Chapter 264
After flying back to Haicheng from the capital, Rong Yu once again threw herself into her scientific research.
In the blink of an eye, the day of Ji Jingchuan and Tang Jin's engagement arrived.
The engagement banquet was scheduled for Saturday. On Friday, Ji Jingchuan and Ji Zhouye still had to participate in the monthly exam at Haicheng First High School, taking tests until nine o'clock in the evening before returning home.
"Today's exam papers were too easy; I can definitely make the top ten in my class!" Ji Zhouye sat down smugly next to Rong Yu. "Great-grandma, if I make the top ten, what do you say?"
Rong Yu: "What do you want?"
As long as she didn't mention extra study materials like the Huanggang mock exams, Ji Zhouye was excited. He rubbed his hands together: "How about increasing my allowance a bit? Or, buy me the latest gaming console. It's not expensive, just over a hundred thousand."
Old Master Ji rolled his eyes at him: "That's not a lot? Do you think our family's money grows on trees?"
Right now, he didn't even have ten thousand yuan of pocket money to his name.
"How is a hundred thousand a lot!" Ji Zhouye protested. "Then please tell me, Old Master, between our Ji family and the Si family, who is more powerful?"
Old Master Ji scoffed: "Nonsense, of course it's the Ji family. That old dog Si only managed to squeeze into the four great families by relying on his ancestors' coat-tails."
Ji Zhouye pursed his lips in grievance: "But the Si family's young master, Si Lin, spent five million customizing a smart robot dog just a couple of days ago to support his girlfriend's career. And me? I can't even get a hundred thousand."
"What dog costs five million?" Old Master Ji's eyes widened. "This world has finally gone crazy in ways I can't even recognize!"
"Smart dogs have been popular for a while now. Yingbao, you should watch the news more often in your spare time so you don't fall behind the times." Rong Yu frowned. "However, even the most cutting-edge customized smart dog wouldn't cost more than a million. Si Lin got scammed."
Old Master Ji chuckled: "Old Si's little bit of family fortune will sooner or later be squandered by these prodigal sons."
Rong Yu cast a glance at him.
This old guy still had the nerve to talk about others. If she hadn't been lucky enough to transmigrate here, the Ji family would probably have gone bankrupt before the Si family.
She changed the subject. "Chuan, come and take a look at tomorrow's engagement schedule. The process is quite tedious, and you'll have to change into three different outfits. Take a look at this..."
Hearing this, Ji Zhouye knew that his reward was out of the question.
Forget it. Once the monthly exam results were out, he would take his report card to her, and he refused to believe his great-grandma wouldn't buy him that gaming console.
The engagement banquet was held on a small island.
Ji Jingchuan and Tang Jin, along with Hai Chang'an and Tang Mi, were getting engaged on the same day. Three of Haicheng's four great families were involved. The entire island had been completely redecorated, radiating a festive atmosphere everywhere.
When Rong Yu and her old son arrived, many people were already there. Tang Che was sitting in a wheelchair, watching her from afar.
Recently, Tang Che's health had been failing more and more. She would frequently bring Yingbao to the Tang family home to sit with him for a while. At first, Tang Che could chat with her for half a day and even play a few games of chess, but these past few days, he had been growing increasingly drowsy.
However, Tang Che was in very good spirits today.
"A'Yu," Tang Che said with a smile. "Come sit."
Rong Yu sat down beside him.
As soon as she sat down, she heard her old son actually arguing with Hai Dadun and Sima Gang. The three old buddies were going back and forth, bickering with each other.
Elder Si: "Tsk tsk, young people's weddings these days are so flashy. Back when I married my wife, I carried her on my back for ten miles, and that was considered crossing the threshold!"
Elder Hai: "That's because your parents found it too troublesome. Back in my day, I at least borrowed a donkey."
Old Master Ji: "When I got married, I picked up my bride on a bicycle! A brand new twenty-eight-inch frame! Sponsored by Uncle Tang!"
Elder Si: "What's so great about a bicycle? My Si Lin is currently driving a globally limited edition car. There are only five of them in the world, and he managed to snag one. Do you guys have that?"
Elder Hai: "Tsk, no wonder that brat Si Lin dares to be so wasteful. It turns out he has you, you old geezer, helping him swipe the card."
Old Master Ji: "When the Si family goes bankrupt, don't come crying to us."
Elder Si said angrily: "You guys are just jealous!"
Elder Hai: "Stop your whining. Look, the new couples are coming out. My family's Chang'an is truly handsome."
Old Master Ji narrowed his eyes: "Not even half as good-looking as Chuan."
Elder Hai: "Bullshit! Chang'an is clearly more handsome."
Old Master Ji scoffed: "Old Si, you tell us, who is more handsome?"
Elder Si: "They're both ugly, terribly ugly... Ugh, what are you two doing? They're hitting me! Help! Miss Rong, Uncle Tang, hurry up and control these two old geezers!"
Rong Yu and Tang Che exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.
The engagement ceremony proceeded smoothly.
The host held the microphone, speaking with great passion: "Today, we are gathered to witness the happy moments of these two perfect couples. Now, please invite the two grooms-to-be to put the engagement rings on their beautiful fiancées—"
Ji Jingchuan and Hai Chang'an both pulled out the engagement rings at the same time.
Just at this moment—
"Woof woof!"
Before everyone could react, a shiny silver smart mechanical dog suddenly darted out from the bushes. Its four mechanical legs transformed with a click-clack sound, instantly turning into a small carrier robot that charged straight toward the four newly engaged individuals.
Ji Jingchuan reached out, wrapping his arm around Tang Jin's waist, and pulled her to the side, narrowly dodging it.
Hai Chang'an was dumbfounded: "No, Si Lin, why did you let the dog up here? Hurry up and get it down!"
Si Lin laughed mischievously: "There's a surprise!"
The next second.
Hai Chang'an was completely lifted up by the mechanical dog. In a perfect parabolic arc, he was tossed straight into the nearby swimming pool. Water splashed everywhere, guests screamed, his suit was instantly soaked, and his carefully styled hair became a messy tangle.
Ji Zhouye roared with laughter.
Hai Chang'an emerged from the pool, cursing angrily: "Si Lin! You'd better not tell me when you get engaged, otherwise, I'll show you what it really means to lose face."
Si Lin didn't care about that and rushed to rescue his smart dog.
But he was a step too late.
"Water ingress... detected. System... shutting down..."
Si Lin wailed: "The high-end smart dog I spent five million to customize just sacrificed itself for your engagement! Is there a better brother than me in this world?"
Elder Hai: "Spending a fortune on a dog that isn't even waterproof. You got scammed."
Elder Ji: "Too much money with nowhere to spend it, huh? What a waste."
Elder Si felt guilty: "Si Lin meant well..."
Hai Chang'an changed his clothes, and the ceremony continued.
After the two couples exchanged rings, the host proceeded to the final segment: "Next, we invite the elders to offer their blessings to the newly engaged couples."
Tang Youyi pushed the wheelchair, bringing Tang Che onto the stage.
Tang Che was getting on in years and found walking extremely difficult, which was why he used a wheelchair. After getting on stage, he leaned on Tang Youyi's arm to stand up, presenting himself in the most upright posture before all the guests.
Tang Youyi's right hand silently supported the old man's lower back, providing him with ample strength.
"Thank you to all the guests for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this engagement banquet," Tang Che spoke into the microphone. "Today is a wonderful day, except for a certain blind smart dog. Si Lin, it's time you grew up a bit."
Si Lin held the corpse of his smart dog, wanting to cry but having no tears left.
Tang Che then shifted the topic, "There is another important matter today. I announce that starting from today, Tang Jin will officially become the next head of the Tang family!"