Chapter 7 The woman mentioned "Dad," you wouldn't be reluctant to part with it...
"Teacher Ji, have you changed your mind? Are you going to stay here tonight?" Gu Chen'an asked happily.
“No, I need to talk to your dad about something. Chen An, could you take Lulu out to play for a while?” Ji Wei asked him.
"Of course, Lulu, I'll show you your room." While they were at it, the father and son had also cleaned the other empty rooms in the house.
After the two children left, Gu Zhiyuan stepped forward and realized he was still wearing an apron. He asked in a low voice, "Teacher Ji, is there something you forgot to tell me?"
"We probably won't be able to get our marriage certificate tomorrow." Ji Wei frowned at him, wondering if he didn't know that she had overlooked this issue.
"Why?" Gu Zhiyuan's clenched hand paused involuntarily. Did she really regret it?
"We need photos to get our marriage certificate, but we haven't taken any yet. Let's not take leave tomorrow, shall we?" Ji Wei sighed after saying that.
Her words completely relaxed the tension in Gu Zhiyuan's body. Before he even understood why he had such a strong reaction, he answered her, "Since you've already taken leave, let's stick to the plan and go to the city to buy some things."
Ji Wei hesitated for a moment, then thought of the expectant looks in the eyes of the two little ones when they heard they were going to the city. She couldn't bear to disappoint them, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
"Let's take the photos tomorrow, and then go get the marriage certificate?" Gu Zhiyuan hadn't forgotten about getting the marriage certificate.
"Okay, let's take the photos when we get back." We can get the marriage certificate in the county, so taking the photos in Wu'an is fine.
"Okay, have you eaten yet? Chen'an and I are cooking. Would you like to stay and eat with us?" Gu Zhiyuan tried to extend an invitation.
"I need to go back to my parents' place." Ji Wei shook her head.
Gu Zhiyuan seized on the loophole in her words: "Then let Lulu stay here."
Thinking that the conversation might not go well, Ji Wei did not refuse his suggestion: "Then I'll have to trouble you and Chen An."
"It's no trouble at all," Gu Zhiyuan shook his head.
After giving Lulu her instructions, Ji Wei went straight back to her parents' house. Seeing her alone, Zhou Xiuzhen asked, "Where's Lulu? Why didn't she come back with you?"
"I'm playing at the Gu family's house." After saying that, Ji Wei glanced at Ji Cong, who had been hiding since he saw her return. It seemed that yesterday's threat had worked.
“You’re relieved now,” Zhou Xiuzhen said sarcastically.
"They won't say Lulu is a burden, so why should I worry?" Ji Wei said calmly.
"Are you never going to stop? Is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of just one sentence?" Zhou Xiuzhen was getting a little angry. It was just a joke between children, why did she have to make such a big deal out of it?
"As for it? Why not? Since you think Lulu is a burden, shouldn't you return the money I gave you before? You can't expect me to pay again and let Lulu take the blame, can you?" Ji Wei said, reaching out to Zhou Xiuzhen. She knew she wouldn't give it to her, but it would be good to annoy them.
"I think you've really gone mad," Zhou Xiuzhen cursed as she went inside.
"What are you looking at? If you keep looking, I'll make you spit out everything you've eaten." Ji Wei glanced sideways at Ji Shengzhou and his wife, who were eavesdropping.
After Ji Wei went to the backyard, Li Shuhui said with dissatisfaction, "Is your sister being so tough this time because she thinks she won't need her family anymore when she gets married?"
"You shouldn't have said those things in front of Congcong." Judging from Ji Wei's attitude, Ji Shengzhou probably wouldn't be able to benefit from Gu Zhiyuan's influence in the future, so he looked at Li Shuhui with some resentment.
"Ji Shengzhou, are you even a man? Am I the only one saying this? Now that something's happened, why should I be the only one to blame?" Li Shuhui also became angry. They always treated that girl like that, so why should she be the only one to blame now?
Ji Wei was unaware of the argument between the couple. She went straight to the backyard and found Ji Dahai on the recliner: "Dad, Gu Zhiyuan and I are going to the city to buy some things tomorrow. I've given all my salary to the family. I can't go with him empty-handed tomorrow, can I?"
"Isn't it the groom who pays for everything before the wedding? Why would you need to pay anything?" Ji Dahai said, flicking his pipe and glancing at her casually.
"Fine, since you're not contributing now, don't blame me for neglecting you later," Ji Wei said nonchalantly.
"Ji Wei, we've already agreed that you don't need a bride price, don't push your luck!" Ji Dahai glared at her.
"Let's not talk about how much my salary has been these past two years. Let's say it's 300 a month. That's 7,200 in two years. How much of that has you spent on Lulu? I didn't say anything before because I thought we were all family. But since you've excluded Lulu and me, then Lulu and I will naturally treat you the same way. Dad, you can't have it all." Ji Wei looked at Ji Dahai calmly.
"Ji Wei, how dare you talk to your father like that?" Before Ji Dahai could react, Zhou Xiuzhen stepped forward and reprimanded him.
"I'm just stating the facts. That's it. Consider that money as my advance retirement fund for you. If you need anything in the future, just contact Ji Shengzhou." Ji Wei finished speaking and stopped looking at them. She knew before she came back that she wouldn't get the money back, and this trip was meant to sever ties with them.
Watching her walk away, Zhou Xiuzhen hesitated for a moment before looking at Ji Dahai: "Should we get her some?"
"Take what? I think she's just gotten too big for her britches. What child isn't like that?" Ji Dahai said, taking several puffs of his tobacco.
"What if she really stops caring about the family in the future?" Zhou Xiuzhen felt that Ji Wei had been acting strangely these past two days.
"She dares!" Ji Dahai shouted, gripping his pipe.
After leaving the Ji family, Ji Wei felt relieved even though she hadn't gotten the money. She knew before she came that the money that had gone into their pockets was gone forever. Rather than continuing to argue with them, she had more important things to do, and they weren't worth wasting her time on.
Even though Ji Wei deliberately slowed down, when she arrived at the Gu family's house, they were still having dinner. Hearing the noise at the door, Gu Zhiyuan said to Gu Chen'an beside him, "Go and get Teacher Ji a bowl of rice."
"Oh." Before Gu Chen'an could even feel happy, he was sent to the kitchen. Lulu, who was standing next to him, got up and ran to Ji Wei: "Mom, time to eat."
"Sit down and have something to eat with the child," Gu Zhiyuan said, not giving her a chance to refuse.
Thinking that they would be family in a few days, Ji Wei didn't refuse. She sat down next to Lulu, her eyes scanning the food on the table: two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup. In this day and age, this was considered quite good.
"Teacher Ji, here's your food." Gu Chen'an, who came out of the kitchen, handed the bowl to Ji Wei.
"Thank you, Chen An." Ji Wei took the rice bowl and thanked him.
"Don't be shy, Teacher Ji, try this, it's delicious." A little shy, Gu Chen'an pointed to the braised lion's head on the table to divert attention.
"Okay." Ji Wei raised the corners of her lips. It was clear that today's dishes were very accommodating to Lulu, which made Ji Wei even more satisfied with this cooperation.
"Mom, you eat." Lulu held the spoon, clearly enjoying her meal.
Everyone enjoyed the meal, especially Gu Zhiyuan. This was exactly the scene of his family eating together that he had imagined. After the meal, he looked up at Ji Wei and asked, "Teacher Ji, wasn't my dad's cooking delicious?" In his memory, that woman had never cooked such a delicious meal for him before.
"Yes, it's delicious." Ji Wei nodded with a smile; the dishes were indeed very tasty.
"Then after you and Daddy get married, Daddy will cook for you every day." Gu Chen'an's face was full of joy when he talked about getting married.
In her past life, Ji Wei had heard many times about being urged to get married, but this was the first time she had heard such words from a seven-year-old child. She smiled and replied generously, "Okay!"
Hearing their conversation, Gu Zhiyuan, who was sitting to the side, gradually lost his cold demeanor.
"It's getting late, we should head back." As dusk began to fall, Ji Wei said goodbye.
"I'll take you back." Gu Zhiyuan stood up.
"I'll join too," Gu Chen'an quickly said, indicating that he wanted to go as well.
This time, Ji Wei did not refuse. After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would soon become husband and wife and upgrade to true business partners.
They were just across the street from the school. When they arrived at the school gate, Gu Chen'an waved goodbye to them with some reluctance: "Teacher Ji, Lulu, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," Lulu said with a smile and waved to them.
Back in the dorm, Ji Wei squatted down and looked at Lulu: "Did you enjoy eating at your brother's house?"
"No one's competing with me for vegetables, that's great." Lulu thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Then let's move to my brother's place from now on, is that okay, Lulu?" Ji Wei coaxed gently.
"Should I still sleep with Mommy?" Lulu asked, tilting her little face up.
“Of course.” Ji Wei nodded. In her view, this marriage was a mutually beneficial partnership, which was naturally different from other couples.
"That's good." Lulu accepted, then yawned. Compared to usual, she had clearly exceeded her usual exercise level today, and she was sleepy.
"Go get some water with Mom, wash up, and then go to sleep." Ji Wei rubbed her little head.
"Okay." The little one snuggled against her chest, sleepy.
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"Dad, shall we go to the city tomorrow to buy things for your and Teacher Ji's wedding?" The father and son were also having a late-night chat at the Gu family home.
"Hmm." Gu Zhiyuan was sparing with his words.
"So what are you planning to buy?" Gu Chen'an asked.
This problem stumped Gu Zhiyuan. In his opinion, Ji Wei would choose the items tomorrow, and he would just pay for them. As for what items to buy, he really didn't know.
Seeing his silence, Gu Chen'an became a little anxious: "Dad, you're not just unwilling to spend the money, are you?"
"What?" Gu Zhiyuan didn't understand why he would come to this conclusion.
"You need to buy new clothes, new shoes, a watch, and gold jewelry for the wedding. You have to buy all of these for Teacher Ji," Gu Chen'an said, counting on his fingers.
Gu Zhiyuan chuckled lightly: "You know all this?"
"Of course I know. That's what that woman said. She said that once she uses the money you sent back to buy all these things, she'll marry that man." Gu Chen'an suddenly regretted saying this. Although he didn't understand many things, he vaguely knew that it wasn't good to bring this up at this time.
A note from the author:
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