Chapter 15: Returning to the Bride's Family

“My son-in-law certainly has quite a lot of face, being able to make his father-in-law come out to greet him!”

Zhan Zeye extended his hand toward the car. A fair, jade-like hand landed in his palm, slowly descending from the vehicle.

A God of War paired with a beauty!

The neighbors who had poked their heads out after hearing the commotion began to observe, seeing Zhan Zeye standing alongside Tang Qiyue.

The man wore a military uniform that radiated a fierce, intimidating aura, yet it could not mask his rugged and resolute temperament.

The woman wore a qipao that made her look petite and charming, yet it was no match for the commanding presence emanating from her eyes and brows.

As the two leaned against each other, the man held the woman quite casually, yet his gaze fell upon Tang's father at the entrance.

Tang's father secretly exhaled a breath of frustration before putting on a smiling face to greet them: "Why has my son-in-law come? Quick, come inside and talk!"

Chen Dazhuang had already brought down the return gifts for Tang's father. Although they didn't look like much, no one dared to say a single word of criticism, given how intimidating Chen Dazhuang's military uniform looked.

Tang's father instructed his sons to help carry the things into the courtyard and invited Chen Dazhuang inside for tea, but Chen Dazhuang replied, "I am Brother Zhan's driver. I'll just wait in the car!"

He knew that Tang Qiyue was visiting her maiden home and would be leaving soon; getting out of the car would be a hassle.

The Tang brothers smiled apologetically, not daring to actually let Chen Dazhuang wait in the car, so they arranged for one of their brothers to stay outside to keep him company.

On this side, Tang's father invited Zhan Zeye and Tang Qiyue inside.

He actually wanted to stand up straight and act like a dignified father-in-law, but when he saw Zhan Zeye sit down and stroke the sidearm at his waist, all his little schemes vanished.

As the saying goes, when a scholar meets a soldier, reason cannot be argued.

Zhan Zeye was the most formidable among those soldiers. Before even reaching adulthood, he had been able to hop onto a train and follow the troops to foreign battlefields. Relying on a reckless, death-defying drive, he had managed to charge into enemy camps three times and out three times at such a young age.

Later, he earned countless merits. If it weren't for his foul temper and refusal to follow orders, his current rank would undoubtedly be terrifyingly high.

Tang's father thought about how he had exhausted every means to marry his daughter off, only for his eldest daughter to flee the wedding and ruin the man's reputation. Now that the man was standing right in front of him, cold sweat poured down his forehead.

His gaze fell upon Tang Qiyue. He thought that even if things had gone poorly, he had truly married a biological daughter to him. Although the eldest daughter had been improper, the younger daughter took after her biological mother and was a complete beauty.

A hero is hard to resist a beauty; Tang's father still held onto a sliver of hope.

"When did my son-in-law return?"

Tang's father wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took the initiative to find a topic of conversation.

Zhan Zeye played with the holster of his sidearm for a while before feeling bored. He simply grabbed Tang Qiyue's fingers, who was sitting beside him, and began to fiddle with them. He looked as unscrupulous as one could possibly be.

Yet, Tang Qiyue could not pull her hand away, because she could feel the murderous aura surging within Zhan Zeye. Since she was not yet very familiar with him, all she knew was that Zhan Zeye was a man who did not play by the rules.

"Oh, the day after your daughter held a wedding ceremony while clutching a rooster!"

Mentioning this matter caused the cold sweat on Tang's father's forehead to pour even more violently; his handkerchief was nearly soaked through.

He couldn't shake off his embarrassed expression and could only maintain a stiff facade.

"That was because we consulted Master Yuantong to pick an auspicious date. A good day is hard to come by, so it wasn't easy to change it on a whim. Fortunately, my son-in-law returned safely, so it can be considered that nothing..."

Before Tang's father could finish, Zhan Zeye let out a "tsk" and looked up to meet his gaze: "Then should I be thanking you for your good intentions?"

Tang's father was choked up.

He couldn't continue.

He looked toward Tang Qiyue for help.

Tang Qiyue did not take the bait; she was still trying to find a way to break her fingers free from Zhan Zeye's palm.

Zhan Zeye's large hand was rough yet powerful. As his palm rubbed against her fingertips, waves of numbness radiated from her fingers through her entire body, causing the tips of Tang Qiyue's ears to turn red again.

That dog of a man was definitely doing this on purpose!

Seeing that his daughter was not cooperating, Tang's father could only save himself.

"No need for thanks, we are all one family, there's no need for formalities!"

Unable to get a response from Zhan Zeye, Tang's father could only continue: "To suddenly change your wife for you, our Tang family has failed you. But that girl Chunlan has already gone to the countryside, and I can't find where she went. Once I find her, I will definitely make her kowtow and apologize to you!"

Tang's father closed his eyes in plea; he was truly afraid.

"I couldn't possibly accept that. I, Zhan Zeye, have no intention of forcing women to marry me. Likewise, having a wife shoved upon me is also very unpleasant!"

Zhan Zeye spoke casually, but Tang's father truly felt like kneeling.

For a moment, the room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Tang Qiyue was truly annoyed by Zhan Zeye's finger-pinching. She grabbed his unruly large hand and glared at him.

Zhan Zeye was also momentarily caught up in the moment. He didn't think he was wrong; he only thought that Tang Qiyue's fingers were like warm jade, making them irresistible to hold. He had merely lost control a little bit.

He released his large hand, allowing Tang Qiyue to withdraw her somewhat reddened fingers, and only then did he let Tang's father off the hook.

"For the sake of Qiyue, I won't argue with an old thing like you!"

Zhan Zeye relented, and Tang's father instantly smiled.

"An old leader asked me to bring you a message. The marriage is the marriage; the old gentleman was merely acting as a matchmaker, he can't do anything else!"

This sentence was the key.

Tang's father grew anxious.

He had been waiting for the old leader to lend a helping hand; the Tang family was in a very difficult position now.

"Son-in-law, we are one family now. You wouldn't want Qiyue's maiden home to be a broken household in the future, would you?"

If the Tang family fell, Tang Qiyue, as a member of the Tang family, would certainly be implicated.

This was Tang's father's plan, but unfortunately, he did not understand Zhan Zeye.

Zhan Zeye stood up with Tang Qiyue: "If I were you, I would obediently cooperate with the state's policies and do what needs to be done. At least your life would remain. If you are still thinking of playing small tricks, even if you are my father-in-law, as soon as the order comes down, I will be the first to lead men to send you to prison!"

Tang's father completely lost his spirit and slumped into his chair.

However, he immediately remembered the fallback plan he had arranged. If he had to hand everything over, so be it; at least he could make a comeback in the future. Before he could even pull his expression back, he heard Tang Qiyue say: "Dad, looking at the dowry you prepared for me makes me feel a bit nauseous. Since it wasn't given to me with sincerity, I'll just donate it all to the state!"

Tang's father's face turned pale. His fingers trembled as he pointed at Tang Qiyue. He wanted to shout something, but he found that because he was too agitated, his heart was working overtime, and he could no longer speak.

Beside him, Madam Tang hurriedly pulled out the medicine bottle Tang's father always carried, poured the medicine into his mouth, and continuously patted his chest to help him breathe.

But by the time Tang's father caught his breath, he found that the two unscrupulous people, Zhan Zeye and Tang Qiyue, had actually left directly, without even preparing to stay for a meal.

His sons surrounded Tang's father, all fearing something would happen to him.

Instead, they heard Tang's father slapping his thighs and wailing: "It's over, it's truly over this time!"