Qian Jiangang was dumbfounded. Before he could even take a step, Liu Huiru grabbed him.
A moment later, Qian Lai came out holding a red bankbook: "This is a bankbook with your name on it, right? Why is it written in pencil 'For Xiao Zhen's Wedding'? What does this mean!?"
These words were met with a chorus of boos.
"Qian Jiangang! You traitor! You've been secretly saving so much money for others behind my back!" Liu Huiru snatched the passbook and examined it closely, unable to believe her eyes.
"Old Qian is so good to his sister-in-law! Hahahaha..."
The courtyard was instantly filled with scornful jeers.
"Ha!" Qian Lai laughed angrily. "Dad, all these years you've been supporting the eldest son's family to the point of being destitute, and now you're forcing me to marry a paralyzed man, not only without a dowry, but also forcing my cousin to give all the betrothal money. You've even taken my university spot and unceremoniously given it to my older cousin."
Please tell me, isn't Qian Jiangang being a bit too much of a bully? Qian Dong needs money to get married, shouldn't he use his own sister in exchange for it to be legitimate and reasonable?
"Director Qian, you can't be too biased!"
"My goodness! He's prepared a dowry for his niece, but not a penny for his own daughter? Is this really a father?"
"I heard that Qian Xiaozhen was originally engaged to the Gu family. But when she saw that he was paralyzed, she refused to go."
"Tsk tsk, the Qian family really knows how to leech off others."
...
"What nonsense are you talking about? Would you want to marry a paralyzed man? Whoever wants to marry him can go, but I'm not going."
Unable to bear the crowd's chatter any longer, Qian Xiaozhen rushed to the center of the courtyard and screamed.
"Dad, it's our honor to take care of Comrade Gu Hanchuan. Whether it's my cousin or me, whoever marries into the Gu family will handle the dowry and betrothal money. Is that too much to ask?"
Finally, the person she was waiting for arrived in the crowd. Qian Lai deliberately raised her voice.
"That's only natural!" a dignified female voice rang out. People automatically parted. A capable-looking middle-aged woman led three people into the courtyard.
Qian Jiangang's expression changed drastically. He recognized one of them as Director Ren of the Municipal Industry Bureau, a direct leader of the steel plant, and another as Director Wu of the street office. And the young man in military green... was actually the military officer who handled the compensation matter yesterday.
"I am Wang Mei from the Municipal Organization Department." The middle-aged woman's eyes were sharp. "Comrade Qian Jiangang, we have heard about your family's affairs. Both the capital and our local authorities attach great importance to Comrade Gu Hanchuan's marriage. The leaders have also specifically instructed us to pay attention to the opinions of Comrade Gu Hanchuan's fiancée, so that she can get married without any worries."
Oh, right, there's some good news too. Comrade Gu Hanchuan has been promoted to deputy division commander. His future life will be properly arranged by the military…”
The capital city knows about this too!?
Qian Jiangang's legs went weak.
"Also, stop calling him 'paralyzed, paralyzed.' Comrade Gu Hanchuan is a first-class meritorious soldier who was wounded for the country! It is an honor for your family to marry him. Once the marriage is settled, I will personally deliver the 'Glorious Military Family' plaque to your family."
As soon as Director Wang finished speaking, the onlookers erupted in applause.
Qian Jiangang chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"I'm Li, Deputy Division Commander Gu's bodyguard." The young man smiled, stood at attention, saluted, and walked up to Qian Lai with an envelope in his hand. He looked up at the gauze on her head and said, "Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry. When I heard yesterday that I had bumped into you, the leader immediately gave instructions."
He handed the envelope to Qian Lai, saying, "This is your compensation and nutritional allowance. Please accept it! We have also arranged a new VIP ward for you, with someone to take care of you. Your aunt no longer needs to worry about your recovery."
As Qin Hongxiang listened to each word, it felt as if she had handed over a golden nugget that rightfully belonged to her.
A pair of triangular eyes glared at Qian Xiaozhen.
Qian Xiaozhen kept shaking her head, while Qin Hongxiang looked at her with resentment.
"And also," Xiao Li said with a smile as he walked up to Qian Jiangang, "since your wife's opinion is that she should manage the gift money herself, and the leaders support it, then please, Uncle..."
Having said all that, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qian Jiangang had no choice but to hand over the gift money, no matter how unwilling he was.
Tears welled up in Liu Huiru's eyes, overwhelmed with emotion: "Lai Lai, since your father has already saved up a dowry, and you're getting married first, then it's only right that you get it first." She stuffed the savings book back into her daughter's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"You..." Qian Jiangang was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"Comrade Qian Jiangang, we are aware of your family's situation. We do not want Comrade Qian Lai and her mother to suffer any more unfair treatment." Director Wu of the street office said coldly, his gaze sweeping over Qian Jiangang and his daughter Qin Hongxiang. "Comrade Qian Lai is taking care of our hero, and we must stay behind and take good care of her family. This is no longer a family conflict; we hope that the whole society can treat heroes and their families with kindness."
"Distinguished leaders," Qian Lai pressed, "I'd like to ask, are non-immediate family members eligible to live in the state-owned enterprise's family compound?"
Qin Hongxiang and Qian Xiaozhen's faces suddenly darkened.
What does she mean by that?
"Of course—no." A person squeezed in from outside the crowd, and when Qian Jiangang saw him, he felt like crying.
"I am Liu Fugui, the steel plant director. Director Wang, Director Ren, Director Wu, as soon as I heard you were here, I even dropped the meeting and rushed over. I didn't expect to be too late." Liu Fugui shook hands with each of them, his face full of smiles. "The Qian family had some difficulties before. We made an exception and let his sister-in-law and her family move in. Now that their children are all adults and have jobs, it's really not suitable for them to live in our steel plant's residential compound anymore."
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