I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 424 - 363: It’s Really Settled

Someone was already clutching their chest, "Oh my, I’m about to lose my life, how could the Jiao Family be so generous!"

"Exactly, when Yang Xiaogou’s eldest son got married, he proposed empty-handed, gave ten eggs as a dowry, and five bucks to seal the deal. With this Jiao Family, they could marry several wives."

"Shush, a bride’s not just any bride. If it’s the third girl from the Jiang Family, I’d be willing to give more." Even as he said this, his chest ached, for what he saw was already considerable, and the betrothal gift would surely be astonishing.

Aunt Jiao was also indeed astonishing.

The matchmaker was very happy today. This was the easiest marriage proposal she had ever dealt with; both parties agreed, she just needed to go through the motions.

As expected, the dowry was presented: a string of meat, a chicken, four feet of red cloth, a packet of glutinous rice cakes, and a packet of egg biscuits. It was extraordinarily generous. More surprisingly, the other party’s gift was fifty bucks.

Oh my goodness! She had never seen such a lavish gift before.

Matchmaker Zhao originally thought the bride’s family would be stunned upon seeing these items, eager to marry off their daughter, yet surprisingly, the bride’s family remained calm with their polite smile unchanged, as if these things were no big deal to them.

Oh dear, today has truly opened my eyes.

With the engagement gift agreed upon, the two families set the wedding date, planning to hold it before the year’s end.

Jiao Can finally had his status settled, feeling he had taken a big step forward in life, filled with energy and determination. Now he had to prepare for the three major purchases, or perhaps not, since the mother-in-law said no need to prepare a sewing machine, Zhenmei could just take the one from their house. A watch was already taken care of.

Now he needed to quickly sort out the bicycle and radio, even though his in-laws hadn’t asked for them, he set his own standards, and no matter how hard it was, he would find a way.

In the yard, Granny Jiao was sunbathing and feeding chickens. Seeing her grandson return with a rosy face, she knew it was settled, and she was delighted that her grandson finally got his wish.

"Granny, granny, Zhenmei and I are engaged. We’re going to get married soon; she’ll soon be the daughter-in-law of the Jiao Family."

This silly boy! Granny Jiao was also infected by her bumbling grandson’s joy, the smile on her face never faded.

"Take this, granny’s helping you too."

At first, Jiao Can didn’t think much of it, but when he saw it was a bicycle ticket and a radio ticket, he was nearly moved to tears.

"Granny, granny, you’re really my dear granny, thank you! Your grandson was just worried about where to get these tickets; it’s like you brought a pillow right when I needed sleep. Granny, why am I so lucky? Ah! Right, it must be because Zhenmei agreed to marry me that my luck turned."

Granny Jiao couldn’t be bothered with her bumbling grandson, but her heart was genuinely happy.

Aunt Jiao was also pleased, getting up to fetch an iron box, and the whole family gathered to open it.

"This is our family’s entire savings, all here. You take it to buy the bicycle and radio with Zhenmei, then you two can go to the commune to get your marriage certificate and buy wedding supplies without needing tickets."

"There’s such a benefit?"

Aunt Jiao was unfazed by this son of hers, truly, raising a son turns out to help someone else, gets a wife and forgets his mother.

All his thoughts are about his wife.

With money and tickets, Jiao Can didn’t want to waste a minute, immediately running to the Jiang Family to find Jiang Zhenmei.

"Zhenmei, Zhenmei, our mom asked us to go to the county town to buy stuff. You get ready, and I’ll go get the recommendation letter."

Looking at the lively and enthusiastic Jiao Can, Jiang Zhenmei was also infected. Her oval face blushing, she absentmindedly walked and bumped right into Jiang Mingyue.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Third Sister, having a fiancé makes it different, huh!"

"You, it’s still early, you can’t call him brother-in-law yet."

"Yes, yes, yes, I won’t call him brother-in-law. Oh dear, brother-in-law is here!"

"You..." Jiang Zhenmei was anxious, but this was her own sister, she couldn’t hit or scold her.

"For real, he’s here." Jiang Mingyue pointed downstairs.

Wasn’t it true, that person like a fireball rolled back to the Jiang Family gate.

Jiang Zhenmei immediately tidied her clothes, "Can I go out like this?"

"Going out like this is perfect, we should keep a low profile, avoid attracting too much attention. Go, go, remember to find Big Cousin first, he might be able to help."

To say nothing else, just with this radio, not once had she seen it at the department store, or else she would have bought it already.

In this entertainment-starved era, being able to listen to sound was quite nice.

"Okay, I’ll follow your advice. You wait at home obediently, I’ll bring back something tasty for you."

"Okay, I’ll wait for you." She couldn’t leave today for this promise.

By the way, Yun Di said the Baihua Forest cave had a bunch of antiques stashed again; I need to check it out.

Jiang Mingyue took advantage of the deserted moment, quietly sneaking away to the Baihua Forest, skillfully finding the stone mechanism. Once inside, she indeed saw a trove of items, among which a few caught her attention.

Looking carefully, they turned out to be rare treasures.

A bowl of Bumper Harvest, the bottom mark "Made during Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty" with three lines of seal script, still pastel porcelain, making it even more precious. Alas, one was found from the pair.

Then there were a few blue-and-white porcelains, all from imperial kilns, along with a Yixing teapot set without markings but with a carving style very much like the Chen family’s style.

Seems like this lad never wasted a moment, diligently working for her.

Such a diligent worker deserves a reward, doesn’t he?

"Didn’t you give me that?"

"That was the acquisition money, this is a bonus, inside are vouchers, you can buy whatever you need."

Yun Di was naturally happy. Having no money made him anxious; he was someone who had suffered before, lacking a sense of security, so now he truly felt at ease.

Besides the reward, Jiang Mingyue also gave him a pile of books she had gathered.

"Though we’re busy, you can’t neglect your studies. When the middle school reopens, you’ll go."

Yun Di longed to sit in a classroom, to be in that place of knowledge where he could immerse himself in the ocean of learning.

Having addressed business, she couldn’t help but check on her subordinate.

"How do you find staying at Granny Shi’s place?"

"Mm, Granny Shi is very nice." Not as cold and unfeeling as outsiders saw, Granny Shi actually had warmth.

"Uncle Tiezhu is also very good!"

"By the way, do you know where Uncle Shen Bo went?"

Jiang Mingyue blinked, not understanding why this young man suddenly asked about Professor Shen.

Professor Shen’s identity was special, she really couldn’t disclose it.

But seeing the determination in the young man’s eyes, she knew without an explanation today, he’d keep brooding, perhaps even stirring up trouble.

"He’s safe, serving his country, and don’t ask more, it’s confidential."

Perfect, invoking national secrets, the young man’s furrowed brow relaxed immediately.

And no wonder, during the mother’s lowest point, Professor Shen had lent them a helping hand.