Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Mom, Jiali was raised in the Qiao Family. She’s more than good enough for our Gao Qiang,” Mr. Gao said.

”Qiang’er is your son. How can you put down your own son like that?” Grandma Gao snapped.

”Mom, I’m not putting him down. It’s just that after he started dating Jiali, I’ve reaped the benefits. Families that used to ignore the Gao family are now extending olive branches to us,” Mr. Gao explained.

Grandma Gao opened her eyes, a calculating glint within them. ”Xu Jiali is just a young lady raised by the Qiao Family, and even she can bring the Gao family back from the brink. If Qiang’er were to marry the legitimate Miss Qiao, our Gao family would be like a tiger with wings. Old Sir Qiao and Madam Qiao only had one daughter. That daughter of theirs was a troublemaker who ignored their objections and insisted on marrying someone in Huaxia. I hear they still don’t acknowledge that son-in-law from Huaxia, but they value their grandson and granddaughter immensely. Qiang’er, why don’t you marry their granddaughter instead?”

”Mom, we’re already incredibly lucky that he can marry Jiali, who was raised by their side. Marrying their granddaughter? Stop having such unrealistic daydreams,” Mrs. Gao couldn’t help but say.

”Shallow.” Grandma Gao struck Mrs. Gao with the Buddha Beads in her hand. ”You’re so simple-minded. You think marrying Xu Jiali will make the Gao family stand out? Or let us use the Qiao Family as a stepping stone to surpass them? To put it bluntly, Xu Jiali is just a relative of the Qiao Family. It’s their granddaughter who will get a piece of the pie.”

”Mom, what family have you ever seen that leaves its fortune to the maternal grandchildren?” Mrs. Gao said, rubbing the back of her hand where the Buddha Beads had stung.

”Old Sir Qiao and Madam Qiao don’t have a son, only a daughter. If they don’t leave it to their maternal grandchildren, are they supposed to just hand it over to the family of some concubine?” Grandma Gao was the main wife, and Old Master Gao had also taken concubines. In her life, she hated nothing more than the children born to them.

’The Gao family has declined. It would be a great thing if they could make a comeback through their grandchildren’s marriages. But even if they can’t, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Gao family still has some assets. She had her own children; if she didn’t, she would donate everything before letting those wicked spawn of concubines get a penny.’

”Mom...” Mrs. Gao started to argue, but Mr. Gao stopped her.

”That’s enough,” Mr. Gao said to his wife.

Mrs. Gao fell silent, though she was still resentful.

Mr. Gao took his mother’s words to heart. ’Human nature is greedy. Using Xu Jiali to get close to the Qiao Family was one thing. But if an opportunity presented itself, he naturally wanted to maximize his gains.’ ”Mom, from what I understand, the Qiao family’s granddaughter is too young. She isn’t an adult yet.”

”What does that matter? We can wait. We’ll settle the engagement first, and then hold the wedding once she comes of age,” Grandma Gao said.

Everyone in the car fell silent. So this was why Grandma Gao had insisted on coming along. Her true intentions were not what they seemed.

Seeing them silent, Grandma Gao’s face turned cold. ”Are you saying you look down on her for being young?”

”How could we dare look down on her? We just don’t dare to aim so high,” Mr. Gao said helplessly. ’She’s a Miss Qiao, after all.’

’Mrs. Gao lacked her mother-in-law’s daring and foresight. Her son marrying the legitimate Miss Qiao? She wouldn’t dare dream of it. She was already perfectly content with using Xu Jiali’s relationship with Madam Qiao to get a little help for her son.’

”Mom, the Qiao family’s son-in-law isn’t well-regarded, you know,” Mrs. Gao reminded her. ’One must know when to be content. Being too greedy could mean losing everything.’

Mr. Gao thought his wife had a point. ”Mom, Old Sir Qiao’s son-in-law from Huaxia married his only daughter, but we haven’t seen Old Sir Qiao help him out at all.”

”He doesn’t approve of the son-in-law, but he approves of the grandchildren,” Grandma Gao said, her words heavy with implication.

Mr. Gao was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood the meaning behind his mother’s words. He looked at his son in the front passenger seat with a hopeful gaze. ”Xiao Qiang, what do you think?”

Gao Qiang glanced at his father, then his gaze landed on his grandmother. ”Granny, the Qiao family doesn’t approve of my marriage to Jiali. The fact that I can marry Jiali at all is a stroke of immense luck for the Gao family.”

”Nonsense. You’re so outstanding, that Xu girl is not good enough for you at all.” Grandma Gao shot Gao Qiang a look. ’Among all her grandsons, this one was the most exceptional.’

”The Qiao family thinks the same thing—that I’m not good enough for Jiali,” Gao Qiang said. ’Bringing Granny to the Qiao residence was a mistake.’

”Qiang’er, are you trying to defy me?” Grandma Gao asked coldly.

”Granny, how would I dare defy you?” Gao Qiang thought for a moment before adding, ”As long as you can persuade the Qiao family, I’ll do as you say. I’ll marry whoever you want me to marry.”

”That’s my good grandson.” Grandma Gao was satisfied.

”But, Granny, I have to warn you. If you state your intentions directly, I doubt you’ll even get past the Qiao family’s main gate,” Gao Qiang added. He had been dating Xu Jiali for two years, and every time, he had only ever dropped her off at the entrance. He had never once set foot inside the Qiao residence himself.

Grandma Gao rolled her eyes at her grandson. ”Do you think I’m stupid? Don’t worry, I’ll play it by ear. I won’t make it so you can’t marry the legitimate Miss Qiao and ruin your engagement to Xu Jiali in the process.”

’Trying to have it both ways, being greedy for more when you already have something...’ Mrs. Gao strongly disapproved. She shot a look at Mr. Gao, but he pretended not to see it.

Gao Qiang said no more. The driver opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat.

”How did it go?” Mr. Gao asked eagerly.

”First, Miss Xu was waiting alone at the main gate. Then someone else came out,” the driver said.

”Who was it? Madam Qiao?” Grandma Gao’s heart leaped with joy. ’Looks like my move was a wise one. Haste makes waste, after all.’

”No.” The driver shook his head. ”A young lady.”

”A young lady?” Grandma Gao and Mr. Gao exchanged a look. Grandma Gao asked, ”Old Sir Qiao’s granddaughter?”

”I’m not sure. I saw the four bodyguards at the gate were very respectful to her. I was too far away to hear what they called her,” the driver said.

”It must be Old Sir Qiao’s granddaughter! Go, go, go! Drive, quickly!” Grandma Gao urged.

The driver didn’t dare to delay and drove toward the Qiao residence.

”Is that Qiao granddaughter pretty?” Grandma Gao asked.

”Yes, very,” the driver replied.

”How pretty? Compared to Xu Jiali, who’s prettier?” Grandma Gao asked.

”Well...” The driver found it difficult to answer and glanced at Gao Qiang in the passenger seat.

”Why are you looking at him? I’m asking you a question. Just answer me truthfully,” Grandma Gao said, a hint of anger in her voice.

The driver braced himself. ”She’s prettier than Miss Xu.”

Grandma Gao was satisfied. She said to Gao Qiang, ”Qiang’er, you are my most beloved grandson. I would never do anything to harm you.”

”Mom, where do you get this confidence that a Miss Qiao would ever take a liking to Xiao Qiang? Don’t let this all end with us losing everything,” Mrs. Gao said.

”Shut your mouth. If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t speak at all,” Grandma Gao snapped, glaring at her daughter-in-law.

Mr. Gao wasn’t confident either. ’If the Qiao heiress were ugly, his son might have a chance, but if she’s beautiful, the hope is slim.’ ”Mom, when we get to the Qiao residence, you must be careful with your words and actions. If we can’t get Miss Qiao, marrying that Jiali girl would be good enough. Let’s not end up offending the Qiao Family. If that happens, the Gao family will be completely finished.”

”I’m your mother, not an idiot. Relax, I know what I’m doing.” Grandma Gao was triumphant, her mind already scheming. ’How could she convince the Qiao family to let her grandson marry their heiress? The girl was still young, so even if he couldn’t marry her right away, she had to get the engagement settled. Then, once the Qiao heiress came of age, she would marry into their Gao family.’

At the main gate of the Qiao residence, Qin Mei was leaning languidly against the door, while Xu Jiali paced back and forth outside.

Never mind Xu Jiali—after waiting with her for a short while, even Qin Mei was losing patience. ”Auntie, why don’t you go inside and call your boyfriend to see what’s going on?”