Chapter 6: Time to Change How You Address
1210 Words
Hua Sheng hesitated for a moment but eventually called out, "Dad, Mom."
Her voice was not very loud, but the Jiang parents, including Jiang Liuyun, heard her clearly.
"Ah, good child," Mrs. Jiang said, though not entirely willing, the situation being what it was, but the girl did look refined.
The remarkable appearance alone eased some of the initial resistance in her heart.
Mr. Jiang also nodded slightly; after all, the girl had called them mom and dad, which, willing or not, was a sign of respect.
Moreover, even if the Hua family had declined, they had been acquaintances of old, and it wouldn't do to make things too awkward.
Thus, the Jiang couple brought out the prepared money as a gesture for changing how she addressed them.
For a top-tier family like the Jiangs, of course, it couldn't be a mere ten or twenty thousand; that would be too stingy.
Mrs. Jiang took out a black gold card and placed it in Hua Sheng's hands.
"Here is a card, a little something from your dad and me."
Hua Sheng glanced at Jiang Liuyun, who signaled with his eyes that she could accept it.
Without much resistance, Hua Sheng nodded, "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom."
"Have a seat," Mr. and Mrs. Jiang weren't fundamentally opposed to their new daughter-in-law; they just found the whole situation too sudden.
After all, they went to attend the wedding of the Xie and Hua families, how did they end up bringing back a daughter-in-law instead?
Taking someone else's intended bride... this indeed was a bit hard to digest.
Of course, all this had been instigated by their beloved son, Jiang Liuyun.
Hua Sheng nodded and sat down on the traditional Chinese sofa opposite, her posture dignified and graceful.
Jiang Liuyun observed her intently, finding her unlike a young woman in her early twenties.
Her every move was measured, exuding a composure and maturity uncommon for her age.
"Your situation with Jiang Liuyun, he has explained everything to us. This is indeed sudden, and your mother-in-law and I were not prepared. However, now that we've accepted you as our daughter-in-law, we won't neglect you. Our Jiang family and your Hua family were old friends, we will make up for the dowry, and the wedding will be held properly, we won't have you wronged. We only have this one son, we don't ask for much, just hope you two can live a peaceful life, a harmonious family is all we wish."
Mr. Jiang, a man who understands the bigger picture, having been a significant figure for years, knew how to maintain decorum and humility.
His words gave considerable respect to Hua Sheng and the Hua family.
She felt relieved, thinking that these in-laws were reasonable people.
"Dad, there's no need for the dowry or a grand wedding. I've always believed marriage is a matter between two people. This has already caused enough of a stir; I don't want our families to be further spotlighted. I think it's better to handle this low-key. If there's a chance later, we can discuss it then."
Jiang Liuyun was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Hua Sheng to have such a firm stance.
This solution was not bad; he also disliked ostentation, unlike Xie Dongyang.
Though both born into wealthy families, one reveled in the limelight while the other preferred a low profile, focusing on business and enjoying personal hobbies like basketball in private.
Hearing Hua Sheng's words, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang exchanged glances.
"Alright then, we'll do as you suggest."
After a few more words in the living room, the couple went back upstairs to rest.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, Hua Sheng handed the black gold card to Jiang Liuyun.
"What's this?" he asked, still with a smile in his eyes.
"This shouldn't be mine to take," Hua Sheng said, aware of her situation. Since it was a contractual marriage, taking money from them felt inappropriate.
Seeing the black gold card, she knew it wasn't a small amount. Jiang Liuyun glanced at the card and then pushed it back into Hua Sheng's hands.
"Take it. This is for changing how you address us. Mom and Dad shouldn’t be called in vain... But they are quite generous; there should be a million in there." Hua Sheng was truly startled, a million was no small sum.
"That’s too much, a symbolic amount would suffice. Why don’t you keep the card and just give me a few thousand as a gesture?"
"Do you think our Jiang family is lacking money?" he asked again.
Hua Sheng was left speechless... alright, the Jiang family was known to be wealthy, the wealthiest, recognized worldwide.
She didn't want to keep arguing about this, so she turned around and sat at the vanity to remove her earrings.
This bedroom, prepared for Jiang Liuyun in the old mansion, was their makeshift bridal chamber due to the suddenness of their marriage.
So, they had to make do with it for the night. "I'm going to remove my makeup and get ready for bed. Aren’t you leaving?" Hua Sheng spoke to the reflection of the man in the mirror.
"Leave? I am your husband, where should I go?" Jiang Liuyun laughed.
"But we are fake."
"Still, we have to live together for three years. You want to separate on the first day? What would my parents think, especially here in the old house?"
With that, Hua Sheng was left without an answer.
Indeed, she hadn’t considered this, but it wasn’t her fault.
For over twenty years, she had lived with her grandmother in the secluded Zhongcui Mountain, rarely venturing down and hardly interacting with men. So, the thought of sharing a room made her anxious.
"Where are Chuntao and Yinxing?" she diverted the subject to avoid embarrassment.
"Those two, your maids?" Jiang Liuyun had noticed.
Wherever Hua Sheng went, she was always accompanied by two girls of similar age, attending to her closely and seemingly quite competent.
"One is upstairs making soup for you; the other said she had to report back and was sent to your Hua family by my driver."
Silence fell again...
Hua Sheng quietly removed her makeup, Jiang Liuyun watching with interest.
He had thought that without makeup, her beauty might lessen.
But unexpectedly, her skin was extraordinarily fine, glowing white, filled with youth and collagen.
Her eyes, black and shining, seemed to hold stars.
After removing her makeup, Hua Sheng stood up, picking up the nightgown she had prepared.
She looked at Jiang Liuyun coolly, "Are you sleeping on the bed or the floor?"
"Of course, on the bed," Jiang Liuyun teased.
Hua Sheng, taken aback, paused.
Where was the gentlemanly behavior in making a woman sleep on the floor? Annoyed yet restraining herself, she nodded, "Then I will make a bed on the floor."
After changing into her nightgown in the bathroom, she emerged to declare, "Tomorrow, I’m moving to Shuiyun Villa at Shili Chunfeng, where my grandmother has left me a Chinese-style villa."
"So, am I to move there with you?" Jiang Liuyun asked.
"Whatever works," she answered vaguely.
"So, all in all, it’s not you getting married; it’s me being taken into the family?" he continued to tease her.
- Writer
