Chapter 447 Engagement Battle
Since the 1990s, private fundraising has never ceased.
It is not uncommon for relatives to cheat each other out of money.
Of course, when Luo Yang proposed that each family pool 100 million yuan, no one thought he was trying to cheat people out of money. After all, Luo Jianguo's publicly displayed assets alone amounted to tens of millions.
Besides, Luo Yang was about to get engaged to Jiang Yuanshan's daughter, so it was even more impossible for him to defraud money.
My aunt Xue Qin is more concerned about how much profit she can make.
This question is really hard to answer.
According to the income from that business, the full profit for the year would definitely exceed 5 million. Even if you own half of 500%, you can get more than million.
If Luo Yang told the truth, people would think he was unreliable.
Fortunately, Grandpa Gu Baitao still had some influence at home and made the decision directly.
"You six brothers and sisters, each family should give me 15 yuan. If any family doesn't want to pay so much, or doesn't want to contribute the money, I will make up for it. Just don't regret it later!"
"Dad, I don't doubt Yangyang's intentions."
Seeing what the old man said, Gu Xuesong quickly said, "I'll have Xiaoqin take the money and give it to you tomorrow!"
"The brain is still not broken."
Glancing at his youngest son, Gu Baitao looked at Luo Yang with a smile again: "Yangyang, you're getting engaged at the end of the year, and your grandmother and I don't have anything valuable to give you. After thinking it over, I decided to give you the box of wine I collected with reluctance!"
"Dad, do you still have a whole box of Wuliangye left?"
Gu Xuesong was the first to shout out in surprise: "Remember when I came to propose marriage to you when I got married, you said you had the last two bottles of old wine in the bottom box!"
"Hey, if I didn't say that, would I still be able to keep the wine?"
The old man smiled and stretched out his hand to Xu Guifeng and said, "Old lady, where are the keys?"
"What are you still looking at? My dad is old, how can he carry a box of wine?"
Seeing her father walking out of the main room, Gu Honglan quickly pushed Luo Jianguo.
Not long after, except for Gu Baitao, the other three men had no appetite for drinking and just gathered around the box of old wine.
"Is this wine something Dad saved up when he was in the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Luo Jianguo used the light to look at the blurry date mark on the box: "Wow, it was in 1974. Now it's 2011, 37 years have passed."
"The wine has turned yellow!"
Gu Xuesong nodded and said, "My father-in-law opened a bottle on his 60th birthday. I still can't forget the feeling of pure cotton!"
As soon as I finished speaking, my heart started to ache.
He looked up at Gu Baitao with a face full of resentment.
"Jianguo, bring this box of wine with you when you meet your in-laws this weekend."
Gu Baitao touched his chin and said with a smile: "I don't have as much money as others, but there are some good things that you can't buy even if you have money!"
"Dad, how can this be so embarrassing! How can this be so embarrassing!"
Luo Jianguo is a man in his forties, but at this moment he was rubbing his hands and looked embarrassed.
"Ugh"
Looking at the different expressions of people in the room, Luo Yang couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
This favor is fully given.
As expected, he is Grandpa Gu Baitao, he understands things better than anyone else.
Even though he didn't know Luo Yang's actual situation, he still placed his hopes on him.
Including dinner and chatting, Luo Yang and his family did not leave the old supply and marketing cooperative until after nine o'clock.
"Jianguo, my dad took out all the bottom boxes. What happened?"
On the way back, Gu Honglan said with some concern: "Xuesong and his wife can't turn back."
"Your father's thoughts have always been like this. You may not understand it at the time, but after a while, you will realize how powerful he is!"
Luo Jianguo is still very respectful to his father-in-law.
When he said this, he couldn't help but glance at his son sitting in the passenger seat. The special look he gave him tonight was most likely related to Luo Yang.
"Yangyang."
Gu Honglan didn't notice her husband's gaze, and asked Luo Yang, "Is your plan to raise funds to start a decoration company reliable?"
"How could I possibly cheat my uncle and aunt? Just rest assured."
"Okay, your dad didn't ask any more questions, so don't worry!"
Luo Jianguo held his wife down and said, "Your son is reliable."
This doubt was repeated during dinner on Friday.
It's just that eldest uncle Luo Jianjun and third uncle Luo Jianmin trusted Luo Yang more, and agreed to each family to contribute 30 yuan without asking any questions. But Gu Honglan actually asked to contribute a share this time to make up the 100 million yuan on the Luo family's side.
The mother was only thinking about making money from her son, which made Luo Yang laugh and cry.
On Saturday morning, Luo Yang supported his grandmother Hu Qingzhi and arrived at the InterContinental Hotel in the city with his parents in advance.
It's just after ten o'clock now. According to the custom in Yang City, lunch usually starts around 11:30 to 12 o'clock.
"Let's not go to the private room. Let's just sit here in the lobby and wait for our in-laws."
After arriving at the hotel, Gu Honglan suggested: "This will also show that our family is polite."
The daughter-in-law was in charge, Hu Qingzhi didn't say anything, Luo Jianguo always listened to his wife and had no objection. Luo Yang, the only one who could speak, didn't dare to object, and the matter was settled.
"Yangyang, why don't you give Fanfan a call and ask if his family has left yet?"
At around eleven o'clock, Gu Honglan hadn't seen her relatives yet, so she became a little impatient and started urging her son.
Logically speaking, Jiang Yuanshan's family should arrive about half an hour earlier, because they want to leave time for the two families to chat and get to know each other before the meal.
"Let me ask!"
Luo Yang also found it strange and planned to send a message to ask.
I just took out my phone and was about to edit the message, but Jiang Fan's message came first.
"Luo Yang, I'm sorry. I just left home. Please apologize to my uncle and aunt for me."
"?"
Luo Yang deleted the half-edited message and sent a question mark first.
Before he could continue asking questions, Jiang Fan's follow-up messages came one after another.
"Luo Yang, my dad has rebooked a large private room, the room number is 888."
"I was fine when I came back from the Magic City last night. But early this morning, my second uncle's family and my aunt's family came over and insisted on joining in the fight."
"Dad and Mom were reluctant to take care of them at first, but then grandma couldn't stand their constant nagging, so they delayed it until this late."
"Luo Yang, if they say something sarcastic later, don't take it to heart."
Huh?
Why does a meeting between the parents of both sides have to be so dramatic?
"Yangyang, what did Fanfan say?"
"Just set off."
Luo Yang looked up and said, "This time, it's not just Jiang Fan's family. Her second uncle and aunt's family are also here. The room has been changed to 888."
"what?"
Gu Honglan was stunned for a moment: "Didn't we agree on this?"
"As the saying goes, good things take time."
Luo Yang raised the corner of his mouth and said with an insincere smile: "The battle is coming, Mom, get ready!"
Gu Honglan: "."
"What nonsense are you talking about, little brat?"
Gu Honglan came to her senses and thought her son was joking, so she patted him and said, "Hurry up and tell your dad to go to the private room and take all the cigarettes and alcohol to 888."
"I'm not kidding!"
Luo Yang straightened his face and said, "Your arrival has bad intentions, otherwise they wouldn't have waited until now to set off."
"That's right"
Gu Honglan muttered, "Judging from the situation, I guess the in-laws don't want them to attend."
"Mom is wise!"
Luo Yang first gave a thumbs up and praised him, then said: "But don't worry, with my son here, everything is under control!"
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and made a gesture of pinching his five fingers together.
"Tsk, what has your mother not seen?"
Queen Mother Gu ignited her fighting spirit: "As long as Fanfan's heart is with you, what else can they do?"
Luo Yang: “.” So you are just acting as if my son has your niece in his hands and you want to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing circumstances?
Awesome, my mom!
At half past eleven, a large group of people from the Jiang family arrived.
Jiang Fan's grandmother Liu Shunzhi was walking in front. Holding her arm was a charming middle-aged woman whose face was somewhat similar to Liu Shunzhi's. She should be the aunt Jiang Wenting who was sent by Jiang Fan in the text message.
Jiang Yuanshan and Xiao Yujun followed closely behind.
Another couple stood side by side with them. The man looked 50% like Jiang Yuanshan. They must be Jiang Fan's second uncle Jiang Yuanhe and aunt Wang Mingfen.
There is no need to say much about the remaining middle-aged man, he must be Jiang Fan's uncle Gao Qinan.
Jiang Fan and two people of similar age were walking at the end, a boy and a girl. The boy was her aunt's son Gao Yanfeng, and the girl should be her cousin Jiang Shiyu.
In the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel, the two families finally met face to face.
"Grandma, you're here!"
Apart from Jiang Fan, Luo Jianguo and Gu Honglan don't know who is who.
This is when Luo Yang needs to step forward.
He ran to the other side of Liu Shunzhi with a smile on his face, took her arm and said, "I was just telling my grandmother about your strong spirit. I want to learn from your experience in maintenance. Oh, by the way, I forgot to introduce this is my grandmother Hu Qingzhi in my excitement."
Liu Shunzhi already had a good impression of Luo Yang, and when she heard the compliment, she immediately burst into smiles.
"Luo Yang's grandma, I'm Jiang Fan's grandma, hello!"
"Hello!"
Whether it was Luo Yang calling her "Grandma" or Hu Qingzhi's reservedness, Jiang Wenting, who was holding Liu Shunzhi's arm, frowned.
Luo Yang ignored it and continued to introduce: "Grandma, this is my father Luo Jianguo, and this is my mother Gu Honglan."
Luo Jianguo is now a shareholder and vice president of a large real estate company, and has developed a bit of momentum. Gu Honglan was able to give birth to a handsome boy like Luo Yang, and she also dressed up today, so naturally she is not much different from him.
The two men were polite and dignified, which made Liu Shunzhi nod repeatedly.
"Dad, Mom, it's getting late, let's go to the box and introduce ourselves to each other while drinking tea!"
"Well, we are late. Let's go upstairs first!"
There was no need to be polite between Jiang Yuanshan and Luo Yang, so they nodded in agreement.
"Auntie, let's go up together!"
Although Jiang Fan is not as shameless as Luo Yang, he is also smart. He ran to Gu Honglan when Luo Yang was talking to his grandmother.
When going upstairs, she held Gu Honglan's arm, and Luo Yang and Jiang Yuanshan walked together!
When entering the elevator, Jiang Wenting and Jiang Yuanhe looked at each other silently.
The 888 box that Jiang Yuanshan modified can seat 20 people. There is even a landscape stone in the middle of the large round table. If the people sitting opposite each other don’t speak louder, they may not be able to hear what is being said.
The main seats must be occupied by the two elders, Luo Jianguo and his wife, Jiang Yuanshan and his wife, next to each other, and then Luo Yang and Jiang Fan.
The other two families sat down in the empty seats.
“It’s time to serve!”
After sitting down, Jiang Yuanshan, who had the most powerful aura, spoke first.
After giving instructions to the foreman, he first greeted Luo Jianguo and Gu Honglan, and then began to introduce his brother and sister's family. The greetings were relatively uneventful and nothing unexpected happened.
It was only then that Luo Yang learned that Jiang Wenting and Jiang Yuanhe each controlled a subsidiary of Yuanfan Group.
Sister Jiang Wenting runs a company that handles vehicle accident claims and repairs, while brother Jiang Yuanhe runs a packaging factory, and he is responsible for all the product packaging business of Yuanfan Group.
This is also a typical example of one person's success bringing prosperity to the whole family.
The purpose of this meeting between the parents of both parties was first to get familiar with each other, after all, they had never met before, and secondly to discuss the engagement matters and finalize the relevant things in advance.
Naturally, it was Gu Honglan who spoke first on the Luo family's side.
"Aunt Liu, mother-in-law, I specially asked someone to look at the horoscopes of the two children, and they are very compatible!"
Empress Dowager Gu was well prepared. She took out two red cards from the bag behind her and handed them to Liu Shunzhi and Xiao Yujun respectively, saying, "Here are the horoscopes and comments for the match, as well as the list of betrothal gifts my family has prepared."
"Really? I asked someone to match it up with me, and they also said that Xiao Luo and my son Fanfan are a good match!"
"Let me see!"
Jiang Yuanshan and Xiao Yujun actually don’t care how much dowry the Luo Yang family gives.
Old Jiang has a rough idea of how much assets his future son-in-law has. He can afford to invest hundreds of millions, so they are definitely a good match. Moreover, as for the betrothal gift, how can it be real if his grandson changes his surname to Jiang?
But his sister Jiang Wenting took the initiative to ask for the post from her sister-in-law Xiao Yujun.
"A villa in Yang City, 118 million yuan as a gift?"
Jiang Fan's sister-in-law shook the invitation in her hand, looked at Jiang Yuanshan and Xiao Yujun and said, "Brother, sister-in-law, this little money is too little to marry my Fan Fan, isn't it?"
Here he comes, the troublemaker is coming!
For some reason, Luo Yang was actually a little excited.
Is it that I haven’t argued with anyone for a long time, or that I haven’t shown off for a long time?
"Sister-in-law!"
Who knew that before we even fired a shot, the opposing camp would send out a "traitor".
Jiang Fan said dissatisfiedly: "Whether the betrothal gift is 118 million or 18, it is just a formality. Luo Yang and I are not together for this little money!"
"What do children know?"
Jiang Wenting glared at her niece and said, "We in the Jiang family need a dowry. Will your parents also give a dowry of one or two million in the future? If this gets out, won't our Jiang family be laughed at in Yang City?"
"It's my home, not ours!"
Jiang Fan is very combative.
Luo Yang was dumbfounded and thought to himself: Wife, can you please not be so strong? Can't you leave some room for me to show my talents?
"What do you mean by my family, our family, aren't they all the Jiang family?"
Jiang Wenting's fighting power is not low: "Don't your uncle and I have to contribute money? Don't your grandmother have to contribute a dowry?"
Gee.
The last sentence is the key point.
Grandma Jiang Fan’s property includes shares for Jiang Yuanshan, her youngest son and her youngest daughter.
What's more, if we don't find some faults now and put pressure on the Luo family, this son-in-law will have a higher status in the future and get more. What will happen then?
Ugh.
We should have brought my third uncle’s family here. My aunt’s fighting ability is also strong.
Is it my turn to step forward now?
Luo Yang was eager to try and was ready to speak.
"Fanfan, your aunt is right!"
Empress Dowager Gu spoke before Luo Yang and held down her daughter-in-law Jiang Fan first.
Then he smiled and said to Jiang Wenting, "Dowry, after all, is a foundation for children to start their own families. Parents are willing to give more or less. If you think 118 million is too little, my Jianguo still has 20% of the shares in the real estate company, which is now worth about to million yuan. It can all be counted as dowry. You, aunt, can also help the young couple and give a little more."
Jiang Wenting was stunned for a moment.
Thirty or forty million?
Her eyes turned to Jiang Yuanshan and Xiao Yujun.
"Second brother, sister-in-law, are your in-laws showing off their wealth in front of our Jiang family?"
Jiang Wenting sneered, "It's as if our Jiang family can't afford 30 or 40 million. We are indeed a small family."
"Dad, how about I add some more?"
Luo Yang joined in the fun and raised his hand like a student: "Dad, I think what my aunt said is right, but it's a little off. How about I do it from my side."
"Pfft!"
Jiang Yuanshan spat out a mouthful of tea.
He glared at Luo Yang.
The son-in-law adds a little to the dowry, how much is a little?
Three hundred million or five hundred million?
Damn, are you planning to drain your father-in-law’s money just by getting married?
Don’t even think about this!
Jiang Yuanshan didn't bother to wipe the water stains and objected directly: "This is an engagement, not a show of wealth. Luo Yang and Fan Fan have been dating for almost six years and their relationship is stable. As long as the couple feels good, we as elders should not interfere too much!"
Jiang Wenting was stunned.
She looked at Liu Shunzhi: "Mom!"
"Okay, Yuanshan is right. As long as the children are happy, the gift and other things are secondary!"
The old lady is thinking about her great-grandson who changed his surname to Jiang. What is the bride price?
Seeing that Liu Shunzhi didn't help her, Jiang Wenting turned to Jiang Yuanhe: What's going on?
The two looked at each other.
Jiang Fan, who knew a little about the inside story, covered his mouth and chuckled.
His eyes narrowed when he laughed, like a little fox.
(End of this chapter)
