Chapter 496: Chapter 496: The Final Word
Hearing this, Mr. Li stared in disbelief. He nodded mechanically. "Son, go buy some more high-end fruit."
He knew his future son-in-law’s restaurant was opening today, so he never expected the Gu Family to come with a marriage proposal.
When he got the call, he had just assumed the matchmaker hired by the Gu Family lived nearby and was simply dropping by to make the proposal.
After hanging up the phone, he had only told his wife and daughter to go change, but he hadn’t bothered to change himself.
In their family, ever since his son had agreed to the match, his wife and daughter had been eagerly awaiting the Gu Family’s proposal.
That was why the mother and daughter had prepared all sorts of fruits and melon seeds, and the fruit bowl at home hadn’t been empty for a single day since.
If he sometimes deliberately ate an extra piece of fruit, his wife would immediately replace it.
On the large coffee table in the living room were three platters of fruit, along with crackers, melon seeds, and peanuts.
But his family never would have dreamed that the Gu Family would take the proposal so seriously, bringing so many people and turning it into such a grand affair.
The Si Family wasn’t just one of the four great families of the Imperial City. Old Sir Si hadn’t fully retired and still held a very high-ranking position.
’Why would such a great man deign to come here?’
At first, Mr. Li thought they had gone to the wrong house, but then Old Sir Si walked into their living room side-by-side with Old Sir Gu, chatting and laughing.
Mr. Li pinched his thigh hard. He winced from the pain before letting go. ’This really isn’t a dream.’
’And Old Master Xiao was here too. The medicines from the Xiao Family Pharmaceutical Factory were needed by every major hospital in the country.’
’Was this really a man his family could ever hope to meet up close?’
’Not to mention Old Sir Han and Mr. Mu. Even though they had taken a step back these past couple of years, they still held significant influence.’
’With great men like these as frequent patrons of that Gu boy’s restaurant, his business would be immeasurable!’
’When did that Gu boy become so formidable?’
’No, forget that Gu boy—even Old Sir Gu himself probably couldn’t have invited so many influential people!’
’If I myself could have invited even one of them to my home, I would wake up from my dreams laughing.’
Mr. Li’s mind was full of questions, but he was more thrilled than anything else. His whole body trembled with excitement.
But he knew this wasn’t the time to get carried away. He had to stay calm.
The one thing he was thankful for now was that he hadn’t tried too hard to stop his daughter from pursuing the boy.
’If I had forcefully stopped her back then, someone else really would have snatched that Gu boy up.’
’My wife and daughter would probably never have forgiven me. But their resentment would have been a small matter; the main thing is this marriage would have fallen through.’
At this thought, Mr. Li had to admire his own daughter’s courage for daring to pursue a young man who worked a street stall.
’The power of love is truly immeasurable.’
A fond, knowing smile spread across Mr. Li’s face. He had admired his daughter’s boldness back then, which was why he hadn’t put a stop to it.
’After all, people should be bold and take responsibility for their actions. That’s the most basic kind of character to have in this life.’
Mrs. Li didn’t recognize these important figures; she was simply surprised that the Gu Family had brought so many people.
’It’s a good thing the Gu Family places so much importance on our daughter,’ she thought. ’It brings her great honor.’
Seeing Mr. Li standing stunned in the doorway with a silly grin, she quickly gave him a few shoves. "What are you doing just standing there? Hurry up and welcome our guests!"
With that, Mrs. Li beamed and went to invite everyone to have a seat. "Little Gu, these must all be your relatives, right? Please, invite them to sit."
"There’s fruit, melon seeds, and peanuts on the table. Please, help yourselves. Don’t stand on ceremony."
"Little Gu’s restaurant opened today, so I thought you wouldn’t be coming. We weren’t fully prepared, so please excuse the poor reception."
"Auntie, please don’t say that. This is more than enough. We were the ones who were too eager," Second Brother Gu said, his voice resonant.
"Hehe, Sir, please have some tea." Mrs. Li took a cup of tea from her daughter-in-law and offered it to Mr. Han.
Jolted back to his senses by his wife’s shove, Mr. Li quickly pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket to offer around. "El-Elder... Si... have a smoke."
Seeing Mr. Li’s terrified demeanor, Elder Si said in what he believed was a gentle tone, "My health isn’t great. I quit smoking a long time ago."
At these words, Mr. Li trembled even more violently. ’Is Elder Si scolding me for being so unobservant?’
Gu Jiaojiao had been observing her future sister-in-law from the moment she walked in. She noted that even with so many VIPs in her home, Li Xiulan served tea and poured water with a demeanor that was neither fawning nor arrogant.
After serving a round of tea, she sat down quietly and began peeling an apple, occasionally stealing a secret glance at Second Brother Gu.
Her face was filled with a sweet shyness. ’It seems she really is in love with Second Brother,’ Gu Jiaojiao thought.
On the large coffee table, a clean white porcelain bowl was filled with apple slices she had peeled and cut, each piece stuck with a toothpick.
Seeing how flustered and formal Mr. Li was, Gu Jiaojiao bent over and picked up the porcelain platter from the coffee table.
She walked over to Elder Si and Grandma Si. "Elder Si, you mustn’t scare my second brother’s future father-in-law," she teased. "You two have some apple."
"Thank you, Jiaojiao." Grandma Si picked up a toothpick, speared a slice of apple, and said to Elder Si, "Honey, you have a piece too."
Elder Si speared a small piece of apple as well. "Jiaojiao, you have some too. Let Shuo Ci hold the platter. And Xiao Li, this is your home. You don’t need to be so formal."
"Y-yes... yes... Elder Si, please, you have some apple," Mr. Li said, nodding and bowing.
Seeing this, Elder Si could only copy Gu Jiaojiao and roll his eyes. He then shrugged at his wife.
The gesture clearly meant: ’It’s not my fault he’s scared. He’s just too timid!’
Hearing Old Sir Si, Su Shuochi deftly took the porcelain platter from Gu Jiaojiao’s hands.
He gave his wife a look, signaling for her to take a piece, before passing the platter around to each of the old sirs.
Gu Jiaojiao speared a small piece of apple. She wore no makeup, and her eyes crinkled with a smile.
Dressed in a simple trench coat and plain white sneakers, she took small bites of her apple, looking completely at ease and natural.
As the other old sirs began to munch on their own apple slices, Mr. Li instantly felt his tension ease.
"Xiulan, do you have any objections regarding Gu Er?" Grandpa Li asked, then took a loud, CRUNCHY bite of his apple.
Li Xiulan, who had been quite intimidated by her great-uncle, blushed when she saw how down-to-earth he was. "I have no objections," she said shyly.
"Gu Er, are you happy with Xiulan?"
"Grandpa Li, I’m very fond of her," Second Brother Gu said without the slightest hesitation.
He had no idea how high Grandpa Li’s status was, so he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the old man.
When Li Xiulan saw how calmly and composedly Second Brother Gu faced her stern great-uncle,
she found herself admiring him even more. The adoration in her eyes was practically overflowing.
"Nephew," Grandpa Li said, turning to Mr. and Mrs. Li. "What do you two think?"
"As long as the two children are fond of each other, we have no objections. Uncle, please help us pick a date for the engagement party."
If there weren’t so many powerful, high-ranking men present, Mr. Li might have tried to be a bit more assertive.
At this moment, he wished his daughter could get married tomorrow.
"Then let’s make it next Sunday," Grandpa Li declared, settling the matter.
