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Back to the 80s: A Pampered Marriage
Zhao Jin did not doubt that Qi Ze would, for the sake of his own reputation, throw the cabbage outside to avoid being mocked by his family upon returning.
The members of the Qi Family had a strong sense of integrity. No matter how embarrassing it was, Qi Ze would never be able to bring himself to throw away an entire bag of cabbage.
This resilience was cultivated through years of poverty and hardship in the Qi Family, present in both Qi Zheng and Qi Ze.
Zhao Jin had absolute trust in the Qi Family.
Qi Ze's subsequent response did not disappoint Zhao Jin. However, it inevitably made Zhao Jin feel even angrier: "Our family's cabbage is growing well; it looks delicious, so I won't be polite."
In other words, that girl was happily collecting cabbage without blinking, but in reality, she was deliberately toying with Qi Ze's feelings and sincerity?
Originally, Zhao Jin had little interest in knowing who that girl was. After all, according to Grandma Qi, that girl had already married two years ago and had married well in the county, living quite a glamorous life.
Whether that girl married well or poorly, or whether she was living a glamorous life or not, Zhao Jin did not care much. Once she confirmed that there was no possibility between that girl and Qi Ze, she readily moved on.
However, after receiving more precise information from Qi Ze himself, Zhao Jin was certain that she needed to know who that girl was to plan her next steps.
Upon hearing Zhao Jin inquire about the girl's name, Qi Ze did not hide it and directly told Zhao Jin.
Yao Tao—this name was not unfamiliar to Zhao Jin. It wasn't because Zhao Jin knew her personally, but because this girl had caused quite a stir in the year following her previous life, making a spectacle for everyone in Willow Leaf Village and their fellow villagers.
Knowing it was this girl, Zhao Jin instantly lost her anger; there was not a trace of it left.
"Oh, so it's her!" With a calm response, Zhao Jin suddenly changed the topic and directly asked Qi Ze, "So what kind of girl do you like? Do you have any specific requirements for looks or temperament? I can have my maternal family’s two sisters-in-law keep an eye out for you."
Zhao Jin didn't have any suitable candidates to introduce to Qi Ze from her own family. However, the Sun Family and Qian Family did! The Qian Family had just one Qian Yue who was already promised to Tao Tao. There might still be another good girl available for introduction.
If not, there was always the Sun Family! Zhao Jin remembered that her sisters-in-law's daughters were particularly gentle, good-looking, and very sweet-natured—just like her sisters-in-law. Perhaps one of them would be to Qi Ze's liking?
Zhao Jin's attitude changed too quickly, and Qi Ze was momentarily caught off guard. As a result, he was naturally taken away by Zhao Jin.
"I don't have many requirements. As long as that girl is good and genuinely wants to live with our family, that's enough." Qi Ze's words were not just a formality to Zhao Jin, but rather his most genuine thoughts at one point.
During the time when their family was struggling to get by, the only thing Qi Ze could think of was this simple requirement. As long as the other party sincerely wanted to live with him, he would be grateful.
Just like how Zhao Jin married into the Qi Family during their most difficult times, Qi Ze felt particularly grateful. To him, if it weren't for Zhao Jin's arrival, their family's situation might not have turned around so quickly, not to mention that Zhao Jin had added two Fat Babies to the Qi Family.
To this day, although their lives have indeed started to improve, in reality, Qi Ze's mindset has not changed. What he wants to marry is someone who genuinely wants to live with him, not someone who is after their family's money.
Having experienced hardship before, Qi Ze is particularly fixated on this point. As a result, he inadvertently fell into a strange cycle.
Zhao Jin does not believe there is anything wrong with Qi Ze's requirement. However, it must be noted that this seemingly simple and vague requirement is actually harder to achieve.
Of course, not every girl who marries into the Qi Family has impure intentions or seeks to take advantage. It's just that because Qi Ze has made this point so explicit, it becomes difficult to verify and is particularly realistic and severe.
After all, the current situation of the Qi Family is right there; it is impossible to completely set aside money and interests.
No matter what, it is impossible to turn back time and return the Qi Family to the difficult state they were in a year ago.
If that were the case, there would be no need for proof.
Everyone knows that the delay in marriage for Qi Zheng and Qi Ze over these years is closely related to the family's financial situation.
Qi Zheng is fine; she has already been validated by Zhao Jin. However, for Qi Ze, he can only use the facts presented before everyone at this moment as proof.
However, since Qi Ze is willing to offer conditions, there is still room for negotiation.
Thinking this way, Zhao Jin stopped talking to Qi Ze, turned around, and went to report back to Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju.
Neither Grandma Qi nor Zhou Ju expected to hear such an answer from Zhao Jin.
When it came to finding someone willing to live with them, the first person that came to mind for them was Zhao Jin.
Thinking back to how difficult things were for their family a year ago, Zhao Jin was still willing to marry into their family. Not only did she not complain at all, but she also contributed a significant dowry to their family...
Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had to seriously consider this. With Zhao Jin as such an exemplary model, which girl from other families could surpass her?
They feared that regardless of what those girls thought in their hearts, as soon as they stood next to Zhao Jin, they would immediately lose.
Zhao Jin, however, did not share this concern. As she saw it, Qi Ze simply had not yet met another girl who could capture his heart. Once that girl truly appeared before Qi Ze, many issues would be resolved effortlessly, and there would be no need for any deliberation.
Therefore, according to Zhao Jin's suggestion, it was best to let Qi Ze meet more girls. They could see if there was anyone he felt a connection with or someone he took an immediate liking to.
If that didn't work out, as long as Qi Ze was not opposed and the girl was willing, it wouldn't hurt to interact more.
In short, it was all about taking action!
After hearing Zhao Jin's proposal, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had no objections and nodded in agreement.
With Zhao Jin helping to take care of things, Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju felt reassured. At the same time, they sincerely appreciated Zhao Jin's dedication to the Qijia Family.
Thus, the arrangement for Qi Ze's blind date was set in motion.
Since they had decided to introduce a match for Qi Ze, Zhao Jin took the initiative to return to her Maternal Family and specifically discussed this matter with Sun Chun'er and Qian Minmin.
"Although I would love to have a closer connection through marriage, unfortunately, my Maternal Family does not have any suitable girls for Qi Ze," Qian Minmin said with a hint of regret after careful consideration.
Being family, there was no need for deception. The Qian Family indeed had eligible girls, but compared to other criteria, Qian Minmin could only regretfully decline.
She was not the kind of person who casually introduced matches without considering compatibility. Any introduction she deemed appropriate would certainly be a good match.
For instance, when she thought Tao Tao was suitable, Qian Minmin dared to introduce her sister from the Maternal Family because Qian Yue herself was impressive—educated and held a respectable job. Otherwise, Qian Minmin would never have spoken up.
After all, if things don't go well and the marriage doesn't happen, but instead leads to enmity, that would be quite unwise.
At that time, Qian Minmin was very clear and thorough in her thoughts. With Qian Yue's conditions, there were not many families in Willow Leaf Village that could match her. However, if they moved to the county, it was also possible that the man's family would look down on Qian Yue's rural background.
Therefore, before Tao Tao, Qian Minmin had not sought anyone in the county to help. It was only after witnessing the friendship between Tao Tao and Qi Zheng that she tentatively asked Zhao Jin to mention it to Tao Tao.
Qian Minmin dared to do this, which was a bit of a gamble.
On one hand, because she had interacted with Tao Tao a few times, Qian Minmin felt that Tao Tao was a good person who wouldn't be prejudiced against someone's background; there should be some hope.
Additionally, Qian Minmin hoped that Tao Tao would consider her friendship with Qi Zheng and at least arrange for Qian Yue to meet him. Who knows, perhaps the two really had a connection and would end up together?
With Qian Yue's various qualities, Qian Minmin still had some confidence in her sister.
The last layer of consideration for Qian Minmin was that if it really didn't work out and Tao Tao wasn't interested in Qian Yue, she probably wouldn't say anything too harsh that would hurt Qian Yue's self-esteem.
Qian Minmin had already prepared herself mentally to receive Zhao Jin's report about Tao Tao's rejection. Unexpectedly, things went even more smoothly than she imagined, and it actually led to a beautiful match.
To this day, Qian Minmin still found it hard to believe, yet she was extremely delighted and excited!
She felt this way about her sister; when introducing a partner for Qi Ze, Qian Minmin was also particularly attentive and serious, not treating it carelessly or casually.
Thus, Qian Minmin's rejection was sincere.
Among the remaining girls in the Qian Family, even she felt they were not suitable for Qi Ze. Presumably, Qi Ze himself would be even less interested.
With no one from the Qian Family available, Zhao Jin turned his gaze toward Sun Chun'er, his eyes filled with undisguised anticipation.
Sister-in-law hadn't spoken for so long; surely there must be a suitable girl she could introduce?
Sun Chun'er indeed had a girl to introduce. But regarding whether she was "suitable," Sun Chun'er hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I have a cousin from my maternal family named Qiu'er, who has a name very similar to mine. She is definitely a wonderful person, but whether she is suitable for Qi Ze..."
Faced with Sun Chun'er’s hesitation, Zhao Jin couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong? Is there something off about that girl?"
If it really was inappropriate, she probably wouldn't have brought it up. But since she did, why was there doubt?
Due to Sun Chun'er’s strange behavior, Zhao Jin was genuinely curious.
"I know, I know." If Sun Chun'er were another girl, Qian Minmin might not recognize her. But upon mentioning Sun Qiuer, Qian Minmin immediately began to stir things up. At the same time, she let out a heartfelt sigh.
"Oh dear, Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, what on earth is going on? Hurry up! You two are keeping me in suspense, and I'm getting anxious!" It was clear there was a story behind it, but after a long while without hearing anything, Zhao Jin decided to act a bit spoiled with Sun Chun'er and Qian Minmin.
"I'll take care of it!" Given Sun Chun'er’s kind nature and that she was family, she probably wouldn’t speak up. Instead, Qian Minmin, being an outsider, would naturally be more objective and fair about the matter.
"Alright, Second Sister-in-law. No pauses in between; tell me everything in one go." Driven by curiosity from her two sisters-in-law's reactions, Zhao Jin urged them on.
Qian Minmin didn’t intend to tease Zhao Jin. Since Zhao Jin wanted to hear it, she simply went along with it. To some extent, Sun Qiuer's experience was somewhat similar to Qi Ze's. However, Sun Qiuer had actually been engaged. The man who was supposed to marry Sun Qiuer met another girl while working in the county and then regretted his engagement with Sun Qiuer to marry that girl instead.
"Ugh! That county girl is just the daughter of a restaurant owner. Wasn't that guy just helping out at the restaurant? He barely made any money but managed to get close to the restaurant owner's daughter. Now he doesn't even have to serve plates; he’s cooking in the kitchen instead. In the end, he’s still just working for someone else—what's there to be proud of?" Qian Minmin wasn’t just being neutral; she was expressing her genuine thoughts and feelings.
At this point, Zhao Jin finally understood why Sun Chun'er and Qian Minmin had reacted that way earlier.
Whether or not this girl Sun Qiuer was good or bad, the fact remained that she had been jilted.
This undoubtedly had a huge impact on her maternal family's reputation. If the man's family minded it, it wouldn’t be impossible for Sun Qiuer to remain unmarried for life.
As for Zhao Jin herself, she felt that Sun Qiuer hadn’t done anything wrong; being jilted was merely a case of bad luck with an irresponsible and shameless man. If it were up to her, she would definitely go ahead with the marriage without hesitation.
However, before making any decisions, she needed to ask Qi Ze what he thought. She also needed to confirm whether Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju had any other opinions.
If the Qijia Family minded that Sun Qiuer had been jilted, then this matter would naturally come to an end.
"No matter what, I'll go back first." Zhao Jin absolutely believed in her Sister-in-law's character. Since Sun Chun'er would bring it up, it meant that Sun Qiuer was truly a good person.
Otherwise, with her Sister-in-law's personality of preferring to avoid trouble, why would she specifically mention Sun Qiuer's name?
"Jin, if it doesn't work out, don't force it." Sun Chun'er didn't say another word. Deep down, she also didn't dare to have too high expectations.
"Sister-in-law, it's fine, don't worry. The Qi Family is different from others; we don't have so many formalities." At this moment, Zhao Jin's "formalities" was a clear derogatory term.
Some things are like this. Everyone clearly knows that the fault does not lie with Sun Qiuer, yet all the blame falls on her. Meanwhile, that shameless man seems to be living better than anyone else. Just thinking about it makes one furious.
"Mm." Sun Chun'er also had faith in the character of the Qi Family, which is why she dared to speak up. If it were anyone else’s family, she definitely wouldn't say a word and would keep everything bottled up inside.
Zhao Jin could definitely be considered an action-oriented person. After returning from her Maternal Family, she immediately sought out Qi Ze regarding Sun Qiuer. "It's not that I want you to do anything with Sun Qiuer. I just want to gauge your feelings about her being called off the engagement. If you don't mind, I'll go talk to Grandma and Mother. Because Sun Qiuer's situation is different from other girls, we need to get everyone's consent before considering arranging for you two to meet..." Zhao Jin explained the whole situation seriously while carefully observing Qi Ze's expression.
If Qi Ze really didn't like her, there would be no reason to approach Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju afterward. Ultimately, it had to be Qi Ze himself who agreed first.
"No need to consult Grandma and Mother; I'll meet her." Before Zhao Jin could finish speaking, Qi Ze solemnly gave his answer.
"Ah?" Zhao Jin was taken aback for a moment and instinctively replied, "You should at least inform Grandma and Mother! What if they don't agree? Then wouldn't that..."
"Sister-in-law." Qi Ze suddenly raised his voice, interrupting Zhao Jin. His loud tone immediately attracted the attention of others in the Qi Family.
Especially Qi Zheng, who stood up with a cold expression and walked over.
Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju also changed their expressions and looked over with a stance that suggested they were ready to reprimand Qi Ze for his behavior. However, before anyone else could speak, Qi Ze continued: "I don't believe she did anything wrong, nor do I think she should have to accept everyone's doubts and rejection. I'm only going to meet her; why should I need to seek everyone's approval? That's unfair to her.
Such treatment is not something she deserves."
Zhao Jin didn't mind being shouted at by Qi Ze. Moreover, she could clearly feel that his anger wasn't directed at her. Qi Ze was standing up for Sun Qiuer and was treating this matter with great seriousness.
"Qi Ze." The tone was similar to that of Qi Ze earlier, but Qi Zheng's voice was deeper, yet more imposing. "Speak your mind; who are you shouting at?"
"Exactly. Qi Ze, if you have something to say, don't scare Sister-in-law." Although Grandma Qi didn't know who Qi Ze referred to as "she," she unconditionally defended Zhao Jin.
Zhou Ju had the same attitude. Although he didn't explicitly criticize Qi Ze, he approached Zhao Jin and said, "Jin, why don't you go inside and check if Guo Guo and Dou Dou are awake?"
What Zhou Ju meant was to send Zhao Jin into the room first, then properly teach Qi Ze a lesson.
The support from the Qijia Family was something Zhao Jin had always known and appreciated. Faced with such a one-sided situation, she waved her hand and explained for Qi Ze: "No. Qi Ze isn't angry with me; he's just standing up for the blind date I introduced him to."
Her words left everyone speechless.
Previously, Qi Ze had been so adamant that no one could persuade him otherwise, convinced that those girls weren't good enough. How could he suddenly raise his voice for another girl on behalf of Zhao Jin?
Indeed, even with Zhao Jin's explanation, the loudness of Qi Ze's earlier outburst still echoed in everyone's ears, and they all saw it clearly.
There was no need for any further explanation from Zhao Jin. The disrespect shown by Qi Ze towards Zhao Jin was simply unacceptable.
Not allowing everyone to continue blaming him for this matter, Qi Ze quickly realized and apologized to Zhao Jin: "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it; I just felt it was unfair to the girl, and I lost my composure for a moment."
"It's fine, it's fine." Zhao Jin truly wasn't angry; she smiled and waved her hand. She then confirmed with Qi Ze, "So you really are willing to meet with Qiu'er?"
This time, Qi Ze didn't hesitate and nodded immediately: "Mm." "That's settled then. Later, I'll discuss it with Grandma and Mother to confirm the specific time for the meeting." Fearing that Qi Ze might have reservations, Zhao Jin added, "It's not that I think Qiu'er has to go through this. It's just that her situation is special; without explaining it clearly to Grandma and Mother, when Qiu'er comes over later, she might face more discomfort. It's not a big deal that can't be clarified; once laid out, there won't be any conflicts."
Qi Ze wanted to respond to Zhao Jin, clarifying that he didn't necessarily have to marry Sun Qiuer, and that she wouldn't feel so uncomfortable. However, thinking about the unfairness that had befallen Sun Qiuer, he felt it wouldn't hurt to let Zhao Jin explain on her behalf.
Thus, in the end, Qi Ze didn't say much else and allowed Zhao Jin, along with Grandma Qi and Zhou Ju, to step aside and discuss the specifics of Sun Qiuer's situation in detail.
"No wonder our Qi Ze got so worked up. He has a strong sense of loyalty and can't stand these kinds of injustices." After listening to Zhao Jin's account, Grandma Qi squinted her eyes and smiled, her words filled with happiness and delight.
Looking at Qi Ze's reaction, this matter might really come to fruition.
As for Sun Qiuer being rejected before, Grandma Qi doesn't mind it at all.
Just as Qi Ze said, the girl has done nothing wrong; why should she bear the brunt of these gossips?
According to Grandma Qi, the more such a girl is treated seriously and cherished, the better. This way, she won't suffer more grievances or endure more hardships.
Zhou Ju had no objections either. When it comes to her children's marriage, as long as the other party has no issues with their character, she is particularly open-minded.
Not to mention that she just heard from Zhao Jin about how Yao Tao treated Qi Ze in the past. Thinking about how Qi Ze had been hurt and must still carry scars in his heart, Zhou Ju was overjoyed that he was finally willing to open up and meet another girl. Besides, she didn't care much about other matters.
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