Held like this by Qin Hui, Jin Yan'er's face instantly turned crimson, but she didn't resist, instead lying quietly in Qin Hui's embrace.
Jin Heng, riding his electric tricycle, smiled wryly at the sight.
As the vehicle entered the village, many curious eyes were cast upon them. The village entrance was where the elders usually gathered to chat. Seeing such a beautiful young woman like Jin Yan'er return naturally sparked their interest.
When they arrived at the doorstep, several sedans were already parked outside. It was clear that everyone knew Jin Yan'er would be back today, and had come early for marriage proposals.
This was how things were in the countryside. If you didn't make a move early, your daughter might become someone else's wife. Moreover, with more men than women these days, failing to act quickly in the village would surely lead to being a bachelor.
"Dad, Mom, Yan'er is back," Jin Heng shouted after stopping the car.
As soon as Jin Heng finished speaking, Qin Hui saw a crowd of matchmakers rush out, followed by many handsome young men.
Clearly, these were all here to propose.
Seeing such a comical scene, Qin Hui felt incredibly awkward.
"Miss Yan'er is back, and she's grown so radiant."
"Yes, Yan'er is the most beautiful in our village, and she's lived in the big city too. You all need to be serious later."
The matchmakers, chattering incessantly, surrounded Jin Yan'er, introducing their wealthy clients. After all, if this deal went through, it meant a substantial commission.
These days, one could get rich just by being a matchmaker.
"Yan'er, you're back."
A familiar voice sounded by Jin Yan'er's ear. Looking up, Jin Yan'er saw her mother and father.
"Mom, I'm back." Jin Yan'er quickly pulled Qin Hui to her parents and said respectfully.
"It's good you're back. We've been so worried about your affairs. This time, you must look carefully."
Jin Yan'er's mother grinned. The prices offered by those matchmakers earlier had made her quite happy, as they represented large sums of money.
Although this felt a bit like selling their daughter, this was the reality in the countryside. The poorer one was, the more they felt the need to compete. Just like in some regions, exorbitant betrothal gifts were common.
"Mom, I've brought my boyfriend back this time. His name is Qin Hui."
Jin Yan'er knew that if she let her mother continue, there would be no room for negotiation. So, she quickly introduced him.
"Oh?"
Yan'er's mother seemed surprised and finally turned her attention to Qin Hui. While the young man looked good, clean-cut and fair, it was obvious he wasn't well-off.
"Yan'er, you need to keep your eyes open. Men from the city won't cherish you; they're just deceiving you."
"That's right, boys from our hometown are better. They're family-oriented and wealthy. What's so bad about staying in the countryside?"
The matchmakers immediately swarmed forward to persuade her. They paid no mind to Qin Hui's feelings. The matchmakers were concerned about their commission, and who would turn down money?
Qin Hui found the situation somewhat amusing. Before he could even deal with Jin Yan'er's mother, these matchmakers were enough to keep him busy. Not to mention the suitors behind the matchmakers, whose gazes seemed to wish they could kill Qin Hui.
"Uncle, Aunt, I've returned this time to marry Jin Yan'er. As for the betrothal gifts, we can discuss that. Whatever they can offer, I can offer twice as much."
Qin Hui didn't want to waste time. If money could solve the problem, that would be best, especially since Qin Hui was wealthy.
Upon hearing this, Yan'er's mother's eyes revealed a hint of shrewdness. It seemed her daughter had found a rich man.
"Yes, Mom, Qin Hui is a senior executive at our company. We'll definitely be happy after we get married, and the betrothal gifts are not a problem." Jin Yan'er said earnestly.
Seeing Jin Yan'er say this, the matchmakers' expressions changed as if they saw their precious money drifting away.
"My dear, I think this matter should be up to the child herself," Jin Yan'er's father said. He was an honest and simple man; as long as his daughter liked him, that was enough.
Yan'er's mother looked Qin Hui up and down. Seeing that Qin Hui was dressed quite well, her mood improved slightly. Most importantly, Qin Hui had said he could offer double the betrothal gifts, which was the key point.
"Alright, everyone, please go back now. Since our Yan'er has her heart set on someone, you'll all be disappointed." Yan'er's mother, of course, knew the allure of money, so she appeased the matchmakers.
The matchmakers, though unwilling, took the young men with them and left.
Although the entire process was steeped in the scent of money, this was how it was in the countryside. The poorer one was, the more they compared; the poorer one was, the more they cared about face. It was as if, if your daughter married for three hundred thousand, your neighbor's daughter had to receive more, or else they would lose face. Shared effort in marriage was secondary to handing over the hefty betrothal gift first.
After entering the house, Qin Hui and Jin Yan'er sat to the side, while Jin Heng began pouring tea for everyone.
"Young man, you know I rejected so many marriage proposals for Yan'er's happiness. They offered betrothal gifts of over a million yuan." Yan'er's mother revealed her fierce fangs. While it was a slight exaggeration, her daughter was so beautiful, she was definitely worth... definitely worth over a million yuan.
Jin Yan'er felt speechless. She knew her mother's character well – greedy for money.
"Don't worry, Auntie. Here's two million." Qin Hui directly brought his briefcase over and placed it on the table. Although there was a transactional aspect to it, helping Jin Yan'er escape hardship was also a good thing.
Seeing the stacks of red banknotes on the table, Yan'er's mother's smile broadened considerably.
"Young man, I have a good feeling about you. You will definitely be able to give Yan'er a happy life." Yan'er's mother hugged the briefcase, grinning from ear to ear. She truly hadn't expected her daughter to fetch... to be worth such a betrothal gift.
Qin Hui naturally understood his mother-in-law's intentions but didn't expose them. What use would it be to expose them? After all, Jin Yan'er was her daughter.
"Then Auntie, when will Yan'er and I have our wedding?" Qin Hui asked calmly after taking a sip of tea.
"Tomorrow, we'll have it tomorrow," Yan'er's mother said quickly, afraid Qin Hui might change his mind. After all, the sooner the money was in her pocket, the more secure she felt.
Since Yan'er's mother agreed, the rest of the Jin family naturally had no objections, especially since the money offered was so substantial.
...
After dinner, Qin Hui walked into Jin Yan'er's room. Although the room was very simple, the large bed was enough for two people to sleep in.
After seeing to her parents, Jin Yan'er returned to her room, somewhat tired.
"Qin Hui, I'm really sorry about today. I'll find a way to repay this two million to you." Jin Yan'er knew that once the two million reached her mother, it wouldn't be returned.
"It's just a small token. Do we need to repay each other, given our relationship?" Qin Hui smiled faintly. While money isn't everything, without money, nothing is possible.