Chapter 31: Only Time Can Tell

Jiang Yining’s uncle lived in a different district from Huban City. The drive took nearly an hour and twenty minutes.

That morning, He Chi and Jiang Yining had gone to the mall to pick up some gifts. They set off at ten o’clock, and by the time they arrived at her uncle’s house, it was almost lunchtime.

Du Yingzhe had just returned from a shopping trip. As he approached the house, he spotted Jiang Yining stepping out of the passenger side of a black Land Rover.

He called out, “Ning Ning.”

When Jiang Yining saw him, she smiled and said, “Cousin.”

“You little rascal, always showing up right at mealtime.”

He Chi got out of the car as well.

Jiang Yining had intended to act as the bridge and make introductions, but before she could say anything, the two men had already shaken hands.

“He Chi.”

“Du Yingzhe.”

There was no need for polite formalities between men of the same age.

Du Yingzhe felt like He Chi looked somewhat familiar but couldn’t immediately place where he’d seen him before.

Helping them carry things inside, he noticed the bottle of red wine they brought and realized it was something Jiang Yining had specifically chosen for him.

Seeing the wine jogged his memory. “He Chi, I think I’ve seen you at Shiyou Lounge Bar before.”

He Chi chuckled. “Then I’d say it’s fate. Shiyou is a lounge bar I opened with a friend.”

“I knew your face looked familiar. So we’ve met before.”

Her uncle’s home was a self-built house. As soon as she stepped inside, Jiang Yining was hit by a strong scent of herbal medicine, and she could hear the sound of someone coughing.

She quickened her pace. The last time she’d been here was a month ago, and her uncle looked noticeably thinner than before.

“Uncle.”

Du Sheng looked up, a faint smile appearing on his pale face. “Ning Ning.”

He looked toward the door and saw He Chi standing beside his son.

He Chi had dressed with care today—a black shirt with a suit jacket. Standing next to Du Yingzhe, he was slightly taller and carried himself with a calm, composed air.

Just one glance and Du Sheng could tell this young man was strong and healthy. Even the portion of his forearm exposed beneath his sleeve revealed defined, muscular lines.

Having been ill for years, Du Sheng had come to view many things differently. In an ordinary person’s life, good health was most important. As long as one wasn’t sick, wealth didn’t really matter.

As Du Sheng looked over at him, He Chi stepped forward and greeted him with humility and respect. “Uncle, nice to meet you. I’m He Chi.”

When Du Sheng first learned that Jiang Yining had gotten married, he’d spent the whole night unable to sleep, worried sick. He didn’t know what the man looked like or what kind of person he was.

Now that they’d met, at least he could be reassured on the first count. As for the second, only time would tell.

Du Sheng responded, “Ning Ning, you and He Chi come sit with your uncle and keep me company for a bit.”

Du Yingzhe poured tea for them, then went off to help his mother in the kitchen.

Jiang Yining said, “Uncle, I’ll take He Chi to greet Auntie first.”

Before the words had even finished leaving her mouth, Ying Yun came out of the kitchen, smiling. “I thought I heard voices, but I figured I must be hearing things.”

Du Yingzhe teased, “Ning Ning, you don’t know how your aunt’s been today. Ever since morning she’s been hearing things, kept asking if you’d come back.”

His words drew laughter from everyone in the room.

Ying Yun’s attention quickly shifted to He Chi. She thought, This young man is quite something—better looking than our son, well-built, tall.

He Chi and Jiang Yining both greeted her, but Ying Yun didn’t respond right away.

Du Yingzhe leaned over and whispered into her ear, “Mom, the food’s burning.”

Startled, Ying Yun rushed back into the kitchen, only to realize, “Burning what? I haven’t even started cooking yet.”

Jiang Yining laughed. “Auntie, let me help you.”

Du Yingzhe stopped her. “Today you’re not allowed to move. Just sit here and keep my dad company.”

Du Sheng added, “Ning Ning, listen to your cousin.”

Jiang Yining had initially wanted to talk to her aunt alone in the kitchen, hoping to spare her uncle from unnecessary stress, but now she’d have to find another opportunity.

Du Yingzhe and He Chi got along surprisingly well, chatting from work to international affairs, while Du Sheng sat quietly nearby, listening.

Eventually, Jiang Yining found a moment to speak with Ying Yun in private.

Ying Yun brought her into the bedroom and started, “Ning Ning, the money you repaid before—your uncle actually saved it all for you.”

“He said that your stepmother has a nose for money, and you’re just like your mother—soft-hearted and kind. He was afraid once you started working, Zhao Hong would never leave you alone.”

Ying Yun handed Jiang Yining a bank card. “Last night, your uncle told me to give you all the money as your dowry and to add another ¥200,000 to it. There’s ¥400,000 in this card.”

Jiang Yining asked, “If you’re giving all this to me, what about Cousin?”

“Your uncle wants to sell this house we’re living in now, and move in with your cousin and his future wife. Your cousin agrees with the idea too.”

But Jiang Yining could tell from her aunt’s expression that she wasn’t as relieved as one would expect after resolving such a big issue.

It was likely that her cousin had agreed to let his parents live with them after marriage, but his fiancée might not be so willing.

Jiang Yining smiled gently and pushed the card back. “Auntie, I can’t accept this money. I appreciate the thought, and thank you both for your kindness.”

She changed the subject, smiling. “Auntie, have you checked your phone today? You’ve been busy all morning, right?”

Ying Yun replied, “I haven’t looked. Why?”

With a teasing tone, Jiang Yining said, “Then open your messages and check now.”

She and He Chi had gone to the bank that morning and transferred ¥500,000 into her aunt’s account. Judging by her aunt’s reaction, she clearly hadn’t noticed yet.

Ying Yun looked at the text, then put on her reading glasses to count the digits. Shocked, she asked, “Ning Ning, you sent this?”

Jiang Yining nodded and held her hand. “Auntie, you don’t need to worry about me. He Chi’s family is well-off. We’re not short on money. Uncle needs a lot of care and supplements every month, and Cousin still has a house and wedding to prepare for. You all need this money more than I do.”

Ying Yun understood what Jiang Yining was saying. Deep down, she wasn’t fully on board with the idea of living with her son and daughter-in-law after marriage.

Her husband cherished his niece, but they weren’t blood relatives. Of course she cared for Jiang Yining, but their own son naturally came first.

To her husband, Jiang Yining was the only child left behind by his sister. If their financial situation were better, he would have insisted on giving even more as her dowry.

Only last night had Ying Yun learned that the money Jiang Yining had repaid over the years hadn’t been touched by Du Sheng. He’d saved every cent, but had never mentioned it—perhaps worried she’d disapprove.

Ying Yun felt conflicted.

This girl had such a kind heart. Ying Yun covered her eyes and started to cry. “Ning Ning, if your uncle weren’t sick, I wouldn’t care about this little bit of money.”

Jiang Yining hugged her. She, too, had been through the hardship of a mother’s long illness, and knew what it felt like to be stretched thin financially.

“Auntie, don’t tell Uncle about this. We don’t want him worrying. Just give the money to Cousin so he can buy a house soon and focus on planning the wedding.”

Ying Yun wiped her tears. “But how can we keep it from him?”

“Didn’t Cousin used to invest in stocks?”

Ying Yun scoffed. “He was terrible at it—lost so much. And he refuses to admit it.”

Jiang Yining suggested, “Then tell Uncle the stocks just skyrocketed. Say Cousin cashed out and, together with the principal, it’s enough for a down payment.”

Ying Yun hesitated. “But your cousin didn’t invest that much. How could he have made this much profit?”

“Well, Uncle doesn’t understand how the stock market works anyway. Just say housing prices have dropped.”