Chapter 343 - 340: Do It Back Home

Chapter 343: Chapter 340: Do It Back Home

While both sets of parents were discussing the engagement, Jiang Xia came out of the room with his girlfriend and his little sister-in-law.

"Xiaxia, Yanwan, come over. We were just talking about you two," Ji Wanqiu said, beckoning them over.

"Huh? What is it, Mom?"

Jiang Xia, still clueless about what was happening, led his girlfriend over to the sofa and sat down, with his little sister-in-law on his lap.

"We were discussing having you and Yanwan get engaged. What do you think?" Ji Wanqiu asked with a gentle smile.

After all, no matter how happily they’d been chatting, the final decision still depended on the children’s wishes.

’Engagement?’

His gaze fell on the items on the table: cigarettes, liquor, tea, honey, donkey-hide gelatin, and milk—two of each. No wonder his parents had been acting so suspiciously lately. It turned out they were waiting for today to formally propose marriage on his behalf.

’When did they suddenly become so progressive? This isn’t like them at all.’

"Is there even a need to ask? I’m a hundred percent on board!" Jiang Xia’s fingers tightened around his girlfriend’s small hand as he turned to look at her, an irrepressible smile on his face.

’This day came nearly three years earlier than in his previous life.’

"And what about you, Yanwan?" Xia Shanshan asked, smiling at her future daughter-in-law.

"Mm..." Lin Yanwan nodded lightly, her face blushing as her heart pounded in her chest.

"Since the kids both agree, then it’s settled! We’ll find a time to hold the engagement ceremony." Jiang Wende laughed, the weight on his shoulders finally lifting.

’From now on, the two families could truly call each other in-laws.’

The whole family was overjoyed. Looking at Jiang Xia, her son-in-law-to-be, Ji Wanqiu was happy from the bottom of her heart. He had agreed without the slightest hesitation, which meant that, at least for now, he loved Yanwan with all his heart.

"Alright, Old Lin, you stay here and keep Teacher Xia and her husband company. I’m going to the kitchen to check on the food."

"Wanqiu, I’ll go with you. Let the two old classmates chat by themselves," Xia Shanshan said with a smile.

The two women got up and went to the kitchen to get busy with lunch. Meanwhile, Lin Gaoyuan and Jiang Wende centered their discussion on the engagement, hashing out the details that needed attention, with the Jiang family agreeing to everything.

Lin Gaoyuan didn’t bring up the topic of a betrothal gift. In his eyes, the fact that Jiang Xia had been able to save their family at its most critical moment by offering up the merchandise rights for *Cat and Mouse* was the best betrothal gift of all. Nothing more needed to be said.

The family enjoyed the reunion lunch immensely. Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan were all smiles. ’Once today is over,’ Jiang Xia thought, ’it means Lin Yanwan will be my fiancée. I can tease her however I want.’

"Old Jiang, why don’t you just come help me at the toy factory? What’s the point of driving a taxi? Our two families can join forces and make Gaoyuan Toys bigger and better."

Lin Gaoyuan lightly clinked his glass with Jiang Wende’s, but his mind was on what Jiang Xia had mentioned to him the other day about the Gaoyuan Group. ’I’m not nearly enough on my own,’ he thought.

"Forget it, forget it." Jiang Wende shook his head and chuckled. "I don’t know the first thing about making toys, and I know even less about the market. Not only would I not be able to help, I’d just get in your way."

"What’s so troublesome about that? I’ll give you the purchasing manager position. You can come help me manage procurement," Lin Gaoyuan said with a smile.

Jiang Xia chimed in at the right moment. "Dad, don’t put my father on the spot. Driving is all he’s ever known. He could be your chauffeur, but I’m afraid he’d make a complete mess of purchasing."

"HAHAHAHA..."

Jiang Xia continued, "In my opinion, you need a specialist for the job. Find someone with years of purchasing experience. A higher salary doesn’t matter; what’s important is that they’re competent."

"My son-in-law’s right." Lin Gaoyuan was so pleased he clinked glasses with Jiang Wende again. "Come on, my dear in-law, let’s keep drinking."

Xia Shanshan took a bite of steamed fish and said slowly, "Wanqiu, why don’t you all come to my place for dinner tonight? I’ll invite Weiya and her family over too."

"Don’t go to all that trouble of running back and forth. I’ll call her right now and have them come straight here tonight." As she spoke, Ji Wanqiu put down her bowl and chopsticks, called Li Weiya, and put the phone on speaker.

"Director Li, Happy New Year!" Ji Wanqiu said with a laugh.

"Happy New Year, President Ji."

"Have you had lunch?"

"I’m eating right now."

"Teacher Xia just suggested our two families go to her place for New Year’s Eve dinner, but I said, why don’t we all just come over to my place tonight instead? What do you think?" Ji Wanqiu asked.

"Oh, are they at your place now?"

"Yes, we’re all having lunch together. You’re the only one missing." Ji Wanqiu held the phone in front of Xia Shanshan, motioning for her to say something.

"Director Li, Happy New Year," Xia Shanshan began. "Bring Mingming with you tonight. We have some news for you."

Ji Wanqiu and Xia Shanshan exchanged a look. When it came to their children’s engagement, both mothers were visibly excited.

"What is it?"

"Heh, you’ll find out when you get here. In any case, as the children’s godmother, you can’t be absent," Xia Shanshan said with a laugh.

With an invitation like that, Li Weiya couldn’t very well refuse. Besides, the three families were incredibly close now, so it was only natural for them to visit each other more often.

’Come to think of it, the New Year holiday was the only time they could all get together. On the sixth day of the New Year, some of them would have to fly to the Imperial Capital, and they’d barely see each other for the rest of the year.’

"Alright, I’ll come over in the afternoon."

"Not in the afternoon, come over as soon as you finish eating. Hurry up, don’t dawdle," Ji Wanqiu said with a laugh.

"Fine, I’ll come over right after I eat."

"Then it’s settled."

After hanging up, Ji Wanqiu was ecstatic. After all, Li Weiya had watched Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan’s relationship blossom. As the children’s godmother, she would be the perfect witness for their engagement.

After lunch, the fathers lounged on the sofa, continuing their idle chat about everything under the sun, while Jiang Xia took his girlfriend and little sister-in-law out for a walk to buy some fireworks and firecrackers.

In an era before fireworks were banned, they could set them off to their hearts’ content on New Year’s Eve.

Xiao Man skipped ahead, holding a balloon in one hand and a tanghulu in the other, while Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan followed behind, hand in hand.

"My fiancée~~~" Jiang Xia teased, deliberately dragging out the word.

Lin Yanwan blushed and gave him a light punch. "We’re not officially engaged yet."

"The engagement is just a ceremony. Our parents’ blessing is what really counts. So you’re already my fiancée. C’mon, Lin Xiaoniu’er, let me hear you call me ’Hubby’~"

"No way."

"Hey, you’re getting rebellious." Jiang Xia gave his girlfriend’s butt a light smack and just left his hand there.

Embarrassed and annoyed, Lin Yanwan slapped his hand away. "We’re on a public street! Stop it."

"So, can we mess around when we get back?" Jiang Xia asked, blinking his eyes innocently.

Lin Yanwan’s face turned beet red. ’Now that their parents had agreed to their engagement, it seemed she had no reason to refuse him anymore.’

"Mm..."

She gave an incredibly shy little nod. The mere thought of tumbling into bed with the young Jiang Xia made her whole body burn.

"Eh?!!!!!!"

Jiang Xia’s breath caught in his throat, and then his heart exploded with joy. ’He had just asked casually... and she actually agreed?’