Quick Transmigration: The Pregnant Little Fairy is Pampered by the Heirless Boss

Chapter 393 The Beloved Little Sister 28

Ji Xiaosong inquired about Zhou Xiaomei's situation and family matters, thanked her, and then went home.

After returning from the textile factory, Ji Xiaosong was unable to calm down for a long time.

During dinner, she told her family about Zhou Xiaomei's family situation in detail.

The dining table fell silent immediately, with only the soft sound of chopsticks touching bowls.

Ji Jianshe kept his head down, his brows furrowed, and didn't touch a single bite of the rice in his bowl for a long time.

"Three hundred yuan as a bride price?" Wang Xiuhua put down her chopsticks, her voice trembling slightly. "This...this is going to bankrupt our family!"

Ji Tiezhu puffed on his pipe, his brows furrowed into a deep frown: "Ten yuan a month? This isn't marrying a wife, it's marrying a creditor!"

“Father, Mother,” Ji Xiaosong said softly, “Xiaomei isn’t that kind of person. She secretly saved seventy or eighty yuan, saying she wanted to help with the bride price…”

"Seventy or eighty?" Ji Jianjun scoffed. "A drop in the ocean!"

Ji Jianshe suddenly stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound: "I...I'll go check on her."

"Stop right there!" Ji Tiezhu shouted sternly. "There's no room for negotiation! Although our family has some savings, we can't just squander them like this!"

Ji Jianshe's fists clenched until they turned white: "Father, Xiaomei, she..."

“I know she’s pitiful,” Ji Tiezhu interrupted him, “but our family isn’t a charity! Think about it, what if you have children in the future, and you still have to give her family ten yuan every month? How are you going to live like that?”

Ji Jianshe remained silent, but his eyes were frighteningly red.

In the dead of night, Ji Xiaosong knocked on Ji Jianshe's door.

"Third Brother, are you asleep?"

The door opened, and Ji Jianshe's eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying: "Little sister..."

“I have an idea,” Ji Xiaosong lowered his voice, “Go find Xiaomei tomorrow and ask her if she’s willing…”

The next evening, Ji Jianshe waited for Zhou Xiaomei, who was getting off work, at the entrance of the textile factory.

Her petite figure stood out in the crowd. Her complexion was better than yesterday, but she still looked haggard.

"Brother Jianshe?" Zhou Xiaomei looked at him in surprise. "What brings you here?"

Ji Jianshe nervously rubbed his hands together: "Xiaomei, I... I have something to tell you."

The two walked slowly along the path outside the factory, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

“Xiaomei,” Ji Jianshe mustered his courage to speak, “My parents… don’t agree to give such a large dowry.”

Zhou Xiaomei paused slightly, but quickly regained her balance.

She looked up at the distant fields, her voice soft yet firm: "Brother Jianshe, I understand. Three hundred yuan is indeed too much; I can't let your family be in a difficult position."

Ji Jianshe wrung his hands anxiously: "Xiaomei, that's not what I meant! I meant to say..."

“Brother Jianshe,” Zhou Xiaomei interrupted him, turning around to look him straight in the eye, “I know you’re a good person, good to me and Xiaofang. But that’s precisely why I can’t let your family suffer.”

She took out a neatly folded handkerchief from her pocket, carefully unfolded it, and inside was a stack of loose banknotes and food coupons.

"This is what I've secretly saved up over the years, a total of eighty-three yuan and fifty cents."

She shoved the handkerchief into Ji Jianshe's hand, "I know it's not enough, but I'll find a way. As for my parents..."

At this point, Zhou Xiaomei's eyes suddenly became unusually firm: "I'll go back tonight and make things clear with them. Three hundred yuan is impossible, at most one hundred and fifty, and I won't give any more money to my family after the marriage."

Ji Jianshe looked at her in shock: "Xiaomei, will your parents agree to this?"

“They have no choice but to agree.” Zhou Xiaomei’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force. “I’ve already made up my mind. If they don’t agree, I’ll take Xiaofang and move to the factory. I’m a permanent employee now, and the factory has single dormitories. Although it’ll be a bit crowded, it’s still better than being ripped off by them.”

Ji Jianshe was startled.

He never expected that this seemingly delicate girl would be so decisive.

"Then...then what about us..." Ji Jianshe stammered.

Zhou Xiaomei's face flushed slightly: "If you don't mind, I'm willing to marry you. But I have conditions."

"What are your conditions? Tell me!"

"First, the bride price will be no more than 150 yuan, and I will not take a single penny from my husband's family to subsidize my own family after the marriage."

Zhou Xiaomei held up one finger. "Secondly, when my younger sister Xiaofang turns eighteen, I want to bring her to live with us. She's a good girl, she won't just eat and live there for free, she can help with chores."

Ji Jianshe excitedly grabbed her hand: "What kind of condition is this! I agree to everything! Xiaofang is like my own sister!"

A hint of warmth flashed in Zhou Xiaomei's eyes, but she quickly regained her seriousness: "Brother Jianshe, there's one more crucial point. I have to confront my parents tonight. If they make a scene at the factory or your village..."

"Don't be afraid!" Ji Jianshe puffed out his chest. "My father is a veteran in the production team and has prestige in the village. If your parents dare to cause trouble, we'll go to the factory leaders and the Women's Federation!"

Zhou Xiaomei finally smiled and said, "Okay, then let's go talk to my parents now."

That night, the Zhou family had their most intense argument in history.

"One hundred and fifty? You're dreaming!" Zhou's father slammed his fist on the table and roared, "I raised you all these years, and this is all the money I'm worth?"

Zhou's mother even grabbed a broom and started hitting Zhou Xiaomei: "You ungrateful wretch! I'll teach you to side with outsiders!"

Zhou Xiaomei neither dodged nor flinched, enduring several blows head-on, but her voice remained unusually calm: "Dad, Mom, I've given all my salary to the family over the years, at least a thousand yuan. I've lived up to your kindness in raising me."

"Bullshit!" Zhou's father was furious, his face turning ashen. "What can you do with that little bit of money? Does your brother not need money to get married in the future?"

“My brother is only twelve years old,” Zhou Xiaomei said, looking directly at her father. “When he grows up, I will fulfill my duties as an older sister, but I will not be exploited by you like this.”

Zhou's mother was about to hit him again, but was stopped by neighbors who rushed over after hearing the commotion.

Wang, the workshop foreman who lived next door, couldn't stand it anymore and stood up to speak: "Old Zhou, you two have gone too far! Xiaomei is such a good girl, are you trying to drive her to her death?"

Other neighbors chimed in, "That's right! This is a new society now; selling your daughter is no longer the way to do it!"

"Xiaomei has been filial enough over the years, what more do you want?"

Under the accusations of the crowd, the momentum of Zhou's parents gradually weakened.

Finally, under the mediation of the factory's labor union, both parties reached an agreement: the bride price was set at 180 yuan, to be paid in a lump sum, and Zhou Xiaomei would no longer bear any expenses for her family after the marriage.

It was late at night when I left the Zhou family home.

Zhou Xiaomei's face still bore traces of tears, but her eyes were exceptionally bright.

“Brother Jianshe,” she said softly, “I’ll go apply to the factory manager for a house for our wedding tomorrow. Once the house is approved, we’ll register our marriage.”

Ji Jianshe tenderly wiped away her tears: "Xiaomei, you've suffered so much..."

“It’s not bitter.” Zhou Xiaomei shook her head, a slight smile appearing on her lips. “From now on, I’m going to start living for myself.”

A month later, witnessed by the textile factory's union, Zhou Xiaomei and Ji Jianshe held a simple yet heartwarming wedding.

At the wedding, Zhou's parents did not appear; only Zhou Xiaomei's younger sister, Xiaofang, brought a few close coworkers to offer their congratulations.

The new house was a small bungalow allocated by the factory. Although it was simple, Zhou Xiaomei kept it clean and tidy.

The wall was decorated with bright red "double happiness" characters, and the bed was covered with brand-new bedding, which Wang Xiuhua had specially prepared for her daughter-in-law.

“Brother Jianshe,” Zhou Xiaomei said earnestly as she sat on the edge of the bed on their wedding night, “I have a few words I want to say to you.”

Ji Jianshe quickly sat up straight: "Go on."

"First, I will take good care of my parents-in-law and be a good daughter-in-law." Zhou Xiaomei held up one finger. "Second, I will continue to work, and we will save our wages together to build a big house in the future."

Ji Jianshe held his wife's hand and nodded solemnly: "I'll do whatever you say. From now on, you'll be in charge of our family."

Zhou Xiaomei's eyes welled up with tears.

She looked out at the moonlight and whispered, "Brother Jianshe, I finally have my own home..."

Meanwhile, in the Ji family courtyard, Ji Tiezhu and Wang Xiuhua were counting the monetary gifts.

"His father," Wang Xiuhua whispered, "Jianshe made a great choice in marrying this woman. At the wedding today, all the factory leaders came to congratulate him, saying that Xiaomei is a model worker in the factory!"

Ji Tiezhu puffed on his pipe and nodded with satisfaction: "She's a good girl with her own opinions. Much better than that Lin Xiulan from before."

Inside the house, Ji Xiaosong was arranging a beautiful piece of fabric that Zhou Xiaomei had given her as a wedding gift.

She touched her bulging belly, a relieved smile on her face.

This family will get better and better.

My third sister-in-law came to our house; she should be given everything she deserves.