Chapter 210 I'm Determined to Marry You
Zhou Yufan quickly took it and carefully put it away.
"Hua Chen".
He turned to look at Li Huachen, his gaze sincere.
“After I returned from Huainan, I helped my younger sister with her small business. I saved money by living frugally.”
He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"mother……"
Li Rongkai gently tugged at her sleeve, his little face full of anticipation.
Zhou Yufan solemnly placed each piece of jewelry in front of her.
There was also a stack of banknotes, neatly arranged, piled up like a small mountain.
"Yu Fan, what... what are you doing?"
Li Huachen's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
"I told you, I would make sure you married me in a grand and glorious way."
Zhou Yufan's voice trembled slightly.
"These are all betrothal gifts, all of them are for you. Wherever you go, that's where your home will be. The money will go with you too. I, Zhou Yufan, am marrying you not for anything, but because I sincerely want to spend my life with you."
He was afraid she would shake her head, so he spoke with extra emphasis.
Li Huachen was stunned.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Li Rongkai panicked and jumped up to grab her hand.
"Mother! Please say yes! If you don't, I'll say yes for you! Father! My mother has said yes! She's agreed to marry you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Huachen couldn't help but burst out laughing.
But then, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She raised her hand and gently patted her son's head.
"You little rascal, marriage is such a big deal, your mother has to give her approval."
Upon hearing this laugh, Zhou Yufan felt a sense of relief.
"Hua Chen, I know that these days can't be made up for."
He said in a low voice.
“I remember all the nights you stayed up alone, the tears you shed for Rong Kai, every bite of food you saved…”
"But I want to make it up to you every year from now on."
“Rong Kai needs to study, you need to wear new clothes, and we need a place that truly feels like home. Not a mud house, but a bright and clean house, a kitchen with the aroma of cooking, children’s laughter, and… a place that belongs to us.”
He pointed to the gold jewelry, his voice suddenly becoming choked with emotion.
“These are all the dowry your mother prepared for you. I’ve kept them all and haven’t dared to touch them. This bracelet is one I specially picked out in Huainan. I went to three counties just to find a clear, crack-free one.”
"When we get back to Yuxin, I'll buy you a watch, a sewing machine, and a bicycle! And... and our new house. I've already had someone draw up the plans. It's right by the river, three rooms, with a yard, some flowers, and a cat. What do you say?"
Zhou Shufen handed over a cup of hot water with a smile.
"Sister Hua Chen, don't hesitate. Second Brother has at least that much money on hand right now."
She held up one finger and waved it in the air.
"That doesn't even include the factory's profit sharing. He's determined to marry you; he's been preparing the betrothal gifts for three years, just waiting for your nod."
"Auntie, does my dad... have ten thousand yuan?"
Li Rongkai blinked and asked.
"You underestimate me."
Zhou Shufen smiled gently.
"Let's guess even higher."
Li Huachen lowered her voice.
"One hundred thousand?"
Zhou Shufen shook her head again, her expression calm as still water.
"Then...it can't be a million, can it?"
Li Huachen's voice lowered even further.
As soon as she said it, even she was shocked by the number.
Zhou Shufen finally nodded.
"One million?"
Li Rongkai suddenly raised his voice.
He froze on the spot, his pupils suddenly dilating.
"millionaire?"
After a long pause, he finally managed to utter a sentence.
Li Huachen gasped.
The breath was inhaled too forcefully, rushing straight to the head, and everything went black.
She instinctively reached out and grabbed at the bed railing, finally managing to grab it.
"This...this can't be, right?"
One million?
This felt so unreal to Li Huachen.
Her family were scholars; three generations of her ancestors had been teachers.
Although they have enough to eat and wear, they are not exactly well-off.
For a family like that, let alone a million.
Even adding a zero after the word "ten thousand" is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of.
But now, this million is right in front of her.
Back then, her father absolutely refused to let her marry into the Zhou family, slamming his fist on the table and shouting.
"A house filled with the stench of money, what future can it have? How can a scholar's daughter marry a businessman!"
That angry expression is still deeply etched in her memory.
But Zhou Yufan proved himself determined and persevered, managing to get into university.
Father Li then reluctantly nodded.
But he still spoke with a cold face.
"Live a frugal life from now on, and don't get involved with that money-grubbing stuff!"
As memories flashed through her mind, Li Huachen suddenly turned her head and stared at Zhou Yufan.
"Yu Fan...you...where did you get so much money? Aren't you a technician at the factory? Even if your salary is high, you couldn't possibly save this much..."
Zhou Yufan was amused by the shocked expressions on the mother's and son's faces.
He bent down and slowly picked up the pen.
He then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and bent down to gently wipe away the ink stains.
"We've caught a good year."
His tone was calm, yet his pride was undeniable.
"Business just happened to be booming. To be honest, it's all thanks to my younger sister's help."
Zhou Shufen immediately raised her right hand and made a "shh" gesture.
There weren't many people in the carriage.
Two elderly people were sleeping in the corner, and the seat opposite them was empty.
In the distance, a flight attendant is taking notes.
Even so, she still dared not be careless.
"I'll tell you all about it when we get back to Yuxin. Anyway, you two don't need to scrimp and save anymore. Rong Kai, just focus on your studies and don't worry about anything else! I'll take care of everything else!"
"Yes! I will definitely study hard! I will strive to get into a top high school, and then I will go to university!"
Li Rongkai nodded heavily, his eyes shining with determination.
"Sister Huachen, are you going to agree or not? If you think it's not enough, I'll add more when we get to Yuxin! Dowry, furniture, clothes, whatever you want, I'll get it all for you! I guarantee you'll marry into my family in style!"
"Shufen, you're teasing me again!"
Li Huachen gently nudged her, causing the tips of her ears to flush red.
"How could you say such things in front of a child...aren't you ashamed!"
"Mother! You haven't agreed to Father yet! Do you...do you think that rich people are uncultured and only look down on scholars, just like Grandpa? Is that why you're unwilling to agree?"
Li Rongkai suddenly sat up straight and looked at his mother intently.
"puff!"
Li Huachen burst out laughing at his words.
"Oh my little darling, what are you saying! Your grandfather has old-fashioned ideas, but I'm not that conservative!"
"Okay, I agree."
She finally straightened up and looked at Shufen with tender eyes.
"However, we won't have a wedding. Let's just get our marriage certificate. I don't want a big celebration, and I don't want people to gossip. Let's just keep it simple and live our own lives."
Li Rongkai suddenly jumped up, clapping his little hands loudly.
"I have a dad! I have a dad! I'm not a child without a dad anymore!"
"Rong Kai, stop fooling around, don't disturb others."
Li Huachen reached out and gently covered his mouth.
Li Rongkai made a face at her.
Then he plopped down on his bunk and let out a long sigh.
It seems that all the grievances of the past few years have been blown away by the southward wind.
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