Chen Yan saw that Mrs. Qin was about to be convinced. “Jiahui, how about we take the opportunity during Old Master’s birthday party to announce the engagement? Wouldn’t it be great if there’s double the good news?
“Then, we can pick an auspicious date to hold the wedding ceremony. Isn’t that great?”
“Well…” Mrs. Qin hesitated. “That’s too rushed, isn’t it? Xiangyi is a stubborn child. I’m afraid that she won’t agree to it.”
“That’s not rushed at all! This is good news, and we shouldn’t wait too long. You should help to persuade Xiangyi too. If you and Mr. Qin agree to it and ask the Old Master to persuade her, would she be able to turn it down?”
“That sounds like a good idea!” Mrs. Qin said.
“Isn’t that so!” Chen Yan held Mrs. Qin’s hand and laughed.
Zhang Haoyu breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Qin had agreed to it, and the matter was as good as done.
He began to feel excited. He had constantly drooled over Qin Xiangyi’s appearance. Among all his encounters with other women in Provincial City, none could compare to Qin Xiangyi.
Soon, two cars appeared at the end of the road.
“They’re here!” Mrs. Qin shouted.
Zheng Haoyu straightened his suit and walked up to greet them.
The cars stopped. Qin Gang was the first to get out, then Qin Xiangyi came out of the car behind him.
Zhang Haoyu was immediately dumbstruck by Qin Xiangyi’s appearance. His gaze became passionate as his eyes were transfixed on her body.
“Xiangyi!” He greeted her and was about to walk to her.
Just then, Tang Hao got out of the car, then walked to Qin Xiangyi and held her hand.
Zheng Haoyu was immediately petrified.
Chapter 172 - A Woman Scorned
Zheng Haoyu was not the only one who was dumbstruck at that moment. Even Mrs. Qin and Chen Yan did not know how to react.
“What’s… going on?” Chen Yan was horrified. She turned to speak to Mrs. Qin, “Which one of your relatives is he?”
She immediately thought that Tang Hao was perhaps one of the younger cousins of the Qin family.
‘He’s too young! He can’t be more than eighteen! He can’t be Qin Xiangyi’s boyfriend!’
“He’s not a relative! I’ve never seen him before!” Mrs. Qin was also confused.
Zheng Haoyu’s face darkened. His eyes flashed with jealousy as he saw the couple holding hands.
“Who are you?” He asked Tang Hao coldly.
Qin Gang coughed lightly and said somewhat awkwardly, “Mom, this person is called Tang Hao. He’s Xiangyi’s boyfriend!”
The three people were shocked when they heard that.
“What? Boyfriend?” Mrs. Qin said incredulously. Her face turned gloomy as she inspected Tang Hao.
‘How old is he? He’s still a teenager! He looks somewhat handsome, but he’s too young! How is that appropriate?
‘He’s too young to have a career. His income must be unstable and he isn’t mature enough. Marriage is definitely out of the question!’
Mrs. Qin’s expression turned ghastly, as though dark clouds gathered on her face.
She could not comprehend it. Her daughter had always made mature and wise decisions, but now she seemed to be utterly confused. Bringing that boyfriend home would bring shame to the Qin family!
Chen Yan came to her senses and laughed. “Haha! You’re such a prankster, Xiangyi. That must be a pretend boyfriend, right? You should at least look for someone your age even if you want to bring a pretend boyfriend home.”
Zheng Haoyu breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. He thought that Tang Hao was too young and it was impossible that Qin Xiangyi liked him.
“Xiangyi, I know that you don’t like me, but you don’t have to look for a pretend boyfriend just to placate Uncle and Auntie! They won’t believe you if you look for someone so young!”
Zheng Haoyu smiled and walked toward her.
Qin Xiangyi glared coldly at him, then at her mother. “He’s really my boyfriend, Mom!”
Her hand gripped Tang Hao’s hand tighter as she spoke.
Zheng Haoyu’s smile froze on his face, while Mrs. Qin looked gloomier than ever.
The three people could see that Qin Xiangyi was serious, that the kid she brought along was really her boyfriend!
Chen Yan frowned. She had expected Qin Xiangyi to bring a pretend boyfriend back to placate her parents but did not expect that she really had a boyfriend.
Her plan was in shambles.
How was Xiangyi going to marry Haoyu, now that she had a boyfriend?
Fortunately, that boy was too young, and the Qin family would not agree to it.
Haoyu would still stand a chance as long as she could separate the kid from Qin Xiangyi.
Her eyes flashed with malice. Suddenly, she spoke loudly, “Ah, Jiahui, look at this. Don’t you think that Xiangyi made a bad decision? How is it proper that she has such a young boyfriend?
“People will definitely gossip if they see the two together.”
Mrs. Qin’s face became even ghastlier when she heard that.
“Ah, Xiangyi, you must be muddled. Were you deceived by that kid’s flowery language? He doesn’t look like a good person at first glance. He should be a sweet-talking playboy. He’s probably just playing with your heart and won’t be genuine to you. He might want your money too!
“Let me tell you, Xiangyi, you’re not young anymore, and you should be looking to go into a serious relationship. Look at how good my Haoyu is! He’s mature and enterprising,” Chen Yan said loudly.
Qin Xiangyi furrowed her brows and her eyes flashed with disgust.
She ignored Chen Yan and pulled Tang Hao over to her mother.
“Mom!” She greeted her mother softly.
Mrs. Qin’s face was still gloomy. Her eyes that stared at Tang Hao were filled with hostility.
In her eyes, that kid must have scammed her daughter.
“What is your name? How old are you? Where are you from? What are your academic qualifications? What is your job?” Mrs. Qin asked with a sullen face.
“Pleased to meet you, Madam. My name is Tang Hao. I am eighteen years old this year, and I am from Tang Village,” Tang Hao answered honestly.
“Tang Village? I know the place! It’s a backwater village next to a mountain, and it’s filled with unruly peasants!” Chen Yan shrieked loudly.
Mrs. Qin furrowed her brows when she heard that.
That kid was a peasant from a mountain village.
“As for my academic qualifications, I dropped out of high school and didn’t go to college,” Tang Hao said.
“Oh! So he’s an uncultured idiot! My Haoyu has a master’s degree from a prestigious university,” Chen Yan shrieked.
She felt more and more amused as Tang Hao spoke. ‘This Xiangyi must be out of her mind! Why did she find a useless, low-class man? How can he compare to my precious son?’
In her eyes, a person who did not graduate high school was the scum of society. The kid was too young and too skinny to perform menial labor. As for her son, he was an elite of society, and there was no comparison.
Tang Hao furrowed his brows and looked at her. “I’m running my own company now!” He said.
The three people were stunned. They could not believe what they heard.
According to that kid’s self-introduction, he should be an uncultured and poor person from a mountain village. Where did he have the money to run his own company?
Chen Yan smirked coldly. “Oh, Xiangyi! Don’t tell me you gave him money? You’re so generous!” She shrieked.
“He started the company himself, Mom, I didn’t give him a single cent,” Qin Xiangyi said.
“Pah! Who are you trying to deceive? Can he afford to start his own company? I say, Xiangyi, have you been duped that hard? You’re a college graduate, too!” Chen Yan laughed.
Mrs. Qin’s gaze on Tang Hao was filled with hostility.
She was g
etting more and more unimpressed by that boy.
With a sullen face, she pulled Qin Xiangyi over. “Come here. Let me tell you, your father and I will not agree to this. How is that appropriate? Don’t you know that you’re bringing shame to the family?
“And you dare to bring him home too? We’ll have to go to Grandpa’s birthday celebration later. How would our family friends look at you? Don’t you know any shame?” Mrs. Qin said sternly.
“What do you mean, Mom? He is my boyfriend, and that is final. Why should I care about how other people look at me? I should be able to look for a boyfriend without having to be concerned about what other people think. Am I the one looking for a boyfriend, or are they?”
Qin Xiangyi was furious. She spoke louder and louder.
“You… How dare you speak like that?” Mrs. Qin said sternly.
“Do you think I’m bringing shame to you, Mom? Alright, I’ll leave then. There’s no need for my presence at Grandpa’s birthday celebration anyway!” After that, she turned around and prepared to leave.
Mrs. Qin was immediately flustered when she saw that.
Even Chen Yan and her son were flustered.
If Qin Xiangyi left, they could not proceed with their plan.
“That’s enough!” A low roar was heard from within the house.
A middle-aged man stepped out.
He was slightly tall and slim. He wore a pair of glasses and looked somewhat bookish.
He scanned the crowd in front of him and furrowed his brows when he noticed Tang Hao.
Then, he looked toward Qin Xiangyi. “Why are you leaving, my daughter? Come here! It’s your grandfather’s birthday celebration today. How can you be absent? And you too, my wife, you should go easy on her! Xiangyi is rarely back home, and now you want to see her leave again?”
“But…” Mrs. Qin was still angry.
“That’s enough. I don’t like that kid too, but what else can you do? We only have two daughters. One of them doesn’t want to come back, and the other is finally home after a long time. Are you sure you want to drive her away again?” Mr. Qin said.
Mrs. Qin was at a loss for a reply.
Mr. Qin nodded, then grunted to display his dissatisfaction.
“Let’s come in and have a seat!” Then, he went into the house.
Everyone went inside and sat down, though the atmosphere was rather awkward.
Soon, Chen Yan and her son found an excuse to step outside.
“What should we do, Mom?”
“Don’t worry, my son. He’s just a village kid. He’ll be a pushover. As long as he’s out of the way, Xiangyi and her money will all be yours.”
Tang Hao’s face darkened as he heard the mother and son talking outside.
Chapter 173 - A Set-Up
“What’s your plan, Mom?”
“You can leave that to me, my son. Your mother will make sure that Xiangyi becomes your wife. That Xiangyi is as perfect as a woman can be. She’s not only beautiful but also rich. I’ve heard that her apparel factory is doing very well. She earns about six or seven million every year!
“Our Zheng family needs a good daughter-in-law like her. The poor village kid doesn’t deserve her!”
Tang Hao’s face became more sullen than ever as he overheard the whispers between Chen Yan and Zheng Haoyu outside the house.
It was normal if Zheng Haoyu liked Sis Xiangyi because of her looks; she was a very attractive woman after all. However, these people were also going after her money.
That would make them underhanded and despicable individuals!
Tang Hao furrowed his brows as he thought carefully.
‘Isn’t the Zheng family very wealthy, even more so than the Qin family? They run a company in Provincial City, so why would they be going after Sis Xiangyi’s money?’
Just as he was pondering the problem, Chen Yan and Zheng Haoyu came back into the house.
The atmosphere in the house was stifling.
Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin sat there with gloomy faces.
Half an hour later, Mr. Qin stood up. “Alright, it’s about time that we leave for the village.”
They sat in separate cars and went toward Greenwillow Village.
Greenwillow Village was not too far from the house. They arrived at their destination after seven or eight minutes.
Greenwillow Village was situated next to a river. Willow trees lined the riverbanks, which made for a picturesque scene.
The cars drove along the river, and soon they arrived at a big house built in the classic style and surrounded by brick walls.
Many cars were parked outside the house and many people were going in and out. It was a lively scene.
Old Master Qin was a figure of authority in Greenwillow Village and even in Stonegate Town. Many people were there to celebrate his eightieth birthday.
Right after the main entrance was a spacious courtyard in which many banquet tables were set. A rough count showed that there were at least forty of them.
The aroma of alcohol and cooked food wafted in the air.
The courtyard was adorned with festive decorations. Everyone there was in a cheerful mood.
The group attracted everyone’s attention as they entered the door. Many eyes were drawn toward Qin Xiangyi.
Qin Xiangyi was tall and slender. She wore a black evening gown which accentuated the curves of her body. Adding that to her impeccable facial features, her appearance had caused all the males in the courtyard to look at her.
At the same time, her appearance had overshadowed all the females there.
The courtyard was silent for a while, then everyone started talking.
“Isn’t that Xiangyi? I haven’t seen her in a few years and I almost can’t recognize her now!”
Many people crowded around the group. Most of them were relatives.
Old Master Qin had five sons and one daughter, and each of them had children of their own. All the extended families were gathered at the same place, and the place was rather crowded.
“Look at her! Xiangyi is becoming more and more beautiful. Oh! She looks just like a movie star.”
“Ha! She’s prettier than the movie stars you see on TV!”
A group of gossips exclaimed in admiration as they looked at Qin Xiangyi.
“Do you have a boyfriend yet, Xiangyi? You’re not young anymore and it’s about time that you settle down! How about I, Auntie Yun, introduce someone to you? I can guarantee that he’s handsome, gentlemanly, and capable.”
“Stand aside! How many good men do you know? Xiangyi, let your maternal aunt introduce this boy to you. I know many outstanding young males and you’ll definitely find one that you like.”
Qin Xiangyi smiled stiffly as the bunch of gossips surrounded her.
Chen Yan watched the scene unfold with her eyes. Suddenly, she laughed coldly and shrieked, “You don’t have to worry about her. Xiangyi already has a boyfriend.”
Everyone was shocked, and their gazes fell on Zheng Haoyu.
“Don’t tell me it’s your Haoyu?”
“Haoyu isn’t a bad kid! He’s handsome and knowledgeable!”
“My Haoyu likes Xiangyi, that’s true. Unfortunately, Xiangyi doesn’t have an eye for him! Look at that kid, that’s Xiangyi’s boyfriend.” She lifted an arm and pointed at Tang Hao.
Everyone was shocked again when they saw Tang Hao.
They burst out in laughter, thinking that it was a joke.
‘How old is that kid again? How can he be Xiangyi’s boyfriend? That Chen Yan! A girl’s lifelong partner is no laughing matter!’
Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin did not look too happy.
“You don’t believe me? He really is Xiangyi’s boyfriend!” Chen Yan shrieked.
Everyone started to become silent.
They examined the couple a little more closely and started believing Chen Yan’s words.
Then, they collectively exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone’s gazes became weird as they looked at Qi
n Xiangyi and Tang Hao, though they furrowed their rows when they looked at the latter.
“He looks so young! Don’t tell me he’s a boy toy?”
The men, especially the younger ones, looked at Tang Hao with hostility.
Meanwhile, the group of gossips started dressing him down.
“Have you gone mad, Xiangyi? What made you fall for him? He’s too young, and so he’s unreliable!”
“That’s right! You can date him, but you should know that you’re not young anymore, and it’s time that you look for a lifelong partner! You should find a mature and reliable man. You can’t place your trust in those boy toys.”
Qin Xiangyi furrowed her brows. She looked frustrated.
“Alright, that’s enough! Let’s all go in! Xiangyi, let’s go greet your grandfather. As for you, you’d better stay here and not follow us,” Mr. Qin said. The last half of his sentence was for Tang Hao.
Tang Hao could not argue with that and remained on the spot.
Chen Yan and Zheng Haoyu gave him a side-eye, then followed the Qin family members into the house.
The crowd eventually dissipated, though there were still many hostile gazes directed at Tang Hao. They pointed at him with unfriendly expressions on their faces.
Qin Xiangyi was not only popular in Greenwillow Village, but also the entire Stonegate Town. She was the girl of many young men’s dreams. However, the goddess in their eyes now had her eyes on a filthy kid, and that had angered them. The group of gossips glanced at Tang Hao and shook their heads.
In their eyes, a young kid like him would be incapable, except for deceiving women with his flowery language.
Tang Hao was feeling antsy from standing there. He started walking around the house.
“It looks quite classy,” Tang Hao mumbled.
While he walked, a woman in a red dress walked toward him with her head lowered. They bumped into each other.
“Pardon me!” Tang Hao said urgently.
Suddenly, the woman grabbed Tang Hao’s arm, then ruffled her dress and started shrieking, “Molester!”
The shriek attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard and they crowded in to see what happened.
The Mightiest Little Peasant c1-799 Page 81
