Zhao Lifang eyed the betrothal gifts displayed in the courtyard with envy.
Why should everyone else get married with gifts while she got nothing?
"I don't care, you have to compensate me with a new watch! If not, give me this one!"
Zhao Lifang pointed to a red box with gold lettering on its surface.
It was obvious it was jewelry bought from a gold shop.
Cheng You chuckled, "You're dreaming."
Her eyes held undisguised mockery, ridiculing Zhao Lifang's wishful thinking.
Zhao Lifang's face turned crimson. "But my things were lost at your place."
Cheng You lazily lifted her eyelids to look at her. "You also said you lost them yourself. What's it to me?"
"You're so rude. I don't know what it is about you that Qi Chengyan is so taken with!" Zhao Lifang stamped her foot in exasperation.
Initially, she thought marrying Wen Jiahao was also good, but compared to this, she realized Wen Jiahao was nothing.
As expected, people from the city were richer.
Hearing her words, Cheng You smiled coquettishly and looked at Qi Chengyan.
"She's asking you, what do you like about me?"
Qi Chengyan said calmly, "Everything."
Cheng You's smile widened, clearly pleased with the answer.
"Zhao Lifang, did you hear that? I'd also like to know what your man likes about you. Your greed, ignorance, or your tantrums?"
Zhao Lifang was furious, screaming at the top of her lungs, "How dare you insult me!"
Cheng You rubbed her ears. "Alright, if you have nothing else, you can leave. I'm in a hurry to get my marriage license."
Cheng Tao's expression changed. Cheng You was actually going to marry him.
Looking at the gifts in front of her, even if Qi Chengyan were to abandon Cheng You later, it was worth it to gain these things.
Cheng Tao's heart twisted with discontent. Even if Cheng You didn't marry Zhao Yunlin, she shouldn't marry so well.
"Cheng You, marriage is a big deal. How can you not inform your parents?"
Cheng You smiled slightly, her voice tinged with a hint of coldness. "Because my father is as good as nonexistent, and my mother passed away early, so that's even less to speak of."
Cheng Tao's face turned somewhat grim. "Regardless, a wedding cannot proceed without elders presiding over it. Don't argue with your father. Of course, you should get married from your own home. Hurry and move back with Wen Yu, don't make a spectacle of yourself."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Yulian entered with a smile.
"Cheng Tao is right. Hurry and move back, otherwise, it's against the rules."
Cheng Tianhua followed her, his expression hurried.
He was angry that Cheng You didn't plan to tell him about her wedding, and he inwardly cursed her as an ungrateful wretch.
However, upon seeing the gifts on the ground, he realized that the 'three rounds and one sound' were all present, and his anger immediately dissipated.
Although Qi Chengyan coming over to propose was against the rules, he had at least shown great sincerity.
"Cheng You, hurry home with Dad. Getting married here, what kind of impression does that make!"
Saying this, he gestured for others to move the items.
Cheng You chuckled. "No need to trouble you, Dad. I'll handle the things myself. There's nothing good about getting married here."
Cheng Tianhua's face darkened. "What do you mean by that? Does Father still covet such a small amount of your possessions?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Cheng You retorted, "Don't you? Then how did my mother's dowry end up with Aunt Lian? I had to go to great lengths to get it back."
She shook her head and laughed. Cheng Tianhua only treated her as his daughter when she had value.
Uncle Li spoke up, "Once a teacher, always a father. Since she is my disciple, it's not against the rules for me to arrange her wedding."
He would prepare a dowry for Cheng You, and she would marry from his home.
This would also be acceptable.
Cheng Tianhua felt uncomfortable being blocked by him.
"Brother Li, she is my only daughter. I'd be heartbroken if she were to marry from your home."
Cheng You sneered. "Am I your only daughter? Then what is Cheng Tao?"
This sentence struck Cheng Tao to the core.
She, his daughter, had no status or name. Now, she couldn't even get her father's acknowledgment.
Reminded by Cheng You, Cheng Tianhua felt somewhat guilty and dared not look at Song Yulian and Cheng Tao.
"Of course, she doesn't count. You are Dad's biological daughter. Be good. If your mother knew you weren't getting married from home, she would surely be upset."
Cheng You walked back and forth in the courtyard, her hands behind her back.
"Dad, since you say so, staying home to get married is not impossible. Then let's clarify now, how much dowry will you give?"
Cheng Tianhua hadn't reacted yet, but Song Yulian refused first. "Cheng Tao doesn't even have a dowry, why should you? Cheng You, your father raised you, do you only see money in your eyes!"
Cheng You deliberately said, "How can Cheng Tao compare to me? She married Zhao Yunlin by snatching my engagement, which is neither proper nor legitimate. Aunt Lian, haven't you heard the saying, 'Betrothed is a wife, a concubine by elopement'? Those who hook up behind the scenes, even if they gain legitimacy, will be gossiped about! Besides, I am my father's only biological daughter. Compared to me, what is Cheng Tao?"
Song Yulian almost rolled her eyes and fainted.
Cheng You, while seemingly talking about Cheng Tao, was actually striking at the heart of Song Yulian's sore spot with every sentence.
She had gotten involved with Cheng Tianhua before, and only after Jiang Qing's death did she take her place.
Cheng Tianhua felt as if his skin had been torn off, unable to lift his head.
He was filled with dread, feeling as though Cheng You knew something.
Yet, he also felt it was impossible. His interactions with Song Yulian had always been discreet, and couldn't have been known.
"Cheng You, if you don't get married from home, then I won't agree to this marriage."
"Whether you agree or not, I will marry! My marriage has no room for your interference."
Unable to persuade her, Cheng Tianhua turned his anger towards Qi Chengyan.
"Do you think so too? Qi Chengyan, you came to propose yourself, and I tolerated the absence of your elders. But if Cheng You also doesn't get married from home, your wedding will not receive the blessings of the elders. This is not a good thing for you."
Qi Chengyan said neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "I have considered this. But all my concerns are based on Cheng You's wishes."
With both of them unmoving, Cheng Tianhua's insides churned with anger.
Uncle Li said with a chuckle, "Tianhua, I know what you're thinking. As I said, letting Cheng You marry from my home won't wrong her. If you have any dowry to add, just send it over. Don't let this matter damage your father-daughter relationship."
Cheng Tianhua sneered. Where was the father-daughter relationship between Cheng You and him?
It would be good if she didn't treat him as an enemy.
Cheng You smiled slightly. It was a happy occasion, no need to spoil her mood.
"Dad, no matter where I get married from, I'll still take care of you in my old age. See, I still send you gifts during festivals. But this is just my personality. If you don't let me have a good life, I'll make your life worse than mine. You wouldn't want that, would you?"