RYEY -Chapter 535 Engagement

After the Lantern Festival, Cheng Qiao took the whole family back to the capital. On the one hand, it was to send Ye Jun back; on the other, it was to attend the engagement ceremony of Cheng Li and Wu Xiaolin.

Since the two would be going abroad together, having a proper, recognized relationship would make things much more convenient. Both families therefore unanimously decided to hold an engagement ceremony for them.

The engagement ceremony was very simple—only Cheng Qiao’s family and Wu Hongxin’s family were invited. Of course, Yao Peng and the Ye family were also present.

Yet the ceremony was also extremely luxurious, because Cheng Qiao and Cheng Liguo walked up carrying a huge redwood chest and opened it in front of everyone.

In an instant, everyone present widened their eyes in shock at what was inside. Everyone knew that Cheng Qiao’s biological mother, Zhao Min, had once been a famous capitalist’s daughter, with countless treasures to her name.

Now it was clear that the rumors were true. The chest was filled with rare and precious items. The first thing taken out was a polychrome, gold-painted Hundred Immortals Celebrating Longevity clock.

Holding the longevity clock with both hands, Cheng Li walked over to Wu Hongxin and respectfully presented it.

“May Grandpa Wu Hongxin live as long as the Southern Mountain’s ageless pine, and may your blessings flow like the endless waters of the Eastern Sea.”

It turned out that in a few days, it would be Wu Hongxin’s eightieth birthday. Seeing such an exquisite gift, Wu Hongxin laughed heartily, grinning from ear to ear.

Standing nearby, Yao Peng felt a twinge of sourness. His eyes rolled as he decided to disgust the old Wu fellow a bit and see how he would show off then.

“Ah, ah, ah—your future grandson-in-law is really something, giving you a clock. Don’t you know that’s like sending you off to your grave?”

Wu Hongxin’s gaze sharpened, anger surging forth as his tiger-like eyes flared.

“You old fool, what do you know? Is this an ordinary clock? This is the Hundred Immortals Celebrating Longevity clock! It symbolizes all the immortals blessing me with eternal life. An uneducated old man like you can only come up with such petty, disgraceful thoughts.”

Yao Peng rolled his eyes, but inside he truly felt uncomfortable. His birthday was only a few days apart from Wu Hongxin’s, yet the biggest difference was that he had no children or grandchildren.

Seeing the dimness in Yao Peng’s eyes, Wu Hongxin suddenly felt uneasy as well. Without another word, he stuffed the clock straight into Yao Peng’s arms.

“This is my birthday gift to you.”

“You’re giving it to me?”

“Yes. We brothers have weathered so many storms together over the years, and we can still play chess and drink tea every day—that’s already a tremendous blessing. Why bother distinguishing between yours and mine?”

“But this is an antique, given to you by your future grandson-in-law.”

“I know. I believe Cheng Li won’t mind. Besides, I still have several grandsons—when the time comes, they won’t shortchange me. Don’t worry.”

Yao Peng’s face turned green. He swore that if he were thirty years younger, he would definitely marry a wife and raise ten sons and daughters, so he’d never have to be so lonely again.

Ye Chengying couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He pulled Xiao Gui forward and walked straight up to Cheng Qiao, smiling as he spoke.

“Cheng Qiao, I have a wish I hope you can help me fulfill. I want to marry my granddaughter to Li Ming.”

A flash of joy passed through Li Ming’s eyes. He liked Xiao Gui’s personality—bright and cheerful, without the slightest bit of the delicacy typical of ordinary girls.

In his heart, Xiao Gui suited him even better than his own younger sister, Xiao Nuan. Now that Grandpa Ye wanted to marry Xiao Gui to him, it was truly a joyous event beyond measure.

Cheng Qiao smiled faintly and turned to look at Li Ming. “What do you think?”

“Mom, I’m willing.”

Though Li Ming was only fifteen and didn’t yet understand what love truly was, he already knew what suited him. So he agreed without hesitation.

Cheng Qiao then looked at Xiao Gui. “Are you willing?”

“Auntie, I am.”

Xiao Gui was just like that—without the slightest affectation. She agreed outright. He Fei, standing to the side, blushed crimson. This silly girl—she didn’t even know how to pretend to be shy. Sigh, what could be done?

She looked toward Ye Xiaolin and saw him smiling so broadly that his teeth were fully visible. For his daughter to form a marriage alliance with the Li family was the greatest wish of his life.

Li Ming walked up to the redwood chest, took out a set of Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white porcelain bowl-and-tea ware, and handed it to Yao Peng.

“Grandpa, I know you treat Xiao Gui’s father like your own son. As your future grandson-in-law, I’m also giving you a birthday gift. May Grandpa Yao live as long as the Southern Mountain’s ageless pine, and may your blessings flow like the endless waters of the Eastern Sea.”

Yao Peng was overjoyed, but he also had a good head on his shoulders. Seeing Li Ming so openly taking something from Cheng Li’s betrothal gifts to honor him, he worried he might be criticized.

“You little rascal—how can you snatch something from your elder brother’s betrothal gifts?”

“Grandpa, Mom gave each of us brothers a chest. I’ve checked mine—there’s an identical set of tea ware inside. When we get back, I’ll return it to him.”

“Really?”

“Second Brother, tell Grandpa Yao if that’s true.”

Cheng Li nodded. Only then did Yao Peng accept the gift, casually returning the clock to Wu Hongxin. Who wants your stinking clock? I have my own descendants to honor me.

Watching the two old men compete with each other, Cheng Li smiled slightly and took out a pair of meiping vases from the chest. They were the most valuable antiques among the betrothal gifts he had prepared for Wu Xiaolin.

Wu Jiawei took a look, his eyes immediately reddening. Meiping vases—such precious antiques. Cheng Li’s sincerity was unmistakable.

“On behalf of the Wu family, I bless you young engaged couple to walk hand in hand and grow old together. As for this pair of meiping vases, I will find an opportunity to donate them to the country in the name of you two as a couple.”

Thunderous applause erupted as everyone clapped for Wu Jiawei’s selflessness. Wu Xiaolin, however, quietly closed the lid of the redwood chest and locked it with a swift motion.

There were still many little trinkets she and Cheng Li had carefully made over the years inside, as well as the valuable jewelry and clothes given to her by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. If her dad were to donate them, she wouldn’t even have a place to cry.

Wang Ling watched her daughter’s smooth, flowing movements and couldn’t help but smile broadly. The little girl had finally learned to plan for herself.

Wang Ling also stepped outside, holding a small solid-wood box in her hand, which she passed to Cheng Li. It was the dowry she had prepared for Wu Xiaolin. Cheng Li took it and opened it—inside was a bankbook.

Without hesitation, Cheng Li handed the box directly to Wu Xiaolin. Since this girl was willing to spend her entire life with him, then from now on, she would be in charge of this household.

This gesture delighted the Wu family immensely. Wu Xiaolin blushed bright red with shyness, yet her heart was filled with sweetness. She understood—this was Cheng Li entrusting her with the role of mistress of the home.

After the engagement ceremony, the young couple headed straight to the airport. Wu Jiawei and his wife held onto the two children’s hands, reluctant to let go, reminding them again and again to take good care of their health and safety while abroad. As for money, there was no need to worry.

Cheng Li smiled. He was going abroad on self-funded study, but he was determined to earn back all his tuition and living expenses himself—otherwise, what was the point of studying finance?

Wu Xiaolin shook her head repeatedly. Her parents had given her almost all their lifetime savings as her dowry, and she still had two older brothers.

“Dad, Mom, please take care of yourselves. Don’t worry about us. We’re going to learn knowledge—and of course, we’ll use that knowledge to build our future.”

Cheng Li hugged Mother Li and Cheng Qiao tightly, asking them to put their minds at ease. When he returned, when his father returned, their whole big family would surely be reunited.