Shortly after Li Jianjun left, Mr. Lin looked at his wife meaningfully and said, "This is the kind of person you should look for in a partner. Someone who knows how to act and has strong abilities. Everything else is empty talk. Even though our two sons-in-law don't have any family background, they are both outstanding individuals."

After saying that, he checked the time, frowned, pointed outside angrily, and said to his wife, "Look, she hasn't come out yet. She doesn't know that the elders at home are waiting for her. Forget it, that's it. If the Yang family is willing to accept her, just send her over quickly. I don't have the patience to wait. I'll go to work first, and you can leave her alone. With this attitude, I won't say anything more."

Mrs. Lin watched the old man get into the car in the yard accompanied by Xiao Zhou, and then returned to the living room. As soon as she came in, she saw her eldest daughter-in-law glaring at her eldest granddaughter and looking at her youngest daughter in confusion. What happened?

Lin Liying shrugged, shook her head, and gestured to look at Lin Xueling.

After a long moment, Chen Jingru sat down with his shoulders slumped, frowning as he looked at his daughter. "Have you decided to marry him? You have to tell me what you like about him? His family background? His looks? His character? Mom is doing this for your own good. At the very least, I want to confirm his character and personality. I have to ask around first. It's almost the New Year, and we can still get married next year. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Lin Xueling stared at her with a cold face. "I'm 22 years old. I have my own ideas and I know what I want. I don't want to compromise myself for a little money in the future. I just want a stable life. Apart from being short, he has a good family background and a good job. I don't want to be like my good sisters in the compound, just find a soldier and only see him a few times a year. I have to shoulder all the problems and endure all the hardships by myself, and I have to worry about job transfers all the time. I don't want to stay in the capital, but follow the army everywhere. Am I crazy or have I lost my mind? He is the only son in Yang Liqun's family. His father is the director of the hospital and his grandfather is in the Ministry of Health. There are so many people watching such a family. What's wrong with that?"

Chen Jingru was silent for a moment. Seeing her determined expression, he advised, "There's no need to rush. Wait for Mom first and I'll go find out what their family is like. What if something goes wrong if you make a decision in a hurry? Besides, your dad will be back soon, so he should take a look first."

Lin Xueling shook her head and smiled at the old lady and her aunt. "Grandma, aunt, please stop trying to persuade me. When my dad comes back, I'll explain to him and he'll support me. Grandma, just prepare your dowry for me. I don't want to marry a sewing machine like Zhou Jiao did. Everyone in the compound would laugh at me."

Mrs. Lin smiled and said, "Let's not talk about your father not agreeing yet. Let's talk about the dowry first. You have it all, what else do you need? I think the best dowry for a girl in the compound, besides the three turns and the ring, is a wardrobe, a new quilt, and a new coat."

Lin Xueling's face changed when she heard this, but she quickly concealed it. Smiling, she stepped forward and took the old lady's arm, shaking it and stamping her feet. "I don't believe that grandma won't give me some jewelry. I know that my eldest aunt secretly prepared a lot of dowry for Zhou Jiao. My mother is really something. She said she loved me, but she didn't prepare anything for me. Grandma, I see you, you can't be too far behind Zhou Jiao. She's a country girl, but she owns two sets of courtyards in the capital, not to mention all the things my eldest aunt has been preparing for all these years. Otherwise, grandma, take me to see it, so I can refer to it and see what I need to prepare."

Mrs. Lin's smile froze, and she lowered her head to conceal her mistake. "Silly child, how can our family compare to Zhou Jiao? You have several brothers and sisters, so who has prepared a dowry? Jiaojiao's father left some money behind privately, and your aunt only has Jiaojiao as a daughter. Who else should she give it to? Grandma did leave some things, but not much. But I can't give them all to you. You have three younger brothers, and they will soon start their own families."

Chen Jingru blushed with irritation. He stole a glance at his sister-in-law and saw her looking at Xiaoling coldly. This kid was so foolish! How could she keep an eye on an old man's private property? The old lady only gave many things to her grandson, not even to her daughter, let alone her granddaughter.

Lin Liying sneered a few times, and when Lin Xueling glared at her, she was so angry that she didn't even care about the old lady's wink and said, "Don't glare at me, don't you want to see Jiaojiao's dowry? You think others don't understand your thoughts. It's better not to look at it. If you do, you won't be able to sleep.

Do you know what kind of life you have lived all these years, what kind of life Jiaojiao has lived? She is just a country girl. Her father is back. She is really not an ordinary golden child. Do you know what I mean?

Zhou Xiaozheng, Zhou Jiao's father, married your eldest aunt after he became wealthy, unlike your younger uncle, whom you looked down upon. He dotes on his only daughter like his life, announcing the good news everywhere the day she was born, shouting like crazy about having a baby girl. He held Jiaojiao in his arms all night long, believing no one could compare to his daughter; even her farts were fragrant. He constantly nags your eldest aunt about preparing the dowry early, saying that his daughter will be a little princess from now on, and no one dares to touch her! Now his little princess has become an abandoned orphan, and no one can imagine what will happen when he returns!

Are you crazy? Comparing yourself to her? Luckily, we're at home. Do you know why your grandfather and your aunt went to see Jiaojiao this time? They were worried that Zhou Xiaozheng would come back and find out that no one in our family had visited her. Your aunt abandoned her for 17 years, and Zhou Jiao would feel resentful. Zhou Xiaozheng would harbor resentment and alienate your aunt.

If no one tells you to, you won't use your brain? Do you really think you're the eldest daughter of the Lin family? Don't be so unconvinced! It's no use glaring at me. In terms of status, Zhou Jiao is no lower than you. Although your father returned from a mission with Zhou Xiaozheng, his position was more than two levels lower than your uncle's.

Now Zhou Xiaozheng has returned with meritorious service. With 17 years of service, how many levels do you think he will be promoted? In the Lin family, except for your grandfather, everyone who sees him has to call him "chief." Do you understand what I mean? You really can't compare with Zhou Jiao. You have a younger brother, and you don't care about him? If you want to get married, just compare yourself to the girls in the compound and don't think too much.

Lin Xueling's face flushed red, not knowing whether she was angry or ashamed. She bit her lips tightly and stared at Lin Liying.

Lin Liying said yes quickly and put down the finger that was pointing at her.

She said tearfully, "How could I look down on my uncle? You just have a problem with me and always dislike me. I just wanted to see what happened to Zhou Jiao's dowry. I didn't ask for any - besides, even if my aunt gave me a few pieces, Zhou Jiao wouldn't know. My aunt only has one daughter, but she has three nieces. The money spent on these dowries didn't come from the Zhou family, but from the Lin family, and it's my aunt's own salary. Even if our Lin family wants it, what's the problem? You're not even allowed to look at it!"

Lin Liying was so angry that she jumped up and down, pointing at the old lady and Chen Jingru with her fingers, shouting, "Mom, look, look, sister-in-law, listen carefully too, this is the child we spoiled. She still feels wronged, what a wrong. Oh, I'm so angry. Lin Xueling, according to what you said, your mother's salary and the house allocated by your mother's unit all belong to your grandmother and your cousin. How can you have the nerve to be strict with others and lenient with yourself? In that case, why don't you allow your mother to buy a watch for your eldest cousin? Aren't you unhappy? Your mother is your eldest cousin's only aunt.

You said you didn't look down on your uncle-in-law. You couldn't see it on his face every time you saw him, but did you say hello? What did you say to those two brats in my family? - Oh, your dad, it's because he found your mom, otherwise he would still be stuck in the mountains. Do you think you're the only one who's smart and my son is stupid? Your uncle-in-law didn't stay in Beijing because he found me. And you said I have a problem with you. Don't you know how I treat you? You said you didn't want to go to school and wanted to work in the hospital. As for me, I had to persuade your mom, find so many connections, and spend so much effort to get you in. I took you with me when you were so little. You damn girl, you pissed me off.

I think the excuse you just gave your mother was a fabrication. Is it because the Yang family is rich that they're attracted to Yang Liqun? I really need to drag you to have your head changed. The Yang family is rich, but what the hell? All the richest people in Beijing have been liquidated, and the Yang family still has money? The old man of the Yang family is just the son of a landowner from the countryside, how much money can he have? Dean Yang earned his way abroad. Do you think just having a five-story courtyard house means you're rich? Everywhere in Beijing is rich.

Tell me the truth, if you think you're marrying him because he's rich? I'll skin you alive, you're stupid, can't you find someone less burdensome and more capable? You already have a salary, if you find someone with a high salary and less burden, what do you two lack? Oh, you dead girl, you're still staring at me, if you hadn't been raised by me, do you think I would have said anything to you? Do you think I said anything to Xiaoli and Xiaozhen?

Lin Liying was so anxious that she jumped up and down, pointing at her with trembling fingers in anger.

Chen Jingru quickly poured her a cup of warm water and handed it to her, feeling secretly sad. She blamed herself for being so supportive of her daughter, fearing she would suffer without her father. She hadn't properly educated her, causing her mind to become distorted. No wonder she always looked down on everyone. She had thought her daughter was just being childish, and she knew it all.

Lin Liying took a big gulp of water, her eyes fixed on Lin Xueling, not moving away. She had to change this child's mindset today! Otherwise, with her sister-in-law's temper, she still had to give in to her in the end. She really looked down on the Yang family. They were not of good origin. According to her mother's concept, it was a concubine who was in charge of the family.

Every time Old Lady Yang visits her son, she's so pretentious, trying so hard to act like a lady from a wealthy family, but every time she exudes a vixen-like aura—the kind that's too unpresentable. Pah, even her mother-in-law has more elegance than Old Lady Yang! And what about the Yang family's pedigree? A director from the Ministry of Health retired a few years later. Family background is bullshit, what's so special about it?