Chapter 7
Chapter 7
I had to admit, Gu Yunzhi’s loaded dad really knew how to handle people.
After our two families finished getting our stories straight, he went and started acting on his own.
He walked into the crowd, cleared his throat, and proposed a solution regarding the two of us.
“The kids aren’t young anymore. It’s about time they settled down and started a family.”
“Since my son has taken a liking to her, as his father, I don’t have much to say about it.”
“Shen Family, I won’t look down on your family for being poor, and you shouldn’t look down on mine for being rich.”
“I’ll pay off the hundred-odd thousand in debt your daughter owes. On top of that, I’ll give a bride price of 188,000 yuan, a full set of five-gold jewelry, plus an apartment in the county town, and a car for the young couple to use.”
“I only have this one son. If your daughter marries him, then as his father, I absolutely won’t let her suffer any grievances.”
“What do you think? If you agree, we’ll settle the marriage during the first lunar month. If you feel it’s not enough, we can add more.”
A bride price of 188,000 yuan counted as middle-of-the-road in our village. Not the highest, but definitely not the lowest either.
But when my mom heard it, her lips pressed together and she smiled so hard she practically vibrated.
She had been born a pampered young heiress and had never suffered a day of hardship. That amount of money couldn’t even buy one bag in her closet.
Everyone in the village said that with such a sensible father-in-law, I was truly blessed.
My dad saw that Gu Yunzhi’s father had gotten all the good reputation and immediately refused to accept it.
He said on the spot, “Then the bride price is settled. The child’s mother and I have also saved up some money over the years. We’ll give 88,000 yuan in cash as her dowry. We won’t have people saying the Shen Family sold off our daughter!”
My mom nodded again and again. “Yes, yes, the child’s father is right.”
And just like that, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Gu Yunzhi’s and my marriage was decided.
The villagers’ gossip about us carried a bit of disdain mixed with the sour jealousy of people who couldn’t have what we had.
Gu Yunzhi and I stuffed our pockets with peanuts and sunflower seeds, then hid away to eavesdrop.
At the village entrance, two aunties were gossiping about us.
“Aiya, smoke must be rising from the Shen Family ancestral grave. How did Lao Su’s grandson end up taking a fancy to the Shen Family granddaughter?”
Hehe. He took a fancy to me. Stay mad.
“Exactly. She’s already this old and still doesn’t have a job, just loafing around all day. Isn’t she just a little pretty?”
Hehe. I am pretty. Jealous?
“What’s wrong with Old Gu’s son? When they were little, he used to play really well with my granddaughter. I was even thinking of matching the two of them…”
The moment I heard that, I immediately turned to look at Gu Yunzhi beside me, murderous intent blazing in my eyes.
“Hm?”
Gu Yunzhi instantly hugged me, leaning his face over to rub against mine. “Honey, honey, she’s talking nonsense. When her granddaughter was little, all she did was steal my snacks. I never liked her.”
Only then did my expression soften a little.
Although there were people gossiping, plenty of people were happy for us too.
In their eyes, our union was the recycling of two useless people.
For my parents, marrying me to Gu Yunzhi was foisting a disaster onto someone else.
For Gu Yunzhi’s father, it was going to the countryside to do poverty relief and repay the child-related debt from his past life.
During the first lunar month, we got engaged.
The 188,000-yuan bride price from Gu Yunzhi’s father was transferred straight to my dad’s card.
This marriage had been settled in front of friends, relatives, ancestors, and elders. It wasn’t something anyone could mess around with.
On the surface, Gu Yunzhi’s father seemed not entirely satisfied with my education and background. Behind the scenes, he tightly held my hand and was overjoyed.
“Xuanxuan, you’re a good child. You mustn’t learn from that brat in my family.”
“He refused to inherit the Gu Family’s vast business and actually ran off to start his own company.”
“Now that we have you, I can finally rest easy.”
“I heard your father’s company is now being managed by you… Mm… Uncle doesn’t mean anything else. I just think that’s quite good…”
His abacus beads were clacking so loudly I could hear them from outer space.
I seriously suspected that if I married Gu Yunzhi, not only would I have to inherit my dad’s family business, I would also have to inherit his dad’s.
I said to Gu Yunzhi, “This won’t do. Too many family businesses are a hassle too.”
“In the future, we’ll have to have at least two children. One to inherit my family’s, and one to inherit yours.”
Gu Yunzhi blushed and asked me, “Can we have three? My company needs an heir too…”
Me: “Your company is too small. Who knows when it’ll go bankrupt? It’s still too early to talk about heirs.”
Gu Yunzhi, feeling vaguely attacked: “???”