Chapter 37

Miao Shufang was delighted that her son was willing to get engaged. If it were the old Jiang Ruan, she would have been confident about negotiating with the Jiang family. However, now that Jiang Ruan was adopted by Uncle Han, she was uncertain.

Han Changfeng would rather adopt Jiang Ruan himself than see his sister suffer any grievances. How could he possibly agree to marry her off to a cripple? Moreover, since Jiang Ruan broke off the engagement with the Shen family, if Miao Shufang showed up to propose, it would seem to outsiders that the Qin family was taking advantage of the situation. People would think they were just trying to secure a lifelong nanny for Qin Yan through marriage—a free one at that, which would seem despicable.

When Miao Shufang arrived at the Han family, she repeatedly emphasized that it was Qin Yan who had begged her to come, saying, “I can vouch for my son, Qin Yan. He absolutely isn’t proposing because he wants a nanny, he genuinely likes Ruan Ruan.”

Just because Qin Yan liked her, did that mean the Han family had to agree? Han Changfeng felt suffocated. Breaking off the engagement with the Shen family had been an excuse to reject Shen Tianming, and even if Qin Yan weren’t paralyzed, he still wouldn’t have been Han Changfeng’s ideal brother-in-law.

“Our Ruan Ruan is still young; there’s no rush,” Han Changfeng said, nearly ready to see Miao Shufang out the door.

However, Han Huaiye and his wife had a different perspective. Jiang Ruan’s emotional intelligence was different from that of ordinary people, and they wouldn’t be able to watch over her forever. Even if they rejected Shen Tianming and Qin Yan’s proposals, there would still be others in the future. Qin Yan was a local, and his character could be investigated. He was intelligent, albeit a bit sharp-tongued, but he treated his family and Jiang Ruan well.

Qin Yan might be paralyzed, but if Ruan Ruan didn’t mind, then he wouldn’t be able to find it in himself to look down on her either.

Han Huaiye said, “It’s not up to us to decide. We should ask Ruan Ruan what she thinks.”

…

“Huh? Brother Qin Yan asked Auntie Miao to propose?” Jiang Ruan was surprised.

Over the past few days, she had been keeping herself busy at home. She renovated the backyard, laid down bluestone bricks for the courtyard, tilled the land to plant vegetable seedlings, and even dug a small pond at the corner, where she installed a water circulation system to raise palm-sized carp.

She dusted off her hands and said hesitantly, “You’re asking for my opinion, but I really don’t know.”

Fu Yunying chuckled, knowing that Jiang Ruan was slow when it came to matters of the heart. She spoke with her privately to guide her, asking if she liked Qin Yan. Jiang Ruan nodded, saying she did, which wasn’t surprising to Fu Yunying.

Jiang Ruan was loyal and caring. She would even take care of Granny Huang in her old age. Out of all the employers she had worked for, only the Qin family had kept her for a long time, giving her food and clothes. It was natural for her to feel fondness.

Fu Yunying treated Jiang Ruan like a daughter of her own and said, “Your father and I are just worried that Qin Yan wants to keep you as a lifelong nanny. If that’s the case, we shouldn’t agree.”

“Does that mean we should only agree if Brother Qin Yan truly likes me?” Jiang Ruan asked.

Fu Yunying nodded, “This isn’t the old days of arranged marriages. You need to genuinely like each other before getting engaged.”

Jiang Ruan was certain that she liked Qin Yan. If they got engaged, she could rightfully continue working at the Qin household as a nanny, and Qin Yan wouldn’t feel embarrassed if she helped him bathe. Jiang Ruan thought it was a good idea.

She said, “That’s simple then. I’ll go ask Brother Qin Yan myself.”

…

Qin Yan anxiously waited at home. He knew the Han family would never easily agree to a proposal, they would consult Jiang Ruan for her thoughts.

When he saw Jiang Ruan arrive with Han Changfeng, she entered the courtyard while Han Changfeng stayed outside. There was a knock on the door of the second-floor room, and Qin Yan’s voice came out hoarse.

“Come in.”

The door opened slightly, and Jiang Ruan’s pretty little head poked through. She beamed brightly, saying, “Brother Qin Yan, my mom asked me to ask you, Are you proposing because you like me, or because you want a free lifelong nanny?”

Qin Yan was momentarily speechless. He turned his head away and laughed towards the window in the sunlight.

His mother had always asked his father when he started liking her, saying that the one who admits to liking first is always the more vulnerable. Today, he was going to be the one to admit it first.

Qin Yan turned back and said, “It’s because I like you. I asked my mom to propose because I like you.”

“I knew it!” Jiang Ruan sat cross-legged on the floor in front of Qin Yan, looking up at him earnestly. “If we’re going to get engaged, you still have to pay me. If you want me to do things for you, you have to give me either money or gifts. I won’t be a free nanny.”

Qin Yan couldn’t help but chuckle, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Alright, I’ll even give you a raise, okay?”

“Of course!” Jiang Ruan lamented as she pinched Qin Yan’s leg. “It’s a pity your legs can’t be healed.”

“Do you mind that I’m disabled?”

“No.” Jiang Ruan replied, “People call me stupid, though I don’t feel that way myself. Still, if most people believe something, it becomes the norm. Brother Qin Yan, do you think I’m stupid?”

Qin Yan shook his head, “You’re just different from others. That doesn’t mean you’re stupid. They simply don’t understand you.”

Jiang Ruan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at his sharp jawline, suddenly feeling an urge to touch it.

In the post-apocalyptic world, she had once seen a couple kiss, and she had been curious about what it felt like. Now that they were going to get engaged, wouldn’t kissing be allowed?

Jiang Ruan became excited and asked, “We’re getting engaged, so can I kiss you?”

Qin Yan glanced at the anxious Han Changfeng standing outside the courtyard.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to; it was that he couldn’t. Jiang Ruan didn’t understand, and he couldn’t pretend to be oblivious. She was still young.

Qin Yan’s cheeks turned a little red as he said, “I would love to, but if I don’t refuse you, your brother will beat me to death.”

Jiang Ruan pouted. “Then when can we kiss?”

“After we’re married.”

“When can we get married?” she pressed on.

Qin Yan continued to backpedal, “Once you’re of age, you can decide whenever you want.”

Jiang Ruan left with a hint of disappointment but was mostly happy.

When Han Changfeng saw his sister’s cheerful demeanor, he knew they had reached an agreement. He felt powerless, he had just found his long-lost sister, and now she was being snatched away by a cunning wolf.

“Ruan Ruan, you seem a bit unhappy. Are you sure you’re ready for this? We don’t have to rush,” Han Changfeng suggested.

Jiang Ruan quickly replied, “No, it’s not that. I wanted to kiss Brother Qin Yan just now, but he said you’d beat him to death if he agreed.”

Han Changfeng sighed, “He wasn’t wrong. If he agreed, I would beat him to death.”

At least Qin Yan had some sense, unlike Shen Tianming, who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.

…

Qin Yan and Jiang Ruan set the engagement date to coincide with the Shen family and Jiang family’s engagement party, at the same hotel, no less.

The Qin family’s wealth and the identical scheduling meant that a rivalry was at play.

The Jiang family was displeased and asked the Shen family to change the date, but the Shen family refused, saying all their relatives and friends had already been notified.

Liu Jinyun urged Jiang Ruan to speak to the Qin family and request a date change, but Miao Shufang defended Jiang Ruan, scoffing, “What do you think this is, a royal wedding that the entire city must adjust their calendars for?”

Some of the guests would be relatives attending both engagement parties, and Liu Jinyun fumed, “How dare that cripple have the nerve to hold his engagement on the same day? Standing outside the hotel with Shen Tianming to greet guests—won’t he feel ashamed?”

Jiang Jianchun angrily relayed to Liao Chunxing, “That Qin Yan, why doesn’t heaven just take him away?”

“I can help you with that if you want someone taken care of!” Liao Chunxing, a twisted individual, had an unhealthy affection for Jiang Jianchun. Seeing her now completely devoted to him, he’d be willing to give his life for her.

The incident involving the swapped child in his sister-in-law’s family resulted in the Liao family hiring a lawyer. Though there wasn’t enough evidence, it didn’t mean that Old Madam Liao was oblivious to the truth. Her son had already been dismissed from his job, and she wasn’t about to let Jiang Jianchun, the troublemaker, land her son in jail again.

Old Madam Liao pushed her son, “Weren’t you planning to go to Pengcheng? Leave tomorrow.”

“I’ll wait until after my aunt’s engagement banquet,” Liao Chunxing replied.

Old Madam Liao scoffed, “Didn’t Dachun tell you? The Shen family has made it clear—they won’t allow you and your sister-in-law to attend.”

Liao Chunxing’s expression changed. He glanced at Jiang Jianchun with dissatisfaction but still defended her, “The Shen family has influential connections and guests from government agencies. If we go, it would indeed be embarrassing for everyone. It’s better not to go. After all, securing this alliance with the Shen family is what really matters, who cares about appearances?”

Old Madam Liao was furious. The Shen family wouldn’t even let the Liao family step foot inside, yet they still considered themselves relatives?

The engagement hadn’t even taken place yet, and there were already rumors that Han Qingqing was being controlled by her future mother-in-law, who constantly found fault with her. With Han Qingqing unable to assert herself, what was the point of this so-called alliance?

Old Madam Liao sneered at Jiang Jianchun, “That younger sister of yours is an ungrateful wretch. You’ve been so kind to her, yet she didn’t even invite you to her wedding.”

“Qingqing had no choice,” Jiang Jianchun defended.

Old Madam Liao smirked, “Even if she doesn’t acknowledge our family ties now, don’t get too comfortable. Whether the Shen family will accept her is still uncertain. I may not live to see it, but you surely will.”

…

Han Qingqing was deeply troubled, even feeling a twinge of regret. “If I hadn’t interfered, even if Shen Tianming and Jiang Ruan had forced an engagement, it might not have worked out. Now, what have I become? I can’t stand being scorned by everyone.”

Mu Xuehui kept pondering about who made the call that night, summoning Jiang Baomin to the guesthouse. Such a cruel scheme, someone clearly wanted Shen Tianming to call off his childhood engagement.

Could it have been Qin Yan? No, Qin Yan had no reason to do that. In her previous life, Qin Yan had never loved any woman and wouldn’t have gone out of his way for a mere nanny.

Yet now, Qin Yan was about to get engaged to Jiang Ruan.

It was Qin Yan who reported the situation, Mu Xuehui couldn’t deceive herself. Bitterness surged within her as she thought, Qin Yan couldn’t possibly be doing this for love, he just needed a suitable nanny, and the simple-minded Jiang Ruan fit the role perfectly.

Mu Xuehui comforted Han Qingqing, “So what if the engagement banquet is held on the same day? The only one people will pity and mock is Jiang Ruan. Everyone will say she’s foolish, that the Qin family is only looking for a lifelong unpaid nanny. What’s there to be proud of? When the gossip shifts to her, there will be less focus on you. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Han Qingqing felt much better after hearing this. “Huihui, thank you.”

“No problem, we’re good friends, right? By the way, once Shen Tianming goes off to college, you shouldn’t cling to him. Men don’t like being watched like a dog on a leash. You should have your own career. My snack shop is about to open, and if you can’t bear the hardships of other jobs, you can come help me manage the cash register. I only trust you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

…

Outside the courtyard, there was a commotion. When they stepped out, they saw a moving crew blocking the road, carrying things like refrigerators, washing machines, electric fans, and televisions—valuable items worth around five thousand yuan altogether.

Han Qingqing explained, “This courtyard has been sold off except for our two rooms. The new owner is moving in. Look at all these appliances; they must be quite wealthy.”

Mu Xuehui, watching the well-off family’s move, felt a pang of jealousy. These newly popular appliances may seem outdated in the future, but right now, they were a luxury few could afford.

However, she would soon be able to afford them herself. She planned to go to college and make a lot of money.

As the movers quickly finished their work, Jiang Ruan entered the courtyard with Granny Huang on her arm.

Both were dressed in shades of red. Jiang Ruan had dressed up slightly, her hair jet-black and shiny, loosely braided and draped over her chest, with a small red velvet flower pinned at the end. She wore black leather shoes, white socks, a deep red skirt, and a white cotton shirt tucked into the skirt. Her skin was fair, with a slight pinkish glow like a delicate flower petal.

She looked both stylish and beautiful, not at all like someone simple-minded, but rather more radiant than a movie star on a magazine cover.

Jiang Ruan also wore a new watch on her wrist, which caught Mu Xuehui’s eye. The whole outfit was worth at least two hundred yuan. Given Jiang Ruan’s engagement to Qin Yan, these things were probably gifts from him.

Mu Xuehui hadn’t expected Jiang Ruan to look so stunning when dressed up. She worried that Qin Yan might actually fall for her.

She asked, “Jiang Ruan, this is the Jiang family’s place, but you’re back with the Han family now. Why are you here?”

Aside from the two rooms Liu Jinyun occupied, the rest of the courtyard had been purchased by Qin Yan for renovation. He said Jiang Ruan could stay here until she was married.

Jiang Ruan replied, “You’re standing on my family’s property right now. Why wouldn’t I come back? It’s my home, and now that the renovations are done, of course, I’m moving back in.”