16 Its So Strange (2/2)
An Xiaoning stared at the ceiling and heaved a sigh of frustration.
——
Having waited until dinnertime to pop the question, the old Mrs. Gu asked, ”Xiaoning, what's your relationship with the Gu Family?”
”Grandma, the old Mr. Gu was the love of my Master's life. He probably just acknowledged me as his god-granddaughter because I am closely related to my Master, nothing more.”
”You've agreed too quickly on this matter. The Gu Family have always been stringent about their family historic record and lineage. Why would he agree to include you so easily? I suspect that they have a greater hidden agenda, and you would be their head start,” warned the old Mrs. Gu sternly.
”Grandma, you're overcomplicating things. It's not that serious,” said An Xiaoning, almost sneering.
”Perhaps I am. Since it had been set in stone, I shall not pursue the matter further. Before I forget, your mother had asked your Mother-in-law for the betrothal money, claiming to have needed it to tide over a financial difficulty back home. Were you aware of this?”
”How much did she ask for?” asked An Xiaoning, her face stiffening.
”Two million yuan.”
”And did you give it to her?”
”Yes.”
An Xiaoning rose to her feet frantically and said, ”I'm going to ask for it back.”
”Xiaoning, you don't have to…”
”Grandma, she doesn't deserve the money,” An Xiaoning answered before zooming out of the door.
She instructed the driver to take her to the village.
For the entire journey, An Xiaoning was filled with anxiety. It was not the hefty sum that bothered her, but rather the fact that she had felt that her parents did not deserve to take the money at all. This was because An Xiaoning's mother-in-law had already given her a lot of expensive clothing and jewellery, not to mention a red envelope that contained a large sum of money. How could she still have the cheek to accept the two million yuan as betrothal money? Her mother had seriously disgraced her.
An Xiaoning instructed the driver to wait at the village entrance while she hurried home alone.
The door was half-open. An Xiaoning took a stride and entered the house, only to find that the courtyard was unlit. The door of the central room was left slightly ajar, and sounds of the TV and people chatting could be heard from within.
She moved quickly, still making sure not to make a sound as she moved with feather-light steps. She felt a chill down her spine when she heard their conversation.
”That wretched lass! If only you saw the way she behaved today, not wanting to acknowledge us at all. If it weren't for us back then, she would've frozen to death along the roadside. It was right for me to take this money today. I didn't expect the Jin Family to be so generous, though. They gave me so much money without much hesitation. They are far wealthier than the Shi Family. Seems like we won't have to worry for the rest of our lives.”
”Mother, shall we look for a house facing the street in the city tomorrow?” asked An Xiaonan eagerly.
”Do you really think we're getting you one?” Mrs. An said bluntly. ”It was just an excuse I gave your sister. I'm not going to let you waste it. I know you too well, you spend without thinking twice. If you really want to start a business, I'll invest a little and save the rest for your Dad and I. But you are to rent a house, not buy one,” she continued.
”I'll tell sister what you just said,” threatened An Xiaonan.
”There's no use telling her. Ah, it's a blessing that she married a rich man again, after leaving the mountains. Otherwise, how else would we get so much money? They're truly our cash cow.”
”If I hadn't insisted on taking her in back then, we wouldn't be so lucky today!” explained Mr. An.
”Yes, yes, all the credit goes to you.”
With all her might, An Xiaoning flung the door open, shocking the three of them inside. They stared at her wide-eyed, their jaws open.