The usually peaceful Qiao Village was bustling with noise and excitement at that moment. It was clearly time for the villagers to be working in the fields, but most of the Qiao Village folks had dropped their work and run off to see the spectacle.
After all… a tractor had pulled up with a whole load of precious items to their village!
Looking at the items on that tractor, the “Three Turns and One Sound” as high-spec wedding gifts was one thing.
But there was even—
“My goodness! Is that a television?”
“Television? You mean the thing in the box where people move around and talk, telling stories?”
“I heard city televisions are super expensive! Gotta be several hundred bucks!”
“Ain’t that the truth! And these TVs are real treasures— even if you’ve got the money, you might not get one. Those TV coupons are hard as heck to come by!”
“Oh man, whose wedding is this? They’re splashing out like this…”
“Who else? It has to be Old Village Chief Qiao’s youngest granddaughter and her rich city beau!”
…
The crowd eyed the eye-catching bicycle, sewing machine, radio, television, and more on the tractor. They watched the Qiao Family chatting with the people on the tractor, their gazes full of envy, jealousy, and hate!
The Qiao Village villagers all speculated in their hearts that with betrothal gifts this lavish, the private bride price from the groom’s side had to be hefty too!
“Old Qiao the Third sure has good fortune, landing such a fine son-in-law!”
“Hogwash! What do you mean Old Qiao the Third has a good son-in-law? It’s clearly that he has a good daughter!”
“Right! That Shu girl is such a beauty— this much betrothal gift is only what she deserves!”
…
Hearing the envious words from those around them, the Qiao Family all felt immensely proud.
Though they hadn’t expected the Feng Family to bring such generous betrothal gifts when coming to pick up Qiao Shu.
Bicycles and sewing machines, radios and televisions, and judging by the way the other side clutched that bag so carefully, there might even be a watch. Betrothal gifts this extravagant were rare even in the city!
The Feng Family truly valued their Qiao Family!
Their Qiao Family’s daughter wouldn’t suffer after marrying over!
At that moment, all the Qiao Family members were thrilled for Qiao Shu marrying into such an attentive and generous in-law family.
Only Qiao Hui seethed with jealousy inside, nearly grinding her teeth to bits!
After all… in her last life, when she married Feng Xiao, there hadn’t been such “high-spec” betrothal gifts!!
Especially when she saw the man picking up Qiao Shu pull out several jewelry boxes from the bag he’d been holding so carefully after arriving at the Qiao house. Qiao Hui was so jealous she almost regretted giving Feng Xiao to Qiao Shu!
After all, no matter how rich Huo Qinming was, he’d only struck it big later. How could he compare to the Feng Family, who had always been wealthy!
But soon, Qiao Hui calmed down. She muttered to herself that Qiao Shu could gloat all she wanted— she was just enjoying the sweet before the bitter. Once she married over, she’d have hard days ahead!
“Comrade Yang, th-this… all this is betrothal gift for our little granddaughter??!”
When Old Village Chief Qiao saw the jewelry boxes handed over by the man there to pick up his granddaughter, he was utterly stunned by the Feng Family’s extravagance.
He knew his old chief was a different man now— high-ranking and accomplished, an exemplary commander.
But he hadn’t expected his old chief to be so thoughtful, giving their Qiao Family such face.
” Village Chief Qiao, this is a meeting gift from Regiment Leader Feng’s mother and sister for Comrade Qiao Shu.”
Once inside the Qiao house’s main room, away from the other villagers, Yang Baocheng brought out the most valuable jewelry from the betrothal gifts.
The Wedding Gold Jewelry gleaming in the boxes nearly blinded everyone in the Qiao Family.
Faced with how highly the Feng Family valued Qiao Shu, Old Master Qiao was deeply moved, his eyes instantly welling up.
His voice choked as he said, “Quick, go call Shushu out.”
But Old Master Qiao didn’t even need to send someone— Qiao Hui had already run off to bring Qiao Shu out.
Qiao Shu followed Qiao Hui out of the room and into the family parlor where guests were received. She saw the extremely precious betrothal gifts neatly arranged there.
Though the so-called big three and big four pieces— bicycle, sewing machine, radio, television— didn’t stir much in Qiao Shu’s heart.
After all, these things were commonplace in modern times, in every household.
But this was the 1980s, and these items were indeed very precious. If a family had even one, they were considered well-off.
Especially since the other side hadn’t just prepared such substantial betrothal gifts but had also generously gotten her Wedding Gold Jewelry and a watch as a meeting gift…
It seemed the Feng Family really valued her family, meaning the Feng Family had good character. They didn’t look down on her rural background at all and truly valued her from the heart, showing it with actions and care for her feelings.
Qiao Shu sighed inwardly, her favorable impression of the yet-to-be-met Feng Family soaring.
Thus, she felt even better about marrying an unfamiliar “old man” and becoming stepmother to two little kids.
“Comrade Yang, this is my little granddaughter who’s marrying Regiment Leader Feng, Qiao Shu.”
Seeing Qiao Shu arrive, Old Master Qiao hurriedly pulled her over and said to Yang Baocheng.
When Yang Baocheng saw Qiao Shu, the man who’d been quite composed suddenly widened his eyes. His mouth fell slightly open, revealing his teeth— he looked utterly dumbfounded.
“Hello, Comrade Yang. Thanks for the trouble of coming to pick me up.”
Qiao Shu was used to people staring at her in stunned silence the first time they saw her, so she greeted him gracefully.
Hearing the girl’s clear, sweet voice, like a mountain spring, Yang Baocheng finally snapped out of his daze at her stunningly beautiful face.
“Q-Qiao… Comrade Qiao Shu, h-hello…”
Boom— Yang Baocheng felt like his head had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, his cheeks burning hot.
How was Comrade Qiao Shu this gorgeous? He’d never seen a girl more beautiful.
Even the delicately raised young ladies in the Military District Compound couldn’t hold a candle to this country girl!
Though Yang Baocheng marveled at Qiao Shu’s beauty in his heart, he didn’t dare glance at the fairy-like girl again.
Seeing Yang Baocheng so awkward and tense, cheeks flushed, avoiding Qiao Shu’s gaze, Qiao Hui rolled her eyes inwardly and cursed that Qiao Shu was truly a vixen.
She’d even bewitched this man who’d been like a stone to her in her last life— grunting and never saying more.
Thinking of her last life, Qiao Hui’s hatred for Qiao Shu flared again.
They were both marrying Feng Xiao, so why had the Feng Family’s betrothal gifts for her last life only included a bicycle, sewing machine, and radio— no television?
And the meeting gift was just mother-in-law He Hong’s Wedding Gold Jewelry.
But for Qiao Shu, there was an extra TV— priceless in this era— and a watch!
And that watch wasn’t cheap; by her eye, it cost at least a thousand.
Such a difference— how could Qiao Hui not resent Qiao Shu?
But what Qiao Hui didn’t know was that the difference in betrothal gifts this life was all because of her big sister-in-law from last life— Comrade He Yingzi.
He Yingzi had pitied that the barely adult Qiao Shu was marrying her brother and becoming stepmother to two kids, so she’d paid out of pocket to add the television and an expensive watch to the gifts.
“Old lady, take the daughters-in-law and hurry to make some food! Comrade Xiao Yang’s come a long way— he must be hungry!”
Hearing Old Master Qiao say this, Yang Baocheng hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.
“No need, no need! I ate in the County Town! And we have to catch today’s train…”
But before he could finish refusing, Old Master Qiao cut him off.
“It’s almost noon now. Comrade Xiao Yang, don’t refuse— eat lunch here. Otherwise, if the villagers see you leave without eating, won’t they laugh at me for being stingy? Besides, you might not be hungry, but my delicate little granddaughter’s still waiting for her meal on an empty stomach.”
Hearing Old Master Qiao say that, Yang Baocheng, who hadn’t wanted to stay for food, shut his mouth. He sneaked a glance at the soft and delicate Qiao Shu, scratched his head a bit embarrassedly.
“Then… we’ll eat lunch and go.”
“Alright! Good! Comrade Xiao Yang, while we’re waiting for food, tell me all about how the old chief’s doing now…”
Since he knew Yang Baocheng was his old chief’s bodyguard, after successfully keeping him, Old Master Qiao dragged Yang Baocheng off to chat.
Meanwhile, Qiao Shu was pulled back to the room by her mother, He Meijun.
Of course, when pulling her daughter back, she also took the precious meeting gifts belonging to her daughter.
Once in the room, He Meijun hugged Qiao Shu with reddened eyes.
“Daughter, Mom really can’t bear to see you go.”
Qiao Shu obediently leaned into He Meijun’s embrace. “Mom, I’ll write letters home often. Oh, have Grandpa and Grandma install a phone at home soon, so I can call you all.”
After Qiao Shu’s round of comforting, He Meijun’s mood improved a bit.
“Though Mom hates that you’re marrying that Feng fellow, I can see the Feng Family’s decent. Just looking at the betrothal gifts and meeting gifts they’ve prepared shows they value you— a good in-law family to get along with. But even so, you’re not blood with them. Once married, there’s still lots to watch out for as a daughter-in-law…”
He Meijun wiped her tears and began imparting mother-in-law and daughter-in-law wisdom to her precious little daughter, passing on her experience.
But what He Meijun didn’t know was that her heartfelt advice went completely unused by Qiao Shu!
She had no idea her precious little daughter’s charm was so immense. Qiao Shu hadn’t done a thing after marrying over, yet her status already far surpassed Feng Xiao, the blood son!
The Feng Family doted on her more than their own daughter or son! She was simply pampered to the heavens by everyone!