CHAPTER 439: 439 AGREED

"Sister-in-law, we don’t have that much bride price here. Our tradition is usually just two sets of clothing and some simple gifts. You’ve given too much. Is bride price so heavy on your side?"

"Our customs are the same as yours, but I like Jingyi. This money isn’t given to others; in the future, it will all be theirs. Giving more now is a token of our family’s sincerity."

Mrs. Qiao was happy inside, knowing all the money would definitely go to the kids.

"Alright. Thank you, sister-in-law, for valuing Jingyi."

"A child like Jingyi is hard not to like."

Everything was arranged, and tomorrow’s engagement would just be a family meal. The Qiao family’s elders had passed away years ago, and the uncles and aunts weren’t local, so they’d wait for the wedding announcement. The engagement wouldn’t trouble them to come over. Mrs. Qiao wasn’t local either; her side only had brothers left, and they’d also wait for Jingyi’s wedding before being notified.

Yao family’s parents wanted to leave, but the Qiao couple disagreed, insisting they stay for dinner before leaving. They considered having them stay over, but feared they might feel uncomfortable.

In the afternoon, Yao Shimin and Qiao Jingyi stayed together in their room, never running out of things to talk about.

Knowing the engagement was tomorrow, Yao Shimin took action, holding Jingyi’s hand, satisfied with the shy look on his wife’s face.

He finally had such a normal life.

"Jingyi, I will treat you well in the future. I’m not a man with bad intentions. If you’re dissatisfied with anything, just tell me directly. My work is busy, and I might overlook some things, so speak up directly."

"Okay, I’m not one to hold back. Your only requirement is to be kind to me."

"I promise I will absolutely do that."

Yao Shimin’s hand gradually tightened, and they sat closer together.

It was hard to resist, but he couldn’t hold back, pulled Jingyi over, hugged her, and kissed her lightly. No further actions were taken, as now wasn’t the right time.

Qiao Jingyi blushed deeply, wrapping her arms around Yao Shimin’s waist.

They could hear each other’s intense heartbeat, "Jingyi, I promise I will treat you well for a lifetime."

Qiao Jingyi softly replied, she was willing to believe him.

Meanwhile, Qiao Dongshan was blocked by Shen Xueqi after work, "Didn’t you take leave?"

"There wasn’t much to do this afternoon, so I came to work."

"How’s Jingyi’s partner?"

"He’s alright, Yao Shimin from the textile factory."

"Deputy director?"

"Yes."

"He’s good, just a bit old, right? Was already married?"

"Yes, four years older than Jingyi and divorced. His parents came today, and they’ve arranged the engagement and wedding date."

"How did they meet?"

"Jiang Xinyu introduced them. She feared Jingyi and our family might mind, so she wrote a letter. Jingyi trusts her, visited him once, found him acceptable, and our family thought he was suitable too."

"Yes, Jiang Xinyu came back."

"Captain Shen, where are you headed?"

"I have nothing to do this afternoon, so I’m going to the school to check on Shen Hongyu."

"Hongyu is already quite reliable."

"Works too hard, it looks tiring. Alright, get back to work, I’m stepping out."

Qiao Dongshan had nothing much to do in the afternoon either, so he sat in his spot reading the newspaper.

Qiao Jingyi sliced watermelon and sent it to both sets of parents. She and Yao Shimin decided to take a walk in the park, not wanting to stay in the same room, feeling a bit awkward without a formal status. The man wanted to respect the woman, hence the park outing.

"Sister-in-law, Jingyi seems really nice."

"I know my daughter; she has no hidden agendas, straightforward. In future, when you and she get along as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, sister you must be tolerant."

"I like it this way; sister-in-law, you don’t know, the last daughter-in-law I chose was sweet outside but sour inside, not genuine."

"It’s not right to speak ill of others, and I don’t wish to say anything about her. But when things went wrong back then, I feared Shimin would be too deeply hurt. Fortunately, he met a busy girl like Jingyi."

"It’s their fate."

"Who can say otherwise? So far but still met, isn’t it fate?"

"Jingyi’s classmate who is Shimin’s coworker introduced them, fearing we’d mind Shimin was once married, sent a letter. Jingyi and that girl have a very good relationship, decided to see him. To be honest, at that time, her father and I were unwilling. Sister you know, original couples are the best.

Jingyi and Shimin truly have fate, Jingyi brought Shimin straight home, and after seeing him, felt he was a good boy. The biggest factor for our decision was Shimin proactively suggested checking his health fearing he had issues."

We agreed too, honestly if Shimin really had health issues that couldn’t be cured, we wouldn’t have agreed no matter how good he was.

We took them to the hospital director, a friend of Old Qiao’s. He took their pulse and said they both were fine, which reassured us."

"Cough! That’s expected; if Shimin was really ill, we couldn’t let the girl be delayed.

It’s all my doing; the previous one didn’t have kids with my son, nor with anyone else. I suspect she said something to Shimin that made him want to get checked."

"Shimin is a responsible man, so we’re at ease leaving Jingyi with him."

"Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll treat Jingyi well. I can retire in a year, Old Yao in three years. Then we’ll move here and live with them, help them with the kids."

"That would be wonderful, with both of you watching over, the two kids can focus on their careers.

Moreover, both are in good health; having kids is just a matter of time."

"I also look forward to the next generation, grandchildren are all fine. My health is good now, enough to watch the kids."

"I still prefer boys." Mrs. Qiao tentatively said.

"All the same. We don’t need them to support us, we can still help them, they both have jobs, the more the merrier. Our family can afford to raise them."

"Exactly, that’s the point, have more kids. Shimin is the only one in his family, we just have the two of them, having more in the next generation is better."

"That’s my thought too, let them have more kids, and I’ll take responsibility for looking after them."

Next, they discussed how to raise the children.

As they talked, they grew happier; the two mothers greatly anticipated the kids, as in the eyes of outsiders, Yao Shimin and Qiao Jingyi weren’t young anymore.