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He Chi handed Jiang Wentao a bank card. “Uncle Jiang, there’s 399,000 in the card. This is our humble token of appreciation. I hope you won’t think poorly of it.”
“The password is the last six digits on the back.”
He Chi hadn’t originally intended to give this money, but Teacher Lin had insisted, saying they should at least show some goodwill and give a little something to avoid making things difficult for Jiang Yi Ning’s father.
Jiang Yi Ning had no idea that Teacher Lin and He Chi had prepared this.
She looked at He Chi in surprise.
Jiang Wentao, seeing his daughter’s reaction, understood she hadn’t known about it beforehand.
He knew that Jiang Yi Ning was very sensitive about this. Just a few days ago, Zhao Hong had casually arranged a blind date for her over fifty thousand, causing a commotion at home.
Jiang Wentao hesitated.
Beside him, Jiang Yufang spoke up, “Wentao, just accept it. It’s a gesture of goodwill from the in-laws.”
Jiang Wentao accepted the card and then asked, “He Chi, when do you and Yi Ning plan to get the marriage certificate?”
It was the first time He Chi felt so guilty. He looked at Jiang Yi Ning and, feeling a bit awkward, answered, “Probably in the next couple of days.”
As a woman, Jiang Yufang thought about things more thoroughly. Since they were getting the marriage certificate in a couple of days, she asked straightforwardly, “He Chi, don’t take it the wrong way, but I’m curious—do you and Yi Ning have a place to live after you get married?”
He Chi could understand that as a family member, she was concerned about how Jiang Yi Ning would fare after the marriage.
In a very humble tone, He Chi replied, “Aunt, a few years ago, I bought a place in Yuhu Bancheng, but it’s newly renovated. Our marriage happened rather suddenly, so Yi Ning will have to stay there with me for now.”
“It’s also very close to Yi Ning’s school. If she finds it uncomfortable, we can always look for another place.”
Yuhu Bancheng was an upscale residential area, with large apartments. It was said that the price per square meter there was at least over a hundred thousand.
Jiang Yufang had been there once, accompanying a neighbor’s family member.
She was amazed. “That’s a great place.”
Jiang Wentao, still a bit concerned, asked, “He Chi, did you pay for it in full, or is it on a mortgage?”
He Chi replied, “Uncle, I paid in full for the house. Please don’t worry.”
Paid in full?
Jiang Yufang was shocked, then looked at He Chi with renewed scrutiny. She began to doubt some of what He Chi had said about his family doing a “small business.”
Afterward, Teacher Lin asked He Chi to see Jiang Yi Ning’s family off.
While He Chi was helping his parents into a taxi, Jiang Yufang called Jiang Yi Ning aside. “Yi Ning, what exactly does He Chi’s family do?”
Jiang Yi Ning answered that she didn’t know either and said, “Aunt, whatever his family does, it’s really none of my business.”
Jiang Yufang scolded her lightly, “You child, how can it be none of your business? Now that you’re married, you and He Chi are one.”
Her niece, whether in looks or personality, took after Du Ruo—both were cold by nature, stubborn, and proud.
Jiang Yufang continued, “Yi Ning, since He Chi could pay for the house in Yuhu Bancheng in full, but the bride price he gave your father is only around four hundred thousand, did his family give you anything privately?”
Jiang Yi Ning understood that her aunt was looking out for her, and her tone softened slightly. “No matter how much He Chi gives, what can my family offer as my dowry?”
Her words made Jiang Yufang hesitant to say anything more.
“You’re right to think that way. It’s better than risking being looked down upon by the in-laws later.”
On the way back, Jiang Yi Ning felt a weight on her heart. She truly felt that this marriage wasn’t easy.
Love is idealistic, but marriage is reality.
If He Chi’s family wasn’t in a good position, perhaps the meal today wouldn’t have ended so smoothly.
Her small act of rebellion, rushing to get the marriage certificate, had been entirely paid for by He Chi.
As they reached the fork in the road, Jiang Wentao suddenly spoke up. “He Chi, take Aunt home first.”
Jiang Yi Ning was puzzled. “Dad, it’s more convenient to take you first. There’s no need to make such a big detour.”
“I know you don’t want to go home, but I just want to spend a little more time with you.”
He Chi picked up on the underlying meaning in Jiang Wentao’s words. He gently squeezed Jiang Yi Ning’s hand. “It’s okay, we’ll take Aunt home first.”
He Chi then turned to Jiang Wentao and said, “Uncle, whenever I have free time, I’ll accompany Yi Ning back to have a meal.”
Jiang Wentao understood that his daughter was very resistant to the idea of returning to their home, so he didn’t take He Chi’s promise too seriously.
However, at least it was something—better than not showing any consideration at all.
After dropping off Jiang Yufang, He Chi took Jiang Wentao to Jingli Community.
When they arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, Jiang Wentao asked, “Yi Ning, we’re already at the door. Why don’t you and He Chi come up for a cup of tea before you leave?”
Jiang Yi Ning declined, “No, I still need to pack some things. The school is about to start, so I have to move things over while I still have time.”
She noticed her dad seemed like he wanted to say something, so she knew he had something he wanted to talk to her about privately.
Jiang Yi Ning told He Chi, “We can’t stay here for too long. You go find a place to park and wait for me.”
He Chi understood, “No rush, I’ll wait for you over there and reply to some work messages.”
Jiang Yi Ning nodded, opened the car door, and got out.
After He Chi’s car drove off, Jiang Yi Ning finally spoke, “Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?”
Jiang Wentao paused for a moment, carefully considering his words before responding, “Yi Ning, now that you’re married, have you thought about the property transfer?”
“We can’t just let our family not have our own house.”
Jiang Yi Ning had expected her father to say something more personal, but it seemed like he was still focused on the house.
Disappointment crept into her heart, and her eyes gradually grew cold. “What do you mean by ‘not having our own house’? Don’t you have a house now?”
“That house is under your name.”
Jiang Yi Ning countered, “Does it matter if the house is under my name? Has it affected your living situation?”
Jiang Wentao was left speechless.
But now that Jiang Yi Ning was about to marry He Chi, and He Chi had a nice house, while their own place was an old building—though it had the advantage of location—it wasn’t in their name. His wife would keep using that as an excuse to argue with him.
He didn’t want the family to continue fighting all the time.
Jiang Wentao felt a wave of helplessness rise in his heart. He looked at Jiang Yi Ning with difficulty, saying, “Yi Ning, it’s hard for me too. You don’t want to see me struggling, do you?”
Jiang Yi Ning’s heart burned with anger and disappointment. “I was in a good mood today. I don’t want to talk about these things on a day like this.”
Jiang Wentao, sensing the tension, didn’t press further. “Alright, think it over when you get back. He Chi’s still waiting for you. I’ll head inside.”
Watching her father’s back as he walked away, Jiang Yi Ning felt an intense anger rising in her chest.
He was in his fifties now, an age where he should be slowing down and enjoying life. If he hadn’t remarried, or if his stepmother wasn’t someone like Zhao Hong, he might have protected her, and they could still have the father-daughter relationship they once shared.
Why did he have to make things so hard on himself?
She wouldn’t let herself become a blood bag that they could continuously drain.
As for her younger brother Jiang Yiyang, with whom she shared a bloodline, Jiang Yi Ning didn’t have any fondness for him either. The two siblings hardly had any real emotional bond.
Back in the car, He Chi was still dealing with work messages.
When Jiang Yi Ning returned, He Chi put down his phone and glanced at her. He noticed the furrow in her brows and the cloud of worry in her eyes.
He asked with concern, “Are you okay?”
Jiang Yi Ning forced a smile, “I’m fine.”
Seeing her like this, He Chi’s tone became serious as he called her name, “Yi Ning.”
Jiang Yi Ning paused as her fingers were still gripping the seatbelt. Hearing his voice, she instinctively stopped and turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”