"Oh my, my daughter is so filial. Mom doesn't want it, you can buy it for yourself."

The Yang mother and daughter didn't bother to keep their voices down, so Jiang Ruyi and Wang Shuhua naturally heard them. Jiang Ruyi's smug mood instantly vanished, and Wang Shuhua also glanced at the huge pile of things. Every item looked very fresh and new, clearly belonging to a young person. Her daughter had bought so many things, but none of them were for her. Thinking about this, she couldn't keep up her smile.

Jiang Ruyu gave a mocking laugh, then turned to Zheng Yang and said, "Go back now, we'll call you to come and get the dumplings later."

Zheng Yang smiled, patted his partner's head, and left, ignoring the mother and daughter. Jiang Ruyu turned and went back into the house.

Jiang Ruyi originally wanted to show off to Jiang Ruyu, to tell her that even if she went to the countryside, she would still be better than her. Look at the boyfriend she found, he's just an ordinary driver, while her boyfriend is the son of a division commander, and he really likes her and is very willing to spend money on her.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyu not only ignored her actions, but also became the laughingstock of the Yang family. Just as she was about to retort to the Yang mother and daughter, Wang Shuhua glared at her and said, "Go home."

Jiang Ruyi pouted, a little unhappy, but she also knew that in this family, only her mother was on her side. Moreover, she really hadn't thought things through this time and forgot to buy her mother something to make her happy. However, Gu Changzheng had given her fifty yuan before leaving, so she would go and buy her mother something tomorrow.

The next day, Jiang Ruyu went to work as usual. Zheng Dali took the day off. The night before, his son told him that the Jiang family had agreed to the engagement. He was so happy that he couldn't sleep all night. His son had been dating for so long, and now they could finally settle down. It was wonderful.

Zheng Dali had gone to the next alley long ago to find Zheng Yang's aunt, Zheng Ru, to help out.

"Big sister, do you think it's okay for me to take all these things? It's quite a lot, isn't it?" Zheng Dali was extremely nervous, afraid that she might do something wrong and ruin her son's good deed.

Zheng Ru looked at the things her brother had bought: a bag of apples, a box of cookies, two chickens, and two fish. These four gifts were quite presentable. "Dali," she said, "you're over forty years old. Why are you so nervous about your children's wedding? These gifts are fine. Just relax and don't let people laugh at you."

Zheng Dali and Zheng Ru started calling out in the yard, "Aunt Jiang, are you busy?"

Grandma Jiang and her eldest son were waiting inside. For such an event, an elder should definitely be present. Since her son and daughter-in-law were not there, she, an old woman, felt she couldn't handle the situation. She had originally thought of inviting her in-laws over, but then decided that since they were just discussing etiquette, they could invite them after the date was set, rather than troubling them to make the trip. After all, Grandpa Ruyu was already quite old.

"Come in quickly, Old Zheng, Sister Zheng is here. Come, come, sit down and have some tea." Jiang Jianguo stood up to greet her. He was of the same generation as Zheng's father and aunt, so it was easier for him to talk to her. After all, Old Mrs. Jiang was an elder, so she inevitably seemed to be putting on airs when she spoke.

"Aunt Jiang, Brother Jianguo, don't be so polite. We're here because of my nephew and your Ruyu. Let's discuss which day would be suitable for their engagement." Zheng Dali wasn't good with words, so Aunt Zheng was just acting as a messenger. Of course, she only had one nephew from her own family, so she had to take it seriously.

Grandma Jiang smiled and said, "We've been neighbors in this compound for over ten or twenty years, so let's not say any more polite things. The young people all have jobs and can't take time off just for this. How about next Sunday, when everyone is off work? You can decide whether to go to a restaurant on Qianmen Street or just have a table or two at home."

Both families were honest and straightforward people, not interested in such frivolous things. In the end, they decided that one table on Qianmen Street would be enough. Neither family had any relatives. They could have set up a table in the courtyard, where the three courtyards had been inhabited for many years and they had a good relationship. Not inviting them would seem stingy, but if they did invite them, they might not be able to fit two tables. So they decided to go to a restaurant, which would be easier and less troublesome. They could just bring back some candy to distribute later.

The engagement was almost finalized, and the next day, Grandma Jiang asked her two sons, Jiang Hui and Jiang Lin, to go to Qingshan Brigade to tell their maternal grandfather's family. Jiang Ruyu was busy with work every day and didn't have time to go, so the two brothers took the things their grandmother had prepared and the things their sister had added to their grandparents' house and went to their maternal grandfather's house.

When the two brothers arrived at their maternal grandfather's house and told him about it, the Hu family was already prepared.

"We've been dating for so long, it's about time we got engaged." Although Hu Jun said this, the gesture of lighting a cigarette betrayed his inner turmoil.

The two brothers ate and went home without delay, bringing with them a lot of dried vegetables and mushrooms prepared by their aunt, as well as dried wild rabbits they had traded from the village and farm eggs stored at home.

Every time they say not to bring so much stuff, but Jiang Ruyu and her siblings never come empty-handed, no matter who comes. Even the closest relationships need to be reciprocal to last and prevent resentment.

Sunday arrived quickly, and Jiang Ruyu got up early the next morning. The three siblings cleaned the house inside and out. Around nine o'clock, their maternal grandparents arrived.

Not everyone came; only my maternal grandfather, my eldest uncle, and my little cousin came. Hu Bei, who was off work today, also waited early at the bus stop, coming with his family.

"My in-laws are here, and his uncle is here too. Oh, this must be Xiaoxi. I haven't seen this girl in so many years. She's grown up so much and is so beautiful." Grandma Jiang smiled and invited her in-laws into the house.

Jiang Jianguo, Jiang Kai, and Jiang Jun from next door also arrived with teapots and cups, greeting them with smiles. These days, everyone knows how many bowls and chopsticks a family has, and whenever someone has an event, they have to borrow tables, chairs, and other furniture from all over the place.

Zheng Yang also returned from outside, carrying quite a lot of fruit candies. Although they weren't the best, they were still pretty good, considering how expensive candies are these days.

"Hey, Yangzi, this is an engagement, not a wedding. Look how happy you are, your mouth is practically sticking out of your ears," Yang Youfu teased him with a laugh.

Sun Datou sat at the door with a smile: "Yangzi is really happy. But Ruyu is such a pretty girl, he should be happy too."

Zheng Yang remained calm. He took out cigarettes and offered them to the neighbors in the yard: "Come on, Uncle Yang, Uncle Sun, have a smoke, and take a couple of pieces of candy to share in the good fortune."

"Haha, of course! Uncle Yang wishes you and Ruyu a happy marriage soon."

"Hehe, thank you so much."

Zheng Yang could tell from the lively atmosphere at his girlfriend's house that her relatives had arrived. He glanced at his watch; it was almost ten o'clock.

Just then, Zheng Ru arrived with her family: "Yangzi, how is it? Is everyone here?"

"Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, Cousins, you're all here! Come on in. Ruyu's side should all be here by now, let's go too." Zheng Yang was already getting nervous.