Free Web NovelChapter 15: Chapter 9: From Now On, Jiang Li Is His Real Sister-in-Law
"Sister-in-law, have I met you before?"
Jiang Li blinked in confusion. "If I’m not mistaken, I don’t think we’ve met before."
Shen Yuchu frowned. "That can’t be right. I’d never forget someone as beautiful as you."
’He’d definitely seen Jiang Li somewhere before.’
Standing beside him, Zhou Jiawen crossly pinched Shen Yuchu’s waist, giving him a look that could kill.
Shen Yuchu whispered in explanation, "I don’t mean anything by it. I really do think she looks familiar, but I just can’t place where I’ve seen her."
Zhou Jiawen pressed her lips together. "Weren’t they saying that she and Big Brother were college classmates? Maybe you saw her with him then."
The moment Zhou Jiawen said that, it clicked for Shen Yuchu.
Five years ago, the day before Shen Yanzhi went abroad, he had gotten dead drunk at home.
That was the day he found out his aloof, untouchable older brother was actually nursing a secret crush.
With that thought, Shen Yuchu’s eyes blazed as he looked at Shen Yanzhi. "Bro!"
Shen Yanzhi narrowed his eyes. "Shut up!"
Shen Yuchu grinned from ear to ear and held up five fingers.
Shen Yanzhi rolled his eyes in annoyance, but then nodded, pulling out his phone and tapping away at the screen.
Jiang Li looked at them in confusion. "What’s with the charades?"
Now paid, Shen Yuchu grinned so wide his eyes nearly disappeared. "It’s nothing. I was just thinking Big Brother got incredibly lucky to marry you."
Jiang Manshu chimed in, "I know, right? I was starting to think he liked men. All these years without a single woman in his life, and then yesterday he suddenly announces he’s getting married. I thought it was a practical joke."
’Based on Shen Yanzhi’s performance last night, Jiang Li could tell he’d never had a girlfriend before. But she never imagined he’d gone all these years without a single woman around.’
She shot a surprised look at Shen Yanzhi. He rubbed his nose. "I was busy with my studies, then starting my business. Where would I have found the time for romance?"
Just as Jiang Manshu looked like she was about to call him out, Shen Yanzhi took Jiang Li’s hand. "Why is everyone hovering in the doorway? You’ve come all this way, at least have a seat."
The group clustered in the doorway finally made their way inside.
Once they were seated, Shen Yuchu joked, "Sister-in-law, with all these gifts you bought, you didn’t forget mine, did you?"
Jiang Li gave a knowing smile. "Don’t worry, your gift is on its way."
Shen Yuchu looked at Shen Yanzhi, a little bewildered. "It’s not a car, is it?"
’Under what other circumstances would a gift still be ’on its way’?’
Shen Yanzhi arched an eyebrow. "You’ll find out soon enough."
Shen Yuchu tutted. "Sister-in-law, you poor thing, having to face a man with absolutely no sense of fun."
Jiang Li let out a soft laugh. "It’s not so bad."
’Who said Shen Yanzhi didn’t have a fun side? When it came to certain things, his variety of tricks was frankly terrifying.’
Although the gifts had been handed out upon arrival, no one had opened them yet.
Afraid Shen Yuchu would take it too far, Shen Yanzhi quickly changed the subject. "Xiao Li chose all these gifts herself. You should see if you like them."
Zhou Jiawen had been itching to see what was inside the gift box, and now that Shen Yanzhi had given the go-ahead, she immediately started unwrapping it.
When she saw the new-season handbag she’d always wanted nestled inside, she forgot all about etiquette and rushed to Jiang Li’s side, looking ready to throw herself into her arms. "Sister-in-law! I love you to death!"
’The bag was worth tens of millions, yet Jiang Li had given it to her just like that. How could she not love this woman?’
Shen Yuchu pouted. "We’ve been married for so long, and you still haven’t said you love me."
Zhou Jiawen snorted. "If you bought me a bag worth tens of millions, I’d tell you I love you right now."
Worried that Jiang Manshu and Shen Yugang might get the wrong idea, Shen Yanzhi explained, "Xiao Li bought all these gifts with her own money."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiawen’s eyes went wide with stars as she looked at Jiang Li. "Sister-in-law, I had no idea you were a sugar mama! I’m definitely going to have to cling to you from now on."
Jiang Li was a little overwhelmed by Zhou Jiawen’s enthusiasm and gave an awkward laugh. "We’re sisters now. There’s no need for any talk of clinging."
Zhou Jiawen grinned and grabbed her phone from the coffee table. "Sister-in-law, let’s exchange contacts. It’ll make it easier to go shopping together and all that."
While the two were adding each other as contacts, Jiang Manshu and Shen Yugang also unwrapped their gifts, their curiosity about their eldest son’s new wife growing even more.
After they exchanged contacts, Jiang Li discovered that Shen Yanzhi had added her to a group chat named "2v2 Targeted Poverty Alleviation." Including her, there were a total of six people in it.
The moment she joined, a shower of red envelopes flooded the chat.
Zhou Jiawen sent several red envelopes into the chat. "Welcome to the group, Sister-in-law!" she typed, telling Jiang Li to grab them.
After sending her red envelope, Jiang Manshu put her phone away, stood up, and brought over a collection of items that had clearly been prepared in advance. She introduced them one by one, "Xiao Li, your marriage to Yan Zhi yesterday was so sudden, we didn’t have time to prepare much else. These are the five traditional gold pieces, these are the deeds to a house, this is for a commercial property, and these are the keys to a luxury car."
With that, she piled everything into Jiang Li’s arms. "Whatever Jiawen received, you’ll receive too."
’They were both her daughters-in-law; of course, she had to treat them with perfect fairness.’
Jiang Li looked down at the tray laden with items, and the corner of her mouth twitched. She looked up and said sincerely, "Thank you, Mom."
’It’s said that one must not refuse a gift from an elder.’
’Besides, she and Shen Yanzhi were a legally married couple. If she refused, they’d probably read too much into it.’
Just as she put the items aside, her phone rang.
Jiang Li excused herself, getting up and walking to the side to answer the call.
"Miss Jiang, I’ve arrived at the location you specified."
Jiang Li paused, surprised the dealership had been so quick. "One moment, we’ll be right out."
Hanging up, she turned to Shen Yuchu. "Weren’t you wondering what your gift was? Go on outside and greet it!"
At her words, Shen Yuchu shot over in a flash. The rest of the family also rose to their feet, just as eager to see what the gift was.
The moment he saw the Koenigsegg parked on the lawn, Shen Yuchu let out a shriek. "Sister-in-law! I absolutely love you to death!"
He circled the car several times, gently stroking its body as if afraid he might break it.
’He had made up his mind. From this day forward, Jiang Li was his one true sister-in-law.’
’If Jiang Li told him to go east, he would never go west. If she told him to stand, he would never dare sit!’
Shen Yanzhi’s face darkened. "Does she need you to love her?"
Shen Yuchu snorted at Shen Yanzhi, then turned back to Jiang Li with a fawning expression. "Sister-in-law, if you ever need me for anything, just say the word. I’d walk through fire for you!"
Jiang Li touched the tip of her nose. "That’s... really not necessary."
’If it weren’t for the cashback reward, she really wouldn’t have been able to bring herself to buy such an expensive car for Shen Yuchu.’
Shen Yugang was completely overcome with envy. Though he loved his antiques and calligraphy, every man dreams of a sports car, regardless of age.
But as the family elder, Shen Yugang didn’t take it for granted. He spoke with sincere gravity, "Xiao Li, these gifts are all far too valuable. We feel we don’t deserve them!"
