1072 Where to Store the Dowry?
“Okay, do fiddle with it.” The auntie knew that a computer was rare stuff and she would not use it. She did not dare to touch it either. She was also very careful when she cleaned it.
The auntie was thinking that, although computers were rare, Qiao Nan would certainly know how to use them as she was a student of Peking University,
The auntie’s words had aroused Qiao Nan’s curiosity. She seemed to be familiar with the house as she made her way to Zhai Sheng’s study room. The computer desk was now occupying the s.p.a.ce that previously had a study table.
This computer of the Zhai family was completely different from the slim ones that Qiao Nan had seen in her previous life. The screen was huge and the display was white and square, like a big box. The display on the screen was not very big either.
After exploring for a while, Qiao Nan finally switched on the computer.
The internet connection for this computer of the Zhai family had already been set up. When Qiao Nan turned it on, it connected to the internet automatically. She thus opened a web page.
During this time, the internet was certainly not as developed and prevalent as the future. Even if they could surf the web, the information that they could find was very scarce. In comparison to the rich and interesting content in the future whereby one could know what was happening in the world without even stepping out of the house, it was very different.
To others, the computer was a rare item, but to Qiao Nan, it was nothing spectacular. After a few minutes, Qiao Nan switched off the computer.
The auntie was looking strangely at Qiao Nan when she walked out of the bedroom.
Qiao Nan knitted her brows. “Auntie, is there any matter?”
The auntie sighed and even ground her teeth once. “Your dad is at the entrance, looking for you.” The ‘dad’ that auntie was referring to was of course not Zhai Yaohui. She would usually address Zhai Yaohui as chief.
“My dad?” Qiao Nan pursed her lips. “Did he say what the matter is?”
“He said that your sister’s boyfriend is here. The parents of the two families would like to meet one another for a meal. This meal will be held in the small courtyard of the Qiao family.”
“That means he wants me to go along?” Qiao Nan was disgusted once again.
Her father was not a bad person. He was a very principled man. However, sorrowfully, each time there was a matter involving Qiao Zijin, her father would completely disregard his principles, as if they were just farts.
“I think so.” The auntie nodded. “I have already asked your father to go home. When he left, he said that you just need to be present for a while during the dinner. That will do.”
That would do? Although the Qiao family felt that this was fine, they also had to consider if the Zhai family and Qiao Nan felt the same way too.
“Not going!” Qiao Nan declined without any further word.
In this lifetime, the people that Qiao Nan did not wish to see most were Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin, followed by the Chen family.
Now, she could finally avoid the people that she did not wish to see most. Why would Qiao Nan create trouble for herself during the Lunar New Year by meeting those people that she did not wish to see?
The auntie smiled. “If you don’t like it, don’t go then.” She knew that the chief and madam would certainly not force Nan Nan to go. They hated those people of the Qiao family as well.
Sometimes, when the auntie thought of it, she really took her hat off to the Qiao family.
The Zhai family of five, including the elder one such as the old master to the young ones such as Zhai Hua and Zhai Sheng, liked Qiao Nan so much. They even became in-laws with the Qiao family.
Everyone says that he that loves the tree loves the branch.
How did the Qiao family ‘achieve’ this? Although the Zhai family liked Qiao Nan so much, they did not have any positive feelings toward the rest of the people from the Qiao family. They were even full of disdain for them. The Qiao family was also considered capable to be able to ‘achieve’ this.
“Okay.” Qiao Nan took a sip of chrysanthemum tea to reduce her anger. She did not wish to force herself to go for the dinner at all.
Her father treated her like a mission. He felt that he had completed his mission and done his part for her after she was married.
As for herself, she just had to bear the duty of giving her parents allowance. She had never yearned for the luxury of getting along harmoniously with her family members like other families.
Her father had already handed over his mission. In that case, why would she partic.i.p.ate in the matters of the Qiao family?
After Old Master Zhai finished his round of visits, his old face showed a little embarra.s.sment when he saw his granddaughter-in-law sitting in the living room. He was contemplating whether to hide as he was afraid that she would blush at the sight of him. However, Qiao Nan spoke first, “Grandpa, you’re back.”
“Cough… Right. I’m back.” Old Master Zhai gave an awkward cough. He was mumbling in his heart about what to talk to his granddaughter-in-law about. Should he ask her about her studies?
However, Miao Miao had said before that his granddaughter-in-law was very smart. Besides getting into Peking University, she was also very diligent. Hence, she was definitely doing well in her studies.
Qiao Nan was so smart. Moreover, his grandson skipped a grade when he was schooling.
Given this combination, the great-grandson that the two bore for him would be very smart, no? The corners of Old Master Zhai’s lips gave way as he revealed a dreamy smile.
This child would certainly have the best combination with the greatest brains and strongest body!
The auntie pa.s.sed a piece of tissue to Old Master Zhai. “Old master, are you going to drool? Do you feel hungry?”
Old Master Zhai was suddenly jolted to his senses. He quickly wiped the corners of his mouth with his sleeves and realized that there was nothing there. His old face blushed. “I’m not hungry, just thirsty. Get me a pot of tea.”
“Alright.” The auntie smiled. He dared not question Old Master Zhai further, lest she provoke his anger.
When the auntie left, Old Master Zhai then continued to speak, “Nan Nan, the date has already been fixed. It’s the eighth day of Lunar New Year. The eighth day is auspicious and is suitable for marriage. What do you think?”
“Eighth day? Sounds good.” Qiao Nan nodded. The eighth day would be the day that Brother Zhai would marry her in Ping Cheng.
One had to know. Both she and Brother Zhai grew up in Ping Cheng. They certainly could not save on the wedding banquet in Ping Cheng regardless of how simple they would like it to be.
Soon after the wedding banquet in Ping Cheng, the school would reopen.
Fortunately, Brother Zhai had said. By that time, the Zhai family would have moved over to the capital. As such, she could then collect the wedding certificate with Brother Zhai in the capital.
Qiao Nan knew that to the Qiao family, she would really become a daughter that belonged to another family on the eighth day of Lunar New Year. She would be akin to spilled water.
That was a good thing too. This was also considered a form of liberation for the Qiao family and her.
“If you think that’s fine, we will go ahead with it.” Old Master Zhai was happy. “Right, the old lad of the Zhu family is already helping you arrange the dowry. The items are almost ready. The old lad of the Zhu family asked me to get your opinion. Where do you wish to store the dowry? Do you wish to marry from that small courtyard of yours or the house of the Zhu family?”
The dowry that Zhu Chengqi prepared for Qiao Nan was aplenty. Both the quant.i.ty and quality were high. That small courtyard of Ping Cheng really could not accommodate all the dowry unless they squeezed the items on the empty s.p.a.ce of the courtyard.
The small courtyard was not big enough but the house of the Zhu family was.
There was also another reason to let Qiao Nan marry from the house of the Zhu family. That was to lift Qiao Nan’s status.
Once Qiao Nan married from the Zhu family to the Zhai family, the Zhu family would be considered her maternal family in the future.
Of course, the Zhai family would not look down on Qiao Nan because of the Qiao family.