"So you can go back to your maiden home with dignity, as if this wish could be realized in advance."
Grandma was also very happy.
"You don't know our place. Nowadays, it's not just the groom's conditions that are valued, but also the bride's."
"If the maiden family is more respectable and has a better job, the person introduced will naturally be better."
"You won't have to worry about it, you're so excellent, you can solve your own problems. But we have to think more about your sister."
It just so happened that Jian Fei thought the same way, which was perfect.
"When your leg gets better, my and my sister's combined salary will be around 200,000. Then we can pay the down payment and buy a house together."
"Good, good, good!"
Life suddenly saw hope, everything was moving in a good direction, and the whole family's faces were filled with smiles.
Jian Fei was busy all afternoon, helping her family wash sheets and quilt covers, pack things, mop the floor, and tidy the kitchen. Naturally, she had no time to check her phone.
Ke Teng had sent her several WeChat messages without a reply.
It wasn't until after five o'clock, when her sister got off work and came home, that she received a call from Ke Teng.
"What are you busy with? You ignore me as soon as you get home, and you don't reply to messages. What's the meaning of this?"
Jian Fei knew he was joking and said with a smile.
"I was busy, you know. As soon as I got home, I started cleaning and tidying the house, so I didn't have time to look. Have you finished your meeting?"
"It's finished. It's time for dinner, and you're supposed to host a banquet for me tonight, but I don't want to go. Has your family started cooking yet?"
"Not yet. We have some fish in our pond. Grandma and my sister went to catch fish. We're planning to stew soup tonight."
Ke Teng waited for her to say, "Do you want to come and have some?" But Jian Fei stopped there.
"You're really stingy, Jian Fei, not even offering me a taste of the fish soup."
Jian Fei told the truth.
"How was I supposed to know you wouldn't like it? The fish in big hotels are so delicious, and you're still picky. Don't even mention ours from this small pond."
Ke Teng could somewhat hear the underlying meaning.
"Stop being sarcastic with me. When did I ever say I disliked fish from a small pond?"
"Just tell me if you're welcome or not!"
Ke Teng seemed to be indirectly answering the question she had been pondering that afternoon: did he dislike their poverty?
But then she thought, he had witnessed the hardships of poverty in Shangcheng before, so what else couldn't she face with equanimity?
If they were poor, they weren't stealing or robbing. What was there to be ashamed of?
"Then come over. Bring your assistant too. Our pot is big enough to stew a large basin."
"Haha." Ke Teng laughed.
"I won't call him. If the pot is big, I'll drink more. This is my special treatment."
What kind of impression would it make for a son-in-law to bring another man to his father-in-law's house for the first time?
Jian Fei was washing vegetables under the faucet in the yard when her sister and grandmother returned.
Her sister excitedly planned with her, saying a beautiful car had just stopped outside the yard, and a handsome man had gotten out, even more handsome than your old classmate last time!
So tall, with such good skin! Even movie stars weren't like this! I wonder whose guest he is!
As she was speaking, Jian Fei's phone rang.
She knew the person her sister was talking about was Ke Teng and gestured to her.
"We have a guest at home. Go to the door to receive him."
Soon, her sister ran back with a blushing face.
This handsome guy was actually their family's guest! She had just been infatuated with him in front of her sister, which was so embarrassing!
Seeing her sister run to the corner to squat down and scrape fish scales with a shy expression, Jian Fei found it a bit amusing.
Ke Teng brought a pile of nutritional supplements. He first greeted Grandma, then met Jian Fei's father, and finally exchanged glances with Jian Fei.
"What's wrong with your sister?"
"She's shy. She said you're the most handsome man she's ever seen and was praising you just now."
"You have good taste. Your sister has much better taste than you."
Ke Teng smiled, "What's her name? I'll go talk to her."
"Jian Tong. Tong from Tongcheng. She's a bit introverted, so be careful. Go ahead."
Ke Teng, dressed in a sharp suit and a deep blue long coat, walked towards her sister with a business-like and elegant demeanor.
Seeing his gleaming leather shoes, her sister's nervous hand trembled, and the knife cut her hand.
Ke Teng quickly squatted down, "Be careful!"
There were water stains on the ground from washing vegetables. When he squatted down, he didn't pull his coat, and the hem fell to the ground. Jian Fei hurried over.
"Take off your coat. Wearing something like this in our house can easily ruin your clothes."
"Alright. Her hand is cut. Why don't I kill the fish? Take off your jacket too, and you can help me carry it inside."
Jian Fei nimbly unbuttoned it for him and, facing him, helped him take off his coat and jacket.
Ke Teng was clearly accustomed to being served by her, standing naturally. The two looked like an old married couple.
Her sister watched, her face blushing as if it would catch fire.
Her sister was dating and hadn't even told her, and she was dating such a handsome man! How unfair!
Wearing only a white shirt, Ke Teng rolled up his sleeves to his forearms, squatted down to take the fish and knife from her sister, and asked her to teach him how to kill fish.
Her sister was incredibly shy, gesturing to him slowly with her hands.
Ke Teng occasionally looked at her hands and then at her face, feeling that it was indeed a pity that this young girl was deaf.
Like Jian Fei, she was the type of beauty who looked better the more you looked at her.
If she could speak properly and dress up a bit, she would surely have countless admirers, and wouldn't have to suffer in silence, not even daring to confess her crush, only able to swallow her tears.
He deliberately asked her more questions, letting her teach him what she was good at. Her sister was young and simple-minded, and soon became familiar with him.
After they finished killing the fish, they went to the kitchen to watch Grandma stew the fish. Jian Fei personally cooked several dishes.
The house was filled with laughter and chatter, lively and festive, as if it were the New Year. They hadn't been this happy in a long time.
Her father couldn't get out of bed, so they brought the dinner to him and ate together.
The doorframes in the house were too low, and Ke Teng had to bend down to get in and out.
During one of his trips to bring dishes in, her sister pulled Jian Fei aside.
"Your boyfriend is perfect. I'm truly happy for you, sister."
Jian Fei couldn't help but blush.
"Who told you he's my boyfriend?"
"It's obvious. He likes you. His eyes smile when he looks at you."
Her sister said, "Besides, Grandma and Dad like him, and I like him too. Why don't you admit it, sister? Don't you like him?"
Jian Fei didn't know how to answer.
He was a high-and-mighty young master with countless family assets.
They were worlds apart.
She was just a passerby who happened to appear when he was bored, accompanying him to pass the time. He could do whatever he wanted, so how could she take it seriously?
Although her father had never traveled far in his life and hadn't worked in high-end industries, he had a man's innate interest in politics and military affairs.
During the meal, he chatted with Ke Teng about many things.
The meal, filled with laughter and conversation, lasted until ten o'clock in the evening.
There was no place for Ke Teng to stay at home, so Jian Fei and her sister saw him out.