country bumpkin

Chapter 347 The Two Get Engaged

On the other side, Jiang Yuqing and Shen Xingchen got off the train carrying their things and took a taxi home.

Her family warmly greeted her, looking her up and down and asking her all sorts of questions. Shen Xingchen responded politely and generously, presenting the bankbook and gifts with both hands.

Jiang Yuqing's parents were very pleased with the sensible Shen Xingchen. They didn't take the bankbook, but accepted the gift in their hands.

Shen Xingchen explained that this was the money prepared for the engagement gift, and Jiang's mother smiled and waved her hand, "This child is so honest. There's no such thing as giving a betrothal gift in advance. We'll take it out on the engagement day!"

Shen Xingchen scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.

Jiang's mother called everyone to dinner, and the family sat down together and ate a lively meal, the table filled with laughter and joy.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Yuqing finally felt relieved. It seemed her parents were very satisfied with her. She herself was filled with happiness, feeling that she had made the right choice.

Shen Xingchen brought up the engagement, saying that his parents and aunt and uncle would be coming over tomorrow to hold an engagement banquet.

Jiang Yuejin, the father, and his daughter-in-law, Wei Xuezhen, exchanged a glance, and Wei Xuezhen spoke up to express their doubts.

"Xiao Shen, we don't do engagements like this around here. We usually have the engagement banquet at the groom's house. Why don't you call your elders and tell them not to come? We'll take the train there tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingchen quickly explained, "Uncle and Aunt, that's not what we meant. Our family's idea is to hold an engagement banquet here first, and then we'll hold another engagement banquet back in our hometown, so that relatives on both sides don't have to travel by train."

Wei Xuezhen understood and said with a smile, "That won't do. Wouldn't that be a waste of money? How much more money would that cost? Let's discuss where to hold it!"

Jiang Yuejin immediately made a decision: "Xiao Shen, we can't waste money. We should save where we can. Besides, who holds two engagement banquets? It doesn't sound right! Just listen to your uncle. Let's follow our local custom. The bride's relatives can send a few representatives to your place, and we'll hold one banquet."

Shen Xingchen dared not disobey his future father-in-law, so he could only nod in agreement. Besides, he couldn't afford to offend his in-laws; listening to them would save money! Why not?

So he called home and told his parents and in-laws about his concerns and decision.

Shen Chengye, the father, naturally prioritized the bride's side and listened to his in-laws. Everyone agreed that they would take representatives from the bride's side of the family to Haishi tomorrow.

Jiang Yuejin and Wei Xuezhen then took out their phone book and called each of their relatives to inform them that those who were free the next day should come over to Haishi to attend their daughter's engagement banquet.

Time was tight, so when everyone received the notification, they all said it was too rushed and there was simply no time to prepare.

Wei Xuezhen laughed and joked, "Hehe, what's there to prepare? Just dress up nicely and get ready to eat at the banquet."

Laughter came from the other end of the phone. After agreeing, they hung up.

Finally, Wei Xuezhen tallied the number of attendees. Jiang Yuqing's third uncle and aunt were also going. Her eldest uncle and aunt suffered from motion sickness, so they wouldn't be going. They said they would attend the wedding banquet later.

Jiang Yuejin agreed, since it was enough for just two people to go for the engagement, mainly because the journey was too far. If it were a local in-law, all the relatives would definitely come in a lively celebration.

After agreeing on the number of people, they began to arrange Shen Xingchen's accommodation.

I need to get some rest tonight. I traveled by train all night last night, so I must be very tired.

Jiang Yuejin let his son-in-law stay in his son Jiang Zhaoyang's room. His son and he stayed in their own room, while his wife and daughter stayed in his daughter's room.

After settling into their lodgings, everyone went to their rooms to rest early, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next day.

Shen Xingchen couldn't sleep that night, a smile playing on her lips as she thought about the engagement the next day.

Jiang Yuqing and her mother chatted until midnight before finally going to sleep. Jiang Yuejin and his son, on the other hand, slept soundly until the next day.

The next day, it wasn't even dawn until after four o'clock. Everyone ate something to tide them over, and then the relatives who were going to Haishi arrived. Jiang Yuqing and Shen Xingchen, in particular, had dark circles under their eyes from staying up so late.

Everyone tidied themselves up and headed out to catch their cars. Not many people were up yet, so the streets were deserted.

The taxi van that I booked in advance last night was already waiting for them on the main road.

The van can seat 8 people, including the driver. That's exactly the size of their family of 7, and they were all packed in.

Of course, Jiang Zhaoyang went along too. Shen Xingchen naturally covered the cost of the chartered car.

Traveling in a minivan was much faster than taking the train. They set off at 4:30 in the morning and arrived in Haishi at around 10:00 in the morning, which was half the time of the train.

The Shen family was already waiting at the grand hotel. The minivan took them directly to the hotel entrance.

Shen Xingchen invited everyone into the restaurant, where they saw her father, mother, uncle, and aunt come out to greet them.

The elders of both sides politely declined each other's offer to go up to the private room on the second floor of the grand hotel.

After entering the private room and taking their seats, the waiter began serving the dishes after exchanging pleasantries.

As the exquisite dishes were served, their aromas were irresistible, and the Jiang family members were all secretly amazed by the lavishness of the feast.

Mr. Shen stood up, picked up his wine glass, and said with a smile, "Father-in-law, today's engagement banquet is a token of our Shen family's appreciation. Thank you for entrusting such a wonderful daughter to Xingchen."

Jiang Yuejin quickly stood up and replied, "You're too kind. We like Xiao Shen too. From now on, our two families are one family."

Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Uncle Shen warmly toasted Jiang Yuejin and Uncle Jiang San, and then Shen Chengye toasted them.

The driver naturally joined them at the table, but he didn't drink; he just kept his head down and ate.

Halfway through the meal, Shen Xingchen stood up, took out an exquisite box from her pocket, knelt on one knee, opened the box, and inside was a gleaming gold ring.

He looked at Jiang Yuqing with deep affection and said, "Yuqing, I will be good to you for the rest of my life." Jiang Yuqing's eyes reddened, and she nodded shyly.

Then he took out a red paper packet containing 6600 yuan as betrothal money.

He handed the money to Jiang Yuqing, who shyly took it and gave it to her mother.

Then Shen Xingchen put the ring on her finger, and everyone applauded. The private room was filled with blessings, and the engagement banquet came to a successful conclusion in a warm and lively atmosphere.

After the engagement banquet, Jiang Yuqing went home in the van. There were still several days of holiday left, and she wanted to go home for a few days.

Shen Xingchen was supposed to take them home, but their company only had three days off, and they had to go back to work tomorrow after a short rest. So she could only tell the driver to be careful and make sure they got home safely.

The man paid the driver for the round-trip fare, and the woman boarded the car to return.

The engagement banquet came to a perfect end, and everyone dispersed. Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen went home.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen were quite tired after a busy day, so they went back to their room to rest. Their younger brother, Shen Yuxuan, went to visit his friend at the neighbor's house.

When Shen Xingchen returned to his room, he suddenly felt empty inside. His girlfriend was gone, and it seemed like she had taken his heart with her.

Meanwhile, at Qi Qiaodi's home, the atmosphere was also festive and lively.

Gu Jingxuan's parents, the matchmaker couple, and Qi Qiaodi's parents were discussing the marriage between the two families.

After much discussion, they decided to hold the engagement banquet tomorrow. They also agreed on the betrothal gifts and the gold and silver jewelry that needed to be purchased.

Both sets of elders agreed that they should get engaged first, and then get married next year. After all, they are both getting on in years, and after the wedding, Qi Qiaodi can go to the military base with him.

Gu Jingxuan will not be discharged from the army for several more years, so it would be more appropriate for him to join the army.

The elders had discussed and agreed on the engagement, and Qi Qiaodi had no objections. Gu Jingxuan also had no objections; he genuinely liked Qi Qiaodi.

Qi Qiaodi only wanted to get married first and fall in love later, to try things out first. But this man did match her aesthetic standards.

And so the family decided that the engagement banquet would be held the next day. They didn't have to worry about anything; they just had to follow the arrangements.

The engagement banquet was held at a hotel. In the morning, they went to a shopping mall to buy clothes and jewelry. They didn't return to the hotel for lunch until noon.

I didn't buy everything; I'll have to make up for it when I have time. The bride price was given during the meal, and it was 6600 yuan.

Gu Jingxuan also bought her a mobile phone so they could contact each other. At that time, mobile phones were quite expensive, costing 3000 yuan.

With the bride price and jewelry, the Gu family has really gone to great lengths. This daughter-in-law is truly one in a million.