Chapter 239 No Gift Money Required
Qin Xiaoxiao had thought it through, and with a flash, she disappeared into the woods by the roadside.
Qin Xiaoxiao waited until noon and saw Old Huang from the village leisurely walking over, pulling an oxcart. Upon closer inspection, she saw that there were quite a few villagers sitting on the cart.
Qin Xiaoxiao concealed herself and waited until the oxcart passed before emerging from the woods.
Looking in the direction where the oxcart disappeared, Qin Xiaoxiao smiled happily.
"That's great, it'll be over soon. I just don't know if she'll like the path I've laid out for her."
Qin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Ying arrived at the educated youth compound one after the other. When Qin Xiaoxiao went in, she saw Zhou Ying smiling and talking to Tao Jingjing, while Tao Jingjing looked impatient and her brows were furrowed.
Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and stepped forward. "Ying, how are the preparations going? Your engagement banquet with Huang Yuan is in two days. Although I, as your great-aunt, have prepared a lot of dowry for you, you also need to prepare some things yourself. After all, there are some things that are not easy to prepare for you."
The moment Zhou Ying saw Qin Xiaoxiao, her heart sank. After hearing Qin Xiaoxiao's words, Zhou Ying felt like killing someone.
With a forced smile, Zhou Ying said, "I know, I've almost finished preparing... Don't worry, Auntie."
Qin Xiaoxiao's eyes narrowed with laughter as she lovingly took Zhou Ying's hand and patted it, "That's good. I knew our Xiaoying wasn't an unreasonable person."
After saying that, Qin Xiaoxiao looked at Tao Jingjing and said, "Tao, the day after tomorrow is the engagement banquet of our Xiaoying and Huang Zhiqing. You are welcome to attend."
Qin Xiaoxiao looked completely sincere, as if she had been waiting for this day to come.
Tao Jingjing looked at Qin Xiaoxiao with a complicated expression, then nodded, "Okay, I will definitely be there."
Qin Xiaoxiao then said, "We are all educated youth, and we are all away from home. We are not well-off, so there is no need to give gifts. It will be fine if we all get together for a meal. Please ask Tao to tell everyone that we will arrive soon."
Wanting to receive gifts without even having an engagement party? Dream on!
Zhou Ying's expression froze. "Grandma, this...this isn't appropriate, is it?"
Qin Xiaoxiao's expression turned slightly cold upon hearing this, and her icy gaze swept over Zhou Ying. "What's wrong with that? I paid for it myself. Can't I even refuse the gift?"
I've already said that everyone's struggling financially. How much money do we all have? If they're going to help you with your wedding arrangements, how are they supposed to survive?
Spring planting is just around the corner, and the work in the fields is heavy. Everyone needs to take good care of themselves. All the money is going to be spent on you; what are they supposed to do?
After speaking, Qin Xiaoxiao regained her loving expression, looking at Zhou Ying as if she were looking at an ignorant child.
Taking Zhou Ying's hand, Qin Xiaoxiao said earnestly, "Ying! We can't be so selfish. It's unacceptable to disregard everyone's lives just because of your marriage."
Ignoring Zhou Ying's unpleasant expression, Qin Xiaoxiao lectured Zhou Ying for a full two hours before letting her leave.
Zhou Ying's face turned pale when she left, but she couldn't afford to openly confront Qin Xiaoxiao. So she could only curse Qin Xiaoxiao in her heart and vowed to teach her a lesson once she married into the Qin family.
Seeing Zhou Ying leave with a pale face, Qin Xiaoxiao was satisfied. She swung her long braid and went back to the backyard. As for Tao Jingjing, she had already gone back to her room and was sleeping soundly.
Zhou Ying angrily threw her bundle onto the kang (a heated brick bed) after returning to her room. Lu Zhaodi, who shared a room with her, sighed helplessly and took her dirty clothes out to wash.
"Qin Xiaoxiao, you just wait."
After uttering those harsh words, Zhou Ying's gaze darkened further. After pondering for a while, she opened her bundle and took out two packets of medicinal powder, holding them in her hands.
Whether it will work out or not depends on the day after tomorrow.
...
After tidying up Zhou Ying again, Qin Xiaoxiao happily returned to her room, rummaged through her spatial storage to find a bunch of things she would need for the wedding, put them aside, and then carried a bamboo basket up the mountain.
There wasn't much firewood left in the woodshed. If it were just for her, it would be enough to last her until May or June. But now that Mu Jin was also there, the firewood in the woodshed was running out.
After circling around the mountainside, he collected three large bundles of firewood, storing two bundles in his spatial storage. Carrying the thick bundle of firewood on his back, he descended the mountain. On the way, he ran into Mu Jin, who was also on the mountain collecting firewood. The two were stunned for a moment when they met, but then they both noticed the firewood on each other's backs and smiled at each other.
Back home, the two put the firewood in the woodshed. Mu Jin invited Qin Xiaoxiao inside for a drink of water, and Qin Xiaoxiao gladly accepted.
After looking around the house, Qin Xiaoxiao realized that Mu Jin's aesthetic sense was similar to hers. The house was elegant and refreshing, with nothing superfluous and it was very clean. Qin Xiaoxiao smiled sincerely.
"The house is very clean, Mu Jin. I'm so glad you take such good care of it."
After all, it was carefully prepared for her by her uncle and brother, and she didn't want the person who took over it to ruin it. Even if it was just a temporary place to stay, she hoped that the other party would take good care of it.
Mu Jin took a sip of water and glanced around. "I really like this house. The house I built was actually based on yours. The layout is reasonable, all the necessary spaces are utilized, and there is still room to move around. If it were someone else, I'm afraid they wouldn't be as thoughtful as you."
Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and took a sip of water. "No matter how well you praise it, it wasn't built by me. It was built by my uncle and my brother. I'm just responsible for living here."
Mu Jin smiled, "I'm not taking credit for it."
Qin Xiaoxiao raised her chin and said proudly, "That's right, I never lie."
Glancing at the medicine shelves in the yard, Qin Xiaoxiao tentatively asked, "You know about Chinese herbs? Did you pick all of those?"
Mu Jin also looked into the courtyard and nodded, "Yes, you think... Never mind, I won't say anything more."
Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "I think you are very good. Don't give up. The country will need your help sooner or later."
Mu Jin was taken aback, then smiled even more sincerely, "Thank you. I was afraid you would report me. I was being petty and thinking too much of what you meant."
Qin Xiaoxiao looked at Mu Jin seriously, "It's right that you're being careful. No one can guarantee that they'll always stay true to themselves. There aren't many people coming to the backyard, but we can't be careless, especially with Zhou Ying. That guy has no good intentions. Be careful."
Mu Jin nodded. "Don't worry, I've never let my guard down. I've never underestimated her."
Qin Xiaoxiao knew that Mu Jin had a spatial ability, and if Zhou Ying really wanted to scheme against her, she would probably be the one who suffered in the end. So she stopped there and didn't remind her any further.
After sitting for a while, Qin Xiaoxiao remembered the medicine Zhou Ying had bought, so she said softly, "Mu Jin, can I ask you for a favor?"
Mu Jin was slightly taken aback. "What is it? Tell me, and I'll definitely help if I can."
Qin Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously and whispered a few words in her ear.
After hearing this, Mu Jin's expression turned slightly cold, and she looked at Qin Xiaoxiao seriously, "Are you sure she wants to do this?"
Qin Xiaoxiao nodded. "I'm sure."
Mu Jin narrowed her eyes. "Okay, I'll help you."
Seeing that Mu Jin had agreed, Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Thank you, Mu Jin."
Qin Xiaoxiao quickly left Mu Jin's room. After she left, Mu Jin got busy and knocked on Qin Xiaoxiao's door again that evening.
(End of this chapter)
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