Chapter 514: The Money That Won

According to Dongshan Province's customs, the wedding procession would stop at the bride's home for a few minutes, during which the senior family members leading the procession would converse with the bride's family, assuring them, "Rest assured, your daughter will be well-treated in our home—we won't let her suffer any injustice."

But today, Jin Peng's wedding procession lingered longer than usual at Liu Liu Qiaorong's home, because Liu Liu Qiaorong's numerous aunts and cousins all urged Jin Peng to keep his bride by his side after marriage.

"Little Peng, I'm not saying this to scold you, but you're only thinking of having Liu Qiaorong stay home to care for your parents, yet you haven't realized that the greatest filial piety is letting your parents hold a grandchild as soon as possible!"

"Besides, your situation is different from others—you must have many children; the more, the more filial. How can you leave Liu Qiaorong alone at home?"

Jin Peng had no reply—there were three forms of unfilial conduct, and having no heir was the greatest. What they said made sense.

But it wasn't realistic to think they were all genuinely thinking of Jin Peng's best interests.

They were only thinking of Liu Liu Qiaorong.

For a long time, mainlanders accepted the family division of labor where "men work outside, women manage inside"—men earned money outside, women cared for elders and children, and no one thought it odd.

But this arrangement sometimes bound women to an absolute position of "subservience," where their monthly income depended entirely on their husband's income and conscience.

As women's professional capabilities grew, the idea of separating households and working together became increasingly popular among brides.

Young couples living separately could enjoy constant companionship and had some say over their household finances—it was clearly better than staying home to serve in-laws.

Now, everyone's conditions are generally limited, but decades from now, "not living with in-laws" will become a necessary condition for dating and matchmaking—people will demand cars and houses, but not parents.

Jin Peng secretly glanced at Li Ye, signaling him urgently to help him escape the barrage from these older women.

But this was no easy favor to do.

Li Ye himself wanted to spend every day doting on Wen Wen Leyu! Why should Liu Liu Qiaorong be stuck apart from Jin Peng?

But Jin Peng had no choice. First, Russia was unfamiliar and dangerous; second, for someone like Jin Peng, dealing with people and building relationships abroad inevitably involved drinking and socializing.

When drinking with clients and feasting on meat, wouldn't you need some entertainment by your side?

Keeping your wife glued to you all day? That's asking for trouble.

Just as Jin Peng was overwhelmed by the older women's nagging yet still had to smile, the newly dried-eyed bride, Liu Liu Qiaorong, stood up.

"Fourth Aunt, Second Aunt, isn't it almost time? Stop talking now—let us go!"

"Huh? No rush, there's still over half an hour! We've barely seen Little Peng—we need to give him more advice."

"Oh, girl, why are you so eager to get married? Why the hurry?"

But Liu Liu Qiaorong spoke gently yet firmly: "What if we're delayed on the road? And once we arrive, there's still time needed for the wedding rites. Your in-laws won't blame me, but they'll blame Jin Peng."

Li Ye, who had been watching quietly, couldn't help but give Jin Peng a thumbs-up.

You picked a good wife, Peng Ge—you've got good taste.

From Jin Peng's words yesterday, Liu Liu Qiaorong clearly wanted to leave with him after marriage. But now that she saw him struggling, she immediately sided with her husband—she was a sensible young bride.

Your own husband is the one you'll spend your whole life with; everyone else can wait.

But Liu Liu Qiaorong's words made the women of the Liu family frown.

We're fighting for your benefit, and you're undermining yourself?

But Liu Liu Qiaorong acted as if she didn't notice their expressions; instead, she frowned and kept checking her watch.

This was an indirect way of urging them to leave.

Get out of the way—don't block your future sister-in-law from marrying, and don't make my husband angry.

Five minutes later, Jin Peng led Liu Liu Qiaorong to the wedding car.

After getting in, Jin Peng urged Li Ye to drive off: "Go, go, go! Finally got rid of those old women—do we still have time?"

Li Ye drove while smiling: "We'll make it, but Peng Ge, you owe your sister-in-law thanks—without her speaking up, we'd still be stuck there."

"That's true—I've known my sister-in-law for four years, and I've never met a girl more sensible than her!"

Jin Peng glanced sideways at his new bride, beaming with pride.

Liu Liu Qiaorong pouted: "Enough with the praise—I'm partly to blame. A few days ago, I believed them and insisted on going with you. Last night, my parents scolded me for hours!"

Jin Peng's smile faded. He asked softly: "What did your father say?"

Liu Liu Qiaorong looked ashamed: "He said, after you marry in, don't always think of taking the easy way or enjoying comfort—you mustn't forget your in-laws need care."

"My mother said, from now on, you're a Jin family daughter-in-law—you can't listen to the Liu family's gossip, can't keep returning home for no reason, and can't take things from your in-laws' home back to yours."

As she spoke, tears fell again—her parents' demands made her feel suddenly estranged from the home she'd lived in for over twenty years. Her own daughter had become an "outsider" who couldn't come home whenever she wanted.

Jin Peng quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Don't listen to your mother. What do you mean you can't go home? You can go every day—we Jin family doesn't have such rules."

Li Ye, driving, added with a laugh: "Peng Ge's right. It's a new society now—your natal home is still home. Even if you're married, going back eight times a day isn't illegal."

"Besides, let Peng Ge buy you a car—you can go home for lunch every day and fill your trunk with stuff every time. Who dares to gossip?"

Liu Liu Qiaorong froze, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Going home every day, using a car to haul stuff? Am I a rat now? A big rat, hahaha!"

"I've heard so much about you from Jin Peng—college students really are different. Even your jokes are funny, hahaha!"

Liu Liu Qiaorong laughed uncontrollably, but Jin Peng didn't think Li Ye was joking.

He'd seen Li Xia Yue return to Zaojunmiao three times a week—Zaojunmiao was Li Xia Yue's natal home in Jingcheng.

"How is this a joke?"

Jin Peng patted the car seat beneath him and smiled: "What do you think of this car? If you like it, it's yours."

Liu Liu Qiaorong stared at Jin Peng in shock. After a long pause, she said: "You're giving me this car? Then what about you? This car was assigned to you by Pengcheng Seventh Factory—how can I drive it? Besides, I don't even know how to drive!"

Jin Peng said: "Once I go north, no one will use this car. Before I leave, I'll teach you to drive—then even if you want to go home in the middle of the night, you can just hop in."

Liu Liu Qiaorong sat stunned, shifting her hips, touching everything around her—clearly fascinated.

But finally, she firmly shook her head.

"No, no—I remember you said this car costs hundreds of thousands! Li Jie's driving a Santana. And if you're spending this much on me, are you planning to never come back?"

Sometimes women's instincts are sharp. Jin Peng's trip to Russia truly meant he couldn't guarantee returning every few days to see his wife.

So Jin Peng sighed: "Fine. I'll leave you a Santana. And I'll try to come back as often as I can."

Li Ye, glancing in the rearview mirror, said: "Sister-in-law, Peng Ge is going out to build your fortune. It'll just be hard for a few years—then you'll have money you can't spend in three lifetimes."

"Three lifetimes?" Liu Liu Qiaorong blinked, then nervously asked: "With Jin Peng's spending habits? Three lifetimes of spending? That's gotta be over a million!"

"Hahahaha!"

Li Ye and Jin Peng burst out laughing together, leaving Liu Liu Qiaorong confused—then suddenly, as if understanding something.

Her husband's abilities were even greater than she'd imagined.

A million in 1985? That was astonishing.

After the wedding procession returned to Jin Peng's home, the rituals of bowing to heaven and earth and bowing to parents went smoothly.

Then came the task of entertaining guests from near and far—only after the groom was exhausted, throat dry and legs weak, could the final step—entering the bridal chamber—begin.

To complete the first time in exhaustion? That's downright inhumane.

By noon, the banquet tables set up at Jin Peng's front gate were full. Many hadn't received personal invitations, but upon hearing the news, they traveled far to bring gifts and offer congratulations.

But before this, no wedding had ever drawn such a crowd—there weren't enough chairs and tables to go around.

But Jin Peng had anticipated this when he discussed it with Li Li Zhongfa—he'd already alerted Qingshui Restaurant to prepare twenty banquet tables and host out-of-town guests there.

The ones leading the reception were Hao Hao Jian, Zou Zhi, and Li Xia Yue.

This was also part of Jin Peng's handover with Li Xia Yue. Many guests had never met Li Xia Yue before, but they all knew Hao Hao Jian and Zou Zhi.

Hao Hao Jian was the factory director of Pengcheng Seventh Factory; Zou Zhi oversaw sales discipline. After Jin Peng and the two of them vouched for her, Li Xia Yue officially took over this vast nationwide sales network.

Before Li Ye went over, Li Li Zhongfa warned: "Little Ye, you go to Qingshui Restaurant. Xia Yue can't drink or get angry—you must take good care of your sister, understood?"

"Yes, Grandpa! I swear I won't let my sister drink a single drop or get mad at all."

Li Ye solemnly promised his grandfather Li Li Zhongfa.

With a new ruler in place, any underling who dared force the boss to drink or provoke her anger would learn the lesson: "The one who lifts you up can also crush you."

But Li Ye didn't expect that before he could shield his sister from drinks and assert his authority, his sister had already gotten into an argument—with someone because of him.

"Brother, hurry to the restaurant! Xiao Xia Yue's arguing with someone!"

Zou Zhi rushed over, pulling Li Ye toward the car.

Li Ye's face darkened. "Who's this 'someone'? You let your sister argue with someone? What are you even doing?"

Zou Zhi glared at Li Ye. "If it were anyone else, I'd have punched her already. But this 'someone' is your ex-girlfriend—how am I supposed to punch her?"

(End of Chapter)