Mo Bai immediately sat up straight: "Uncle, please speak."
"First, there must be a betrothal gift, but you cultivators don't care about such things, just a token is enough."
Fu Ya smiled and replied, "The key is that there needs to be a formal marriage proposal ceremony tomorrow, so that our two families can sit down together for a meal."
Rong Zhigao and Rong Zhiyuan exchanged a glance, and the older brother spoke up, "Mom, should we invite some relatives tomorrow?"
“No need, no need,” Fu Ya waved her hand. “It’s fine as long as we’re family. Besides…” she lowered her voice, “Jiaojiao and Mobai’s situations are special, there’s no need to cause them trouble.”
Rong Zhiyuan put down his chopsticks and asked, "Aren't my uncles going to say anything either?"
"uncle?"
"Where did our uncle come from?"
Everyone looked at Fu Ya. Fu Ya felt upset just thinking about those troublesome nephews and nieces and didn't want them to appear in front of Rong Jiaojiao at all, so she never mentioned their existence to Rong Jiaojiao.
She glared at her second son, then said without hiding anything, "During the war, my family found a way to go to Hong Kong to seek refuge with my great-uncle's family, but a conflict occurred when we set off and we were separated."
"I couldn't find my family. Later, by chance, I joined the revolution and never saw them again."
"More than ten years ago, my brother and my younger brother returned to China under the guise of businessmen investing. One reason was that they saw the prospects for development in China, and the other was that my parents wanted to find me and wanted to return to their roots."
Fu Ya's words silenced the dinner table for a moment.
Rong Jiaojiao blinked, somewhat surprised: "Mom, you have brothers? Then...where are my uncles now?"
Fu Ya sighed: "After they returned to China, they tried to find me by placing missing person notices in newspapers and on television."
Fu Ya put down her chopsticks, her gaze distant. "Your maternal grandparents lived in Hong Kong for many years and passed away a few years ago. As for your two uncles..."
She paused, her tone slightly complicated, "My eldest uncle, Fu Cheng, runs a jewelry business in Hong Kong, and my youngest uncle, Fu Ming, is involved in import and export trade in Singapore. Both of them are quite wealthy and powerful."
Rong Jiaojiao keenly sensed the distance in her mother's words and asked softly, "Then... have you reunited with them?"
Fu Ya nodded: "When they returned to China to invest back then, they did recognize each other. However, your uncle and his family are quite happy to have found me, but their children are no longer able to get close to me."
"They are used to the way things are done in the business world, and even brothers are wary of each other, let alone an aunt like me whom they have never met."
“They were afraid that your maternal grandparents would leave me some shares, so when they met me they were arrogant and condescending, completely losing the dignity of a scholarly family.”
Rong Jiaojiao held Fu Ya's hand and said, "Mom, don't be sad. Next time they come, I'll slap them in the face."
Fu Ya glared at her: "Don't cause me any trouble. If they find out about your and Mo Bai's identities, they might keep bothering you. When you're not around, you'll only annoy me more and more."
Rong Jiaojiao snorted coldly: "That depends on whether they have the ability."
Fu Ya shook her head: "Forget it, just let me have some peace and quiet."
"Alright!"
The conversation returned to the topic of marriage proposals. Rong Lianhu said, "Let's have a meal together tomorrow to finalize the engagement, and then discuss the wedding date."
Mo Bai nodded earnestly, "Uncle and Aunt, don't worry, I will definitely prepare all the necessary betrothal gifts."
Rongyue's eyes sparkled. "Wow, tomorrow we'll see Auntie get formally proposed to! I can't wait! I wonder what kind of betrothal gifts Uncle will prepare."
Rong Wenyuan and Rong Wentao exchanged a glance, both filled with curiosity. Rong Xuan couldn't wait to say, "Uncle will definitely prepare something amazing, after all, he doesn't look like an ordinary person."
After chatting and laughing for a while, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
Rong Jiaojiao lay in bed, tossing and turning.
Thinking back on all the moments I've shared with Mo Bai, there were no grand pursuits or vows of eternal love, but countless moments of tacit understanding and unwavering trust.
She gently stroked the jade bracelet that Mo Bai had given her on her wrist, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
In the next guest room, Mo Bai was sitting cross-legged, with a communication jade slip floating in front of him.
The jade slip displayed the father's reply: "The betrothal gifts are ready. Please arrive promptly at nine o'clock tomorrow."
Outside the window, Zi Ling transformed into her original form and squatted on a treetop, her purple eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
It tilted its head and looked at the bougainvillea blooming in the yard. Suddenly, as if remembering something, it darted into the kitchen, stole a piece of osmanthus cake from the cupboard, and then nimbly slipped back up the tree.
The next morning, the Rong family got up early and worked together to decorate the house and prepare dishes.
Fu Ya specially changed into a crimson cheongsam that she had treasured for many years, and her hair was combed meticulously.
Rong Lianhu put on a crisp military uniform, his medals gleaming.
"Mom, you look so beautiful today." Rong Jiaojiao straightened her mother's collar, then turned to praise Rong Lianhu: "My dad is still as dashing and extraordinary as ever."
Fu Ya patted her daughter's hand: "Today is your big day, Mom is so happy."
Rong Lianhu was equally happy. He had always worried that his daughter would not get married and would be alone in the future, but now he was no longer worried. His daughter had found someone who shared her ideals and would surely be happy for the rest of her life.
At nine o'clock, three black Hongqi sedans slowly stopped at the entrance of the sanatorium.
A middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue Tang suit stepped out of the lead car. He had an extraordinary air about him and was none other than Mo Bai's father, Mo Yuntao.
"Dad." Mo Bai stepped forward and bowed.
Mo Yuntao nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Rong Zhigao: "This must be the eldest son of the Rong family, right? He is indeed a handsome young man."
Rong Zhigao looked at the man who looked younger than himself and gave him a respectful military salute: "Hello, Uncle Mo."
At that moment, the doors of the two cars behind opened simultaneously.
Su Wanqing, the mother of the ink-black cheongsam, descended gracefully, the jade pendant around her neck gleaming in the sunlight.
The eight servants accompanying the carriage began unloading mahogany boxes, each adorned with a large red silk flower.
“This is…” Rong Zhigao raised an eyebrow as he looked at the twelve boxes that were being carried down one after another.
Mo Yuntao smiled and said, "This is just a small gift, nothing to show your respect."
As the group walked toward Rongjia Courtyard, they attracted the attention of many retired cadres along the way.
Some people recognized the "Rongbaozhai" mark on the boxes and whispered among themselves, "Isn't that the logo of Beijing's most famous antique shop?"
Inside the courtyard, Fu Ya was helping Rong Jiaojiao set the dining table.
Hearing the noise, Fu Ya quickly straightened her clothes: "Coming, coming!"
The courtyard gate opened, and Mo Yunting walked in first, bowing respectfully: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, I apologize for disturbing you."
Rong Lianhu strode forward and said, "Welcome, welcome! Please come in!"
The servants placed the betrothal gifts one by one in the center of the living room. After placing the gifts, they immediately left the Rong family and waited in the car.
Rongyue and Rongxuan quickly served tea to everyone.
P.S.: Sorry, my dear readers, I'm sick. I tried my best yesterday, but I only managed to write three chapters to post first. Please take a look. I'll write more today if I feel better.
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