Chapter 29

Gao Han was still browsing other styles nearby. Hearing the commotion, he was about to walk over, but stopped when he saw Song Qingdai subtly shake her head at him.

He halted his steps, crossed his arms, and leaned casually to the side—ready to enjoy the show.

He was quite curious to see how his little white rabbit would fight back.

“You must be my future sister-in-law, right?”

Faced with Miao Jingjing’s ridicule, Song Qingdai didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled sweetly and greeted her.

That one line—future sister-in-law—instantly delighted Miao Jingjing.

After all, her boyfriend came from one of the wealthier families in town.

Her sister was about to marry the deputy director of the textile factory, and rumor had it their family even had a fancy three-story house in town.

The wedding was supposedly going to include a bride price of two thousand yuan, and she had been told she could pick whatever she wanted—jewelry, clothes, everything—with no limits. Such extravagance.

“You really shouldn’t listen to my brother’s nonsense. I think this latest jewelry set suits you best. And it’s just five thousand yuan—that’s nothing for our family.”

“You wouldn’t believe it—my sister, Song Mingshan, is marrying the deputy director of the textile factory. Their bride price alone was this much!”

Song Qingdai dramatically held up ten fingers.

Miao Jingjing’s mouth formed a perfect “O.”

“T-Ten thousand?!”

The entire store fell silent in shock.

Ten thousand yuan as a bride price?

That was astronomical!

“Exactly. So five thousand is nothing to our family. Isn’t that right, big brother?”

Song Qingdai turned to Song Guangji with a bright smile.

Five thousand? If Song Guangji could cough up even five hundred today, she’d write her name backward!

His face twitched.

One of the clerks, sharp-eyed and quick-witted, immediately chimed in, “That’s right, Comrade. This set is one of our most popular styles. Your fair complexion and great figure are perfect for it. That gentleman who was helping you pick it out earlier was so patient—I’m sure he’ll buy this set for you!”

“I…”

Song Guangji’s expression twitched even harder.

He had brought Miao Jingjing shopping, and when they passed the jewelry shop, he’d bragged on a whim.

He’d only said it to impress her, thinking she’d be modest and restrained.

But she actually dared to want it.

Still, even if she wanted it, he had a plan to charm her into settling for something cheaper—maybe a few hundred yuan just to indulge her vanity a little.

But Song Qingdai’s words had blocked off all escape routes.

If he didn’t buy it, it would be humiliating with so many people watching.

But if he did, his pockets were emptier than his face was clean.

“Song Qingdai, what nonsense are you spouting? Since when did the Zhang family give that much bride price?”

He dragged her aside, gritting his teeth and hissing under his breath.

Song Qingdai looked surprised. “You didn’t know? Your mom asked Zhang Shaowen for ten thousand. She didn’t tell you?”

Her tone was full of mock sympathy—your mom lied to you, huh? Didn’t even tell you?

Song Guangji’s face darkened.

Seeing the genuine shock on her face made him start to doubt.

Right. The Zhang family was rich—well-known in town. Would his mother really settle for just a few thousand for Mingshan?

And Qingdai didn’t seem to be lying.

Could his mother have secretly pocketed money?

Once doubt is planted, it spreads like wildfire.

“Brother, you’re about to marry her. You’re not going to be stingy over a few thousand yuan, are you?”

“Look at how pretty and considerate my sister-in-law is—it’s only five thousand. If you don’t buy it, it’ll really seem like you’re not sincere, right, sister-in-law?”

Song Qingdai called her “sister-in-law” again and even reached out to hold Miao Jingjing’s hand.

There’s a saying—no one hits a smiling face. Faced with Qingdai’s warm enthusiasm, even Miao Jingjing found herself thrown off.

“Wait, I…”

Song Guangji shot a venomous glare at Song Qingdai. This wretched girl was clearly doing this on purpose!

“Miao Jingjing, your family wants to marry me, and you can’t even afford this?”

“Exactly, young man,” chimed in a nearby customer. “She’s a lovely girl. And gold keeps its value—you won’t lose out.”

The other shoppers weren’t fools. What kind of brother publicly slanders his own sister like that, seeming desperate for the whole world to hear?

Just from his looks, you could tell Song Guangji wasn’t anything good.

Badmouthing his sister to his fiancée—even if it were true, family shame isn’t meant to be aired in public.

“I…”

“Brother, don’t tell me you’re really too cheap to buy this for your fiancée?”

Seeing the moment was right, Song Qingdai threw another log on the fire.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Miao Jingjing’s face darkened. “You think I’m not worth five thousand yuan?”

Song Guangji’s molars were about to shatter.

That damn Song Qingdai! He should’ve drowned her in a manure pit when she was a kid!

Now she was deliberately sabotaging him.

She just couldn’t stand to see him doing well, could she?

“Didn’t you say you were taking me to buy wedding jewelry today? Well, I’ve set my heart on this set. If you don’t buy it for me, then don’t even think about getting married!”

Miao Jingjing had no patience left. With so many people watching, how humiliating would it be if he didn’t buy it?

Besides, she had already told her girlfriends her future husband came from a wealthy family, with a sister who married a factory director!

Even a deputy director was still a factory boss!

“I never said I wouldn’t buy it!”

Song Guangji’s eyes darted around, and he quickly thought of a solution. He turned to Song Qingdai and said, “Qingdai, this is your first time meeting your sister-in-law. As her future sister-in-law, shouldn’t you prepare a little gift for her?”

“This set of jewelry—you can buy it for her as a meeting gift!”

He shamelessly said it, not feeling the slightest hint of embarrassment.

If Song Qingdai dared to trap him, he could trap her right back!

“I’ve seen shameless, but I’ve never seen this level of shameless. Getting his own sister to pay for the wedding jewelry?”

Voices murmured from all around.

“Brother, it’s not that I won’t buy for my sister-in-law—you know that the money I earned working in the factory was all handed over to our stepmother. She said she was saving it for my dowry. Even though she ended up using it to buy you a job, we’re family, right? Who keeps score with family?”

Song Qingdai still smiled, but her words revealed a bombshell of truth.

Stepmother. Stepbrother. Earning money to fund her stepbrother’s job.

God.

What a heartbreaking story.

How many good stepmothers exist in the world?

And to think this one had such a grown son—turns out even his job was bought with money earned by his younger stepsister working in a factory!