TPW – Chapter 16 You’re So Impressive?

Even giving a bride price had to be done secretly — this scene deeply struck a chord in Lu Xiuhua’s heart.

She suddenly felt a bit regretful… Was it really the right choice to hand over financial control to her son back then?

So why the favoritism… why couldn’t all the children be treated equally? It caused the second daughter to become distant from her, and even the youngest daughter, the most doted upon, grew increasingly estranged from the old couple…

Lu Xiuhua turned away to wipe her tears. When she turned back, her face was smiling, but her eyes were red-rimmed.

In the end, she accepted it—twenty “Da Tuanjie” bills, that is, 200 yuan.

She found a safe place to keep the bride price money, then left the room to get ready for the meal.

While eating, the family chatted about the wedding banquet. Qiao Minjuan, being young and restless, after dinner dragged Qiao An to the yard to play with the puppy. Qiao Lu sat in the main room, eating while keeping an eye on the two kids outside.

“We’ll check the calendar to pick a good day for the wedding banquet. Didn’t the village chief install a phone? I’ll call and notify you then, so you can come again.”

Qiao Yan didn’t return to the countryside for her wedding; she held the banquet at a state-owned hotel in the city. The bride’s family only invited siblings and parents—five tables in total.

Afterward, Niu Qiaoli boasted to her village friends about how grand the banquet was, how there were more meat dishes than one could count on one hand, and how she brought back plenty of snacks—all gifts from Yuan Jianghe. For a while, the Qiao family made quite a splash in the village.

Niu Qiaoli still remembered how people praised her back then. She was thrilled. If only her younger sister could also hold her banquet in the city—that would be even better!

Before Niu Qiaoli could get too happy, Qiao Guobin started to worry.

“That must cost a lot of money. Life’s expensive—firewood, rice, oil, salt—all cost money. Better save some.” Though Qiao Guobin’s taste in women wasn’t great, he was a pretty “down-to-earth” guy.

Niu Qiaoli was displeased: “You can even get red envelopes at a wedding banquet. The more people, the more money. Why don’t you ever mention that?”

Qiao Guobin gave his wife a speechless glance and stayed silent.

Xu Haizhou glanced at Qiao Lu with gentle eyes: “It’s only once in a lifetime; how can it be treated casually?”

Qiao Lu loved hearing that. No woman doesn’t want to be valued by her man.

“Yes, once in a lifetime. Spend it, then. We’ll make it back eventually.” She was confident that together they would make big money.

After finishing the wedding banquet discussion, the family started questioning Xu Haizhou’s background. Actually, they had already asked most of it during lunch, but Niu Qiaoli wanted more details and tried hard to learn about his financial status.

They learned that he wasn’t just doing business in the city, but had connections rural folks could only dream of—he knew the director of some factory, top leaders of some enterprises, section chiefs of certain government offices, and even school principals were his clients.

This scared her so much she almost dropped her chopsticks.

“This… you’re so impressive? Why are all your acquaintances big shots?” Forgive Niu Qiaoli for having no worldly experience; the highest official she’d ever seen was the commune secretary, and the town leaders were just names she’d heard.

“It’s nothing, not really impressive. The city has lots of talented people; I’m not on that level,” Xu Haizhou said with a faint smile, feigning casualness. “If you ever need anything from me—like friends or family looking for jobs, or kids needing school admissions—you can come to me. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“What?” That single sentence made Niu Qiaoli so excited she couldn’t even eat. “Oh my, really? Oh Haizhou! You’re amazing! Oh!”

She smiled, wrinkles forming all over her face: “Tell me, do you have enough steamed buns? If not, I’ve got some rice left at home, saved to help our parents stay healthy. If you’re still hungry, I’ll cook you some now. It’s still early; there’s plenty of time!”

Goodness, this enthusiasm—besides Qiao Guobin, who else has she ever been so “nice” to?

Qiao Lu couldn’t bear to look.

Xu Haizhou curved his lips and shook his head: “No, no trouble, sister-in-law. I’m full already.”

He put down his bowl and chopsticks. “Before coming, I didn’t expect Qiao Lu’s family to be so warm. Brother is lucky to have married such a virtuous wife.”

Qiao Guobin was stunned, thinking this future brother-in-law was not only talented but also a smooth talker. It made him feel really good inside.

His words made Niu Qiaoli feel embarrassed; she sat down, smoothing her hair and smiling broadly: “Look at what you say! We’re family now. How could sister-in-law not be good to you!”

“Yes, our family is great.” Though it sounded casual, the meaning was deep: “But there’s one thing I find strange. I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?” Niu Qiaoli asked anxiously.

“I heard Second Sister sends five yuan home every month. So why is the family still eating these simple meals? Is the money not enough?”

After saying this, he exchanged a knowing look with Qiao Lu. The couple shared a tacit understanding; a single glance conveyed their meaning perfectly.

Qiao Lu quickly interrupted: “No, it’s not like that. How could it not be enough? You’re from the city, so you don’t understand how much it costs for us in the countryside all year round. Even two or three yuan can make the family eat good grain every day!”

Qiao Lu finally caught on to Xu Haizhou’s “plan.” Since there was no changing the personalities of the two soft-hearted ones, it was better to suppress the most outspoken family member.

“Oh? I’ve never lived in the countryside, so that’s how it is?” Xu Haizhou said as he pointed to the coarse bread in Lu Xiuhua’s bowl. “I saw Auntie eating leftover rice and thought the family was that poor.”

Lu Xiuhua awkwardly gathered her bowl closer.

Niu Qiaoli smiled sheepishly and hurriedly stuffed a large white steamed bun into Lu Xiuhua’s hands.

“No, no, that’s just a coincidence. Last week my family had an emergency—my second younger sister had a baby, and the child was malnourished. I lent them a lot of money. Otherwise, I would have definitely prepared a big meal for you two today. Besides, you didn’t give any notice before coming back, so I didn’t have time to buy good wine and dishes. Just unlucky timing. Our mom is frugal too. You see… sister-in-law, it’s not intentional. Haizhou, don’t be mad at me.”

Xu Haizhou smiled faintly: “But if Qiao Lu and I hadn’t come back today, wouldn’t you be eating even worse?”

“Ah?” Niu Qiaoli was a bit stunned. Seeing Xu Haizhou’s serious expression, it looked like he was about to question her.

His gaze was clearly gentle, but it also carried a sharpness that seemed to see through people’s hearts, which was unexpectedly intimidating…

After his words, the atmosphere gradually stiffened. Qiao Guobin couldn’t stand it anymore and shot Niu Qiaoli a sharp look.

“I told you not to keep helping your family all the time. If you keep supporting them, how are we supposed to live?”

Qiao Guobin, rarely assertive in front of his wife, was firm this time. If he used this tone with her usually, Niu Qiaoli would definitely get angry. But now, in front of Xu Haizhou, she acted like a humble little wife, lowering her head in shame.

“Oh, you’re right. I should have listened to you earlier. This is my bad—too soft-hearted!”

She then looked at Xu Haizhou, her eyes already faintly showing a bit of coaxing.

“Haizhou, I made a fool of myself. From now on, I won’t help my family anymore. There’s a saying: take care of your own family first before others…”

“Take care of the small family before the big family!” Qiao Lu reminded her.

Niu Qiaoli smiled awkwardly: “Yes, take care of our small family first, then the big family. I really need to change my soft-hearted nature!”

“Hmm.” Xu Haizhou finally relaxed his tense expression. “Qiao Lu always tells me the only thing she worries about is our parents at home…”

Before he could finish, Niu Qiaoli hurriedly cut in: “Haizhou, Lu, you two just relax and do your business in the city. I’ve got things covered at home! Her parents are our parents too! We’ll definitely take good care of them! Don’t worry at all.”

Now that she even called her “Lu,” when she was stingy with money before, why didn’t she sound this close…

Qiao Lu rolled her eyes in her heart.

Xu Haizhou pretended to be comforted and smiled: “With sister-in-law saying that, I feel relieved.”

Alright, Xu Haizhou—giving a sweet word and then a slap, face hurts, then another sweet word… How can someone like Niu Qiaoli resist?

“I heard sister-in-law works in the fields every day, and after being so tired, still runs all the way to town to buy daily necessities for the family. I say, why not let our mom do it? Didn’t she retire long ago and stay at home?”

“Uh, well…”

Niu Qiaoli looked troubled, glancing at Qiao Guobin. Asking her for money was like tearing flesh off her!