1062 If He Doesn’t Want, I Do
This set of clothing belonging to Qiao Nan had been worn before. Of course, they could not compensate her according to the original price. Whoever did that would be a fool.
“We’ll talk about it again.” Qiao Zijin did not agree immediately. She knew in her heart that she was not the one who would call the final shots on this matter. It would depend on Chen Jun’s attitude.
If she were to really bargain with Qiao Nan as per her mother’s suggestion, Chen Jun would definitely be unhappy if he knew about it.
Qiao Zijin was aware that Chen Jun wanted to curry favor with Qiao Nan and acknowledge her as his sister-in-law. She had already made a concession and decided to listen to Chen Jun. No matter what, she would stick to Qiao Nan so that others knew that they were, in fact, quite deeply bonded to each other.
Qiao Zijin was not even able to control her own behavior according to her wishes. Why would she have the right to control Chen Jun?
“You have to remember Mom’s words. Don’t let that wretched girl take advantage of you. You have to know. For some people, the richer they are, the stingier they become.” Ding Jiayi reminded again as she did not feel at ease.
“I know.” Qiao Zijin brushed her off with a few words before returning to her bedroom.
In the small courtyard of the Qiao family, the conversation between the mother-daughter pair had ended. However, the conversation between two men in the same quad had just begun. “Zhai Sheng is not back yet?” Zhu Chengqi was sizing up the living environment of the Zhai family’s residence with picky eyes.
Zhai Yaohui said nonchalantly, “Most likely, he can only come back on the night of the 30th.”
“He went to the capital to collect the marriage certificate?” Zhu Chengqi pinched his fingers and counted the time.
“Yes, coincidentally, everything is happening at the same time. I have to thank you for this matter,” Zhai Yaohui looked at Zhu Chengqi and said sincerely.
The Zhai family’s move to the capital during the coming year was also because Zhu Chengqi had done a lot to help them.
Zhu Chengqi did not need these words of gratitude from Zhu Yaohui. “If you are sincere, remember to treat my goddaughter well.” Although Qiao Nan did not agree previously, Zhu Chengqi had already treated her as his daughter.
As such, when he knew his son’s thoughts and confirmed that he was not suitable for Qiao Nan, he then threw Zhu Baoguo into the camp during the summer vacation that Qiao Nan and Zhai Sheng got engaged. This was in case Zhu Baoguo did anything that would embarrass everyone.
Until now, Zhai Yaohui was still very shocked regarding this matter. He secretly felt bad for Zhu Baoguo. This was the latter’s biological father.
Zhu Chengqi was willing to give the Zhai family convenience and help the Zhai family all because of Qiao Nan.
Without Qiao Nan, Zhu Chengqi could not even be bothered with the matters of the Zhai family.
When the two of them were young, they were also considered opponents. Even though the two parties admired each other’s behavior and style, they did not intend to have a friendly relation.
It was also because of Qiao Nan’s appearance that the Zhu family and the Zhai family, two families that were on par with each other, had some interactions.
“I came today to formally inform the Zhai family. Don’t think that Qiao Nan only has Qiao Dongliang, her biological father, as her maternal family. I can help you because of Qiao Nan. I can also step on you like how I help you today if you shortchange Qiao Nan. Understand?” Zhu Chengqi was unruly with his words. It was obvious that this was a threat.
If Zhai Yaohui had a bad temper, given such words of Zhu Chengqi, Zhai Sheng could forget about marrying Qiao Nan. If this was not handled properly, the two families would simply become enemies.
Fortunately, Zhai Yaohui did not flare-up.
Zhai Yaohui laughed in a relaxed manner. “You really don’t need to warn me on this. That young lad of my family is very stubborn. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to wait until today to prepare for my son’s wedding banquet.”
Zhu Chengqi’s warning was not considered a warning.
“Humph, what a shameless thing!” Zhu Chengqi snorted. Zhai Sheng was older than Qiao Nan by five years. One was already an old ruffian in the army while Qiao Nan was an extremely young and tender flower bud that had just entered college.
His family’s flower bud had been plucked by another family’s lad. The fire in Zhu Chengqi’s heart was multiple times stronger than that of Qiao Dongliang.
As expected, although Zhu Chengqi helped the Zhai family, he shunned them at the sight of them. He could not wait to teach them, especially Zhai Sheng, a lesson.
Although his only son had been chided, Zhai Yaohui was not angry. He was happily drinking his tea while sitting down steadily.
This was because he knew that the Zhai family was going to have an additional family member and Zhu Chengqi’s precious darling would become part of the Zhai family. That was why Zhu Chengqi said those ugly words.
Facing such a situation, Zhai Yaohui would not take issue with Zhu Chengqi no matter how ugly the latter’s words were. He knew in his heart who had received a huge bargain. He felt happier to keep the pleasure to himself.
The more Zhai Yaohui behaved in this way, the more sullen Zhu Chengqi looked.
Since a young age, he had already discovered that the Zhai family might look very decent on the outside but they were full of cunning ideas and tricks, more than anyone else. They were manipulating others behind the scene!
Zhu Chengqi took a deep breath. “You don’t have to fork out Qiao Nan’s dowry. I have already prepared for her.” This was the goddaughter that he and his wife had fancied. Could he let Qiao Nan marry off shabbily?
As for Qiao Dongliang, Zhu Chengqi did not harbor any hopes toward this person at all.
Otherwise, Zhu Chengqi would not have so little interaction with the Qiao family in the past few years.
Zhu Chengqi’s eyes were sharp. He knew that Qiao Dongliang had the heart of an ordinary father. However, he did not expect that Qiao Dongliang would completely relinquish his hold on Qiao Zijin, his elder daughter.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Qiao Zijin and Qiao Nan was already a dead knot.
Qiao Dongliang could not figure it out himself. Qiao Nan would either not marry or if she were to marry, she would definitely go on separate ways with Qiao Dongliang, her biological father. They would not be close in the future.
Zhu Chengqi was not a good person.
In the past, Qiao Nan still harbored some hopes toward Qiao Dongliang. Hence, he would not be the bad guy. He might even make Qiao Nan angry if he did.
He was certain that Qiao Dongliang would do himself in. Like a patient hunter, he was waiting for the opportune time to appear.
When he heard that Qiao Dongliang spent the day before the eve of Lunar New Year with Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin, Zhu Chengqi knew that the right time had arrived.
Since Qiao Dongliang did not want his daughter, Qiao Nan, he could not blame him for availing himself of the opportunity to come in between them. He would pick up and bring home this good daughter.
Henceforth, the Zhu family would be Qiao Nan’s maternal family. No matter what, Qiao Nan would not be bullied because of the lack of support from her maternal family.
Facing Qiao Dongliang, a person who did not know how fortunate he was, Zhu Chengqi sneered continuously. Fortunately, Qiao Dongliang did something foolish. Otherwise, he would probably not have the chance to fulfill his beloved wife’s wish when she was alive to have a heartwarming little jacket.
Since someone did not know how to cherish it, he should not blame it on others who were able to tell what the good stuff was. He would pick up the treasure, hide and protect it in his home.
“You really want to snatch the daughter away from others?” Zhai Yaohui was a little surprised. Zhu Chengqi was very good to Qiao Nan. He treated her almost better than he did his biological son. He was astonished by the affinity between him and Qiao Nan.
Who would have known that Zhu Chengqi’s thoughts were even deeper than Zhai Yaohui’s guess?