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Zhang Qiao opened it and was so shocked that she swallowed the words she was about to say.
“Your Teacher Lin really cares about you.”
Zhang Qiao carefully picked up a jade bracelet, holding it under the light to examine it. “This is old pit glass-type imperial green. It’s hard to find such a good piece nowadays.”
“Teacher Lin said it was a gift from He Chi’s grandmother.”
Zhang Qiao could understand Jiang Yining’s unease. This imperial green bracelet was worth at least seven figures to start. Even if ordinary people saved their entire lives without eating or drinking, they wouldn’t be able to afford one.
Thanks to her best friend, she had the rare fortune of being able to touch such a precious jade bracelet.
“He Chi’s parents really are low-key, not showing off at all. I never would’ve imagined He Chi’s family background was this good.”
“Such priceless items, and they’re just casually stored in a wooden box.”
Zhang Qiao put the bracelet down and handed the box back to Jiang Yining. “Ningning, your Teacher Lin has always liked you, and now you’ve gone from being her student to her daughter-in-law. Honestly, that’s quite a lucky thing.”
“Don’t even talk about others. In my own family, my mom and grandmother have been arguing nonstop for over twenty years. My dad, as my mom’s husband and my grandmother’s son, just hides away and ignores it. I really don’t understand what the point of such a marriage is.”
“Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts can be a real hassle for a small family. Even though you and He Chi don’t have much affection right now, at least you have a good relationship with Teacher Lin.”
Jiang Yining understood everything Zhang Qiao was saying.
“You should keep these things, and maybe one day you can pass them down to your daughter or daughter-in-law.”
Jiang Yining nodded. “I’ll need to get a safe. These pieces of jewelry are too valuable, and I can’t wear them at school anyway.”
Zhang Qiao looked at Jiang Yining with a smile in her eyes. “Ningning, I’m so happy for you.”
Aunt Du passed away early, and Uncle Jiang held onto old-fashioned ideas, still insisting that “not having a son means the family line is cut off.”
Because Aunt Du was in poor health, he had to give up on having a second child, and he really did care for his only daughter.
But less than a year after Aunt Du passed, he remarried, and they had a son. Jiang Yiyang and Jiang Yining were nearly 21 years apart in age.
After having a son, all the care he had once shown to his beloved daughter was replaced with neglect. When Zhao Hong bullied her, Uncle Jiang turned a blind eye.
After finishing the chat with Zhang Qiao, Jiang Yining went to take a shower. After drying her hair, she returned to her room.
It was just about 10 o’clock, and Jiang Yining thought her dad was probably still awake, so she decided to give him a call.
After two rings, the phone was picked up by Zhao Hong, and her tone was unpleasant. “What do you want with your dad?”
Jiang Yining had long understood Zhao Hong’s personality, so she wasn’t angry. Her voice was slightly cold as she responded, “Aunt Hong, as you just said, I’m calling my dad. Anything I need to discuss will, of course, be with him.”
Zhao Hong raised her voice. “He’s giving Yiyang a bath. You can talk or not, it’s up to you.”
There was a beep, and Zhao Hong hung up the call.
Half an hour later, Jiang Yining still hadn’t received a return call from Jiang Wentao, so she began searching through her phone contacts.
On the other end of the phone, a voice said, “Hello?”
Jiang Yining’s voice was sweet as she said, “Aunt Sun, good evening. It’s so late, I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“No, I don’t go to bed so early. Why are you looking for me? Is something the matter?”
Jiang Yining explained, “Here’s the thing. I called my dad at 10 o’clock, but Aunt Hong hung up the phone. I was hoping you could go to my house and let my dad know that I need to talk to him about something urgent.”
Aunt Sun’s voice sounded a bit excited. “It’s no trouble at all, just a two-minute walk. I’ll go to your house right now.”
Less than three minutes later, Jiang Yining received a call from Jiang Wentao.
Seeing that Sun Shujun from next door had no intention of leaving, Zhao Hong was irritated. She muttered a curse at Jiang Yining under her breath.
She told Zhao Jiajia to take Jiang Yiyang to bed, then went to deal with Sun Shujun.
“Sun Jie, I’m so sorry to trouble you so late. This Jiang Yining, really, calling back and then having to ask someone to deliver a message.”
“Yining did want to call her dad herself, but it’s just that…”
Zhao Hong’s expression changed in an instant. “Sun Jie, has Jiang Yining been telling you nonsense again?”
“Being someone’s stepmother is really not easy. I kindly arranged a blind date for her, and not only did she not appreciate it, but she also went outside saying I have ill intentions. Everything is somehow my fault.”
Seeing Zhao Hong’s aggrieved expression, Aunt Sun didn’t feel any sympathy for her. “Yining is a child I’ve watched grow up. She’s been well-behaved and sensible since she was young. Zhao Hong, you’ve misunderstood her.”
“Yining didn’t tell me anything,” Aunt Sun continued. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but as children grow up, they develop their own ideas. In my house, my son and daughter even complain about me interfering with their lives.”
“Moreover, you’re not Yining’s biological mother. Her matters are for Old Jiang to handle. Why do you need to interfere?”
Seeing that Zhao Hong’s face looked unpleasant, Aunt Sun wasn’t afraid. “Besides, you have a daughter yourself. Ask Jiajia if she would be willing to go on a blind date with a man who’s much older than her, a second marriage with a child?”
“I was also tricked by the matchmaker. How was I supposed to know the other party was like this?”
Zhao Hong said sarcastically, “Anyway, from now on, I won’t interfere with Jiang Yining’s matters. I’m just worried that some neighbors will say I’m neglecting my stepdaughter’s issues, and then I’ll have no one to turn to when I’m upset.”
Aunt Sun knew Zhao Hong was referring to her, so she decided to play dumb. “How could that be?”
When Jiang Wentao came out of his room, Aunt Sun quickly excused herself. “Oh, it’s almost 11 o’clock. I’m getting old, I can’t stay up late. Let’s talk another day.”
After Aunt Sun left, Zhao Hong snorted coldly. “Her own house is full of problems, and she still wants to meddle in other people’s affairs. If Sun Shujun is so capable, why doesn’t she go to heaven?”
Zhao Hong looked at Jiang Wentao and saw him frowning, looking troubled. She coldly asked, “What did your precious daughter say to you this time?”
Jiang Wentao didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Ningning called me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Zhao Hong pretended to be confused. “I was just busy and forgot.”
Jiang Wentao was silent for a moment before speaking. “Ningning said she’s planning to register for marriage with her high school Chinese teacher’s son. Both families are arranging to meet for a meal.”
His voice sounded low and disappointed, likely because he hadn’t expected things to happen so suddenly.
Jiang Yining was notifying him about meeting the boy’s parents. In the past, whenever she had something important, she would always discuss it with him.
What had happened in the past few years? Father and daughter hardly communicated anymore. Now, even for such a big life event, she had already made decisions and only informed him afterward.
A sense of frustration, loss, and the reluctance of a father about to marry off his daughter grew in Jiang Wentao’s heart.
Zhao Hong was also surprised. After a long pause, she mocked, “Your daughter really has guts. In just a few days, she found herself a man to marry.”
Jiang Wentao could hear the sarcasm in Zhao Hong’s words. Angrily, he retorted, “Zhao Hong, I won’t allow you to talk about Ningning like that. She told me, she had known him before. He had been working out of town, but he returned to Lincheng this year.”
“On the day of the blind date, the man named Chen made things difficult for her, and it was thanks to him that Ningning got some help.”
Zhao Hong wasn’t in the mood to listen to Jiang Wentao’s explanation. She only cared about the house. “Since Jiang Yining is getting married, she should transfer the house to us.”
“I’ve never seen a daughter marry into another family while still bringing her dowry house with her.”
Zhao Hong then asked, “Did your daughter mention how much the groom’s family is giving as a bride price?”