Grandma Zhao's thick skin, they probably wouldn't care at all about losing face. Their level of shamelessness has reached a point that ordinary people simply cannot match.
Grandma Zhao's accusations were undoubtedly enough to strike at the heart. Qian Minmin and the others felt their anger rising, while Chen Cui appeared quite pleased with herself.
Chen Cui has always believed in one principle: as long as Grandma Zhao stands by her side, no matter when or where, she would definitely not suffer any losses.
The current situation further reinforced this belief for Chen Cui, and her determination to please Grandma Zhao grew even stronger.
In stark contrast to Chen Cui was the silent demeanor of Xu Mei and Zhao Guoqiang.
Both being children and in-laws, they were well aware that Grandma Zhao's favoritism knew no boundaries. They had already experienced this firsthand.
However, for Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui to scheme against them in such a setting was truly too detestable.
Faced with Grandma Zhao's furious expression and Chen Cui's smugly provocative gaze, Zhao Guoqiang stood up.
"Long before you insisted on forcing Jin to marry into the Qi Family, I made it clear that I would continue to support our parents, but we will no longer have any dealings with the Fourth Family." Zhao Guoqiang suddenly brought this up, instantly changing Chen Cui's expression.
"What do you mean by that, Big Brother? Our parents are still alive! You..." Zhao Guoqiang had indeed said something like this before, but it had been completely ignored by Chen Cui and the others.
Anyone can make harsh statements, but after all, they are relatives, and with the elders still around, how could Zhao Guoqiang simply cut off ties?
Moreover, Grandfather Zhao and Grandma Zhao were currently with them. Would Zhao Guoqiang really stop seeing their parents? If he wanted to see their parents, he would definitely have to cross their threshold.
When the time comes and they are standing in their yard, how could they claim not to interact anymore? Just hearing that was laughable!
So all along, Chen Cui and Zhao Guofu had not taken Zhao Guoqiang's statement to heart.
After all, when Zhao Jin got married, didn't they all go to celebrate? That matter had long passed, and the little bit of unpleasantness between them had also dissipated.
Indeed, Chen Cui had always thought this way and believed it.
However, at this moment, with Zhao Guoqiang bringing up the past again during Zhao Ying'er's wedding, and doing so in front of so many relatives and friends, Chen Cui instinctively sensed that it was not good.
Chen Cui wanted to stop Zhao Guoqiang from continuing. However, she ultimately could not hold him back.
"Here, I still maintain my stance. If the fourth family is unwilling to acknowledge me as their elder brother, then there is no need for our two families to continue interacting in the future." The momentum that Zhao Guoqiang suddenly unleashed was so imposing that both Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui were left speechless.
Zhao Guoqiang was not skilled in words and did not have overly fancy rhetoric. Even his harsh words were just a few repeated phrases. Not only Chen Cui and Grandma Zhao, but even Xu Mei and Qian Minmin could only shake their heads upon hearing him.
However, the simpler the words, the more intimidating they became. The attitude he wanted to express was more resolute and persuasive.
For instance, in this situation, as everyone listened to Zhao Guoqiang's words and compared them to Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui's earlier confrontational attitude, reflecting on the entanglements and grievances between the two families, there were indeed very few people standing on Grandma Zhao's side.
Zhao Jin's marriage was not a secret. When Zhao Jin married Qi Zheng, Zhao Guofu and Chen Cui had clearly stated that they would no longer interact with Zhao Jin in the future, which many fellow villagers had heard firsthand.
The fact that neither Zhao Jin nor Qi Zheng had been seen until now showed that both families were serious about this matter.
Moreover, Wu Feng came to deliver the bride price for Zhao Ying'er. In fact, Zhao Jin and Qi Zheng had come before. However, the two families had not gotten along well, and Zhao Ying'er even wanted to confront Zhao Jin...
In any case, the Zhao Jin family had done enough already; they were not people who held grudges.
It's a pity that the Zhao Ying'er family has gone too far. Clearly in the wrong, they still insist on making a fuss, completely severing the ties between the two families.
With so many precedents, now looking at Zhao Guoqiang's declaration to cut off all contact with Zhao Guofu's family, no one present thinks Zhao Guoqiang is wrong.
Even Zhao Guoqiang's act of leaving on the spot has garnered considerable support from the villagers.
Even a clay figurine has some temper! The Zhao Guofu family has truly gone overboard. Even outsiders can’t stand it, let alone Zhao Guoqiang, the person directly involved.
Indeed, Zhao Guoqiang's family did not stay to drink Zhao Ying'er’s wedding wine; they turned and left.
Originally, they had no intention of maintaining ties with Zhao Guofu's family. If it weren't for Grandma Zhao insisting on making a fuss, they wouldn't have shown up today at all.
Zhao Guoqiang had initially thought that after Zhao Yinger's wedding, the two families would completely sever ties.
Now, with Grandma Zhao and Chen Cui causing such a scene, it works out perfectly. There’s no need for Zhao Guoqiang to do anything more; the two sides no longer need to have any interaction.
Chen Cui did not expect things to escalate like this. The moment she saw Zhao Guoqiang's family leave, she suddenly realized that she seemed to have made a huge mistake.
Without any room for consideration, Chen Cui grabbed Grandma Zhao's arm: "Mother, you must quickly keep my elder brother's family here! What day is it today? We can't just let them leave like this."
On such a joyous occasion, the worst thing is bad luck. If Zhao Guoqiang's family is allowed to leave like this, in Chen Cui's mind, it will surely leave a permanent mark. No matter how much time passes, it will always be a source of discomfort.
After today, if Zhao Ying'er lives well with the Wu Family, then that's fine. But if Zhao Ying'er does not fare well with the Wu Family, Chen Cui will definitely blame Zhao Guoqiang's family for it.
However, at this moment, Chen Cui couldn't care about being angry or blaming anyone; she was solely focused on keeping Zhao Guoqiang's family there. This way, she could continue to team up with Grandma Zhao and hit hard against Zhao Guoqiang's family.
Indeed, Chen Cui has set her sights on Zhao Guoqiang's family, insisting that they provide more gifts. Her excuses and reasons are undoubtedly framed under the banner of Zhao Guoqiang's family.
Grandma Zhao, like Chen Cui, is so fixated on money that she can't pull herself away. At this moment, she doesn't care about how Zhao Guoqiang's family feels or thinks; she is determined to scrape some money off Zhao Guoqiang.
Before Chen Cui can continue to urge her, Grandma Zhao rushes after Zhao Guoqiang's family.
Just as Zhao Guoqiang's family is about to step out the door, they are forcibly stopped by Grandma Zhao.
Grandma Zhao's message is clear: give money!
"Mother, I’m going. You can go find Third Brother to confirm. If there’s really a mistake, you can come back to me later." Despite being angry, Zhao Guoqiang responds with suppressed frustration since she is his own mother.
"Bah!" Grandma Zhao has always been a fierce character and isn’t one to back down easily.
Even though she stands before her own son, grandson, and great-grandson, Grandma Zhao stubbornly grips the doorframe and refuses to relent against Zhao Guoqiang. "Zhao Guoqiang, let me tell you, you came from my womb. I know your little secrets better than you do. Don’t you just want to save some money to support Zhao Jin? You feel sorry for how poorly Zhao Jin is doing in the Qi Family and want to help her out in any way you can?"
Grandma Zhao wears a smug expression as if she has seen right through him, bombarding Zhao Guoqiang with accusations.
"Don’t think that your little schemes go unnoticed. If you want to take advantage of my Ying'er, forget it!" Suddenly remembering that there are many relatives sitting in the yard, Grandma Zhao realizes that her harsh words might tarnish her image. So, she shifts her tone and softens her approach: "Eldest son, Ying'er is your own niece. How can you bear to see Ying'er suffer just after marrying into the Wu Family? The money collected today isn’t for me and your father; it’s not for the fourth couple either. This is all your niece's dowry! How can you…"
"Nana, my dad has already said we haven’t taken a single cent from your family." Qian Minmin can no longer hold back. With so many people listening, Grandma Zhao’s attempt to soften her stance while trying to force them into a corner is unacceptable. She seems intent on making them suffer ridicule from the fellow villagers.
Seeing Grandma Zhao’s malicious intent, even though Qian Minmin is just a generation younger, she speaks up: "If Grandma truly lacks the dowry money for Ying'er, then go ask the Wu Family! The Wu Family is Ying'er’s in-law family; if Yinger's dowry is insufficient, isn’t it because the Wu Family didn’t provide enough bride price? Why does Grandma have to keep targeting our family? We don’t owe Ying'er anything."
Compared to Zhao Guoqiang, Qian Minmin's way with words is exceptionally smooth. Moreover, Qian Minmin knows how to grasp the main point, effortlessly diverting attention from contradictions and conflicts with just her words.
Is Zhao Ying'er’s dowry insufficient? Should she go to the Wu Family for it? That’s simply a joke. After all, the ones truly responsible for providing Zhao Ying'er’s dowry are her Maternal Family, and it has nothing to do with the In-law family.
Of course, how much the Maternal Family is willing to provide for the dowry depends not only on how much they love their daughter and their financial situation but also on whether the Bride Price offered by the In-law family is substantial enough.
It is well-known that many brides' dowries are calculated in comparison to the Bride Price given by the In-law family. For example, Zhao Jin and many Villagers from Willow Leaf Village always say that since the Qi Family is so poor yet offered such a large Bride Price, Zhao Jin's dowry is also a sign of respect towards the Qi Family.
Conversely, if Zhao Yinger's dowry today is not substantial enough, there’s no need for further explanation; it’s obvious that Grandma Zhao finds the Bride Price from the Wu Family too meager!
The Bride Price sent by the Wu Family is indeed not much; this is a fact everyone has seen with their own eyes and understands.
If Grandma Zhao decides not to provide Zhao Ying'er with a significant dowry simply because the Bride Price from the Wu Family is too low, that would be understandable. This is a private matter for the Zhao Family, and others have no right to interfere.
However, if Grandma Zhao clearly does not want to give but insists on forcing Zhao Guoqiang's family to cover this dowry, that would be inappropriate. It’s Zhao Ying'er who is getting married, not Zhao Jin. No matter how close Zhao Guoqiang and Xu Mei are, they are still just Uncle and Aunt. Even if Grandma Zhao feels envious of the dowry Zhao Jin received when she got married, she cannot act this way!
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