After holding back for a long time, Qiao Shi suddenly said as if he was going to throw caution to the wind, "I... I don't have much money, but I have hands and feet. I can help Shan'er run a business to earn money for the family. I won't spend money recklessly, not a single penny will be wasted! In two years at most, I will definitely be able to build up a fortune in the capital!"
Fu Ting smiled and said, "There is another way, the simplest and most convenient one."
Qiao Shi stared longingly in that direction.
Jiang Shan raised an eyebrow, curiously awaiting what would happen next.
"Brother Qiao is all alone anyway, why not find a wealthy family and become a live-in son-in-law!"
Jiang Shan suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at Fu Ting with a strange expression.
Uncle Fu was joking, wasn't he? He must be joking, right?
Sure enough, Qiao Shi's face turned bright red.
Just when Jiang Shan thought things were going to get out of hand, Qiao Shi, his face red and neck thick, shouted, "What's wrong with being a live-in son-in-law! I want to be that kind of live-in son-in-law! I've been an orphan since I was little, and if I could have a father to take care of, I'd be overjoyed!"
Wow!
Jiang Shan's inner demons forcefully gave Qiao Shi a thumbs-up.
Fu Ting's lips curled slightly, his dark eyes glancing towards the doorway.
Qiao Shi froze abruptly, his entire being turning into a capital "awkward".
Standing at the door, Jiao's mother glanced at the shoes with her eyes darting around, and said in a very unnatural tone, "It's time to eat! Senior brother, stop teasing him."
After saying that, she grabbed her skirt and ran off in a hurry.
Jiang Shan laughed out loud, which was quite unkind of him.
This is the first time I've ever seen my mother with such a girlish, shy expression. It's really interesting!
Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Qiao Shi decided to go all out, bowed to Fu Ting, and hurriedly chased after Jiao's mother.
Jiang Shan suppressed a laugh and said to Fu Ting, "Uncle Fu, you're being unfair! It's a good thing Grandfather isn't here, otherwise he would have given you a good scolding!"
Fu Ting smiled bitterly and said, "Shan'er, with your kind and gentle heart, you must know that your uncle is unwilling! But what can I do? I have already missed so many years, and now I only hope that your mother can live a good life. As long as she is well, I have nothing to say!"
Jiang Shan hissed, scrutinizing Fu Ting for a long while before saying, "Uncle Fu, let's just let Aunt's matter go! Imperial Physician Yan also said that if Aunt hadn't caused this scene, Jiang Huai might not have survived that life-or-death ordeal! I can tell she genuinely likes Jiang Huai. After all, she's Fu Qiyuan's birth mother and Uncle's only daughter. I don't want to pursue this any further!"
Fu Ting said calmly, "Huai'er is your son, you can decide for yourself."
Judging from his tone, it's impossible for him to have any further involvement with Cheng Lan.
That's fine too.
"And Aunt Li, if you don't like her, just send her back to the Prince of Qingyang's mansion. Li Minghe won't mistreat her."
Fu Ting smiled and said, "Never mind, let her stay in the manor! After Chen'er gets married, if she's willing, she can live with them. It's just that the manor is a bit chaotic without a mistress right now. Shan'er, if you have time..."
"Ah, Uncle Fu, I need to go check the kitchen..."
Seeing Jiang Shan running faster than a rabbit, Fu Ting couldn't help but facepalm.
It seems we can't count on the eldest brother anymore, so next time we'll have to catch the second brother and teach him a lesson!
Jiao's mother put in a lot of effort to prepare a welcoming banquet for the Qiao family father and son. With Jiang Shan's assistance, the scale and quality of the banquet far exceeded the imagination of the two men.
I was shocked when I saw it; the capital and Guyang County were indeed not comparable.
However, Qiao Shi was determined to go all out, even if it meant losing all face, he was determined to bring his wife home this time!
When he arrived, his son had already discussed it with him, and the whole family would do everything they could to help him, as his father, fulfill his lifelong wish!
So, despite his surprise, Qiao Shi didn't lose his composure.
Grand Tutor Cheng held Qiao Shi in higher regard for his composure and steadiness.
Fu Ting didn't reprimand Qiao Shi during the meal, even though his teacher threw several daggers at him.
Clearly, he decided to side with his nominal junior sister.
Grand Tutor Cheng then stared intently at Jiang Shan and Fu Qiyuan. The two children seemed completely unconcerned, showing no intention of getting involved.
It seems the only way is for him, as the father, to personally show his authority!
But!
Before Grand Tutor Cheng could speak, Qiao Shi suddenly stood up, strode up to Grand Tutor Cheng, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed several times.
"Grand Tutor Cheng, Qiao Shi is a rough man and doesn't know how to say nice things, but my feelings for Mei'er are sincere. I beg you, Grand Tutor, to agree to let Mei'er marry into the Cheng family... No, no, Qiao Shi is willing to become a live-in son-in-law of the Cheng family and serve you, Grand Tutor, until you pass away! Qiao Shi swears to heaven that he will never let Mei'er down in this life and will always regard you, Grand Tutor, as his own father. Please give me a chance!"
Grand Tutor Cheng was stunned. This fool actually proposed marriage to him in front of everyone!
What is he supposed to do?!
Do you agree or disagree?
Grand Tutor Cheng felt like he was in a predicament.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Jiao's mother blushed deeply, glancing nervously and shyly at her father, then at her children with embarrassment, before finally glaring reproachfully at the culprit.
You idiot! Aren't you just putting your father in a difficult position?!
Grand Tutor Cheng glared at his daughter and the man before him, feeling both heartache and anger, unable to describe the complex emotions he was experiencing.
His daughter had suffered half her life, and now that her hardships were finally over, he naturally hoped that she could be happy for the rest of her life. But this country bumpkin... was not what he had imagined!
While he was struggling with his decision, Qiao Sheng stood up, bowed deeply to Grand Tutor Cheng, and said sincerely, "Grand Tutor, I lost my mother when I was young, and my father raised me all by himself. My greatest wish in this life is that my father can find happiness. From the time I was old enough to understand, I knew that my father liked Aunt Mei very much, but he had too many concerns, and he could only keep his feelings to himself. After we met Shan'er, our lives gradually became better, but my father also began to feel insecure, always worried that he was not good enough for Aunt Mei."
As he spoke, Qiao Sheng glanced at Qiao Shi and said with a smile, "Even now, he's not entirely sure. He's afraid Aunt Mei will reject him, afraid Shan'er and Sanlang won't agree, and afraid you won't approve of him. But my father said that anything is possible with effort. He has to fight for himself. As long as he puts his heart and soul into it, he won't regret it no matter the outcome!"
At this point, Qiao Sheng walked up to Grand Tutor Cheng, knelt down beside Qiao Shi, and said, "I have no memory of my biological mother, but I have long regarded Aunt Mei as my own mother in my heart. Please grant my father and Aunt Mei's wish, Grand Tutor. You will have another son to enjoy your life. I guarantee you will not lose out on this deal!"
Qiao Sheng's words left Grand Tutor Cheng speechless, wondering if it was a matter of whether or not it was a loss.
That seems... right!
His daughter is still by his side; he's just gained half a son, so it seems like he's not at a loss!
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