“I wonder when I’ll finally hear some good news from them,” Chu Xia sighed.

“It should be soon,” replied Cen Zhenian with a smile.

Cen Huaian looked puzzled. “Mom, what good news are you talking about with Uncle Jiang and Sister Tao Tao?”

Chu Xia suddenly remembered she hadn’t told Cen Huaian about Jiang Zhida bringing Tao Tao to the hospital recently. She laughed, “What other good news could it be? News of their wedding, of course.”

Cen Huaian paused, his face showing a mix of surprise and confusion.

His brows furrowed as he asked, “But aren’t Uncle Jiang and Sister Tao Tao pretending to be a couple? Are they now planning a fake marriage?”

Cen Huaian couldn’t understand this turn of events, his mind momentarily stalling.

Chu Xia burst out laughing, “No, not at all!”

Cen Zhenian explained, “Your uncle and Tao Tao are genuinely together now, and they’re planning a real wedding.”

Cen Huaian’s expression relaxed, and he felt relieved.

He believed that marriage was a sacred bond, not something to be taken lightly. If Uncle Jiang were truly faking a marriage, he would find it hard to stand by and cover for him in front of the family elders.

Though he was curious about how Jiang Zhida and Tao Tao got together, as long as it wasn’t a fake wedding, the details weren’t something he absolutely needed to know.

---

The next couple of days flew by.

Because of her pregnancy, Tao Tao was sleeping more, so she went to bed early, but her parents, on the other hand, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

They kept worrying about whether the house was clean enough, if something was out of place, whether they had enough chairs, or if the table was too low.

They finally got up in the middle of the night and carefully went through the house, cleaning and tidying it all over again before they could finally get back to sleep.

Even so, they woke up early the next morning before dawn.

While Tao Tao was still asleep, her parents quietly opened the door and headed to the market, eager to buy the freshest ingredients for the day.

When Tao Tao woke up, she found her parents bustling about in the kitchen.

She tried to help, but her mother gently pushed her out, signaling for her to go have breakfast.

Now that she wasn’t just looking after herself, they wanted her to stay healthy.

---

It wasn’t only the Tao family who was busy. The Jiang family was also bustling early in the morning.

Yang Mei tried on one outfit after another, showing them to Uncle Jiang and Jiang Zhida. “Is this outfit too formal? I don’t want to look too strict and make Tao Tao’s parents nervous.”

She moved on to another outfit. “This one looks a bit drab, doesn’t it?”

And another. “This one doesn’t look formal enough; I don’t want them to think I’m not taking them seriously.”

Finally, she stopped at a flowery one. “This one’s too loud. Definitely not.”

As Yang Mei went through each outfit, Uncle Jiang and Jiang Zhida’s expressions gradually grew numb.

“Mom, if you keep this up, the day will be over before we even leave!” Jiang Zhida eventually said, unable to hold back any longer as he glanced at the clock.

Yang Mei suddenly realized the time, slapped her forehead, and looked at them. “Why didn’t you remind me sooner?”

In the end, she chose a semi-formal yet soft-looking outfit that conveyed her respect for Tao Tao’s family while still being approachable.

When she finally declared she was ready, Uncle Jiang and Jiang Zhida exchanged relieved glances.

They had already prepared the gifts the previous day—appropriate ones for a first meeting. When the formal engagement came around, they’d bring even more, but for now, they had enough to fill the trunk.

As Jiang Zhida drove toward Tao Tao’s house, Yang Mei nervously checked her makeup in a small mirror. “Do you think this lipstick is too red?”

“Mom, it’s fine. Don’t worry,” Jiang Zhida reassured her from the driver’s seat.

Yang Mei finally put the mirror down. “I’m just doing this for you, you know. I don’t want to offend your future mother-in-law and ruin your chances of getting married!”

Jiang Zhida chuckled, nodding repeatedly, “Yes, yes, I know. Tao Tao and I will definitely be grateful and take good care of you once we’re married!”

Yang Mei tried to suppress a laugh but couldn’t help rolling her eyes playfully, “Oh, stop flattering me. Tao Tao’s a good girl; I know she’ll be good to us too.”

The car finally arrived at Tao Tao’s house, where a group of curious neighbors had already gathered to watch.

They eagerly awaited to see what kind of gifts the rich son-in-law would bring to the family they had once looked down upon.

“Look at them! Those two disabled parents really knew what they were doing. Who cares about health when you’ve got a daughter who’s pretty and educated? She’s still managed to marry someone well-off,” one neighbor commented.

“Exactly! We used to advise them not to waste so much on her education, saying she should just go to work and marry young to ease their burden. Turns out they had the right idea. We sure didn’t see that coming.”

“I know, right? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have made my daughter quit school early to help with her younger siblings.”

Jiang Zhida overheard these conversations as he stepped out of the car.

The neighbors didn’t even bother lowering their voices, especially since they were talking about the family they once looked down upon.

Jiang Zhida raised his eyes, a hint of menace in his gaze as he coolly asked, “What were you just saying? Care to repeat that in front of me?”

Yang Mei and Uncle Jiang stepped out of the car, their expressions stern, revealing none of their usual warmth.

Standing beside Jiang Zhida, they cast disapproving looks at the gossiping neighbors.

The trio shared a sense of pain and indignation, feeling heartbroken for the mistreatment Tao Tao’s family had endured in this neighborhood.

The neighbors, known for bullying the weak, were visibly frightened, their legs trembling as they stammered apologies.

“We… we were just joking.”

“Yes, yes, we were just saying that Tao Tao’s parents are smart, much smarter than us.”

“That’s right, we’re just foolish bigmouths. Please, don’t take offense.”

They hurried to explain, as Tao Tao and her family came outside, hearing the commotion.

Tao Tao could tell what had happened even without hearing the full conversation.

She had long known the kind of people her neighbors were—always ready to praise the powerful and trample on the vulnerable, always careful to mock those who seemed less fortunate but secretly wary of them becoming successful.

Ignoring their pleading glances, Tao Tao turned to Jiang Zhida, Yang Mei, and Uncle Jiang. “Uncle, Aunt, Zhida, you’re here.”

Tao Tao’s parents, wearing the new clothes she had bought for them, looked overwhelmed.

Though they were dressed nicely, they still felt a lack of confidence, fidgeting nervously in the presence of Yang Mei and Uncle Jiang.

Jiang Zhida stepped beside Tao Tao, wrapping an arm around her waist as he turned back to the neighbors. “If I hear any more of that nonsense, don’t be surprised if I bring my friends down here to pay you a little visit.”

The neighbors shuddered, hastily apologizing, “We’re sorry. Please don’t hold it against us.”

Only when Jiang Zhida allowed them to leave did they scatter, fleeing as fast as they could.

Jiang Zhida’s intimidating demeanor had left them thoroughly rattled, and they worried that he might indeed bring his friends by someday, which could mean trouble for them.

After they were gone, Yang Mei opened the trunk and called Uncle Jiang and Jiang Zhida over to help carry the gifts.

She held two boxes of nutritional supplements as she spoke to Tao Tao and her parents. “Today’s a special day for us to finally meet, so don’t let those people ruin it. If you feel like their apology wasn’t enough, we’ll be happy to help you get the justice you deserve.”

Tao Tao’s parents immediately waved their hands, saying, “No, no, it’s too much trouble for you.”

Tao Tao’s mother gestured to convey the same sentiment, showing she wasn’t used to all this attention.

Yang Mei smiled. “Now that these two are getting married, we’re family. What’s there to be concerned about? We didn’t bring much today; this is just a small gesture. Today is really for us to sit down, get to know each other, and talk about the details—bride price, engagement gifts, and, of course, the wedding day.”

Tao Tao’s father, looking flustered, replied, “Anything is fine, anything at all.”

Tao Tao’s mother nodded in agreement, her expression anxious.

Yang Mei chuckled, “Anything won’t do! Our family really values Tao Tao, and we’re not going to let her feel slighted in any way. She deserves all that is traditionally given.”

Uncle Jiang and Jiang Zhida placed the gifts by the door, a small pile of boxes accumulating on the doorstep.

Tao Tao’s father looked at the gifts, feeling overwhelmed. “It’s too much. You really didn’t have to bring so much.”

Uncle Jiang clapped his hands together, saying, “It’s nothing. Yang Mei is right. Tao Tao coming into our family is a blessing, and we all cherish her very much.”

Jiang Zhida added, “Uncle, Auntie, I’m taking your precious daughter into my family. If I didn’t show how grateful I am, I wouldn’t be much of a man!”

Tao Tao’s parents were touched by the respect shown to them and felt their noses tingle as tears threatened.

They were genuinely glad their daughter had found such a good family.

Yang Mei and Uncle Jiang assured them that the bride price would be given at the highest standard, with money, jewelry, clothes, and everything necessary for a proper marriage—all included.

Tao Tao’s father, somewhat flustered, waved his hands, “No need, no need for so much.”

Tao Tao’s mother also gestured anxiously, echoing her husband’s sentiment.