Jiang Hexi benefited from Yan Jie's influence and once again received preferential treatment from Ms. Zhou.

In addition to her daily routine of shopping, beauty treatments, and skincare, she was also taken to a gold shop to frantically buy jewelry.

At first, Ms. Zhou simply picked out some gold earrings and gold necklaces for Jiang Hexi to try on.

Later, it gradually evolved into gold crowns, gold bracelets, and gold ruyi (a type of scepter), and the weight of pure gold became heavier and heavier.

Finally, they strung fourteen large gold bracelets together on a red rope and hung it around Jiang Hexi's neck, only then did she realize something was wrong.

"Mom, why did you buy so much gold jewelry?"

"Don't ask, just wear it."

Ms. Zhou was unwilling to explain further. She carefully selected a large, heavy gold bracelet, about the size of a bowl, and slipped it onto her wrist, finding it very satisfactory.

"This is good, the Golden Phoenix Brings Auspiciousness, it looks very noble."

"Mom, are you preparing betrothal gifts for my eldest brother?"

Jiang Hexi looked at her with a look of utter despair and said, "This is outrageous. All these gold jewelry pieces weigh at least five pounds. Aren't you afraid they'll crush Sister Si's neck?"

"This is your dowry."

Ms. Zhou said with exasperation, "It's only a small amount of gold. I haven't even put a gold bracelet around your neck yet, and you can't even keep it up?"

Jiang Hexi immediately panicked, "Mom—, I'm not in a hurry to get married."

"One shouldn't be so selfish."

Ms. Zhou picked through the gold locks in her hands and said, "You're only in your early twenties, so of course you're not in a hurry. But Xiao Yan is almost thirty, and he's the eldest grandson in the family. The elders have been urging him on. How can he not be anxious?"

She offered advice based on her own experience:

“Axi, I’m not saying I’m going to marry you off right away. It can be delayed for a year or two. But we need to prepare the necessary pure gold jewelry in advance. The style and quality of the gold are important. It must be a custom-made dowry with exquisite craftsmanship to show the Jiang family’s wealth.”

Jiang Hexi didn't dare to protest openly. After thinking for a moment, she said:

"Mom, is our family about to go bankrupt?"

"What bankruptcy?"

"Otherwise, why are you in such a hurry to marry me off?"

After Jiang Hexi left Ms. Zhou speechless, she took off the gold bracelet around her neck and said with immediate relief:

"Mom, if we're really short of money, don't try to save face. If you can avoid buying gold bracelets like these, then don't buy them. I'll look but not buy when I go shopping in the future, and try my best to save money for the family."

"Put the gold bracelet back on me!"

As soon as Ms. Zhou got angry, Jiang Hexi immediately became obedient and put the long string of gold bracelets around her neck.

“Xiao Yan has already come to my door to propose, and you’re still here joking around with me.”

She gave Jiang Hexi a thorough and scathing critique:

"Do you know you're a money-devouring beast? Your father and I have spent a lot of money on you since you were little. If you really care about the family, you should get married sooner rather than later, which would save the family money."

"Mom, that's not very kind of you."

Jiang Hexi argued softly, "How can you shift the blame to someone else's house just because you can't handle the problems in your own home?"

Ms. Zhou was amused by her words, "So, this is a rare opportunity, and while you're still in demand, I have to hurry up and marry you off?"

Seeing that a direct confrontation wouldn't work, Jiang Hexi immediately backed down:

"Mom, without me, who will go shopping with you, and who will go to the beauty salon with you for skincare?"

"Once Si Xiao is married and you're no longer here, I'll find a new shopping buddy."

Jiang Hexi couldn't argue with her, so she wisely shut her mouth.

Seeing that Ms. Zhou was determined to prepare a dowry for her, and thinking about how she would have to try on these big gold bracelets in the future, she suddenly wanted to go to the countryside to farm.

Smiling: [Director, when will filming for our farming reality show start? I haven't seen you send me any messages.]

Smiling: 【Are you so forgetful that you've forgotten me?】

Smiling: [Director, the corn in the field needs fertilizer. Let's start recording as soon as possible, this is urgent!]

An unknown director named Chen: [Chen Lang is taking a shower. Stop talking nonsense and tell me honestly, why are you so eager to go record this show?]

Smiling: [Gossip Girl, no, Director's Wife, please look at the photo below.]

Jiang Hexi uploaded a selfie of herself wearing a gold crown, earrings, a necklace, and fourteen gold bracelets, hoping to gain sympathy.

An unknown director named Chen: [Hahahaha, you're going to make me laugh to death!]

An unknown director, Chen: [Who's so rich as to buy you so much gold jewelry?]

An unknown director, Chen: [With your makeup and styling, you're practically wearing your wealth on your sleeve.]

Smiling broadly: "This is my mom's dowry she prepared for me."

Smiling: [I really can't stay in this house anymore, Gossip Girl, please get Director Chen to start filming a variety show right away!]

An unknown director named Chen: [Alright, I'll take care of this.]

Smiling: 【(*︾▽︾)～～Thank you, Gossip Girl.】

Chai Fei put down her phone and saw Chen Lang come out of the bathroom, his washed hair still dripping wet.

She took the towel and began to dry his hair.

Have you seen the list of guest stars selected through online voting?

"I saw it."

"I'm ranked number one on the leaderboard, and according to the show's rules, I absolutely have to make a comeback this time."

Without hesitation, Chen Lang replied, "No."

Chai Fei stopped what she was doing and asked, "Why not?"

Chen Lang looked up at her through the towel on his head and said, "You are my wife."

"Does the production team have a rule that married people cannot participate in farming variety shows?"

"No, but the director's wife should take the initiative to avoid suspicion."

"If you don't tell me and I don't tell you, how will anyone know I'm your family member?"

"The director knows."

Chai Fei didn't have time to argue with him endlessly. She threw down the towel in her hand and said:

"Give me a definite answer: can I participate in the recording of the next farming variety show?"

"Yes, but you have to visit the production crew in the countryside as a family member."

Chai Fei knew that he was a person with strong principles.

Seeing that his attitude was so firm and there was no room for negotiation, she stopped pressuring him and instead made another request:

When will the next episode start filming?

"Next Monday."

"Why are you dragging this out until next week? Can't you do it this Friday?"

Chen Lang looked at her blankly, wondering what she was up to. "I'm away in the countryside for almost half a month at a time. This time I want to stay home and spend more time with you."

Didn't you arrange for me to visit the filming location in the countryside?

Chai Fei said irritably, "If you have that time, why are you still staying at home? Let's set it for this Friday. I'll go to the countryside with you to record a variety show. Consider it a visit to the set in advance."

Chen Lang felt she had ulterior motives, but her words also sounded reasonable, and he couldn't find any reason to refuse her.

"Then let's do as you say."