Chapter 309: The Overbearing Elder

Chapter 309: The Lavish Elders

After seeing off all the elders, Ye Xiaoxiao finally climbed into the car, holding the small box her grandmother had left behind.

"What do you think is inside? Grandma told me to sneak a peek."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ye Xiaoxiao was tempted to open it.

Lu Hanchuan never took his eyes off the road, seemingly indifferent to its contents.

"Grandma gave it to you, so it must be something valuable."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded and pried the box open a little. Whatever she saw made her snap it shut with a *click*.

"I think I saw something green."

When she opened it again, she found a full jewelry set inside.

The green item turned out to be emerald-green jade.

Though Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t knowledgeable about jewelry, she had seen fine pieces in her past life.

In her time, a set like this would fetch millions, maybe even tens of millions, at auction.

Lu Hanchuan chuckled. "Grandma came from aristocracy. When she married Grandpa, her dowry was so massive it had to be transported by truck—each piece was a fortune."

As a child, he had often heard Grandma say that all her treasures were meant for him and his bride when he married.

Of course, he wouldn’t rely on Grandma’s possessions to impress a wife.

Back then, young and ignorant, he thought none of it was special and didn’t get why people cared.

Ye Xiaoxiao hesitated. "Isn’t this too much?"

She glanced at the bracelet on her wrist. "This isn’t Grandma’s as well, right?"

Moonlight jade this pure was rare.

Lu Hanchuan shook his head. "No, but I claimed it for you since I thought it suited you."

Xiao Xiao was young, with fair skin—pale and luminous shades were perfect for her.

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled. "Nice eye."

...

News of Lu Hanchuan and Ye Xiaoxiao’s upcoming wedding spread like wildfire through the neighborhood.

Most folks just smiled, simply happy for the couple.

But the Hao and Xu families lost their composure.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Jianli itched to see Ye Xiaoxiao.

"Xiao Xiao was overseas—I didn’t even know she was back."

During her two years abroad, Xu Jianli couldn’t send letters to her, as he didn’t have her address.

Even after her return, they hadn’t gotten back in touch, so this was the first he’d heard of where she’d been.

Who would’ve thought that girl would actually land the Lu family? It’s been so many years, and that Lu boy never looked at anyone else. The Lus didn’t even pressure him.”

Xu Jianli: “Mom, quit overanalyzing. They’re crazy about each other. Besides, Lu Hanchuan’s no dummy—who could hold a candle to Sis Xiaoxiao?”

“You’re almost graduating from college. When are you going to find a girlfriend?”

Zhao Hongxia immediately pivoted to her son.

Xu Jianli grabbed his stuff and headed out.

“Hey, Mom! Why don’t you go hound my big bro about having kids instead?”

Zhao Hongxia called after him several times, but her younger son had already bolted out the door.

His parting words hit home for her—it had been three years, and she still hadn’t held a grandchild. She had been urging her eldest son since his wedding.

Later, Hao Yanyan’s business did well, chipping in for the family, so she couldn’t nag as much.

And just like that, she waited three years.

No… she had to visit her eldest son’s house today.

…

At the Hao household.

He Qiaoxiang also heard the news.

A pang of jealousy shot through her—did her daughter just lose out to that woman’s daughter?

She had been so certain they’d break up when she heard Ye Xiaoxiao went abroad. Who would’ve thought that three years later, wedding bells would ring out of nowhere?

Hao Chengbing happened to be home and had to vent when he heard.

“If we hadn’t burned that bridge back then, Xiao Xiao was raised by us. Marrying into the Lu family would’ve brought way more perks than the Xu family.”

He Qiaoxiang, thin-skinned, snapped at her husband’s words.

“So you regret it, don’t you? You regret marrying me?”

Hao Chengbing: “Now what’s this crap?”

He Qiaoxiang: “Don’t think I don’t know—you’ve always preferred a ‘good woman’ like Miao Cuifang, thinking I’m not as good as her. Too bad for you, she’d rather scratch out a living in the village than look at you twice.”

Hao Chengbing was stunned by her outburst.

Back in his youth, he had merely mooched meals off Ye Jianguo and complimented his sister-in-law a couple of times.

How had He Qiaoxiang made it sound so dirty?

They had indeed compared the two women before, but back then, He Qiaoxiang had spent the household money on four new dresses in a single month, leaving them broke by month’s end, surviving on steamed buns and pickles.

Unable to bear it, Ye Jianguo and his wife often invited them over for meals.

So he had remarked, “If only you could budget like Sis Cuifang.”

Just those few words, and she’s held onto them all these years.

Every time it comes up, they end up fighting.

"He Qiaoxiang, you can argue with me, but don’t attack my integrity."

Hao Chengbing threw the newspaper aside, gathered his things, and prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he added, "Xiao Xiao is about to get married. Even if you don’t go to congratulate her, at least don’t make a scene.

Think about our family’s reputation—don’t let the whole neighborhood look down on us."

Hao Chengbing’s words set He Qiaoxiang off.

Oh, great...

Now she’s not only a bad wife, but also a spiteful woman.

He Qiaoxiang was seething with resentment but had no one to confide in, so she could only call her daughter.

In recent years, Hao Yanyan had been mostly compliant, and her clothing venture had started gaining traction.

It wasn’t huge yet, but she had managed to make something of herself.

Recently, she was even planning to open her own garment factory.

When Hao Yanyan received her mother’s call and heard the complaints, she winced.

"Mom, that was ancient history. If you bring it up again, Dad will definitely get angry."

He Qiaoxiang snapped, "Are you saying it’s my fault?"

Hao Yanyan felt that He Qiaoxiang’s temper had been getting worse lately—maybe she was hitting menopause and needed something to help with that.

"Mom, of course not. I’ll always stand by your side—even Dad can’t compare to you."

Hearing this, He Qiaoxiang was somewhat mollified.

But she still felt some regret. "If I’d known Ye Xiaoxiao would marry into the Lu family, I shouldn’t have let you marry Xu Jianwen so quickly. If we’d waited, we might have found a better catch."

Hao Yanyan clenched her jaw. Naturally, she also seethed with resentment.

Why?

Why did Ye Xiaoxiao rob her of over a decade of her life and still end up with a better outcome?

Someone like Ye Xiaoxiao should have married into Baishi Village, to a man like Li Deshu.

Thinking of Li Deshu, Hao Yanyan remembered—he was still locked up in a mental hospital.

Though not all there mentally, he was still alive.

In her past life, she had married him, but in this life, she and Ye Xiaixiao had switched back to their proper lives.

So it was meant to be Ye Xiaoxiao who married Li Deshu.