Chapter 22: The Leaky Cotton-padded Jacket

The ceremony was complete, and the two newlywed couples were about to leave.

The two grooms brought their families to help carry the bride’s dowry.

Lu Dingyuan’s relatives eagerly helped move things, but after carrying Lin Huihui’s luggage and a new-looking cabinet, they were done.

They were dumbfounded. Looking at Xie Qingxiao’s relatives, they saw them first load a brand-new bicycle onto a flatbed cart, followed by a sewing machine, then a radio. Finally, a box was placed on top of the sewing machine.

Zhang Pengfei climbed onto the cart and opened the box, revealing a brand-new watch inside.

Lu Dingyuan’s relatives were speechless.

They ran to ask Lu Dingyuan，”Dingyuan，didn’t you say your wife’s dowry was the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’? Where are the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’?”

Lin Huihui’s dowry was the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’, and the Lu family was overjoyed.

Lu’s mother was a boastful woman, and she had spread the news to the whole village.

The people who came to help with the wedding were all related to the Lu family in some way. They were proud of Lu Dingyuan for marrying such a capable wife.

But where was the ‘Three Turns and One Ring’?

A few days ago, Lu Dingyuan learned from Lin Huihui that Lin Shan had given all of her dowry to Lin Xiangyi.

At the time, Lin Huihui cried constantly, implying that Lin Shan favored Lin Xiangyi.

All Lu Dingyuan could do was feel sorry for Lin Huihui. Coupled with the tea ceremony today, Lu Dingyuan not only felt that Lin Shan favored Lin Xiangyi，but also that he was mistreating Chen Fengmei and Lin Huihui.

He was filled with resentment towards Lin Shan and Lin Xiangyi.

Now, facing his relatives’ questions, he suppressed his anger and said, “The ‘Three Turns and One Ring’? Didn’t you all see them loaded onto the cart going to the Xie family?”

Lu Dingyuan’s relatives were stunned.

The Lu and Xie families were both from Longjing Village, and most of their relatives were villagers as well. They knew that the Xie family had suddenly decided to marry Lin Xiangyi a week ago.

Today, they also learned about the relationship between Lin Xiangyi and Lin Huihui from the subtle hints dropped by the Lin family.

Putting all these things together, they understood what Lu Dingyuan meant. Was he saying that Lin Shan favored his own daughter and gave the dowry originally intended for his stepdaughter to his biological daughter, Lin Xiangyi？

The relatives on the Lu family’s side were immediately indignant.

Seeing that they had just learned about the dowry situation, Lin Huihui’s heart sank. She quickly asked Lu Dingyuan，” Brother Dingyuan，did you tell your mother about the dowry?”

“No, I forgot,” Lu Dingyuan remembered that he had been busy with work and the wedding preparations these past few days, and he truly had forgotten. But he added, “It’s okay, we can talk about it later. My mother likes you so much, she’ll understand.”

No!

Lin Huihui frowned. While Lu’s mother did like her, it was because she had a job and a dowry.

In reality, Lu’s mother was the most materialistic person. If she knew about the missing dowry, she would definitely be unhappy…

Lin Huihui was worried.

When the Xie family came to propose marriage, Lin Shan didn’t mention the dowry to them.

Later, Lin Xiangyi learned about Lin Shan’s plan, but she didn’t tell Xie Qingxiao specifically. She just told him to prepare two flatbed carts.

Xie Qingxiao didn’t think much of it, assuming she had a lot of luggage. After all, he had seen firsthand how lavishly she spent money when he went shopping with her in the city.

Upon learning that the Lin family had given a ‘Three Turns and One Ring’ dowry, he was stunned. His only thought was:

The betrothal gift was too little.

As for the Xie family’s relatives who came to help with the wedding, they were beaming with smiles.

The bride’s family giving a ‘Three Turns and One Ring’ dowry was a matter of great face.

They walked with their heads held high, feeling proud, especially in front of the Lu family.

The Xie and Lu families were the two major surnames in Longjing Village, and they had never been very harmonious. Recently, Lu’s mother had been boasting to the Xie family, and now the Xie family was doing the same to the Lu family’s relatives, making them furious.

While everyone was carrying luggage, Lin Xiangyi was pulled into the house by her father.

“Dad, what’s going on? Xie Qingxiao is waiting for me!” said Lin Xiangyi.

“They say a daughter is a father’s little cotton-padded jacket, but yours is leaky. You’re already siding with your husband before you’re even married. You can’t even talk to your own dad?” Lin Shan mocked.

“Of course I’m going to side with my husband, he’s the one I’m going to spend my life with!” Lin Xiangyi snorted.

“I’m your father for life too!” Lin Shan fumed.

Lin Xiangyi just chuckled, “You know, having you as a father is like not having one at all.”

“You!” Lin Shan was furious. He glared at Lin Xiangyi for a while, then suddenly became dejected. “…I know you resent me. I’ve neglected you for all these years, but I really… I don’t know what happened. I wanted to care about you all these years. I thought I was doing what was best for you, but I didn’t realize you’d resent me so much. Maybe I really went about it the wrong way…”

The inarticulate man struggled to express his concern, his cloudy eyes filled with regret and complexity.

Lin Xiangyi softened her expression. She knew this was a fictional world, and everyone was probably bound by the world’s main storyline.

Her father was no exception.

But understanding was one thing, and the hurt was real. She couldn’t help but feel resentful towards her father.

“Alright, Dad, you don’t need to say any of this,” Lin Xiangyi looked at her father deeply, “I don’t care what you were like before, I only care about what you do from now on.”

She remembered her past life. By choosing to marry Xie Qingxiao，she had changed the novel’s plot, but she hadn’t received any punishment. This made her realize that this world could be lived outside the predetermined plot.

And her father was naturally no longer bound by the plot.

Therefore, the key was how her father chose to act from now on.

Lin Shan was helpless, “What can I do from now on? You’re my daughter, of course I’m going to protect you!”

“What if I’m wrong? Will you still protect me?” Lin Xiangyi asked back.

Lin Shan choked, “Well, that, that… depends on what you’ve done wrong.”

So righteous!

Lin Xiangyi rolled her eyes, “Don’t worry, if I make a mistake, I’ll admit it. Of course, if I think I’m right and you think I’m wrong, then that’s another matter.”

Just as she finished speaking, she heard Xie Qingxiao calling her from outside. She replied that she would be right there, then said to her father, “Dad, if you have anything else to say, just say it. My husband is calling me.”

My husband, my husband. How shameless can this little brat be?

Lin Shan glared at Lin Xiangyi, then called out to her, “Come back, we haven’t finished the important stuff.”

“Then hurry up and say it.”

Lin Shan pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and stuffed it into Lin Xiangyi’s hand, “Your betrothal gift!”

Lin Xiangyi held the thick stack of large denominations, her eyes sparkling with joy, “I thought you weren’t going to give it to me.”

“Do I look like that kind of person? If I said I would give it to you, I would,” Lin Shan said gruffly, “But keep this money to yourself, don’t let the Xie family know that you took all your dowry with you.”

“Okay, I got it,” Lin Xiangyi said.

Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Lin Shan was dissatisfied. “Don’t be so casual. The Xie family is indeed paying attention to you now, but who knows if that will change in the future? Men are unreliable.”

“I know,” Lin Xiangyi said, “Just like you.”

Lin Shan: “…” This little brat!