Xia Xiaolan’s thoughts aligned with Zhou Wengang’s.

He truly hadn’t expected the Yuan family to prepare the wedding items so quickly.

Zhou Yi was still defending them earnestly:

“Dad, Yuan Han is very sincere. He sold his family heirlooms for the wedding.”

The Yuan family, having family heirlooms?

Zhou Wengang sneered, did they think he hadn’t investigated the Yuan family’s background?

Going back three generations, they weren’t from any notable family. What valuable antiques could they possibly have passed down?

Just because a broken bowl from the previous dynasty is old doesn’t make it a valuable antique. Even after five hundred years, crude mass-produced items remain worthless – they might have research value, but nobody would pay good money for them.

Truly valuable antiques had to be masterpieces, rare, and often carried special significance.

Zhou Wengang didn’t believe the Yuan family possessed any hereditary antiques. These people were dishonest – who knew what they had plundered during the chaotic years… just like their current house in their hometown, which had dubious origins.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yi’s mind was clouded. She refused to hear anything negative about Yuan Han, so Zhou Wengang didn’t bother arguing.

He was always a man of his word. Since the Yuan family had prepared the wedding items as required, and seeing Zhou Yi distracted daily with thoughts of marriage, he simply set the date: Monday, December 23rd.

He didn’t care where the Yuan family hosted their celebration; he would just book a few tables at a restaurant to announce Zhou Yi’s marriage.

Zhou Yi didn’t find it rushed at all; instead, she was delighted.

Zhou Wengang warned her: “After marriage, you’ll move out. I won’t interfere with anything else, but you must maintain your regular work attendance. Follow the same maternity leave schedule as others – not one day less. Don’t think marriage to Yuan Han resolves everything. If you don’t listen to this, don’t come back asking for help!”

Zhou Yi felt awkward.

She knew her parents hadn’t gotten over their anger.

Her father was hypercritical of everything, and Zhou Yi had no choice but to endure.

Her mother was even worse, only having the housemaid look after her, and treating her coldly.

Even so, Zhou Yi dared not make trouble.

Having finally reached the point of marriage with Yuan Han, she couldn’t risk ruining it – what would happen to her and her unborn child?

Though Zhou Wengang’s words were harsh, they were truthful.

Marriage wouldn’t solve everything. If her father withdrew his support, Yuan Han’s employment problem couldn’t be resolved.

The Yuan family had been constantly telling Zhou Yi that Yuan Han would prove himself worthy of her by becoming successful.

Zhou Yi thought similarly.

For this reason, she genuinely followed instructions, even though she had no desire to work.

She still had her job after running away for so long, thanks to being a Zhou family daughter.

However, upon returning to work, she wasn’t given her previous easy position… Under Zhou Wengang’s direction, Zhou Yi was assigned to a new position – not impossible to handle, but requiring her full dedication to manage the workload.

Zhou Yi had no interest in working; she just wanted to be with Yuan Han, acting coquettish around him.

She was experiencing pregnancy symptoms, frequently feeling nauseous. Work was truly exhausting!

Yet she dared not skip work. When Zhou Wengang scolded her, she obediently lowered her head, not daring to argue a single word.

Zhou Wengang grew angry just looking at her.

Setting aside Zhou Yi, he privately discussed matters with Jiang Hong.

Jiang Hong responded listlessly, unwilling to worry: “As long as appearances are maintained, it’s fine.”

Most mothers-in-law would be excited to see the new house their son-in-law had found, with new furniture and appliances, but Jiang Hong couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.

She was still avoiding the matter, showing nothing but despair.

Previously, she had conflicts with Guan Hui’e over introducing potential matches for Zhou Yi. Now thinking back, it hadn’t needed to be so complicated – anyone would have been better than Yuan Han.

At least those introduced to Zhou Yi either came from good families or were personally accomplished and ambitious.

Even a university student from the mountains would be better than Yuan Han – at least they’d never been married before, and wouldn’t dare elope with Zhou Yi or create a scandal by kneeling at the gate while pregnant, making them the laughingstock of Beijing.

What broke Jiang Hong’s heart most wasn’t Zhou Yi’s disobedience, but her disregard for her mother’s wellbeing.

What kind of love could be more important than one’s mother’s life?

When she was bedridden with illness, even an outsider like Xia Xiaolan showed concern, while Zhou Yi, her daughter, was only focused on romance.

This wasn’t a child Jiang Hong had found; she had carried her for ten months and raised her for over twenty years. How could she not be heartbroken?

Now, Jiang Hong almost wished Zhou Yi had been adopted – it might hurt less.

His wife lacked his mental fortitude. The situation affected her appetite and sleep, visibly aging her. Though their marriage had cooled somewhat in recent years, mainly because Zhou Wengang felt Jiang Hong couldn’t keep up with his progress… Zhou Yi’s situation had brought them closer together.

After more than twenty years of marriage, with their only daughter proving unreliable, the couple had to rely on each other. How could they not grow closer?

Zhou Wengang sat beside Jiang Hong:

“We’ll do as you say – just maintain appearances. Don’t give her your saved gold or the money you’ve set aside. Just spend a little on visible things!”

Giving Zhou Yi money would only benefit the Yuan family.

Their savings came from Zhou Wengang and Jiang Hong’s salaries. Zhou Wengang had a high salary with excellent benefits, and since private gold purchases became legal, Jiang Hong had been buying gold occasionally to save as Zhou Yi’s dowry.

Jiang Hong nodded at Zhou Wengang’s words:

“No gold, no money. I see that ordinary families marrying off daughters just prepare two new quilts, plus things like thermos flasks and washbasins. I’ll buy Zhou Yi one set.”

Jiang Hong felt no guilt.

The money belonged to her and Zhou Wengang. Since Zhou Yi insisted on marrying someone they disapproved of, why should they provide money?

What’s wrong with just quilts as dowry? The Zhou family hadn’t asked for a bride price from the Yuan family, so they didn’t need to provide a generous dowry.

While Jiang Hong and Zhou Wengang decided to make Zhou Yi part of the “quilt party,” Zhou Yi herself remained unaware, but Xia Xiaolan knew.

“Your aunt is truly angry this time. She took me shopping for quilts, casually picked two with ‘double happiness’ covers, and even bought ready-made cotton filling.”

Guan Hui’e complained to Xia Xiaolan.

Even in rural areas, families who cherished their daughters would carefully prepare dowry quilts, selecting covers thoughtfully and making quilts with carefully chosen cotton. Only extremely patriarchal families who heavily favored sons over daughters would be as casual as Jiang Hong about it.

Xia Xiaolan felt no sympathy for Zhou Yi:

“You reap what you sow. She chose love over family ties. The family accepts her love choice, so she can’t be greedy and expects family relationships to remain unchanged. You can’t have it both ways… Auntie Guan, for Zhou Yi’s wedding banquet, could my mother and I bring one more person?”